Trade Secrets: The Basics, New Developments, and Hot Topics

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An experienced litigator who handles patent, trade secret, copyright, and trademark cases in state and federal courts and before the International Trade Commission (ITC), Scott knows that sometimes the best business solution is found outside the courtroom. After almost 30 years in practice, Scott is keenly aware of the legal and business issues involved in intellectual property litigation—and that, whether plaintiff or defendant, the costs to clients aren’t merely monetary. As such, he seeks to understand their motivations, concerns, and risk tolerance, always involving clients in the decision-making process, then designs and implements strategies based on their unique business objectives.

Chip is a seasoned litigator who helps clients successfully resolve multiple types of business disputes. He concentrates a large part of his practice in representing companies and executives in disputes involving trade secrets and noncompete agreements. In representing companies, Chip focuses on achieving a cost-effective result through court order or settlement that protects the company’s valuable customer and client relationships and confidential information. When engaged by executives and their new employers, Chip’s goal is to avoid or limit the effect of overreaching agreements and allow the executive to fairly utilize his or her accumulated knowledge and skill. Chip also drafts noncompete agreements, develops trade secret protection programs, and counsels companies and executives regarding such matters in an attempt to avoid the types of problems that lead to costly litigation.

John A. Stone is a partner in DeCotiis’ New Jersey and New York offices. Mr. Stone’s practice focuses on complex business matters, including trade secret and other intellectual property litigation, and unfair competition and tortious interference claims, as well as construction, land use and intra-company disputes, in State and Federal Court. He has particular expertise in complex litigation and takes pride in getting results for his clients. Mr. Stone received his B.A. from Franklin & Marshall College, his J.D. from the University of Richmond, Virginia, and studied International Law at Cambridge University. Mr. Stone is a frequent lecturer at seminars and nation-wide and international conferences regarding trade secrets, trade dress, and theft-of-ideas, and has published numerous articles on those and other issues. He is also co-chair of the ABA’s Litigation Section’s Trade Secrets Subcommittee, and co-editor of the ABA ABA’s Litigation Section’s Intellectual Property Newsletter.