Speaking Engagement

Your Trade Secret May Be at Risk: What Should You Do in the Early Stages of a Trade Secret Dispute?

Blank Rome partner Leigh Ann Buziak will serve as a panelist at Practising Law Institute’s (“PLI”) Advanced Trade Secrets 2022: New Risks, New Challenges, New Ideas, being held in San Francisco, California, on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Trade secrets can be among an organization’s most valuable assets—when you know how to identify, protect, and safely share them. Trade secrets law can protect cutting edge new technologies, improvements to mature technologies, and a host of valuable technical and strategic information in between. But misappropriation and claims of misappropriation can derail an organization’s business strategies. They can even lead to criminal exposure and liability. Judgments in the scores of millions of dollars and even more are becoming increasingly common. So are reversals. The importance of trade secrets law and the potential risks to trade secrets is magnified when employees and consultants who have become immersed in trade secrets move among multiple players in the industry, or even just work remotely. But trade secret disputes are not confined to the realm of migratory employees. Increasingly, sharing trade secrets when considering potential mergers, acquisitions, and business collaborations can bring great opportunity. It can also place information and business at great risk. To maximize value and reduce risk from trade secrets, organizations must stay on top of the latest developments.

This program brings together thought leaders in the field to help you do just that.

Leigh Ann’s session, “Your Trade Secret May Be at Risk: What Should You Do in the Early Stages of a Trade Secret Dispute?” will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and will cover how lawyers can help manage the learning process needed to handle trade secret disputes, which often start with a demand for action and a shortage of information on both sides. Topics include:

• Is there a problem? What is it, and how can you investigate?
• What should you do before commencing suit?
• Using digital forensics on both sides to detect and reduce risk
• Something went wrong: fixing mistakes on both sides of the dispute
• Evaluating risks and establishing goals

Other program sessions include:

• A Trade Secrets Crash Course: What Courts, Legislatures, and Business Organizations Are Doing Now about Trade Secrets Disputes
• I Have a Contract, So Why Do I Have to Think about Trade Secrets Law?
• Why Should Lawyers Consider Criminal Issues When Litigating a Civil Trade Secret Dispute?
• Damages for Trade Secrets Misappropriation
• Ethical Issues in Trade Secrets Disputes

CLE credit may be available.

PLI is a nonprofit learning organization dedicated to keeping attorneys and professionals at the forefront of knowledge and expertise, as well as preparing them to fulfill their pro bono responsibilities.

To register or for more information, please visit the program webpage.