Trade Secrets
Allen & Overy’s global Trade Secrets law practice is deeply resourced, with over 420 litigators and 120 IP lawyers around the world.
A&O’s rapid response in critical trade secrets cases has successfully prevented the exposure of confidential information, saving our clients millions of dollars and preventing the loss of critical competitive advantage.
With a track record of advising on some of the biggest and most significant trade secrets matters in the courts, we are well versed in quickly deploying local and international legal and regulatory tools to prevent the flow of confidential information across the globe. We work alongside our top-tier employment and commercial litigation teams to deliver a multi-disciplinary approach, as well as working closely with cybercrime teams in local, federal and international enforcement agencies to complement civil measures.
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Meet our lawyers
Our experience
Zimmer Biomet
in defending complex trade secrets litigation brought by Heraeus regarding bone cements.
RF Micro Devices
(now Qorvo) on enforcing trade secrets against its former employees and the competing companies that they set up. This is believed to be the first parallel enforcement in China and the U.S. for trade secret violations.
A major international hedge fund
in relation to the theft of highly valuable confidential information and trading strategies by a rogue employee. This was a critical case for the client with significant potential losses flowing from the use of its confidential information.
A successful quantitative hedge fund
in a dispute with a group of senior employees who had been poached by a competitor to create a copycat investment fund.
News and insights
Publications: 31 May 2023
When reputation fails to bring it home for Crossfit
On appeal from the UKIPO, the Lord Chancellor’s Appointed Person Phillip Johnson has rejected a trade mark opposition brought by Crossfit against a new mark for health and fitness services. Despite…
Publications: 10 January 2023
The key to unlocking a successful trade secrets strategy
Having the right procedures in place can avert breaches of sensitive information—and be crucial in case of emergencies.
Publications: 16 June 2022
Trade secrets and the inevitable disclosure doctrine
Paul Keller and Gideon Duke Cohan co-authored the article, "Trade secrets and the inevitable disclosure doctrine: In California, worrying really doesn’t get you anywhere," for Attorney at Law Magazine…
Publications: 09 June 2022
Taiwan Insights webinar: Global trade secret protection - what Taiwan businesses need to know
Trade secrets continue to be a critical challenge for Taiwanese businesses as global competition and tech innovation continues to grow.
Recognition of our work
I am very pleased with their legal and technical ability, their responsiveness and the easy-going yet hard-working manner with which they conduct themselves.
Chambers 2019 Intellectual Property
The intellectual property team at Allen & Overy attracts praise for its outstanding ability, client awareness and total commitment to the cases it handles.
Legal 500 2019 Intellectual Property
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