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Trade Secrets

Allen & Overy’s global Trade Secrets law practice is deeply resourced, with over 420 litigators and 200 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.

Our experience

Zimmer Biomet

Zimmer Biomet

in defending complex trade secrets litigation brought by Heraeus regarding bone cements.

RF Micro Devices

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

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

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

Zoomed in computer microchip

Publications: 05 March 2024

Generative AI hardware – the other arms race

Generative AI has captivated the world over the past year. But these transformative technologies would not be possible without the specialized hardware and infrastructure that enable the large…

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A group of colleagues in a modern conference room

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.

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Lights from cars travelling along a busy motorway at night

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…

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server room

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. 

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Recognition of our work

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