Non-Compete/Trade Secrets

When a major distributor of grain elevator parts learned that a former employee had started a competing business using the distributor’s confidential information, it reached out to Armstrong Teasdale lawyers for help.

AT lawyers learned that two other employees, who had remained at the distributor, were feeding the competitor such proprietary information as customer and supplier names as well as sensitive financial data including pricing, margin and other information. One of the employees eventually left to join the competitor while the other continued to steal information.

The flow of this valuable information to the competitor was a significant threat to our client. After thoroughly investigating the matter, we filed suit in St. Louis County Court. The case resulted in an eight day jury trial and a complete plaintiff’s victory.

Our client’s experience mirrors that of so many other companies that have suffered at the hands of those who steal trade secrets and other confidential information that comprise some of their most valuable assets.

The firm’s Non-Compete/Trade Secrets Practice Group protects your business from unfair competition by implementing safeguards to protect these assets and by pursuing effective litigation strategies when this property is threatened. The practice has significant experience in handling a diverse array of non-compete and trade secrets cases.

In today’s technology-driven environment, it is often critical to utilize computer forensics research in non-compete and trade secrets cases. The ability to recover deleted files, browser history, and document routing can often protect a company. Therefore, we have developed an In-house Technology Forensics Team. This unique capability allows our team to react immediately to an emergent non-compete /trade secrets situation.

Contact Bill Corrigan for additional information on keeping your business safe.