Seyfarth Shaw
Firm overview:
Seyfarth Shaw is a “very good shop”, says a peer who refers trade secrets work to the firm. Seyfarth’s Trade Secrets, Computer Fraud, and Non-Competes Practice is fully integrated with the international employment, IP, cybersecurity, and data privacy teams, providing clients with holistic, business-oriented counsel.
The firm is regularly retained in trade secrets disputes for clients that operate globally, in industries including technology, life sciences, financial services, and manufacturing. Highlights include a significant US trade secrets victory safeguarding proprietary electric vehicle technology, valued in the billions.
Seyfarth is also a trusted advisor on trade secrets matters outside of dispute resolution, and works closely with clients to improve their internal processes for protecting confidential information. This includes hosting client workshops on trade secrets and writing legal updates on critical issues such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) non-compete ban. The team also provides trade secrets audits and investigations, supported by experts in eDiscovery and digital forensics.
Team overview:
Michael Wexler is “an excellent lawyer”, says a peer, who counts him among the “original trade secret non-compete specialists in the country”. National chair of the Trade Secrets, Computer Fraud and Non-Competes practice group, Wexler is regularly called upon by Fortune 500 companies for representation in business-critical trade secrets matters. Based in Chicago, Wexler’s courtroom victories include one of the largest settlements in the US in 2024 involving EV source code, and he has argued precedent-setting cases before the Ninth Circuit.
Marcus Mintz, a partner in the Trade Secrets, Computer Fraud and Non-Competes practice based in Los Angeles, is “the smartest” and “a great guy”, says a peer, who sees Mintz as playing a significant role in Seyfarth’s trade secrets offering. Mintz, who frequently contributes to the firm’s Trading Secrets blog, has represented a wide range of clients including medical device manufacturers, software and technology consultants, automotive manufacturers and insurance companies.
A notable departure from the team is that of Robert Milligan, described by peers “one of the big names in the trade secrets arena”. Milligan, whose practice encompassed a wide variety of commercial litigation and employment matters, has retired from the firm.
Also recognised by peers for being “an extremely experienced and strategic trade secrets/employee mobility litigator”, Katherine Perrelli, a former co-chair of the national Trade Secrets, Computer Fraud and Non-Competes practice, has also left Seyfarth and is working as a mediator.
