Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton
Firm overview:
California-headquartered Sheppard Mullin has a substantial trade secrets practice, with legal aptitude across both protection and enforcement aspects regarding misappropriation. Its trade secrets attorneys span multiple practice areas including IP, Litigation, Labour & Employment, and International Trade, and have technical expertise in a wide range of technologies.
The team advises on trade secrets disputes in federal and state court, and provides on-site training programmes regarding trade secret and unfair competition issues.
Team overview:
A go-to contact at Sheppard Mullin for trade secrets matters is partner Kazim Naqvi, who handles high-stakes disputes between competitors. Naqvi prosecutes and defends claims under the California Uniform Trade Secrets Act, Defend Trade Secrets Act, and other state trade secrets laws. His expertise covers all aspects of trade secrets litigation.
Other lawyers with trade secrets expertise at the firm include Robert Masters, a partner in the IP group based in Washington, DC. A first-chair trial counsel, Masters has handled numerous trade secrets matters including obtaining a $38.6 million jury verdict for Qorvo in Delaware.
Key matters:
- Qorvo v Akoustis Technologies et al
In May 2024, Sheppard Mullin won a $38.6 million verdict for client Qorvo following a two-week jury trial over allegations of trade secret misappropriation and patent infringement by Akoustis. The jury found that Akoustis had misappropriated more than 36 of Qorvo’s trade secrets. In September 2024, a federal judge awarded the wireless company nearly $12 million in legal fees.
An appeal to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit was filed, but dismissed by agreement of the parties in June 2025. Akoustis filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December 2024.
Partner Robert Masters led the team for Qorvo, which was also represented by Morris Nichols. The case is Qorvo v Akoustis Technologies et al, 1:21-cv-01417, US District Court for the District of Delaware.
Clients:
Qorvo
