Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom

Firm overview:

US powerhouse Skadden is widely recognised for its strength in IP litigation, and routinely handles matters across a variety of fields in which intangible assets are key. Commenting on the firm’s trade secrets capabilities, a peer concedes that Skadden makes “all the right moves” and are “very tough opponents, very professional”.

The firm combines technical know-how and broad legal experience to assist clients in protecting their trade secrets and defending against misappropriation claims. Highlights for the team include representing Walmart against multibillion-dollar trade secrets and breach of contract claims by Zest Labs relating to technology for forecasting produce spoilage, and a defence verdict for Universal Alloy Corporation against trade secrets claims concerning aluminium alloy aircraft components.

Team overview:

“Skadden are really good lawyers. They’re very tough opponents,” says a peer with in-depth knowledge of the US trade secrets legal community.

Christopher Clark, based in the firm’s Boston office, is one such “tough opponent” on trade secrets cases, and singled out by an industry counterpart as “a very good lawyer”. Clark represents US and international clients in high-stakes litigation and regulatory matters, with his expertise including trade secrets misappropriation and noncompetition disputes.

The firm strengthened its trade secrets capabilities at the end of 2024 with the addition of first-chair trial lawyer Bijal Vakil, who joined from legacy firm Allen & Overy and advises on the full range of contentious IP matters.

Key matters:

• OpenEvidence v Doximity et al

Skadden is defending Doximity, while Quinn Emanuel represents OpenEvidence, in a trade secrets battle between two major players in the healthcare artificial intelligence (AI) space.

Clients:

Doximity, Palantir Technologies