Quinn Emanuel
Firm overview:
Trade secrets litigation is a major part of Quinn Emanuel’s practice, and the firm’s clients in the field include Google, General Motors, IBM, Mattel, Shell, Pfizer, Virgin Galactic and Motorola.
Often involved in the highest-stakes, highest-profile trade secrets disputes, Quinn has a reputation as a formidable opponent, representing clients in state and federal courts as well as in arbitrations across the US and internationally. Among industry peers, opinion is split as to the level of specialism regarding trade secrets within the firm, but it is widely accepted—as one counterpart puts it—that “they’re very good and they attract a lot of work”.
For trade secrets misappropriation cases with criminal aspects, the firm calls upon its white collar specialists with expertise in the area, and was among the first law firms to represent an aggrieved client under the Economic Espionage Act. Quinn’s trade secrets disputes expertise extends from the investigative, pre-suit phase, to trial and final appeal.
Team overview:
Todd Anten (New York) and Rachel Epstein (New York) co-chair the Trademark, Copyright and Trade Secret practice, while Michael Zeller (Los Angeles) chairs the Trade Secret Litigation practice.
Zeller has more than 30 years of experience in IP law and complex commercial litigation, and his work highlights include a victory for Mattel in the Ninth Circuit against trade secret claims brought by MGA Entertainment, which was slated as one of the year’s most significant federal appellate decisions.
Silicon Valley partner Andrew Bramhall is “very good” according to an industry counterpart. Bramhall focuses on high-stakes IP disputes, particularly involving patents and trade secrets, and he has worked on matters involving a wide range of technologies from semiconductor processing to DNA printing and smartphones.
Key matters:
- NantWorks et al v Bank of America et al
Quinn represents NantWorks in a patent, trade secret and breach of contract case against Bank of America based on its mobile check deposit feature in its mobile banking app. The trade secrets claims are based on a collaboration between Bank of America and NantWorks’ predecessor to develop a mobile check deposit platform.
The case is NantWorks, LLC et al v Bank of America Corporation et al, US District Court for the Central District of California.
- Jane Street Group v Millennium Management
The team represented Jane Street Group in a Southern District of New York case. Jane Street Group accused two former traders of using its “immensely valuable” proprietary platform at rival investment company Millennium Management, causing the loss of $150 million in profits. A settlement was reached in December 2024.
- Roche Molecular v Stanford Oncologists & Foresight Diagnostics
Quinn Emanuel represents Foresight Diagnostics in a trade secrets lawsuit filed by Roche.
Clients:
Avery Dennison, Barnes & Noble, Corbis, Dow Chemical, easyJet Airlines, eBay, Foresight Diagnostics, Fox, General Motors, Google, HBO, Home Depot, IBM, Intuit, Mattel, Motorola, MTV, Napster, Northrop Grumman, Olaplex, Paramount, Pfizer, Pinterest, Shell, Warner Home Video
