Complex IP litigation, alleged misappropriations and breaches of contract are mainstays of the trade secrets offering at Seyfarth Shaw LLP which is well-equipped to assist its sector-spanning client portfolio, which includes significant names from the pharma, medical devices, tech and healthcare spheres in particular. Team leads are Michael Wexler who is based in Chicago, Robert Milligan who works from the Los Angeles hub and Katherine Perrelli in the Boston office. Wexler has expertise handling tech-related work including electric vehicles, medical devices and remote storage-related cases; Milligan assists multinational corporations with trade secret, non-compete and data protection work; while Perrelli has a specialism in the enforcement of restrictive covenants and NDAs. Jesse Coleman in Houston has a particular focus on related healthcare disputes, while Dawn Mertineit in Boston is an authority in litigation. Joshua Salinas is a standout associate in LA. Commercial litigation specialists Jesse Miller and Jennifer Fearnow, formerly of Reed Smith LLP, have bolstered the team in San Francisco. Notably, trade secrets specialist Gary Friedman joined the New York team from Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP in February 2024.

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Key clients

Stryker Corporation
Karma Automotive
Capstone Logistics, Inc.
SeneGence International, Inc.
Whittier Trust Company
Panda Restaurant Group
JWE, Inc.
LG
Lonza Houston, Inc.
Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
US Foods
Korn Ferry
OnPrem Solutions

Work highlights

Represented Karma Automotive, LLC, which was the plaintiff in an action in the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas against several former Karma employees; DeLorean Motors Reimagined; and Reimagined Automotive.
Advising a well-known US restaurant chain on enforcement, counseling, and trade secret/non-compete transactions and litigation.
Protecting Stryker Corporation in trade secret and non-compete matters to protect its intellectual capital and workforce throughout the US in matters valued in the millions of dollars.

Lawyers

Leading associates

Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.

Joshua Salinas

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Leading partners

The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Partner

Ms. Perrelli is a partner in the Litigation Department of Seyfarth Shaw LLP. She is a trial lawyer with over 25 years of experience representing regional, national, and international corporations in the financial services, transportation, manufacturing, technology, pharmaceutical, and staffing industries. Her commercial practice focuses on trial work and counseling in the areas of trade secrets and restrictive covenants, unfair competition and complex commercial disputes, including dealer/franchise disputes, and contract disputes. Her experience spans all forms of dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration, as well as litigation in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies across the country. On the employment side, Ms. Perrelli’s practice focuses on trial work and counseling regarding executive compensation and employer compliance with the ADA, ADEA, Title VII and all other state and governmental laws affecting employers.