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Overview

Whether secret formulas/recipes, algorithms, manufacturing techniques, or valuable business information (e.g., customer lists), Calfee’s Trade Secret practice is adept at recognizing and documenting trade secrets, which can be critical for establishing prior user rights and seeking relief for misappropriation.

Calfee’s trade secret attorneys have experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in trade secret matters across diverse industries, involving both state and federal law. We also have experience coordinating with law enforcement officials during trade secret theft investigations.

Calfee’s attorneys have worked closely with clients to establish workplace cultures (e.g., standards and controls) that foster the safekeeping of trade secrets. We partner with clients to perform periodic audits to ensure that trade secret portfolios evolve as a company’s proprietary technology evolves.

Our trade secret lawyers frequently assist clients with trade secret-related issues, such as drafting and reviewing agreements with third parties involving the sharing of trade secrets, as well as providing guidance on leveraging proprietary technology to strengthen a company’s brand and, thus, its valuation.

Noteworthy

Chambers USA Leading Law Firm Rankings

Since 2004, Calfee has been recognized as a Leading Law Firm for Intellectual Property by Chambers USA, most recently in Band 1 in Ohio (2023).

Clients provided feedback to Chambers USA researchers, "Calfee is esteemed for its handling of IP litigation and portfolio management on behalf of large clients in Ohio and the Midwest and across the USA. The IP team is highly experienced in the engineering, chemical, and biological sectors, with notable abilities in handling matters for consumer products and manufacturing clients. The team is responsive, practical, and extremely knowledgeable."

Clients interviewed by Chambers USA said, "The firm offers excellent value for its services. The team is dedicated and provides sophisticated IP legal services at an attractive cost. Calfee's IP attorneys are highly regarded; they are true experts, and they do excellent work for their clients. This is a power bench; the team works well together and supports each other well. Each individual is responsive and knowledgeable in their expertise and experience. This is definitely one of my favorite firms to work with."

Chambers USA researchers also found Calfee's IP team to be held in "very high regard by fellow practitioners who note Calfee's extensive experience representing clients in wider patent and trademark matters, IP litigation matters, appellate work, and advising companies on managing IP assets in China."

Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” Rankings

Calfee was selected for inclusion in the 2024 "Best Law Firms" rankings in the following areas:

  • Litigation – Intellectual Property (National Tier 3, Regional Tier 1 Cleveland)
  • Patent Law (Regional Tier 1 Cleveland)
  • Chambers USA 2023 A Firm Badge

Professionals

Experience

Experience

  • Representing a public, Fortune 1000 company and global manufacturer in its U.S. patent prosecution and global IP strategy, working with its in-house IP counsel. Calfee oversees the drafting of patent applications directed to highly complex systems and counsels the client on critical IP-related issues such as freedom-to-practice, trade secret strategies, and innovation harvesting.
  • Serving as chief outside IP counsel for a multi-billion dollar, publicly traded, Fortune 1000, multinational holding company with multiple operating companies based in the U.S. and abroad. Calfee is responsible for all patent matters and assists many of the operating companies with the prosecution of patent applications, both in the U.S. and internationally. Calfee manages the U.S. trademark and patent work directly and supervises a network of foreign associates when action is required in foreign jurisdictions. Calfee also offers primary counsel on the impact of corporate reorganization efforts on the ownership and management of the IP of the operating companies. Calfee IP lawyers supervise most of the intellectual property due diligence related to the mergers and acquisition activity of the client. Calfee represents the company in several trade secret matters and other IP litigation matters.
  • Representing a publicly traded, Fortune 1000 company and its operating entities spanning several continents in its complex intellectual property litigation and transactional matters. These matters range from complex IP deals (purchases, licensing, government contract issues) to infringement and theft of trade secret disputes, including multiple multi-million-dollar patent enforcement matters, an IP Option and Evaluation agreement to acquire a large IP portfolio and to assume government contracts, and an arbitration/litigation matter to resolve trade secret and contract claims relating to military and civilian systems.
  • Serving as global Intellectual Property Lead Counsel for an Asia-based manufacturer, representing the client in district court litigation matters and prosecuting patent applications. The patent work for this client includes patent infringement matters filed in district courts in two states and the Federal Circuit as well as in six inter partes reviews before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. These actions are being heard in a variety of forums in four countries.

News & Events

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    "Calfee's IP group is esteemed for its handling of IP litigation and portfolio management on behalf of large clients in Ohio, the Midwest, and across the USA. They are highly experienced in the engineering, chemical, and biological sectors, with notable abilities in handling matters for consumer products and manufacturing clients."

    Client quote, Chambers USA 

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