Dentons

Firm overview:

Dentons—a full-service firm with offices in more than 80 countries—manages to run a thriving trade secrets practice with a robust reputation for its “powerful global network and reach”.

Specialists are located in nine offices: Frankfurt, Berlin, London, Paris, Milan, Montreal, Washington, Canberra and Seoul. This “vast global presence and depth of knowledge” allows for a “cohesive and informed approach to protecting trade secrets internationally,” says one client.

Another client describes Dentons as “top dog” for trade secret matters with “tons of experience and know-how in this area…always ahead of the game and creative in telling us how to keep and handle our trade secrets in a changing legal and tech environment.”

The firm is a “reliable and trusted partner” that has “shown a keen understanding of our industry and strategic goals”, says another.

Frequently cited for its “outstanding” work, one client says their choice to work with Dentons on its global trade secret matters was “influenced by its unparalleled expertise, global footprint, and the positive, personalised service we’ve received.”

The practice tackles the entire spectrum of trade secrets matters, from theft of secrets by one employee or the poaching of an entire workforce, to computer fraud and abuse, and breach of confidentiality agreements or restrictive covenants.

Enforcement of clients’ rights through civil litigation is bolstered by frequent cooperation with prosecution services.

Team overview:

Dentons’ trade secrets practice is made up of “a specialised and highly competent team of lawyers who focus on trade secret protection, enforcement, and litigation, and who have a thorough knowledge of the relevant laws and practices in various countries and regions,” says one client testimonial.

Constantin Rehaag (Recommended) leads the practice, and co-leads the IP, Data and Technology Group in Europe. Based in Frankfurt, he is supported by “a talented and diverse team of counsel and associates”.

Rehaag and senior associate Carsten Goldstein are chosen by clients “primarily for their unparalleled expertise in the field”. Described by clients as both “outstanding” and “brilliant”, Rehaag is “a respected expert on trade secret law, a fierce litigator and a trusted advisor, who mixes legal smarts, strategic vision, and business sense.”

Clients appreciate Rehaag’s ability to listen to their needs: He provides “suitable, holistic and creative solutions based on his deep knowledge of our business,” says one. “He always pays attention to what we need and worry about, and he gives us clear, practical, and customised advice,” says another.

Beyond business, he is also noted for being “very friendly, easy going, and communicative” and “a pleasure to work with”, say clients and peers alike.

Berlin-based Stefan Dittmer (Recommended) is co-head, IP & Technology in Germany and facilitates Dentons’ global Trade Secrets Working Group. His practice has a global outlook with a strong trade secrets thread. As part of his practice, he advises on complex technology and content sourcing projects in the automotive and other industry sectors, and on technology-driven M&A transactions in this field.

Key matters:

• Philips Medical Systems v Transtate Equipment / Avante Health Solutions
  In a case valued at more than $20 million, Dentons secured a victory for client Transtate Equipment Company / Avante Health Solutions in a medical equipment dispute. Dentons was brought in by the client to take over defence in a long-pending case brought by Philips before the case went to trial. Philips was seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages based on claims including trade secret misappropriation.
  
  After a month-long trial in April 2023, a Dentons team led by partner Kirk Ruthenberg secured a victory for the client, with the jury finding that Transtate/Avante had not misappropriated any trade secrets. The judge trebled the damages award that Dentons’ secured against Philips and entered judgment in Transtate/Avante’s favour for more than $2.5 million.
• Rokt Corp. et al v AdsPostX et al
  Dentons’ client Rokt, an e-commerce enablement and marketing technology company, brought this pending trade secret misappropriation case against AdsPostX and its founder, Jon Nolz, in October 2023. Defendants are alleged to have stolen Rokt’s trade secrets and launched the first e-commerce marketing platform to compete with Rokt.

Clients:

König & Bauer, Bluesafety, Roche Pharma, LG Chem/LG Energy Solution, RoX; CM Blue, Spaleck Oberflächentechnik, PETT, Fluorchemie, Stulln, Ringspann, KL Discovery, Mobility Trader Holding.