Greenberg Traurig

Firm overview:

Greenberg Traurig’s Trade Secrets Practice is trusted by clients to handle the full range of trade secrets matters, from protection to enforcement. Drawing from expertise across the firm, the team is able to serve clients quickly and efficiently, working in collaboration with colleagues in dozens of offices. Greenberg Traurig attorneys have been called upon for their investigative and litigation expertise in cases related to technology, customer list, new business model and employee trade secrets.

The practice has gained increasing recognition in the US over the years, notably for its thought leadership on trade secrets. Greenberg Traurig’s Trade Secret Law Evolution Podcast, hosted by Jordan Grotzinger, offers bite-size commentary on the latest cases and trends. Its lawyers can often be found speaking at industry conferences, offering their knowledge on trade secrets protection and management.

Team overview:

The firm’s multidisciplinary team is adept at litigating trade secrets cases in the state and federal courts. Its attorneys also conduct trade secrets audits, and are well known for their strategic approaches to trade secrets discovery.

Shareholder Kurt Kappes is co-chair of the firm’s Labour & Employment Practice’s Litigation and Trials group. A seasoned litigator, Kappes also taught a course in trade secrets and employee mobility for nearly a decade at the University of California, Davis. His experience includes representing 3M in an action for misappropriation of trade secrets against a competitor, and representing Medtronic in a matter involving non-compete and non-solicit provisions in an employment agreement.

Co-chair of Greenberg Traurig’s Los Angeles Litigation practice, Jordan Grotzinger is considered a national thought leader on trade secret law. He founded and hosts the firm’s Trade Secret Law Evolution podcast, which is downloaded by professionals around the world looking to stay abreast of the latest developments in the field. His clients for trade secrets matters include Fortune 150 real estate companies, major computer manufacturers and a geospatial imaging company. Grotzinger has represented businesses in courtrooms across California, including the California Court of Appeal and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Trial lawyer and shareholder Greg Bombard is based in the firm’s Boston office and regularly represents both plaintiffs and defendants in trade secrets cases. He handles litigation for life sciences, technology, and manufacturing companies in state and federal courts, as well as in arbitration proceedings. Bombard has represented a number of biotechnology companies in cases involving trade secrets misappropriation, including a client that was acquired by Novo Nordisk for $3.3 billion following resolution of the litigation.

Key matters:

• Samsara v Motive Technologies, Superior Court of the State of California for the County of San Francisco, Case No. CGC-24-619720

Greenberg Traurig represents Motive Technologies in a trade secrets dispute with its competitor Samsara. The companies, which provide fleet management solutions, have fired lawsuits at each other, with Samsara accusing Motive of copying its technology and Motive’s claims against its rival including patent infringement, theft of IP and trade secrets, and anti-competitive behaviour. Samsara filed a new lawsuit against Motive in November 2024 containing trade secrets allegations.

Clients:

3M, Cision, Living Harvest, Medtronic, Micron, Motive Technologies, TEVA, World Financial Group