News + Insights

What to Do When Someone Steals Your Trade Secrets: A North Carolina Business Owner's Action Plan

Written By Isabelle M. Chammas, Angela P. Doughty, CIPP/US, AIGP, and Gavin B. Parsons

Your worst nightmare has become a reality: A former employee has taken your confidential information to a competitor. Maybe you've noticed unusual patterns in lost business, or perhaps another employee tipped you off abou…

Why Your Employees Are Your Biggest Trade Secret Risk (And What NC Business Owners Can Do About It)

Written By Will Oden, Gavin B. Parsons, and Hayley R. Wells

In today's digital workplace, protecting your company's trade secrets has never been more challenging. While external cyber threats make headlines, the reality is that your biggest risk often comes from within. For North …

Your Most Valuable Business Asset Might Not Be What You Think: Trade Secrets for NC Business Owners

Written By Gavin B. Parsons, Joseph A. Schouten, and Mark S. Wigley

In today's digital age, your company's most valuable assets might not be the equipment on your factory floor or the inventory in your warehouse – they might be the confidential information stored on your servers.&nbs…

Preventing Trade Secret Theft: Proactive Strategies for In-House Counsel

Written By Gavin B. Parsons, Mayukh Sircar, CIPP/US, and Devon D. Williams

Ed. Note: This is the last in a series of articles taken from Gavin Parsons' CLE presentation for the North Carolina Bar Association's Antitrust and Complex Business Dispute CLE Program presented on Thursday, January 30, 2…

Maximizing Recovery in Trade Secret Cases: A Guide to Damages and Remedies

Written By Isabelle M. Chammas, Michael J. Parrish, and Gavin B. Parsons

Ed. Note: This is the fourth in a series of articles taken from Gavin Parsons' CLE presentation for the North Carolina Bar Association's Antitrust and Complex Business Dispute CLE Program presented on Thursday, January 30,…

Litigating Trade Secret Cases: A Strategic Guide for In-House Counsel

Written By Edward J. "Trip" Coyne, III, E. Bradley Evans, and Gavin B. Parsons

Ed. Note: This is the third in a series of articles taken from Gavin Parsons' CLE presentation for the North Carolina Bar Association's Antitrust and Complex Business Dispute CLE Program presented on Thursday, January 30, …

Understanding Trade Secret Misappropriation: A Guide for In-House Counsel

Written By Alexander C. Dale, Gavin B. Parsons, and Mark S. Wigley

Ed. Note: This is the second in a series of articles taken from Gavin Parsons' CLE presentation for the North Carolina Bar Association's Antitrust and Complex Business Dispute CLE Program presented on Thursday, January 30,…

Trade Secret Protection in 2025: What In-House Counsel Need to Know

Written By Gavin B. Parsons, Joseph A. Schouten, and Ryan K. Simmons

Ed. Note: This is the first in a series of articles taken from Gavin Parsons' CLE presentation for the North Carolina Bar Association's Antitrust and Complex Business Dispute CLE Program presented on Thursday, January 30, …

Did We Accidentally Create a Franchise?

Written By Olivia G. Lewis and Erica B. E. Rogers

Venturing into the world of licensing may allow business owners to dip their toes into brand expansion without plunging into the complexities and legal requirements of franchising.   License agreements appeal to fast…

Food Giants Prepare for Battle Over Trade Secret Misappropriation

On July 19, 2016, the "You Pick Two®"-famous Panera Bread filed a lawsuit in St. Louis against Papa John's, claiming that the international pizza company hired away a Panera IT executive who is misappropriating trade s…