Trade Secret Dispute Resolution for International Technology Firm

An international technology company faced misappropriation of proprietary algorithms by a former employee. We achieved an injunction and monetary settlement protecting the client's core intellectual property.

Background / Issue

Our client, an international technology firm with operations in Korea, discovered that a former senior engineer had joined a domestic competitor and was allegedly using proprietary algorithms and technical documentation developed during their employment. The potential damage extended beyond Korea to the client's global operations, as the technology represented a significant competitive advantage in a specialized market segment.

Our Legal Approach

We moved swiftly to obtain a preliminary injunction preventing the competitor from using the disputed technology. Our team conducted forensic analysis of the former employee's digital footprint, identified unauthorized data transfers, and retained technical experts to compare the proprietary and allegedly misappropriated code. We filed both civil claims for trade secret misappropriation and criminal charges for breach of the Unfair Competition Prevention Act.

Result / Outcome

The court granted the preliminary injunction. Following a mediated settlement, the competitor agreed to permanently cease use of the disputed technology, return all proprietary materials, and pay substantial damages. The former employee entered into a separate settlement with non-compete and confidentiality obligations. The client's core intellectual property was secured without the need for a full trial.