Trade Secret Protection & Litigation
Your customer list, your pricing model, your proprietary process — the information that gives your business its edge is only an asset if it stays yours. Williams Taylor Law, P.A. helps Fort Lauderdale and South Florida businesses protect trade secrets before they walk out the door and litigates misappropriation claims when they do.
What Qualifies as a Trade Secret
Under Florida's Uniform Trade Secrets Act, a trade secret is information deriving independent economic value from not being generally known, subject to reasonable efforts to maintain secrecy. Customer lists, pricing structures, proprietary software, manufacturing processes, and business methods can qualify.
Building Trade Secret Protection
A program, not a document: tailored NDAs for employees, contractors, vendors, and partners; confidentiality policies; access controls and exit procedures; coordinated restrictive covenants pairing NDAs with non-compete and non-solicitation provisions.
Trade Secret Litigation
Misappropriation includes acquiring through improper means or disclosing/using in breach of a duty of secrecy. Relief includes injunctions (including against threatened misappropriation), actual losses plus unjust enrichment, and for willful and malicious misappropriation up to double damages and attorney's fees. We pursue these claims and defend businesses accused of misappropriation.
Trade Secrets and Employee Departures
Most disputes begin when someone leaves. Exit interviews, return-of-property certifications, and reminder letters prevent much — and create evidence when prevention fails. Trade secret claims often travel with non-compete disputes; we handle both as one coordinated matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a trade secret under Florida law? A: Information with independent economic value from secrecy, guarded by reasonable efforts — e.g., customer lists, pricing models, proprietary processes.
Q: Do I need a written agreement? A: Written NDAs are the strongest evidence of reasonable efforts, which Florida law requires.
Q: What can I recover? A: Injunctions, actual damages, unjust profits; up to double damages plus fees for willful and malicious misappropriation.
Q: A former employee took our client list — is that a trade secret? A: Possibly, depending on economic value from secrecy and reasonable protective efforts.
Q: How do trade secrets differ from patents? A: Patents protect inventions publicly for a limited time; trade secrets protect confidential information indefinitely, only while secret.
Related: Practice Areas · Non-Compete Agreements · Non-Compete Litigation · Non-Solicitation Agreements · Intellectual Property
Schedule a strategy session. To protect your confidential information or pursue a misappropriation claim, call Williams Taylor Law, P.A. at (954) 507-7732 or visit our Fort Lauderdale office at 515 E. Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301.
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