International Trade Secrets: A Strategic Overview
Design and implement a global strategy to address trade secret issues and understand the compelling need to protect key company information globally. Review and discuss such topics as the viability of “global” noncompete restrictions; nonsolicit requirements; alternatives to traditional employment-related agreements for protecting business interests (including “claw back” provisions, bonus restrictions, restricted equity and phantom equity); and related trends concerning a global workforce (including employment process, benefits, compensation, taxation, data privacy, severance and more). Specific examples from China, India, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Mexico and other jurisdictions are highlighted throughout the program.
Learning Objectives:
- Recognize new alternatives for protecting business information and trade secrets.
- Develop new strategies for enhancing the scope and ability to implement and manage an effective trade secrets protection program on a worldwide basis.
- Recognize the legal, cultural and relationship challenges to the enforcement of agreements related to trade secrets.
- Understand how the various and very different rules among jurisdictions can be managed with respect to business decisions.
- Appreciate the legal and cultural limitations to restrictions on employment.
- Hone the skills to inform and advise fellow senior leadership, and to influence the management of new hires and departures at the senior level to ensure the retention of critical business information.
William David Wright
William D. Wight is a partner in the Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. offices and is the chair of the firm's International Employment Practice Group. He counsels employers on various global employment, compensation and benefit issues related to employees abroad, as well as foreign nationals working in the U.S. and the employment of the U.S. permanent residents and citizens abroad. Bill has worked with compliance issues related to hiring, retention and separation of employees in a multitude of jurisdictions. His experience with global employment issues has helped him assist our clients with international operations on all sevel continents including Antarctica. Bill has assisted clients with the implementation of strategic planning and policy development with respect to global HR practices and policies. He has also assisted clients with the management of litigation and employment controversy matters in numerous international jurisdictions. Bill has also counseled clients based outside the United States with the special considerations that are required when complying with U.S. employment and employee benefit rules and regulations. Bill is regularly involved with resolving questions related to privacy and data protection issues.