Restrictive Covenants and Trade Secret Protection

Companies face tougher challenges than ever before. Competition over talent gives workers greater mobility and incentives to move from job to job. Professionals increasingly work remotely, sometimes across state and international borders. Employees, contractors, vendors and customers gain access to more and more corporate data and technology. Intellectual property and trade secrets, from customer lists to recipes and proprietary processes to financial data, give companies competitive advantage.  

Altogether, these factors add up to amplified vulnerability for data breaches, theft and exposure of valuable trade secrets, as well as poaching of customers and employees. Offit Kurman knows how hard you have worked to build your business, so we work diligently to help you protect it, negotiating, drafting and enforcing contractual obligations between businesses and their employees, suppliers, distributors and business partners.  

The attorneys in the Restrictive Covenants practice work collaboratively with firm Business, Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property and Employment lawyers, as well as those with relevant industry knowledge, to negotiate, draft and enforce contracts that include the appropriate restrictive covenants allowed by state and federal law to protect your business interests.

This hybrid team provides auditing services focused on the identification and protection of trade secrets, pre-litigation counseling on restrictive covenants and confidentiality agreements, enforcement of employment agreements, and defense of restrictive covenant claims. When a matter leads to litigation, we offer sophisticated legal strategies for addressing the complex business tort and intellectual property claims that often accompany restrictive covenants and trade secret protection litigation.

Employment Contract Covenants

We help employers and key executives draft, negotiate, implement and enforce policies and agreements related to all manner of restrictive covenants, including nondisclosure and confidentiality, non-solicitation and noncompete agreements, where they are permitted.

Trade Secret Protection

Our audit team will identify your trade secrets and review current measures taken to protect valuable proprietary information and customer relationships. We will work alongside your organization’s senior management and leadership team to develop, interpret and enforce organizational trade secret policies and procedures, putting your company in the best position possible should the need for an enforcement action arise.

Internal Investigations

If a privacy incident or breach occurs, Offit Kurman will ensure you respond in a timely, compliant and cost-effective manner. Our lawyers — some of whom have served as regulators, corporate in-house counsel, privacy officers and law enforcement — know the ins and outs of conducting internal investigations, as well as how to develop internal investigation standards.

Trials, Claims and Disputes

Offit Kurman’s attorneys help companies move and respond to pre-trial motions, such as temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions, cease and desist letters, and tortious interference notices. We have successfully represented clients in mediation, arbitration and settlement negotiations. When litigation is unavoidable, our trial-ready attorneys work diligently to bring the case to a swift and conclusive end, fighting for your rights every step of the way.

Learn More About Restrictive Covenants

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    Offit Kurman Represents 1Aardvark in Acquisition by CesiumAstro
    Offit Kurman is pleased to announce its representation of 1Aardvark, LLC, a Virginia-based company specializing in mission software, advanced algorithms, and systems engineering solutions supporting national defense programs, in its acquisition by CesiumAstro Inc., a global leader in advanced space communications and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems. The transaction was announced on August 18, 2026. The acquisition brings together 1Aardvark's deep expertise in mission-critical software and engineering with CesiumAstro's pioneering capabilities in space communications and ISR technologies. According to CesiumAstro, the transaction enhances its ability to deliver autonomous and resilient space systems for demanding operational environments. Offit Kurman advised 1Aardvark throughout the transaction, providing strategic legal counsel on corporate, transactional, and related matters to support the successful completion of the acquisition. Those participating in the engagement included Ryan Alexander, Gary Brackett, Robin Gilden, Pavan Mehrotra, Jim Arico, Debbie Petito, and Scott Tippett. “This transaction represents a significant milestone for 1Aardvark and our team. We are deeply grateful to Ryan Alexander and the professionals at Offit Kurman for their outstanding guidance and steadfast support throughout the acquisition process,” said Ryan Kenward, President of 1Aardvark.  “Their insight, judgment, and dedication to achieving our objectives played a critical role in bringing this transaction to a successful close. We thank them for being trusted advisors every step of the way.” The acquisition underscores continued investment and consolidation within the aerospace, defense technology, and national security sectors, where software-driven capabilities and resilient space infrastructure remain increasingly important. About 1Aardvark 1Aardvark is a Virginia-based engineering and technology company specializing in mission software, algorithms, and systems engineering solutions supporting national defense missions.
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    Princeton will serve as the backdrop for three days of connection, learning, and design leadership. From keynotes to tours to the Tri-State Design Awards, this year’s conference is designed to go far beyond education sessions. Kick off the week with pre-conference intensives and individual state component Design Award celebrations, followed by three days of education, inspiration, networking, and design excellence at the 2026 AIA Tri-State Conference—featuring pre-conference intensives, three keynote speakers, 25 education sessions, curated tours, an expo, spec academies, and the AIA Tri-State Design Awards—bringing together architects and design professionals from New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania to connect, learn, and celebrate the best of the profession. G2. Designing Secure Practices: Cybersecurity, Data Privacy, Contractual Provisions, and Insurance Risks for Architects (4:00 PM - 5:30 PM) Architects and design professionals increasingly rely on cloud platforms, BIM software, and digital tools to manage sensitive data, creating cybersecurity and privacy risks. A single incident can trigger liability claims, regulatory obligations, reputational harm, and insurance challenges. Yet many firms underestimate how contracts, insurance, and internal practices intersect during a breach. This program offers legal and insurance perspectives on cyber risk in architecture, examining liability exposure, risky contract provisions, and mitigation strategies. A cyber insurance expert will explain policy responses, coverage gaps, coordination with professional liability, and best practices for aligning insurance with contractual risk and protecting firms from evolving cyber threats. Learning Objectives: Identify key cybersecurity and data privacy risks faced by architecture firms and explain how these risks can impact professional liability and project outcomes. Analyze common contractual provisions to determine which clauses may increase exposure to cyber incidents and propose strategies to mitigate these risks. Evaluate the scope and limitations of cyber insurance policies, including coordination with professional liability coverage, to determine how a policy would respond in a breach scenario. Develop actionable risk management strategies by integrating legal, contractual, and insurance considerations to protect sensitive client and project data.