Beck Reed Riden LLP is pleased to share its 50 State and Federal Survey of Trade Secrets Laws compared with the Uniform Trade Secrets Act.
The chart is a state-by-state comparison of every state’s trade secrets laws (and the Economic Espionage Act, as amended by the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016) to the 1985 version (i.e., the most recent version) of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act.
- As of 2018, every state but New York has adopted the Uniform Trade Secrets Act (the UTSA) in one form or another. (There is some debate about whether Alabama or North Carolina actually adopted the UTSA; the Uniform Law Commissioners say that Alabama has adopted it, while North Carolina has not.)
- This redline comparison of each state’s trade secrets laws against the Uniform Trade Secrets Act shows the full scope of variations from state to state.
chart is viewable here. (It was originally prepared on August 14, 2016. The chart is regularly updated and remains current as of this month.)
In addition, for a comprehensive summary of recent trade secrets and noncompete legislative reforms and efforts at reform around the country, please see Russell Beck’s analysis here: Changing Trade Secrets | Noncompete Laws.
This 50 State and Federal trade secret law survey is intended both as a stand-alone resource and a companion to Beck Reed Riden LLP’s 50 State Survey Chart of Noncompete Laws. Beck Reed Riden LLP’s nationwide study of noncompete laws has been relied upon by the White House and the United States Department of the Treasury.
For up-to-the-minute analysis of legal issues concerning noncompete agreements in Massachusetts and across the United States, read Russell Beck’s blog, Fair Competition Law.
is among the leading authorities in trade secret, noncompete, and unfair competition law, and our experience handling these matters is backed by our extensive employment law and business litigation experience. Our hand-picked team combines attorneys with complementary expertise and practical experience. The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times have both cited Beck Reed Riden LLP’s noncompete agreement experience.
Russell Beck’s work in this area is well recognized; it includes:
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Over 25 years of working on trade secret, noncompete, and unfair competition matters
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Authoring the book Negotiating, Drafting, and Enforcing Noncompetition Agreements and Related Restrictive Covenants (5th ed., MCLE, Inc. 2015), used by other lawyers to help them with their noncompete cases
- Authoring the book Trade Secrets Law for the Massachusetts Practitioner (1st ed. MCLE 2019), covering trade secrets nationally, with a focus on Massachusetts law
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Drafting and advising on legislation for the Massachusetts Legislature to define, codify, and improve noncompetition law
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Teaching Trade Secrets and Restrictive Covenants at Boston University School of Law
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Founding and administrating the award-winning blog, Fair Competition Law
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Establishing and administrating the Noncompete Lawyers and Trade Secret Protection groups on LinkedIn, with over 2,000 members around the world
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Founded and chaired the Trade Secret / Noncompete Practice for an AmLaw 100 firm
In addition, each year since 2018, Russell and the firm were honored in Legal 500, which called the firm “a ‘highly sought-after gem of a firm’ . . . renowned for its restrictive covenants expertise” and noted that Russell is a ‘terrific’ practice head and ‘top-notch strategist’ . . . who is also ‘extremely effective and incredibly professional, with deep substantive knowledge’.”
Beck Reed Riden LLP is Boston’s innovative litigation boutique. Our lawyers have years of experience at large law firms, working with clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to start-ups and individuals. We focus on business litigation and labor and employment. We are experienced litigators and counselors, helping our clients as business partners to resolve issues and develop strategies that best meet our clients’ legal and business needs – before, during, and after litigation. We’re ready to roll up our sleeves and help you. Read more about us, the types of matters we handle, and what we can do for you here.