Waddey & Patterson, P.C.
THE WADDEY & PATTERSON DIFFERENCE
We have successfully represented clients in cases relating to trade secrets, both in and out of court. We are committed to developing a deep understanding of your business and technology needs, because that knowledge is fundamental to providing effective trade secret litigation services.
We are a mid-sized firm able to handle large matters, yet not too large to give attention to your needs and the uniqueness of each IP matter. In short, we have the "intellectual critical mass" your I.P. protection requires.
While large firms have checklists that are used in every matter because they cannot otherwise effectively manage their attorneys, we understand that each IP matter is unique. This allows us to address each IP matter individually, which leads to a better result and lower cost.
We have remarkably low turnover where the best legal minds can stay for an entire career. Chances are that the attorney at the beginning of a project will see it through to the end. We do not rely upon the economic model of leveraging associates. We also do not have the overhead inherent with firms in larger markets. Therefore, we can provide you with the services of our senior attorneys at rates charged by junior associates in larger firms. We do not need to resort to over-staffing your case in order to bolster our fees.
Bottom Line: Our legal team has the unique combination of practical experience and value-driven legal performance it takes to move your ideas forward.
CASE STUDY :: HOW W&P ADDS VALUE
We represented an automotive equipment company who was sued by a competitor for trade secret theft when it hired a former employee of the competitor. In addition to charging our client less than half of what the competitor's counsel from a larger market was charger, we were able to navigate our client and the employee through the civil and criminal implications.
We understood that the first best step in defeating a trade secret misappropriation case is to get the claimant to list with specificity its trade secrets that were allegedly taken. Working aggressively on a motion to compel strategy, we convinced the court to require the competitor to list its trade secrets with specificity. We then convinced the court to appoint a special master who ultimately recommended that the court rule that the technology was not a trade secret.
We represented a company who designed and built machine for making components for clothing in a suit brought by one of its customers alleging that our client took technology from the customer. Understanding that the grant or denial of the preliminary injunction would be effectively dispositive of all of the issues, we worked with the court to conduct a mini-trial to be held two weeks after the filing date of the lawsuit. The court found insufficient proof of misappropriation to warrant a preliminary injunction and the case eventually disappeared.
AVAILABLE SERVICES
- Infringement litigation
- Appeals of disputed matters in the patent office and federal courts
- Determining whether civil or criminal laws should be pursued
Trade Secret enforcement requires expertise, experience and resources.
The ability to successfully litigate trade secret property rights is the key to an effective intellectual property program; the value of such rights is limited if they cannot be enforced. The attorneys at Waddey & Patterson have a strong, proven track record in litigated matters that has ultimately increased the value of the intellectual property assets of its clients.
Litigation, ultimately, is about risk. A key component is the risk of the cost to achieve whatever result is desirable. Some firms take every deposition, seek every document and ask every interrogatory. The Waddey & Patterson legal team knows which depositions, documents and interrogatories to focus on. The extensive courtroom experience of the W&P trial team gives you an edge; knowing how the end game will be played makes for better early decision-making.
Cost control is also a key element in successful enforcement. Waddey & Patterson works with its clients to budget prudently for protection of their intellectual property rights and the efficient staffing of litigated matters. In contested cases, the return on investment for the prepared client has demonstrated the quality of legal services is not measured by how much is spent; but rather, by what is accomplished with that budget.
In addition to representing clients in litigation, the attorneys at Waddey & Patterson serve as expert witnesses on patent and trademark law, trade secrets, technology and damages.
Members of the firm also represent clients in alternate dispute resolution proceedings, including mediation and arbitration. Mr. Waddey also serves, and is certified, as a mediator under Rule 31 of the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure. | 
