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Dawn Mertineit

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To kick off the 2026 Trade Secrets Webinar Series, Seyfarth’s Trade Secrets, Computer Fraud & Non-Competes practice group presented 2025 Year in Review: Trade Secrets, Computer Fraud & Non-Competes, a timely discussion examining the most significant legal developments from 2025 and their implications for employers moving forward.

Seyfarth partners Michael Wexler, Dawn Mertineit, and Robyn Marsh provided a comprehensive…

Continue Reading Key Takeaways and Access to Webinar Recording – 2025 Year in Review: Trade Secrets, Computer Fraud & Non-Competes
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On February 3, 2026, the Delaware Supreme Court issued a short but highly anticipated order in North American Fire Ultimate Holdings, LP v. Doorly, reversing the Chancery Court’s dismissal of contract claims seeking to enforce restrictive covenants against a former senior executive. The decision clarifies that the existence of consideration supporting restrictive covenants must be evaluated at the time…

Continue Reading Let’s Start at the Very Beginning: Delaware Supreme Court Reaffirms That Consideration for Restrictive Covenants Is Measured at Contract Formation, Not Time of Enforcement
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On September 5, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) moved to dismiss its appeals in two pivotal cases— Ryan, LLC v. FTC, No. 24-10951 (5th Cir.) and Properties of the Villages v. FTC, No. 24-13102 (11th Cir.)—effectively walking away from its effort to enforce the Noncompete Rule, which attempted to ban most noncompete agreements nationwide.

As previously noted, the FTC had sought a 120-day stay of its appeals after district courts struck down the Noncompete Rule. Today’s move marks another sharp reversal under the agency’s new Republican-led leadership, distancing itself from the more aggressive regulatory stance of former Chair Lina Khan. It also echoes the June 28, 2024, dissent by current FTC Chair Andrew N. Ferguson and Commissioner Melissa Holyoak, and aligns with recent signals from the administration favoring targeted enforcement over sweeping rulemaking.

While the Noncompete Rule may be dead, the FTC is not done with noncompetes. Businesses should brace for focused crackdowns, joint task forces, and case-by-case scrutiny. In addition, the FTC has recently solicited additional public input “to better understand the scope, prevalence, and effects of employer noncompete agreements, as well as to gather information to inform possible future enforcement actions.”

The era of agency blanket bans may be over—but regulatory pressure is far from gone.
Continue Reading End of an Era: FTC Backs Away from Nationwide Noncompete Ban

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We’re pleased to announce that Seyfarth’s Trading Secrets blog has been named one of FeedSpot’s Top 10 Trade Secrets Blogs.

Compiled from thousands of blogs, FeedSpot’s list highlights leading sources based on web traffic, social media engagement, domain authority, and content freshness.

Edited by Dawn Mertineit, Trading Secrets offers timely updates and in-depth analysis on trade secrets, non-compete…

Continue Reading Seyfarth’s Trading Secrets Blog Recognized in FeedSpot’s Top 10 Trade Secrets Blogs
Chambers

We are pleased to share that Seyfarth partner Dawn Mertineit authored the “USA Trends and Developments” section in the recently released Chambers Trade Secrets Global Practice Guide. This highly regarded publication provides timely insights and analysis on the evolving legal landscape of trade secrets law across the globe.

Dawn addresses the growing challenges businesses face in protecting their trade…

Continue Reading Seyfarth’s Dawn Mertineit Authors “USA Trends and Developments” in Chambers Trade Secrets Global Practice Guide
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Tuesday, May 6, 2025
1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Eastern
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Central
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Mountain
10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Pacific

Register Here

About the Program

Join us for the third and final session of our Commercial Litigation Outlook webinar series, where we’ll examine key legal trends shaping the future of trade secrets…

Continue Reading Commercial Litigation Outlook Webinar Series – Part 3: Trade Secrets, Privacy & eDiscovery: Safeguarding Data in an Uncertain Legal Landscape
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In our recent webinar, “Drafting Restrictive Covenants That Work – Insights from Recent Legal Battles,” Seyfarth’s Trade Secrets, Computer Fraud & Non-Compete partners Dawn Mertineit and Dallin Wilson explored the evolving legal landscape surrounding restrictive covenants. As courts and lawmakers continue to scrutinize non-competes, non-solicits, and NDAs, employers must adapt their agreements to remain enforceable while protecting critical business interests.

Continue Reading Webinar Recap! Drafting Restrictive Covenants That Work – Insights from Recent Legal Battles
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2025 Trade Secrets Webinar Series

REGISTER HERE

Thursday, February 27, 2025
1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Eastern
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Central
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Mountain
10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Pacific

About the Program

Restrictive covenants continue to face evolving legal challenges and heightened regulatory scrutiny. With shifting state and federal laws, businesses must carefully craft…

Continue Reading Webinar: Drafting Restrictive Covenants That Work – Insights from Recent Legal Battles
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In 2024, Seyfarth’s Trade Secrets, Computer Fraud & Non-Compete practice group presented a series of dynamic and insightful CLE webinars, addressing pivotal challenges confronting businesses head-on. The breadth of our discussions encompassed a spectrum of critical topics:

  1. 2024 Trade Secrets & Non-Competes Year in Review
  2. Navigating the Intersection of Non-Compete Agreements and Employee Mobility
  3. Employee Training Programs: Building a Culture of Confidentiality
  4. Navigating Legal Minefields: Insights from Seyfarth’s 2024 Commercial Litigation Outlook
  5. Deciphering the FTC’s Non-Compete Ban: Navigating the New Regulatory Terrain and Adequately Protecting Employers’ Interests
  6. Data Protection and Cybersecurity: Safeguarding Trade Secrets in the Digital Age
  7. Unveiling Trade Secrets Breaches: Leveraging Forensic Exams for Robust IP Protection
  8. Enforcement Strategies Beyond Litigation: Leveraging Alternative Dispute Resolution
  9. Trade Secrets Audits: Assessing and Strengthening Your Company’s IP Protection
  10. What Employers Need to Know Regarding Non-Compete Changes in 2024

To conclude our impactful 2024 webinar series, we’ve carefully compiled key takeaways from each session. If you missed any sessions, recordings are available on our blog or through the provided links. We’re excited to share that Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit is attainable by watching the webinar recordings. For CLE credit inquiries, please email cle@seyfarth.com after viewing the webinar.Continue Reading 2024 Trade Secrets Webinar Series Recap: Key Takeaways and Access to Recordings

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On December 4, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) ordered building services contractor Guardian Industries, Inc. (“Guardian”) to cease enforcement of no-hire provisions it included in customer service agreements with residential building owners and building management companies, prohibiting the hire of Guardian’s employees.

Guardian, which operates in New York and New Jersey, was on the receiving end of a complaint…

Continue Reading FTC Cracks Down on Use of No-Hire Agreements As Anti-Competitive