Linda K. Stevens
Partner
Linda K. Stevens is an intellectual property litigator and counselor. She has extensive experience in resolving — both inside and outside of the courtroom — intellectual property and other commercial disputes. In addition to her courtroom work, Ms. Stevens has acted as general outside counsel to several intellectual property-focused clients, assisting them with all legal aspects of their business.
For example, Ms. Stevens' experience includes:
- Obtaining (and defeating requests for) emergency injunctive relief in trade secrets, non-compete and other commercial disputes;
- Drafting non-competition, non-disclosure and other agreements to assist clients in protecting their valuable business information and customer relationships;
- Designing information protection programs, including appropriate contracts and policies as well as computer and network-based security measures;
- Helping clients to minimize the risk of liability (and to avoid being sued in the first place) when hiring employees away from the competition;
- Drafting intellectual property licenses and other contracts to assist clients in realizing maximum value from their intangible assets.
Ms. Stevens' work as a litigator and adviser in trade secrets has earned her recognition from The Legal 500 US. She also has been interviewed by numerous legal and general news publications, including the Chicago Tribune and the ABA Journal, regarding trade secrets and non-compete agreements.
Experience
Ms. Stevens' representative engagements include:
Clear Channel Broadcasting Inc. v. The Tribune Company et al., (N.D. Ill. 2008) (for Clear Channel)
Sanford Corporation v. McHenry (N.D. Ill. 2006) (for Sanford Corporation)
Experian Marketing Solutions, Inc. v. Waldron (N.D. Ill. 2006) (for Mr. Waldron)
Hormel Foods Corporation et al. v. MacDowell, RMH Foods, LLC, and Smithfield Foods, Inc. (Cook County, Ill. 2006) (for Mr. MacDowell)
Key Mezzanine Capital Fund I, L.P. et al v. Display Graphics LLC, Pride LLC et al. (N.D. Ill. 2004) (for defendants)
Publications
"The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and Employees: Recent Developments," Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) (April 2007)
"Avoiding False Advertising Claims," American Bar Association 2006 Annual Forum On Franchising Program Materials (2006)
"Trade Secrets Remedies and the Inevitable Disclosure Doctrine," Chapter in the Intellectual Property Law Handbook, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) (Spring 2005)
"The Hallmarks And Ethics Of Successful Settlement Negotiations," American Bar Association 2004 Annual Forum On Franchising Program Materials (2004)
"Trade Secrets and Inevitable Disclosure," Tort & Insurance Law Journal (Summer 2001)
"Inevitable Disclosure: Trade Secret Tales," Start (April 2001)
"Economic Espionage Act: Techno-Thieves Beware!" Start (May 2001)
"Evaluate Your Business Secrets and Do It Before a Renegade Employee Walks Out the Door to Your Competition," Radio World (October 11, 2000)
"Trade Secrets and Confidential Information," Franchise Law Journal, American Bar Association (Summer 2000)
"When Does a Trade Secret Act Like a Non-Compete – The Inevitable Disclosure Doctrine," American Bar Association Section of Litigation Meeting Materials (April 7, 2000)
"When Does a Trade Secret Act Like a Non-Compete? The Doctrine of Inevitable Disclosure of Trade Secrets," The Woman Advocate Newsletter, American Bar Association Section of Litigation (Spring 2000)
"Your Non-Disclosure Agreement May Need a Time Limit to be Enforceable," Corporate Counsel Lawcast (October 1999)
"When Should A Confidentiality Agreement Contain A Time Limit?" Franchise Law Journal, American Bar Association (Summer 1999)
"The Economic Espionage Act: New Criminal Penalties for Trade Secret Misappropriation," Franchise Law Journal, American Bar Association (Summer 1997)
"Intellectual Property Considerations In Buying and Selling Privately Held Businesses," The Cambridge Institute, Chicago (June 4, 1996)
Unpublished Informational Papers and Legal Updates (available upon request):
"Questions and Answers About Non-Compete Agreements" (2000)
"The Importance of Secrecy Measures in Protecting Trade Secrets" (2000)
"How Secret Is Secret? Some Possible Measures to Protect Trade Secrets" (2000)
"Your Confidentiality Program: Some Possible Secrecy Measures" (1998)
Speeches and Presentations
"Confidentiality In the Virtual Office: Protecting Information In the Computer Age," Schiff Hardin LLP Breakfast Briefing, Chicago, Ill. (June 8, 2008)
"Confidentiality In the Virtual Office: Protecting Information In the Computer Age," Financial Executives Society, Chicago, Ill. (November 15, 2007)
"Trade Secrets Basics," Chicago Bar Association's program Intellectual Property Law for Non-IP Attorneys, Chicago, Ill. (October 2, 2007)
"Recent Developments In Trade Secrets Law," Law Seminars International, Chicago, Ill. (May 11, 2007)
"Trade Secrets Update" Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education Intellectual Property Update for Corporate Counsel, Northbrook, Ill. (April 13, 2007)
"Avoiding False Advertising Claims," American Bar Association 2006 Forum On Franchising, Boston, Mass. (October 12, 2006)
"Employee Raiding Cases: Theories and Tactics for Both Plaintiffs and Defendants," American Bar Association Section of Litigation/Intellectual Property Roundtable Series, Chicago (February 24, 2006)
"Inevitable Disclosure of Trade Secrets," Law Seminars International annual program regarding IP, Technology and Non-Competition Law for Employment Lawyers, Chicago, (September 23, 2005)
"Inevitable Use And Disclosure Doctrine: A Big Deal Or Big Deal?" United States Law Firm Group Joint Meeting of the Litigation, Labor and Employment and Intellectual Property Committees, Philadelphia, Penn. (February 11, 2005)
"The Hallmarks And Ethics Of Successful Settlement Negotiations," American Bar Association 2004 Annual Forum On Franchising, Vancouver, B.C. (October 7 and 8, 2004)
"The Mobile Employee," Law Seminars International program on "Trade Secrets: Protecting and Extracting Value," Chicago (November 13, 2003)
"Protecting Your Technology," The Presidents Forum, Willowbrook, Ill. (November 12, 2003)
"How To Win A Trade Secret Case," The 2002 IPLAC 13th Annual Trade Secrets Seminar, The John Marshall Law School, Chicago (December 5, 2002)
"How To Keep Your Confidential Information And Customer Relationships From Vanishing With Departing Employees," Schiff Hardin & Waite Labor and Employment In-Service, Chicago (September 26, 2002)
"Special Litigation Issues Pertaining to Trade Secrets," Practicing Law Institute 2002 Program Regarding Trade Secrets, New York (September 25, 2002)
"You've Got A Secret: Employment Non-Competes and Confidentiality Agreements," Schiff Hardin & Waite Labor and Employment Seminar, Rockford, Ill. (May 2, 2002)
"Can We Talk? Trade Secrets, Noncompetes and Golden Handcuffs," American Bar Association Business Torts Committee Program (August, 2001)
"Trade Secrets and Departing Employees" PricewaterhouseCoopers Intellectual Property Leadership Forum, Palm Springs, Calif. (February 21, 2001)
"Trade Secrets and Confidential Information: Rights and Remedies," American Bar Association Annual Forum on Franchising, New Orleans, La. (October 19 and 20, 2000)
"Trade Secrets Clash with Employee Mobility: Non-Compete Agreements and the Inevitable Disclosure Doctrine," American Bar Association Section of Litigation Annual Meeting, Seattle, Wash. (April 7, 2000)
"Inevitable Disclosure of Trade Secrets," American Bar Association Roundtable Discussion, Chicago (November 18, 1999)
"Trade Secrets: What Are They and Why Should You Care?" Society of Cosmetic Chemists, Chicago (October 14, 1997)
"Departing Employees and Trade Secrets: Some Tips for Averting and Coping with Disaster," Chicago Bar Association's Corporation and Business Law Committee, Chicago (October 1, 1997)
"Departing Employees, Non-Compete Agreements and Trade Secrets (and Departing Trade Secrets) - the New Issues and New Law, PriceWaterhouse General Counsel Forum, Chicago(June 19-20, 1997)
"Trade Secrets and Departing Employees." PriceWaterhouse General Counsel Forum, Chicago (November 15, 1996)
"Intellectual Property Considerations In Buying and Selling Privately-Held Businesses." The Cambridge Institute, Chicago (June 4, 1996)
Pro Bono Activities
Statement Taker, Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Committee
Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS) Howard Area Community Center Legal Clinic
Awards and Honors
Illinois Super Lawyers, Intellectual Property; Litigation
Leading Lawyer — Litigation, Illinois Leading Lawyers Network
AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
Education
University of Michigan Law School
(J.D., cum laude,
1987)
Kalamazoo College
(B.A., cum laude,
1984)
Teaching Appointments
Adjunct faculty, Northwestern University School of Law
Adjunct faculty, National Institute of Trial Advocacy
Professional Memberships
American Bar Association
Forum on Franchising
Section of Litigation
Intellectual Property Committee
Chair, Trade Secrets Subcommittee
