C. Sheean Co-Authors DRI Article on Early Identification of Trade Secrets in Federal Litigation

Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP attorney Christopher T. Sheean co-authored the article “Early Identification of Trade Secrets in Federal Trade Secret Cases” for the July/August 2025 issue of For The Defense, a publication of Defense Research Institute (DRI).

The article addresses the growing issue of plaintiffs delaying trade secret identification in federal litigation, which creates discovery inefficiencies, increases costs, and imposes unfair burdens on defendants. While the Defend Trade Secrets Act provides a national framework, it lacks a requirement for early disclosure. This results in inconsistent court approaches and undermines the goals of the statute. The authors advocate for courts to adopt local rules, such as those used in the Eastern District of Louisiana, that require early, specific, and verified identification of trade secrets before discovery begins to promote fairness and judicial efficiency. To read the full article, please visit the DRI website. Please note that a DRI account is required to access For The Defense.

Christopher T. Sheean is a partner at Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP, where he focuses his national practice on complex commercial litigation, intellectual property, and trade secret disputes. He has extensive experience litigating and advising clients on trade secret protection strategies, unfair competition, and IP enforcement. Learn more about his practice here.