Lawrence H. Pockers represents clients nationally in complex commercial litigation with a primary focus on non-compete, trade secrets and unfair competition cases. Mr. Pockers is co-chair of the Duane Morris Trade Secrets and Non-Compete division of the Trial Practice Group and a member of the firm’s governing Partners Board. He is also the founder and lead editor of the Duane Morris Trade Secrets and Non-Compete blog. Mr. Pockers has been lead trial counsel in a number of key cases in this area of the law, including The Valspar Corporation v. Van Kuren, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 111862 (W.D. Pa. Aug. 9, 2012), in which he obtained an injunction on behalf of The Valspar Corporation prohibiting a former manager who had no non-compete or other post-employment restrictive covenant from taking a competitive position, only the second U.S. District Court decision (the celebrated Bimbo Bakeries case being the first) decided under Pennsylvania law enjoining employment of an individual who had no non-compete or other post-employment restrictive covenant.  

Mr. Pockers also has significant experience handling a variety of other types of complex commercial cases, including post-transaction earnout, escrow and indemnification disputes, real estate litigation, disputes between customers and broker/dealers and/or registered representatives, litigation involving the licensing and implementation of software, and mass tort products liability litigation. He has tried more than 35 cases in federal, state and arbitration forums.

Mr. Pockers is listed in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. Chambers highlights that he is “available and thorough with a good grasp of law, strategy and good client relationship skills” and describes him as a “litigation partner with exceptional courtroom presence.” In 2019, Mr. Pockers was recognized as an Influencer of Law in the area of Business Litigation by Philadelphia Media Network (Philly.com, Inquirer and Daily News), one of only 12 lawyers recognized in this area of the law. In 2012, Mr. Pockers was selected by the Philadelphia Business Journal as one of its “40 Under 40” honorees. The 40 Under 40 award recognizes young professionals in the Philadelphia region for outstanding success and contributions to their community. Mr. Pockers was also selected in 2011 and 2012 as a Pennsylvania “Rising Star” in the area of Business Litigation by Super Lawyers, a publication of Thomson Reuters, and he has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in the area of Business Litigation every year since 2013.

Mr. Pockers is very active in the community. He is the immediate past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross, Southeastern Pennsylvania Region. Mr. Pockers is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Support Center for Child Advocates and regularly handles pro bono matters for that organization, which selected him as a Distinguished Advocate in 2013. Mr. Pockers also regularly volunteers for the Jewish Relief Agency at its monthly food distributions. Mr. Pockers is also a former officer of the Alumni Board of his alma mater, American University.

Mr. Pockers is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He also is admitted to practice in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania, and the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. He is a 1999 magna cum laude graduate of Temple University School of Law, where he was a member of the Temple Law Review and a member of the National Trial Team, which defeated more than 200 law schools to win the 1998 Association of Trial Lawyers of America Trial Tournament. Mr. Pockers also graduated with honors from American University.