Shannon Hampton Sutherland is Co-Chair of the Duane Morris Trade Secrets and Non-Compete division of the Trial Practice Group.

A strategic and practical advisor, and sharp trial and injunction lawyer, Ms. Sutherland is particularly well versed in in helping companies avoid and navigate disputes involving non-compete, non-solicit, and other restrictive covenant agreements, confidential information and trade secrets, customer and employee goodwill, unfair competition, and customer, consultant, and employee relationships. Ms. Sutherland routinely obtains and defends against temporary restraining orders and injunctions across the country and has represented clients in business, non-compete, and trade secret litigation nationwide.

Companies across a broad range of industries – and, in particular, in the medical device and biotechnology, healthcare, financial services, transportation, chemical, and energy sectors – have trusted Ms. Sutherland to assist them with complex commercial and employment-related disputes, restrictive covenants, trade secrets, and business torts. Ms. Sutherland has also handled high-stakes injunction and litigation matters involving public entities and has represented several public entities in litigation and counseling roles.

She also serves as a team lead of the firm’s Life Sciences and Medical Technologies industry group and is a member of the Firm’s Commercial Litigation division.

Areas of Practice

• Injunctions – prosecution and defense
  • Temporary restraining orders
  • Preliminary injunctions
  • Permanent injunctions
• Restrictive covenants – drafting, counseling, and litigation
  • Non-competition agreements
  • Non-solicitation agreements
• Trade secrets
  • Defend Trade Secrets Act claims
  • State law claims
• Confidentiality, non-disclosure, and invention agreements
• Distributor agreements – drafting, counseling, and litigation
• Business tort and statutory claims, including, for example:
  • Unfair competition
  • Tortious interference
  • Breach of fiduciary duty/duty of loyalty
  • Fraud
  • Computer Fraud and Abuse Act
• Complex commercial and business and contract disputes
• Employment-related disputes
• Declaratory judgment actions
• Zoning matters

Representative Industries

Financial Services

Medical devices and life sciences, with particular experience with implantable device, biologics, and healthcare services companies

Facilities management services

Chemical

Paper/packaging

Software

Franchise

Construction