Allegations of corporate espionage can result in serious criminal charges. Theft of a company’s private information constitutes a federal crime under the Economic Espionage Act of 1996. A trustworthy trial attorney in Las Vegas can help if you’re under investigation for crimes involving trade secrets and other proprietary forms of intellectual property.
5 Ways a Las Vegas Trial Attorney Can Help You Face Corporate Espionage Charges
1. Develop a Legal Defense
The prosecution must prove that you illegally accessed a company’s IP assets and used the stolen information to gain a competitive advantage. Your attorney will refute these claims in court with careful research. They will take depositions, gather evidence, interview witnesses and experts, and perform the necessary legal analysis to develop a strong case on your behalf.
Your attorney may argue that the stolen information doesn’t meet trade secret criteria. They must show that the company didn’t make reasonable efforts to keep the data confidential or didn’t profit from the secrecy of the information. You might also have proof that you reverse engineered or independently developed the data in question.
2. Investigate the Charges Against You
Corporate espionage covers both interstate and international theft of proprietary inflation. Examples include customer information, software algorithms and codes, operational materials, projections, formulas, manufacturing processes, and financial models.
Your attorney will work closely with the investigating agencies, including the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Justice. Although corporate espionage falls under the EEA, it is different from economic espionage, which refers to selling trade secrets to a foreign government.
3. Negotiate a Reduced Sentence
Your lawyer can argue for a reduced sentence based on mitigating factors such as a clean criminal history. A conviction of corporate espionage can result in up to 10 years in prison along with thousands of dollars in fines. You’ll also have to forfeit any profit or property gained through the theft of trade secrets. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be able to enter a plea deal that decreases the penalties you receive.
4. Represent You in Court
Also known as litigators, trial lawyers specialize in speaking on behalf of clients in official court proceedings. They’re well-versed in the formal procedures used to present evidence, which vary from state to federal courts. They also meet with judges, file motions, prepare witnesses to appear in court, help select jurors, and take other key steps to prepare for the hearing.
5. Protect Your Legal Rights
Your attorney will determine whether investigators or law enforcement officials violated your rights during the criminal defense process. For example, they may have conducted a search of your home or vehicle without an appropriate warrant. In this case, your lawyer can file a motion to strike improperly collected evidence from the record.
Consult with a trial lawyer as soon as you learn you’re the subject of a corporate espionage investigation. These charges can result from sharing information electronically, taking a file from an office, or even telling trade secrets to a third party verbally. Contact Hutchings Law Group in Las Vegas, NV now to find out how our team can guide you through this challenging time.
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