Russell Beck

Russell Beck

Lecturer

Partner, Beck Reed Riden LLP

BS, Tufts University
JD, magna cum laude, Boston University School of Law


Biography

Russell Beck is a founding partner at Beck Reed Riden LLP. He is a business and intellectual property litigator, nationally recognized for his trade secrets and noncompete experience, and has over twenty-five years of experience as a complex business and intellectual property litigator, representing corporate and individual clients throughout the country in federal and state trial and appellate courts, arbitrations, and mediations.

Beck is a leading authority on the law of trade secrets and noncompetes. In addition to his many years of experience advising on and litigating trade secrets and noncompete matters around the country, he authored the book, Negotiating, Drafting, and Enforcing Noncompetition Agreements and Related Restrictive Covenants (5th ed., MCLE, Inc. 2015) (covering Massachusetts noncompete law); authored the chapters Trade Secret Misappropriation and Noncompetition Agreements for Intellectual Property Practice (MCLE, Inc. 2004-2011) (covering trade secrets law nationally and Massachusetts noncompete law); drafted the current bill pending before the Massachusetts Legislature to modify Massachusetts noncompete law; founded and chaired Foley & Lardner LLP’s Trade Secret / Noncompete Practice; and created and teaches Trade Secrets and Restrictive Covenants at Boston University School of Law. (Boston University’s Intellectual Property program, of which Beck’s course is a part, isranked in the top 10 in the country by U.S. News & World Report.)

Beck is also frequently called upon to advise clients concerning the prevention and minimization of litigation risks both in Massachusetts and nationally. Such services include the preparation of noncompetition agreements, nondisclosure agreements, no-raid agreements, nonsolicitation agreements, and other restrictive covenants; the performance of trade secret audits and establishment of comprehensive trade secret protection programs; trade secrets training; preparation of alternative dispute resolution agreements; and advice concerning the on-boarding and off-boarding of employees subject to restrictive covenants, joining a client from a competitor, or leaving a client to join a competitor.

In addition to his national trade secrets and noncompete litigation practice, Beck’s practice concentrates on complex business litigation, including high-tech matters, copyright infringement matters, trademark disputes, unfair competition claims, business-to-business matters, and breach of contract claims.

In the Media

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  • World Intellectual Property Review October 3, 2024

    Russell Beck, Beck Reed Riden

    Russell Beck is mentioned.
    read more

  • Yahoo! News August 21, 2024

    Texas Federal Judge Blocks FTC’s Non-compete Clause Ban

    Russell Beck is mentioned.
    read more

  • The Hill August 20, 2024

    Noncompete Ban: FTC Needs a Pause, Companies Need a Plan

    Russell Beck pens an opinion.
    read more

  • Law360 December 13, 2021

    What New FTC Workshop Revealed about Noncompete Regs

    An analysis by Russell Beck.
    read more

  • View All Articles

Activities & Engagements

No upcoming activities or engagements.

Courses

Trade Secrets and Restrictive Covenants: LAW JD 793

2 credits

This course will examine the theory, practice, and interrelationship of trade secret law and the law of restrictive covenants, including laws governing the use and enforceability of noncompetition agreements. We will explore what a trade secret is, what it is not, how it differs from other types of intellectual property, and how something secret can constitute protectable property. We will investigate how trade secrets can be misappropriated, including misappropriation through one's memory; whether and in what circumstances trade secrets will be protected, including through the use of noncompetition agreements, nondisclosure agreements, and other restrictive covenants; the other purposes served by those agreements; and the strengths and weaknesses of the various laws governing the protection of trade secrets and the use of restrictive covenants. Depending on class interest and time, we may discuss related issues such as the current debate over the use of noncompete agreements and their putative effects on innovation. OFFERING PATTERN: This class is not offered every year. Students are advised to take this into account when planning their long-term schedule.

SPRG 2025: LAW JD 793 A1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon 6:30 pm 8:30 pm 2 Russell Beck