Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA): Federal law enacted in 2016 that provides federal protection for trade secrets and allows companies to file civil lawsuits in federal court for trade secret misappropriation
Economic Espionage Act: Federal law that criminalizes the theft or misappropriation of trade secrets with the intent to benefit foreign powers or cause economic harm
Securities Exchange Act: Federal law governing securities trading and broker-dealer conduct, relevant when dealing with publicly traded companies
Uniform Trade Secrets Act (UTSA): State-level legislation adopted by most states that provides uniform rules for trade secret protection and remedies for misappropriation
State Broker Licensing Requirements: State-specific regulations governing the licensing and conduct of business brokers in their jurisdiction
State Contract Laws: State-specific laws governing contract formation, enforcement, and remedies
State Non-disclosure Laws: State-specific regulations governing confidentiality agreements and their enforcement
SEC Regulations: Federal securities regulations that may apply when dealing with publicly traded companies or regulated securities
FINRA Regulations: Financial Industry Regulatory Authority rules governing broker-dealers and securities transactions
Business Broker's Code of Ethics: Industry-standard ethical guidelines and best practices for business brokers
Key Legal Elements: Essential components including definition of confidential information, scope of obligations, permitted disclosures, duration, return/destruction of information, remedies for breach, jurisdiction, severability, assignment rights, and survival provisions
