The need

Attorneys representing an established provider of data storage systems in its case against a new data storage company needed a data storage industry expert to make their case. The case alleged that the defendant stole trades secrets as well as induced ex-salespeople to violate their non-solicitation agreements with the plaintiff. It was also alleged that these activities enabled the defendant to disrupt the plaintiff’s relationships with major clients and recruit its best sales professionals. As such, the ideal expert would need to be able to opine on the critical nature of personal relationships in data storage sales and the significance of a salesperson leaving an established company with vital client contact information and the value of bringing this to a new company in the marketplace.

Our approach

From conversations with the client, we understood that they preferred a former senior level executive whose opinion would carry weight. Additionally, they preferred deposition and trial experience, but did not require it. Knowing this, we went in search of the ideal expert.

The expert

We found an expert with a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering who was a computer engineer and consultant with a focus on data storage architecture. Having worked in the data storage industry from its nascence and having been a research fellow and instructor of Electrical and Computer engineering, his expertise was firmly in the data storage industry. As a result, he had relationships with many of the top data storage providers. Well-respected in his field, he had written many publications on the topic of data storage. Finally, he had served as an expert witness several times with deposition and trial experience. The case was settled favorably with a large financial settlement in the plaintiff’s favor.