Jeffrey M. Csercsevits is Of Counsel in the Philadelphia office, where he focuses his national practice on counseling and representing employers in a variety of employment-related issues, including trade secrets and restrictive covenant agreements.   

Trade Secret, Restrictive Covenant, and Employment Litigation

Jeff has prosecuted and defended injunctive relief actions in state and federal courts throughout the United States.  These matters involve claims of trade secret misappropriation, as well as breaches of non-compete agreements, non-solicit agreements, and confidentiality agreements.

In addition to injunctive relief litigation, Jeff has substantial experience in the financial services industry where he regularly handles employment disputes on behalf of national clients.  He has represented industry firms and financial advisors in over 100 FINRA arbitration actions.  Jeff has arbitration experience with employment agreements, transition and retention loans, sunset/retirement agreements, teaming agreements, unfair competition, wrongful termination, constructive discharge, compensation issues, and Form U-5 defamation.

Competitive Hire and Defection Counseling

Jeff regularly counsels clients on employee recruitment and hiring.  In this capacity, he evaluates potential legal risks associated with hiring employees from the competition and offers strategic guidance for minimizing legal risk while still advancing business interests and promoting corporate growth.   

Jeff also has extensive experience counseling clients on the loss of an employee to the competition and has handled hundreds of employee defections.  He has worked with clients to investigate breaches of post-employment obligations and to develop and implement enforcement strategies.   

He has also investigated employees who are perceived flight risks and provides counsel on anticipatory strategies to minimize the impact of the expected resignation.  Jeff is also experienced with forensic investigations to assess an employee’s removal of trade secret information through electronic means in preparation for departure.   

Upon completion of law school, Jeff served as a law clerk to Honorable Paul T. Koenig, Jr., the Honorable Paul Innes, and the Honorable Bill Mathesisus in the Superior Court of New Jersey. 

Experience

Restrictive Covenant and Trade Secret Disputes

• Represented a team of employees and their new employer where their former employer’s seven figure damages claim, based on alleged violations of their non-solicitation agreements, was denied in its entirety.
• Secured a permanent injunction against an employee who was using misappropriated trade secrets to solicit business away from our client.
• Represented an employee where his former employer’s motion for a permanent injunction, based on alleged trade secret misappropriation and breach of restrictive covenants, was denied.
• Represented an employer in obtaining a temporary restraining order against a former employee, based on the misappropriation of trade secrets, enabling our client to protect against the disclosure of its trade secrets to a competitor.
• Obtained a temporary restraining order against a team of employees for breaching non-solicitation agreements, which protected our client’s continued relationships with its customers.
• Represented a team of employees and their new employer where their former employer’s motion for a temporary restraining order and motion for a preliminary injunction, based on allegations of trade secret misappropriation and breaches of their employment agreements, were both denied.
• Represented a team of employees and their new employer where their former employer’s motion for a preliminary injunction, based on alleged trade secret misappropriation and violations of their restrictive covenant agreements, was denied.
• Represented a team of employees where their former employer’s motion for a temporary restraining order, based on claims of trade secret misappropriation and breaches of their non-solicitation agreements, was denied. 

Employment Disputes

• Obtained a $1.8 million arbitration award on behalf of an employer in a breach of contract action. Successfully defended against the former employee’s counterclaims, including breach of contract, constructive discharge, and defamation.
• Obtained a $1.1 million arbitration award on behalf of an employer in a breach of contract action. Successfully defended against the former employee’s counterclaims, including fraudulent inducement, negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract, and defamation.
• Obtained a $965,000 arbitration award on behalf of an employer in a breach of contract action. Successfully defended against the former employee’s counterclaims for wrongful termination, defamation, tortious interference, and violation of the Lanham Act.

Honors & Awards

• Pennsylvania Super Lawyers - Rising Stars (2015-2020)

Professional Activities

• Committee Member, State Bar of Michigan Unauthorized Practice of the Law Committee
• Philadelphia Bar Association, Member

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