David L. Pardue

Partner | Litigation

About

David Pardue has more than 30 years of experience representing clients in business litigation and with their intellectual property needs. He has particularly deep experience with trade secrets, trademark litigation, employment and noncompetes, and insurance coverage issues related to intellectual property. His clients range from Fortune 500 companies to small family businesses.

  • David has represented diverse parties in federal and state courts around the country, as well as in arbitration. These cases have run the gamut from business torts like fraud to statutory claims under RICO, the Defend Trade Secrets Act, the FLSA, and the CFAA (computer fraud). Beyond that, David has handled numerous cases under contract and commercial law.

Practices

  • Arbitration and Mediation

  • Employment and Labor

  • Intellectual Property Litigation

  • Trade Secrets and Restrictive Covenants

Admissions

  • Georgia

Education

  • Yale University, JD, 1993

  • Tulane University, BA, summa cum laude, 1989

Honors

  • The Best Lawyers in America in Labor and Employment Litigation, 2025; Trade Secrets Law, 2022-2025

  • World Intellectual Property Review (WIPR), Notable Individual in Trade Secrets, 2024

  • Georgia Super Lawyers, 2008-2010, 2014-2024

  • Georgia Trend magazine’s “Legal Elite," 2006, 2008-2010, 2012-2013

  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Rated

  • Phi Beta Kappa

Memberships

  • United States Intellectual Property Alliance, Board of Directors, 2024-present

  • State Bar of Georgia, Intellectual Property Section, Trade Secrets Committee, Chair, 2018-present; Trial Section, 1994-present

  • American Bar Association Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS), Intellectual Property Committee, Employment Law Committee, Business Litigation Committee, Vice Chair, 2019-2020

  • American Bar Association Litigation Section, Trade Secrets Subcommittee, Vice Chair, 2014-2015; Commercial and Business Litigation Committee, 2010-present

  • American Bar Association Intellectual Property Section, 2010-present

  • Georgia Lawyers for the Arts, 2015-present

  • EarthShare Georgia, Board of Directors, 2020-present

  • American Liver Foundation, Southeast Division, Board Chair, 2005-2008

Experience

  • Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP

Representative Matters

  • Obtained expedited discovery, injunction, and a $5 million judgment in a RICO case on behalf of a public company against a former customer. Nortel Networks Inc. v. Cornell Wireless, et al.

  • Brought trade secrets suit against former sales manager and filed for injunction and expedited discovery; settled for value of $1.4 million. Chryso, Inc. v. Innovative Concrete Solutions of the Carolinas, LLC.

  • Defeated motion for preliminary injunction in a trademark case and successfully settled shortly thereafter. Jomaps, LLC v. D-Mand Better Products, LLC et al., 2012 WL 5235533 (ND GA 2012).

  • Won appeal of summary judgment that tenant had waived restrictive covenant and owed attorney's fees. Cascade Crossings II v. Radio Shack Corp., 131 Fed.Appx. 191 (11th Cir. 2003).

  • Defeated motion for preliminary injunction in a trademark case involving Korean furniture brand. Jangsoo Indus. Co. v. Jangsoo Furniture Land, Inc., No. 1:10-cv-1225, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14219, at *6 (N.D.Ga. Feb. 11, 2011).

  • Obtained ex parte temporary restraining order in federal court against a violator of a noncompete leading to a quick mediation and settlement.

  • Defended a nonprofit after a temporary restraining order had already been granted against it for trade secret claims; led a thorough forensic cleansing of computer systems and social media, which led to the plaintiff dismissing the case and canceling the restraining order before trial without compensation. Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association v. Susan Ruediger, CMT Research Foundation, Inc.

In the News

Publications

Speaking Engagements

  • “International Trade Secret Litigation,” 2025 Sedona Conference on Global Intellectual Property Litigation, March 2025

  • “Turning Gold Dust Into Gold Bars: What, Why, and How to Identify and Protect Your Trade Secrets,” Business Litigation Forum: Ethics, Class Action & Trade Secrets, February 2025

  • “From Secrets to Security: Navigating Trade Secrets in a Shifting IP Landscape,” United States Intellectual Property Alliance (USIPA), October 2024

  • “Trade Secret Litigation Case Management Issues,” The Sedona Conference Working Group 12 Annual Meeting, September 2024

  • “Keeping Secrets and Watching Your Mouth! Pursuing and Defending Trade Secrets and Business Claims,” April 2022