Earlier this week, Congress passed the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (DTSA). It is expected to be signed into law shortly. For the first time, the DTSA will create a federal private cause of action for misappropriation of trade secrets. Previously, federal protection of trade secrets was confined to seldom-used criminal provisions, and civil injunctive relief if requested by the Attorney General. This significant development and change has large implications for companies and employers alike. To read more, please see our recent client alert.