Darrick J. Hooker
Trade Secrets Law
Trade Secrets Law
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With a reputation for having an in-depth understanding of his client’s businesses and their technologies, Darrick Hooker is a counselor and a litigator who routinely advises clients on a variety of intellectual property issues, with a focus on patents. He also helps protect clients’ trade secrets, trademarks, and copyrights and has a thriving commercial litigation and entertainment law practice.Darrick strives to help his clients identify and manage their global IP assets. He is able to do this successfully as a result of his deep transactional and litigation experience, including but not limited to, the medical device, pharmaceutical, health care, computer software, chemical, mechanical device, industrial, renewable energy, utility, mechanical engineering, and automotive and transportation industries.Darrick assists his clients with licensing, risk assessment and management, internal governance, compliance, and due diligence investigations in connection with licensing transactions, mergers and acquisitions. He brings particular strength where intellectual property portfolio acquisitions involve issues of licensing and “freedom to practice” analyses of products, methods, and packaging. This includes conducting patent landscape investigations, and opinion work such as patentability, validity, non-infringement, and freedom-to-operate opinions.He is also skilled in conducting initial case evaluation and assessment, developing case and trial strategy and settlement options, managing all phases of discovery, as well as with Markman hearings, trial, and post-trial proceedings and appeal.As a commercial litigator, Darrick represents clients in matters involving complex cybersecurity, product liability and premises liability, along with breach of commercial agreements. In the entertainment sphere, he advises on intellectual property, licensing and other contract rights, publishing rights, rights of publicity, and branding issues. With a reputation for having an in-depth understanding of his client’s businesses and their technologies, Darrick Hooker is a counselor and a litigator who routinely advises clients on a variety of intellectual property issues, with a focus on patents. He also helps protect clients’ trade secrets, trademarks, and copyrights and has a thriving commercial litigation and entertainment law practice. Darrick strives to help his clients identify and manage their global IP assets. He is able to do this successfully as a result of his deep transactional and litigation experience, including but not limited to, the medical device, pharmaceutical, health care, computer software, chemical, mechanical device, industrial, renewable energy, utility, mechanical engineering, and automotive and transportation industries. Darrick assists his clients with licensing, risk assessment and management, internal governance, compliance, and due diligence investigations in connection with licensing transactions, mergers and acquisitions. He brings particular strength where intellectual property portfolio acquisitions involve issues of licensing and “freedom to practice” analyses of products, methods, and packaging. This includes conducting patent landscape investigations, and opinion work such as patentability, validity, non-infringement, and freedom-to-operate opinions. He is also skilled in conducting initial case evaluation and assessment, developing case and trial strategy and settlement options, managing all phases of discovery, as well as with Markman hearings, trial, and post-trial proceedings and appeal. As a commercial litigator, Darrick represents clients in matters involving complex cybersecurity, product liability and premises liability, along with breach of commercial agreements. In the entertainment sphere, he advises on intellectual property, licensing and other contract rights, publishing rights, rights of publicity, and branding issues.
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2023
Nicholas Green
I engaged Darrick Hooker at Barnes & Thornburg to handle a sensitive situation where a former employee was suspected of misappropriating proprietary software code and confidential algorithms. With 24 years of experience, Darrick immediately demonstrated a deep grasp of both the technical nuances of our platform and the intricate legal landscape of intellectual property. His dual recognition in Trade Secrets and Copyright Law was evident in his strategic counsel, which balanced aggressive litigation posture with pragmatic business advice. He successfully navigated pre-trial motions, leading to a favorable settlement that protected our core assets. Darrick is a formidable advocate who truly understands his client's business. The only minor critique would be that during peak litigation periods, response times from his direct line could occasionally lag, requiring a follow-up through his excellent paralegal. Overall, I highly recommend him for any IP or complex commercial litigation in Chicago.