Catherine Y. Lui

Cathy has significant experience in actions arising from the Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA), which created the first federal civil misappropriation of trade secrets claim in May 2016. Cathy has helped shape DTSA law on behalf of her clients through her involvement in some of the earliest DTSA litigation.  Many of her trade secrets cases involve parallel criminal proceedings.   For her achievements, Legal 500 recognized Cathy as a "Next Generation Lawyer" in trade secrets.  The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association also recently honored Cathy as a 2019 Best Lawyer Under 40.  This annual list recognizes individuals within the APA community who have achieved prominence or distinction in their field and demonstrated a strong commitment to APA community or civic affairs.   

Cathy also engages in complex commercial litigation including employee mobility, breach of contract, and fraud cases. Her matters are often high-profile and industry-changing. She is currently representing Netflix in a novel employee mobility matter related to the use of fixed-term personal agreements with business executives; the matter is closely watched by the Hollywood and tech industries.

Cathy is an editor and contributing author of Orrick's trade secrets blog, Trade Secrets Watch, and regularly speaks and writes about trade secrets litigation.  Cathy currently serves as the Co-Vice Chair of the Trade Secrets Interest Group of the California Lawyers Association's (formerly of the California State Bar) Intellectual Property Section. 

Cathy currently serves as the Hiring Partner for the San Francisco office.  In addition, she is very involved in diversity and inclusion initiatives. She is Co-Chair of the Asian American Bar Association's Judiciary Committee and is also active in the California Minority Counsel Program.  Cathy also co-leads the Firm's Asian American Affinity Group. 

Cathy's dedication to pro bono service was demonstrated by her work in an asylum merits hearing representing a Salvadoran religious activist persecuted by gangs in El Salvador. For her work on this matter, the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights honored Cathy with the Father Cuchulain Moriarity Award. In addition, the Justice & Diversity Center of the Bar Association of San Francisco recognized Cathy as an Outstanding Volunteer in Public Service in 2014 through 2018 for her work with helping homeless clients remove outstanding warrants barring them from access to housing and employment.