New York
Shawn Butte is a managing associate in the New York office. His practice focuses on representing clients in high-stakes employment litigation, including restrictive covenant and trade secret matters, and conducting internal investigations.
Shawn's practice involves crafting creative, practical solutions to complex legal challenges faced by corporations and emerging companies in a range of industries, including media, software, insurance, financial services, retail and pharmaceuticals.
Shawn regularly handles litigation involving employee mobility, employee raiding, trade secret misappropriation, unfair competition, and class and collective actions. Shawn has experience in both federal and state court, as well as in alternative dispute forums such as the American Arbitration Association, and has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in TRO and preliminary injunction hearings.
In addition to his litigation practice, Shawn advises management on a variety of workplace issues, including employee mobility, trade secret protection, wage and hour policies, employee classification, and internal investigations. He also frequently serves as outside counsel to both domestic and international startups trying to expand in the U.S. market. Shawn uses his experience as a litigator to help clients proactively avoid protracted legal disputes. Shawn has also advised clients on employment issues in connection with mergers, acquisitions and other corporate transactions.
Shawn is an editor and contributing author of Orrick's trade secrets blog, Trade Secrets Watch. Shawn regularly writes about trending issues in restrictive covenant and trade secrets litigation.
Shawn is recognized by Super Lawyers as a New York Metro area "Rising Star” (2018-2020).