I’m a solo woman entrepreneur who built a specialized strategy and analysis business from the ground up. I recently had a larger company (all males of course) sign an NDA with me under the expectation of partnership through months long discussions, only for them to take my proprietary methodology and launch a competing service using my ideas and approach.

They claimed to know nothing about this line of work and insisted that for us to partner, I would need to “catch them up to speed” on my work and methodology. For months, I met with them under the pretense of forming a genuine partnership, and a collaboration of our two tools. This is why it made sense to me that they would need to know how things worked.

They repeatedly assured me they weren’t competing with me but wanted to collaborate. Now I’ve discovered they’ve launched a competing service using my ideas and approach – the very knowledge I shared because they claimed total ignorance in this field.

I feel violated and betrayed. I have the receipts, documented evidence, meeting transcripts, and a signed NDA with non-compete and work for hire provisions. But I’m up against a well funded company that probably thinks they can steamroll me.

I need recommendations for attorneys who:

– Champion small woman owned businesses against corporate bullies
– Specialize in intellectual property protection and NDA enforcement
– Have a track record of successfully taking on larger companies
– Understand the unique challenges women entrepreneurs face in male dominated spaces
– Have experience with cases involving proprietary methodologies (not just patents/trademarks)
– Won’t back down against aggressive corporate legal teams

Has anyone successfully fought back against IP theft as a woman entrepreneur? Any recommendations for attorneys who will genuinely fight for me and not just collect fees while advising me to settle? I’d also appreciate hearing about organizations that support women business owners dealing with IP theft.

This is my livelihood and they’re trying to erase years of my work. Any advice from those who’ve been through similar situations would be so appreciated. Thank you!