Reasonable Measures

About Reasonable Measures

Not yet ranked as the #1 Trade Secrets-related podcast in the world, Timothy Londergan and Chris Buntel discuss the latest developments in trade secrets and litigation. New episodes every week. Tim and Chris both found their way to intellectual property by way of chemistry. Organic chemistry PhDs to be exact. Chris had not had enough school so decided to go to law school and became a patent attorney while Tim jumped feet first into the start-up scene. A few years and a few companies later they united to build the first Enterprise SaaS platform for managing trade secrets.

Publisher

Tangibly

Category

true crime

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

30 Apr 2024

Latest episode

20 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

26 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   20 Oct 2026

   Episode 26: The Three Phases of Employment: Trade Secret Risks from Hire to Exit

   Hosted by Chris Buntel, featuring Matthew Prewitt and Linda Jackson, Partners at ArentFox Schiff, this episode of the Reasonable Measures Podcast explores how companies can protect trade secrets throughout the employee lifecycle: onboarding, ongoing employment, and offboarding. Linda and Matt explain that companies often focus too heavily on employees leaving for competitors, while overlooking risks that arise during recruiting and throughout employment. During interviews, candidates may inadvertently disclose a former employer’s confidential information, potentially exposing their new employer to trade secret litigation. Once employees are onboarded, companies must balance employee retention with appropriate data controls, access restrictions, and ongoing training to prevent confidential information from being disclosed or misused. The conversation also explores the importance of well-defined offboarding procedures, including recovering company devices, revoking system access, reviewing unusual data transfers, and reminding departing employees of their continuing confidentiality obligations. The speakers emphasize that trade secret protection is not just about preventing information from leaving the organization. Companies must also demonstrate that they took reasonable measures to identify, protect, and control access to that information. Finally, Linda and Matt discuss how artificial intelligence is creating both new risks and new opportunities for trade secret protection. While AI may enable competitors to replicate employees’ specialized knowledge, it may also help companies compartmentalize sensitive information and reduce reliance on individual knowledge holders. The main takeaway is clear: effective trade secret protection requires a proactive, company-wide approach at every stage of employment. Organizations that combine thoughtful hiring practices, employee retention, ongoing training, technical safeguards, and disciplined offboarding processes are better positioned to protect valuable information and defend their trade secrets if a dispute arises. Takeaways 1. Trade secret protection starts before an employee is hired. Companies should train recruiters and hiring managers to avoid soliciting confidential information from candidates about former employers and establish clear onboarding procedures to prevent trade secret risks. 2. Protect trade secrets throughout the employee lifecycle. Companies often focus on employees leaving for competitors, but risks arise during recruiting, throughout employment, and during offboarding. A proactive approach is essential at every stage. 3. Employee training and data controls are critical. Employees need to understand what qualifies as a trade secret, including business information such as customer lists, pricing strategies, and market research. Access restrictions, monitoring, and ongoing training help prevent accidental disclosures and misuse. 4. A consistent offboarding process reduces risk. Companies should recover devices, revoke system access, review unusual data transfers, and reinforce continuing confidentiality obligations. Carefully managed communication with a departing employee’s new employer may also help protect sensitive information when appropriate. 5. AI is creating new risks and opportunities for trade secret protection. While competitors may use AI to replicate employees’ specialized knowledge, companies can also explore AI to compartmentalize sensitive information and reduce reliance on individual employees. Proactive planning is essential to address these evolving risks. Full transcript here: https://www.tangibly.com/episode-26-the-three-phases-of-employment-trade-secret-risks-from-hire-to-exit/

2. 

   26 May 2026

   What one year of managing trade secrets teaches you

   In this episode of Reasonable Measures, Chris Buntel speaks with Pape Dieng, IP Director at the Wyss Center, about what he has learned during his first year managing trade secrets in a collaborative research environment. Pape shares how research organizations can build a stronger culture around confidentiality, IP protection, and trade secret management, especially when scientists and researchers are naturally focused on publishing, sharing, and collaboration. Chris and Pape discuss why patents are not always the right path, how trade secrets can strengthen startup value, and why the best approach is often simple, practical, and focused on identifying what creates value. The episode is a practical conversation for research organizations, startups, IP teams, and anyone thinking about how to protect innovation before it is disclosed too early. Takeaways Trade secret protection in research environments starts with culture, not just legal documents. Researchers often need practical examples to understand what should stay confidential and why it matters. Publishing and collaboration are important, but some core value may need to be protected before it is shared. Patents are not always the best path, especially for AI based innovation, algorithms, know how, and other confidential technical information. Trade secrets can help startups show a broader and stronger IP portfolio to investors and partners. The real sign of success is behavior change, when researchers proactively ask what should be protected. The simplest advice is often the strongest: keep it practical, follow the value, and protect what matters most.

3. 

   19 May 2026

   Episode 24: Why HR is the first line of defense for trade secrets with Brad Scheller

   Mintz Partner Brad Scheller joins Chris Buntel, CIPO at Tangibly, on Reasonable Measures to discuss why HR plays such an important role in protecting trade secrets. They cover how companies can reduce risk through onboarding, employee training, access management, and offboarding, and why many trade secret issues start with people who already have access to sensitive information. The takeaway: trade secret protection does not need to be complicated, but it does need to be intentional, documented, and repeatable. Listen to the full episode to learn how HR can become a stronger line of defense for confidential information.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

4,490

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 31 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

22

Social presence

0

YouTube

68

Engagement

32

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Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.