To win a defense verdict in a $350 million trade secrets fight between the world’s two largest essential oil companies, Ballard Spahr partner Mark Gaylord first had to convince a Utah judge that the case boiled down to simple contract dispute.

Gaylord, managing partner of Ballard’s Salt Lake City office, represents doTERRA, which was sued by essential oil manufacturing competitor Young Living Essential Oils in 2012 in Utah state district court.