A high-stakes legal battle has erupted over allegations of corporate betrayal and trade secret theft. On November 19, 2025, Jos. H. Lowenstein and Sons, Inc., a New York-based dyestuff manufacturer, filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York against Alessandro Marcandalli, Nexa Am di Alessandro Marcandalli, and Vivatech SRL. The lawsuit accuses Marcandalli of breaching his consulting agreement with JHL by launching a competing company using confidential information obtained during his tenure as a consultant.
The case unfolds like a corporate thriller. According to the complaint, Alessandro Marcandalli was once an expert hair dye formulator working for Lehvoss Italia, JHL's largest importer in Italy. In May 2025, he left Lehvoss and was recommended by JHL’s Director of Global Sales to help expand their European presence. By July 7, 2025, JHL had entered into a consulting agreement with Marcandalli's company, Nexa Am. This agreement granted him access to sensitive business information such as customer lists and proprietary product formulas that JHL had developed over its extensive history.
However, unbeknownst to JHL at the time, Marcandalli had already formed Vivatech SRL on June 12, 2025—an Italian company that directly competes with JHL by selling similar cosmetics and hair dye products. The lawsuit alleges that Marcandalli used his position at JHL to solicit business for Vivatech from existing JHL contacts like Lehvoss Italia. He is accused of ordering samples from Lehvoss under Vivatech’s name while still contracted as a consultant for JHL.
JHL claims that this breach of contract has caused them irreparable harm beyond financial loss; they assert damages exceed $75,000 due to lost profits and potential tax liabilities arising from fraudulent misrepresentation by Marcandalli regarding tax identification numbers on official forms. The complaint also details accusations of defamation after Marcandalli allegedly told business contacts he quit because JHL refused payment—a claim contradicted by the fact he never submitted invoices for services rendered.
In response to these alleged breaches and violations—including misappropriation of trade secrets and unfair competition—JHL seeks actual damages exceeding $75,000 plus punitive damages where applicable. They are also requesting reasonable costs associated with legal proceedings along with pre-judgment interest as deemed appropriate by the court.
Representing Jos. H. Lowenstein and Sons is Sedhom Law Group PLLC led by attorneys Rania V. Sedhom and Danielle M. Peterford based out of New York City’s Fifth Avenue office suite number 2508 (Case ID: 1:25-cv-06424). As this legal saga unfolds before Judge Honorable Jury Trial Demanded within Eastern District jurisdictional bounds set forth under U.S.C §13832(a)(2), it remains uncertain how justice will ultimately be served amidst these complex commercial entanglements involving international parties across borders between America & Italy alike...
Source: 125cv06424_Jos_H_Lowenstein_and_Sons_Inc_v_Marcandalli_Complaint_Eastern_District_New_York.pdf