Trade secrets directive

Earlier this year we reported that the European Council had formally adopted a draft directive for the protection of trade secrets across the EU (the Directive). It came into force on 5 July 2016 and EU member states have until 9 June 2018 to incorporate it into domestic law. Although the UK will still be a member of the EU by then, it is not certain to implement the Directive.

The UK has a well-developed law of confidence to protect trade secrets, which is closely aligned with the Directive, and therefore it may make little difference to businesses based only in the UK.

However, UK-based businesses with an EU presence, or cross-border operations, will want the Directive implemented to ensure that the level of protection for trade secrets across the EU matches that already provided in the UK.

A Bristol University graduate with a background in neuroscience, Sophie worked for the NHS and Higher Education Statistics Agency before embarking on her legal career. She trained locally and after qualifying in 2014, she worked in the commercial litigation department of a well-respected national law firm in Bristol and then took a position in the science and technology team at BPE Solicitors. She joined our corporate & commercial team earlier this year.