Confidential Information
Local businesses often have problems when an employee leaves and takes with them valuable confidential information. This might be customer lists of trade secrets, computer software, files, contracts, supplier details, designs, even products, etc.
Paul Seath, a solicitor in our Employment Department, says: “Naomi Campbell and Lord Coe’s recent confidentiality cases may have been the ones in the press, but week by week business confidentiality is a much more important area. We are happy to advise on your rights if this happens to your business. It is possible to obtain a court order requiring the individual to return your confidential information. There may either be a breach of the employment contract but even if there was no confidentially provision or restrictive covenant clauses, the general law of confidence will apply.
Although the general law imposes obligations on existing staff, they are limited, and properly drafted provisions greatly increase protection.
Also if you propose to disclose secret information or know how to a business partner make sure you have them sign a non-disclosure or confidentiality agreement first. We can advise you on this.”
For further information contact Paul Seath on (0117) 929 0451 or e-mail pseath@metcalfes.co.uk
This press release summarises the law on issues which we believe may be of interest to your business. It is not a comprehensive review of the subjects and accordingly is published without responsibility for loss occasioned to any person(s) acting or refraining from action as a result of information published