IJE / IBJ Deep Dive - Trade Secrets and Whistle Blowers

The EU Trade Secrets Directive, which dates back to 2016, has been implemented into Belgian law for over a year. Time to take a deep dive into the actual changes that have been brought about by this legal framework that some consider a revolution and others view with skepticism. With concrete examples, we will demonstrate the type of information that can be protected and the scope of protection that can be provided. Furthermore, we will guide you through the best practices that will help you to maximize the protection of your commercially valuable information under this new legal regime. 

We will then dive even deeper into the substance by critically explaining how this new set of rules impacts your company’s relationship with its employees and contractors. When battle-tested, what contractual clauses and organizational modifications in the company’s processes remain watertight and really enable you to prevent/minimize the risk of disclosure of confidential information by employees and contractors?

Finally, we will take a look into the future and discuss how this new set of rules will co-exist and interact with the upcoming EU rules on whistleblowing. Will whistle-blowers become immune? What steps should your company take to prevent the undesired disclosure of trade secrets under the new EU rules on whistleblowing?

Speakers

• Emmanuel Plasschaert, Partner, Brussels
• Jan-Diederik Lindemans, Partner, Brussels
• Gunther Meyer, Senior Counsel, Brussels
• Evelien Jamaels, Associate, Brussels
• Judith Bussé, Associate, Brussels
• L. Van Der Haeghen, Counter-Intelligence Coordinator, Belgian State Security