Trade Secrets
Some of the most valuable intellectual property assets are not protected by patents, trade marks or copyright. They are protected through trade secrets, confidential information and know-how.
Most organisations can tell you exactly how many patents they own. Far fewer can identify their most valuable trade secrets.
Helping organisations uncover and protect their valuable hidden IP assets
What are trade secrets?
Trade secrets are confidential business assets that derive value from not being generally known and are subject to measures designed to preserve their secrecy. Trade secrets are becoming an increasingly important part of clients' IP strategies as businesses seek to protect valuable know-how, data, algorithms, manufacturing expertise and other commercially sensitive information that may not be suitable for patent protection.
They can include a wide range of technical, commercial and operational information, including:
- proprietary know-how and technical expertise
- manufacturing and scale-up processes
- algorithms and software implementation methods
- product formulations and recipes
- research data and analytical methods
- products and technologies under development
- customer and supplier information
- market intelligence and commercial strategies
- business plans, proposals and operational processes
While patents protect publicly disclosed inventions for a limited period, trade secrets can potentially provide protection indefinitely, provided the information remains confidential.
For many organisations, some of their most valuable intellectual property may never appear in a patent specification.
How we help
Effective trade secret protection requires more than legal documentation.
Our attorneys combine deep intellectual property expertise with practical experience across technology, life sciences, engineering, manufacturing and research-intensive industries. We help clients determine which assets should be patented, which should remain confidential and how different forms of IP can work together to create lasting competitive advantage.
Our team helps organisations identify, protect and realise the value of their trade secrets through:
- trade secret identification and risk assessments
- trade secret and know-how strategies
- trade secret registers and governance frameworks
- confidentiality policies and information management practices
- employee, contractor and consultant protections
- confidentiality, licensing and collaboration agreements
- commercialisation and technology transfer support
- due diligence and transaction readiness
- trade secret enforcement and dispute support
What our clients say
Alex Ortnerm, General Counsel & Company Secretary, All G®
"Helen's guidance was extremely helpful. She helped us identify and protect our key trade secrets, and provided practical advice on managing confidential disclosures while partnering with third parties."
Client Choice Awards 2026
"I highly recommend FB Rice to anyone seeking a partner in intellectual property matters. Their professionalism, technical acumen, and ability to deliver outstanding results truly set them apart."
Client Choice Awards 2026
"Technical expertise, timely output, consideration of our requests, very easy to deal with, generous with time and advice."
