IP Spotlight - December 2025

not download or copy, confidential information so you can be confident that the business retains the only version of the information. You can also discourage employees from logging into personal email accounts from work devices. If an employee resigns, take steps to immediately cut off their access to sensitive information. It may also be appropriate to forensically review their email account and work-provided electronic devices and place that employee on a period of gardening leave to further restrict their access to confidential information. Once again, adopting such practices is useful if it becomes necessary to persuade a court that your business is serious about how the protection of its confidential information.

KEY TAKEAWAY

For General Counsel, intellectual property is more than just a legal consideration, it’s a cornerstone of business strategy. The mistakes outlined above are rarely the result of negligence; they happen because IP is often treated reactively, addressed only after a dispute arises or a competitor moves in. By then, it’s often too late. A forward-thinking approach transforms IP from a defensive shield into a powerful growth driver. Ultimately, IP is at its most valuable when it’s managed deliberately, systematically, and with a commercial lens. For General Counsel, this isn’t just about avoiding pitfalls, it’s about positioning IP as a central lever of innovation, competitiveness, and long-term business success. By investing time and resources in a disciplined IP strategy today, you safeguard your company’s most critical assets for tomorrow.

Andrew Goatcher Principal

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