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A young biotech company is poaching from a small pool of elite European molecular geneticists at an established firm. Britain is in recession; a quango is involved, a US university and a headhunter are prowling for fresh talent. Jobs are swapped, injunctions sought and an Appeals Court judge laments distinguished scientists left ‘glowering’ at each other at the back of the court. Trade secrets with oncological implications and a treatment for stomach ulcers are at stake.
It’s 1982, and the judges are perhaps a little old-fashioned in defending the honour and professional reputations of all gentlemen involved. Nevertheless, Lords Cumming-Bruce and Templeman lay the ground for positioning the English law of industrial secrets atop the old law of employee confidentiality. |
