Strategies and process of trade secret misappropriation mitigation: the case of UK

Trade Secrets (TS) are vital for innovation-driven companies, and their loss can inflict significant financial and reputational damage, particularly in the absence of established policies to mitigate misappropriation in the UK. The current academic literature lacks detailed strategies for firms to effectively address these threats. This paper aims to bridge the research gap by conducting interviews with industry professionals and analyzing UK legal cases related to TS misappropriation. By integrating findings within the Dynamic Capabilities (DC) theoretical framework, we develop a more comprehensive approach to mitigating TS misappropriation, thereby enhancing the detail and relevance of DC approaches in the TS context. This research, therefore, not only offers practical strategies for companies in the UK to prevent future breaches but also advances academic understanding of the process of TS misappropriation-mitigation and outlines potential directions for further inquiry in this area