What steps can I take to protect my company's trade secrets?

As a lawyer, I would advise taking the following steps to protect your company's trade secrets:

1. Identify your trade secrets: Start by identifying the information that is critical to your business and that you want to protect. This could include manufacturing processes, customer lists, strategic plans, financial information, and other confidential information that gives you a competitive edge.
2. Implement security measures: Once you have identified your trade secrets, put in place measures to protect them. This could include physical security, such as secure storage for documents and data, restrictions on access to sensitive areas or information, and employee training programs to ensure that everyone understands the importance of protecting trade secrets.
3. Use non-disclosure agreements: Consider using non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with employees, contractors, and business partners who may have access to your trade secrets. NDAs can be incorporated into employment contracts, service agreements, or vendor contracts, and can help to prevent unauthorized disclosure of trade secrets.
4. Monitor for breaches: Establish processes for monitoring and detecting potential breaches of trade secrets. This could include regular audits of access controls and security measures, as well as ongoing training and education for employees to help them recognize and report suspected breaches.
5. Take legal action when necessary: If you suspect that a trade secret has been breached, take immediate action to investigate and address the situation. This could include filing a lawsuit, seeking an injunction to prevent further disclosure or use of the trade secret, or pursuing criminal charges against the offending party.

It is important to note that there are potential limitations or exceptions to these measures, and that they may vary depending on the jurisdiction and the specific circumstances of your business. Additionally, it is critical to work with legal counsel to ensure that your trade secret protection measures are sound and enforceable under the law.