I need some commercial advice

Commercial insight into complex IP issues

We have a wealth of experience advising on technology transfer and the commercialisation of IP, ranging from advising on the existence, protection and management of IP rights (including unregistered IP rights such as trade secrets, copyright and database rights), to drafting and negotiating complex contracts involving IP and their interaction with European competition law and due diligence on IP assets. We can assist with a wide range of transactions involving IP, from one-off licence deals and multi-institution research collaborations to IP elements of mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments and stock market flotations.

All our advice and support is given with a high degree of commercial understanding, pragmatism and focus. By leveraging our commercial experience and that of our technical colleagues as well as a deep understanding of IP and the delicate interplay of the law; and by working collaboratively within the constraints imposed by your IP, your business sector, and your budget, we will ensure the best possible outcome for you in any given deal.

Why choose to work with our legal team

We have a pragmatic commercial awareness that is highly valued by our clients. It is the combination of this awareness and our legal and technical abilities, that allows us to provide focused, useful, and competitively priced advice. We work across all industry sectors and are just as comfortable whether we are working with sole inventors and academics, or CEOs and their boards.

We understand how to operate in the SME and university environment, and are keenly aware of the demands placed on technology transfer offices. As a firm we work with 8 out of UK’s top 10 universities. We are often involved right at the moment of a company’s formation. In fact, many of the spin-out companies we work with are born from patented technology we have procured for universities and research institutions. We are particularly active in this space and have a proven track record in providing universities, start-ups and established companies with robust “investable” IP.

We are equally happy to collaborate with other professional advisors to ensure clients benefit from joined up thinking when it comes to their IP strategy. We understand that not all our clients have the resources of some of the large blue chip companies we work for and we are aware of the tight budgetary constraints facing some research departments and SMEs. We will tailor our work to a budget, but we will always look to deliver value through highly focused and commercially useful advice.

We also advise on life science regulatory exclusivity, clinical trial agreements, human tissue regulations and advanced therapy medicinal products. We are well-known for handling portfolios that cover major blockbuster drugs in the biologics space.