We assist clients with Intellectual Property (“IP”) matters at all stages of business development, from start-up, through growth, attracting investment, or acquiring other brands or technologies.
We help our clients to consider all aspects of IP in their business and in their interactions with third parties such as suppliers, licensing or collaborative partners.
IP review and due diligence services are one of our specialist areas and include:
- Pre-business sale or merger review of IP portfolios and associated contracts, including any recommendations to strengthen portfolio.
- Preparation of formal IP reports for investors to highlight the commercial relevance of the existing portfolio and associated contracts.
We have particular experience of software, engineering, renewables and the food & drink sector, working with a wide range of clients from start-ups to larger established global businesses.
The nature of our engagement will vary according to circumstances – it could vary from undertaking a standalone project for a company or investor, to providing specialist advice as part of a wider team including other IP legal advisors, corporate finance specialists and investors.
In practice our work ranges from a simple initial view of the IP rights and status checking to a more detailed assessment, including for example the relevance of existing IP to the commercial activities, the overall strength of these particular rights and relevance of any third party rights being used under licence.
In all scenarios we are able to help identify IP diligence priorities, to agree the most useful scope of work, and to then deliver this to set budgets and to agreed timescales.
For innovative companies IP rights are usually an important consideration in pre-investment planning and we always welcome the opportunity to be involved at an early stage in this process. We can help ensure that the appropriate IP review and required follow up activity is undertaken to support both the investment activity and the ongoing business growth opportunities.