IP Licensing & Assignments

Whether we are working for one of the world’s largest companies or an inventor looking to commercialise their first invention, we apply the same rigorous approach

IP Licensing & Assignments

A one-stop solution for all IP licensing and assignment requirements

Intellectual property rights, be they patents, trade marks, copyright, designs, know-how or other IP rights, are the crown jewels for many businesses.

Our team understands that the reasons for licensing or transferring intellectual property rights are as diverse as our clients. There is no one-size-fits-all solution and our work in this area varies from lighter-touch agreements (e.g. intra-group assignments) to complex licences covering multiple IP rights and countries, often relating to business-critical technology.

We’re skilled in applying our expertise adaptably across multiple sectors. For example, one of our major pharmaceutical clients sought our advice on a collaboration and licence agreement for a highly innovative cell-based product. We’ve drafted and negotiated trade mark licences on behalf of one of Europe’s leading designer outlet brands. We recently advised a multi-national company on the scope of its responsibilities under a joint ownership and collaboration agreement. An unusual project was the preparation of the settlement and long-term coexistence agreement of IP rights from a film franchise and a 1960s television series.

In other recent work we assisted a start-up looking to tidy up its IP ownership arrangements by drafting an assignment and licence-back of patents, design rights and trade marks. Our US corporate clients with affiliates in the UK and elsewhere in Europe regularly call upon us to draft multi-party agreements to assign patent rights from European inventors, via their employer companies, to the desired patent applicant, particularly for use in global recordal projects.

Whether we are working for one of the world’s largest companies or an inventor looking to commercialise their first invention, we apply the same rigorous approach. Our focussed team of IP transactions lawyers works with clients to understand both the IP rights in question and the commercial drivers for each deal.

Where necessary, we work side-by-side with our patent or trade mark attorney colleagues for specialist input and we’re also able to call upon a network of trusted foreign lawyers where advice on local issues is required. This combination of skills and resources enables a responsive and one-stop solution for all IP licensing and assignment requirements.

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Partner
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Senior Associates
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Associate
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Specialist Support Team