Commercial services

We provide our commercial services to a diverse range of clients, including large multinationals, technology leaders, start-up companies, universities, and other academic or research institutions.

Maximising IP rights

We can:

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advise on exploitation and commercialisation, setting up holding companies and other intra-group arrangements

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take advantage of tax concessions (such as Patent Box in the UK) alongside accountants, to maximise tax efficiency of IP rights

Transactions

We advise on the licensing, transfer and securitisation of IP, either as one-off transactions or as part of a larger business or asset sale. Drafting, negotiating and advising on commercial contracts such as:

confidentiality and materials transfer agreements

R&D collaborations
manufacturing agreements

franchising agreements
agency agreements
distribution agreements

We can:

advise on standard terms of purchase and sale, the regulatory issues that these give rise to, and the supply of goods online

advise on competition / anti-trust issues in relation to IP rights

advise on regulatory issues such as trading and advertising standards, CE marking and novel food applications

draft and advise on clinical trial agreements, patient consent forms and human tissue agreements

draft website development agreements and website operating agreements, including privacy policies, data protection issues, terms and conditions, and issues relating to children and their internet usage

We conduct IP and commercial contract due diligence in connection with rounds funding, company sales and public listings

Licensing

We advise on the licensing of IP rights to obtain new revenue streams or to secure freedom-to-operate. Our advice ranges from complex licensing and cross-licensing programmes to technology transfer and trade mark co-existence agreements.

IT contracts

We advise on IT and software issues ranging from drafting software licences to preparing outsourcing, maintenance and hosting agreements for IT services. Copyright and database right issues are of paramount importance.

Data protection

We advise on data protection compliance issues and privacy and anti-spam legislation. We work closely with US clients regarding “safe harbour” provisions and the impact of European legislation on US and other entities outside the UK.

William Cook
Partner