As technology has become central to daily life, technology and intellectual property have also become increasingly central to business agreements. Michael Best helps clients capitalize on crucial technology and IP assets through licensing, joint development, and other strategic alliances.
Our Licensing & Technology Agreements team offers a special blend of legal, business, and technical knowledge. By bringing together attorneys from our Intellectual Property and Corporate groups who consult with other practice areas as needed, we provide unified counsel on all facets of IP licensing and technology transactions.
Our work encompasses a wide array of agreements, policies, compliance audits, due diligence, and litigation in areas such as:
Software and Information Technology
We counsel clients on licenses, contracts, and terms and conditions for software, software as a service (SaaS), and other cloud services, mobile apps, and websites. Our attorneys understand the information technology (IT), and we have extensive experience representing both buyers and vendors in a variety of software and IT service transactions. We have a wealth of experience in drafting, negotiating, and litigating IT-related matters, and we work with clients to understand their specific IT needs and implement focused and practical strategies to meet these needs.
Patents and Technology
We offer expertise combining legal, business, and technical knowledge to help clients best utilize their intellectual property and technology assets in commercial transactions. We regularly counsel clients on strategies designed to maximize the value of their properties through licensing. We assist emerging company licensees in finding professional management and obtaining third-party financing. Our services include: inbound and outbound patent and technology agreements; technology joint venture and partnering agreements; technology development agreements; manufacturing and supply agreements; university and federal lab collaborations; non-disclosure and material transfer agreements; and intellectual property asset acquisition and disposition.
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Trademark Collaborations
We assist our clients with establishing, maintaining, protecting, and enforcing their rights in the United States and in more than 100 countries throughout the world. We assist with strategic planning, negotiation, due diligence, and hands-on program management. We also represent clients in connection with evaluating and negotiating licenses and assist them with complying with license terms and addressing claims of noncompliance.
Our team includes attorneys who are recognized as leading practitioners by business organizations and publications including Chambers USA and The Best Lawyers in America. Members of our team are active in the International Trademark Association; lead PLI, ACI, and Lorman continuing education seminars; and have taught at law schools.
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Life Sciences
We assist clients with co-development and co-promotion strategic alliances, as well as research, licensing, and transfer of intellectual property related to drugs, medical devices, biotech, and other technologies. Our team works with clients at all stages of development and has the experience to help clients navigate the nuances of the regulatory environment. Our team includes FDA regulatory, IP, transactional, and finance attorneys, as well as scientists and engineers. We work together to address our clients’ needs cross-functionally.
Our technical expertise includes a broad range of life sciences technologies, including chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, microbiology, genetics, cell biology, biomedical engineering, molecular biology, chemical engineering, and biochemistry.
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Best LuminEdge
Analyzing a company’s IP assets to reveal the true value – and provide essential intelligence about the competitive landscape. Our proprietary system goes beyond basic IP due diligence, combining patented data analytics tools with the depth of our top-ranked professional team. We help companies see the big picture and provide action-oriented advice. Whether you’re evaluating a potential investment target, doing strategic planning, or looking to better manage your IP portfolio, Best LuminEdge can help.
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On the technical side, many of our lawyers and professionals have advanced degrees and business experience in areas such as computer science, engineering, physics, chemistry, and biotechnology. We are also active in professional organizations such as the Association of University Technology Managers, Licensing Executives Society, and Intellectual Property Owners Association and regularly speak and comment on licensing issues.
Our in-house scientific and technical expertise stems in part from the firm’s unique EDGE program, which provides internships for science and engineering students with highly developed research and analytical skills. EDGE interns collaborate with the firm’s IP attorneys, scientists, and engineers to provide insight during, and before, the patent process. Those insights are proving more valuable than ever today, as many companies reduce their in-house research teams and rely more heavily on universities and startups to spur innovation.
Michael Best’s licensing and technology clients span various industries. They include Fortune 500 companies, startups and emerging ventures, and more than 25 universities nationwide. Our attorneys have a wealth of experience in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, agribusiness, energy, life sciences, food and beverage, university technology transfer, and information technology. We advise on strategies designed to maximize the value of our clients’ properties and licenses — and often, we help them make the business connections needed to succeed.