Patents

The patent system is a key element in the protection of clients’ valuable R&D and know-how. Patent application strategies, licensing, enforcement and allegations of infringement frequently give rise to complex legal and commercial issues, particularly in the software and hardware industries.

Our focus is on guiding you through the issues in a cost effective and practical manner, protecting your interests in commercial contracts, licensing and R&D arrangements and enforcing or defending your rights when appropriate in the UK courts.

Key areas of our expertise include:

Protection: we work closely with clients, technical experts, patent agents and search organisations to produce cost effective and flexible advice on patentability of inventions, patent filing and protection strategies
Enforcement: we specialise in patent infringement and validity actions in the English High Court as well as co-ordinating multi-jurisdiction litigation

Infringement: we can advice you on all infringement assessment and freedom-to-operate issues
Commercial: we advise on technology joint ventures, patent and know-how licensing and collaboration arrangements and high value R&D projects

Our recent experience includes:

Advising clients on patent licensing and indemnity arrangements in the software sector
Multi-jurisdiction patent infringement and invalidity proceedings in electronics sector
Advising on enforceability of patent and R&D licensing arrangements and associated royalty claims
Undertaking freedom to market searches and analysis and providing infringement opinions for a leading provider of IT solutions to the airline industry

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