Intellectual Property Consulting
A major focus of our firm is analyzing the financial, accounting, market and valuation issues related to intellectual properties and other intangible assets. This includes patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets. Our clients are prominent in a variety of industries including computer software and hardware, semiconductors, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, biotech and consumer products. They have included many Fortune 100 companies, individual inventors and educational institutions, as well as the legal counsel who represent them.
We provide the following kinds of services:
- Licensing and Transaction Assistance - We are frequently retained by patent holders to negotiate licenses or to assist in the negotiation process. Inventors, companies and educational institutions retain the firm to develop licensing strategies and assist with finding licensees for intellectual properties. This assistance has involved royalty rate research, evaluations of potential licensees, assistance with introductions of parties and actual negotiations. We have also assisted companies with the sale of significant intellectual property portfolios.
- Infringement Damage Analysis - Often we are asked to compute damages from infringement of patents, copyrights and trademarks or misappropriation of trade secrets. Analyses have included lost profits, reasonable royalties, price erosion and unjust enrichment, among others. The firm's principals are experienced in testifying to their findings in these matters.
- Valuation - We provide opinions regarding the value of intangible assets, including intellectual property. This is typically done in connection with donations, bankruptcies, purchase transactions, and purchase price allocations. The firm also provides opinions regarding the fairness of royalty rates and other fees charged for the use of intellectual properties.
- Royalty Auditing and Other Damage Analysis - We also conduct audits of license agreements to ensure that owners of intangible assets have been compensated correctly.
The practice area's principals and staff are experienced in these areas and are able to provide cost-effective, efficiently prepared analyses.