Licensing & Commercial Agreements

Whether you’re licensing IP from a third party (e.g., a university spin-out) or licensing your IP to generate revenue, we ensure your agreements are tailored to your needs. We advise on and prepare terms covering:

• Territorial scope.
• Permitted uses (e.g., research, commercial, clinical trials).
• Ownership of improvements and developments.
• Protection of confidentiality and trade secrets.
• Royalty and milestone structures.

Our expertise ensures your licences appropriately cover the agreed technical uses without over-granting or overly restricting IP rights.

Ownership of IP in R&D projects is a common source of disputes. Our technical expertise allows us to draft agreements that clearly define IP ownership and usage, reducing the risk of future conflicts. We work with major players in life sciences, industrial chemistry, and engineering to negotiate and conclude complex R&D agreements that protect your next-generation IP.

Collaboration agreements, particularly those involving grant funding, require specialist IP advice. We have extensive experience negotiating public/private collaborations and ensuring compliance with grant funder terms. Whether you’re a spin-out company, investor, or technology transfer office, we’ll help you navigate the complexities of these agreements.

MTAs are often treated as "standard" documents, but they can contain critical IP ownership terms and use restrictions. We review, amend, and negotiate MTAs to ensure your IP rights are protected and that you’re not caught out by restrictive or onerous terms.

Confidential information and trade secrets are increasingly valuable assets. We draft robust confidentiality agreements that align with the purpose of sharing information and provide a clear basis for action in the event of a breach. Our team includes expert litigators and agreement specialists who ensure your agreements are enforceable.

We help software developers and businesses maximise the commercial value of their software innovations through bespoke agreements tailored to their specific needs.

We advise on the IP aspects of a wide range of commercial agreements, including:

• ‍Supply chain agreements (e.g., distribution and manufacturing licences).
• ‍End-user customer terms (e.g., EULAs for software and services).
• ‍IP due diligence for corporate transactions, including warranties and indemnities.
• ‍Contractor and consultancy agreements to secure IP ownership.
• ‍Assignments and IP ownership advice, including pre-filing actions and dispute resolution.
• ‍Co-existence and settlement agreements across all IP rights.
• ‍Franchise agreements and brand licensing, particularly for FMCG clients.