Commercializing intellectual property
Intellectual property (“IP”) assets and rights are often some of the most important assets in any business transaction that values innovation and intangibles.
It is critical that counsel assisting in the structuring, negotiation and drafting of any such business arrangement, collaboration or venture involving intellectual property have a deep and accurate understanding of these assets and rights. We have a team of top-rated intellectual property transaction lawyers who thoroughly understand the role of intellectual property rights across a wide range of businesses and who can assist in structuring and negotiating transactions and producing agreements that properly address intellectual property assets and rights. Our IP transaction lawyers also leverage the combined technical and industry experience of our firm’s significant patent, trademark, copyright and litigation to deliver comprehensive and strategic IP transactional service to our clients.
Our lawyers leverage their legal and technical expertise in advising on, structuring and negotiating a wide variety of domestic and international IP-related transactions, agreements and matters. As part of this role, we help our clients exploit, leverage and license their IP assets, and secure reasonable terms for IP assets that our clients look to in-license, out-license, acquire or divest. We are also regularly called upon by in-house counsel, commercial law firms, investors and companies seeking investment to provide advice on the IP and technology aspects of commercial projects, collaborations and transactions.
We provide IP transaction services wherever needed and across a broad range of industry sectors. Our clients span the spectrum, from large domestic enterprises and organizations, to multinationals, to governments or government bodies, to small to medium sized enterprises, to investors (including VCs and private equity), to start-up companies in emerging growth sectors, as well as universities and other research institutions.
Smart & Biggar has a strong reputation for representing clients in a wide variety of IP-related matters and business transactions and our lawyers are repeatedly recognized in surveys as being among the world’s leading patent and technology licensing lawyers.
Our services in this area include:
- High tech
- Computers, software and information technology
- Telecommunications
- Electrical and electronics
- Oil and Gas
- Alternative energy
- Metals and mining
- Transportation and utilities
- Automotive
- Aerospace and defense
- Robotics
- Luxury goods and apparel
- Retail
- Industrial and mechanical
- Cleantech
- Crop science
- Life sciences
- Pharmaceuticals and medical devices
- Chemical and industrial biotechnology
- Consumer products / sports industry
- Media and broadcasting
- Financial services
- Entertainment
- Food, beverage and tobacco
Key Contacts
Client Success
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Agreements between pharmaceutical company and university
IP counsel for a Quebec-based pharmaceutical company in negotiating, structuring and drafting an exclusive patent license agreement and research and development agreements with a major Quebec Universi...Read More -
Asset acquisition of clean tech company
IP counsel for a French multinational in an asset acquisition of a U.S.-based and VC-backed clean tech company.Read More -
Supply and license agreement for sports company
IP counsel for a Quebec-based sports and technology equipment company in a supply and license agreement with a major U.S. telecommunications company.Read More -
IP audit and strategy development for nuclear science company
IP audit and IP strategy for a global recognized leader in nuclear science and technology.Read More -
Share purchase of US sports company
IP co-counsel for a U.S. private-equity backed and well-known North American consumer products company in a share purchase of a U.S. sports company.Read More -
Share purchase advisement for consumer products company
IP co-counsel for a U.S. private-equity backed and well-known North American consumer products company in a share purchase of a major North American consumer products company.Read More -
IP audit for Quebec-based multinational
IP audit for a major Quebec-based multinational to provide recommendations to improve IP management function, role and responsibilities.Read More -
IP asset purchase for biotechnology company
IP counsel for a Quebec-based biotechnology company in an IP asset purchase of know how/ technical data from a leading Quebec university.Read More
Unparalleled Expertise in IP Licensing & Transactions
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IAM
Gold Band Firm for Patent Prosecution & Litigation
2013-2024IAM Patent 1000 - The World’s Leading Patent Professionals -
WTR
12 leading trademark practitioners
2021 & 2024World Trademark Review 1000 – The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals -
Lexpert
One lawyer in Technology Transactions
2020-2023The Canadian Legal LEXPERT® Directory -
Lexpert
Two lawyers in Computer and IT Law
2022-2023The Canadian Legal LEXPERT® Directory -
Lexpert
Eight lawyers in Life Sciences and Health Law
2022-2023The Canadian Legal LEXPERT® Directory -
WTR
13 leading trademark practitioners
2023World Trademark Review 1000 – The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals -
Who's Who Legal
16 leading IP experts
2022Who's Who Legal: Canada -
Who's Who Legal
17 leading IP experts
2022Who's Who Legal: IP -
WTR
14 leading trademark practitioners
2022World Trademark Review 1000 – The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals -
Lexpert
Two lawyers in Advertising and Marketing Law
2022The Canadian Legal LEXPERT® Directory
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Related News & Media
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Smart & Biggar leads the Canadian patent rankings with 23 lawyers and agents listed in IAM Patent 1000
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Smart & Biggar boasts 14 Trademark lawyers recognized as “heavy hitters” in the 2022 edition WTR 1000
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IAM Strategy 300 recognizes IP leaders Sanjay Goorachurn and Daphne Lainson in 2022 edition
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Smart & Biggar leads the market for IP and Cannabis in the 2022 edition of The Legal 500 Canada
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Smart & Biggar wins Canadian Patent Strategy Firm of the Year at the 9th annual LMG Life Sciences Awards
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Smart & Biggar named IP ‘Law Firm of the Year’ and leads the rankings with 36 lawyers recognized in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch
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Four Smart & Biggar partners ranked among the best of the best as WTR Global Leaders
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