R&D agreements

— Our team
— Related services

When you need to collaborate, provide R&D services, or buy them in from third parties, you need to know that all the IP issues have been thought through and that your contract nails them to your best advantage. Because R&D is all about what hasn’t been created yet, you need lawyers with the experience to help you anticipate what might happen and what IP might be created and then establish clear lines of ownership and exploitation. Do your existing advisors really understand the technology? Do they have the commercial wisdom to add value rather than ‘boiler plate’? Can you secure the best deal possible?

Our specialist commercial team have the experience and commercial nous to help you anticipate what might happen and then not only negotiate the best deal, but also create and implement a strategy for doing so, time after time. We do so across all industries, from Pharma, Healthcare, and Chemicals to Automotive, Software and Electronics, Cleantech and beyond.

We will help you avoid pitfalls and secure the best deal by:

Bringing together our team of specialists and working with you to devise a strategy that optimises your position, in an achievable way
Devising checklists and heads of terms with you to facilitate simple and profitable deals that deal with all the IP issues in a smart way that maximises your rights
Working with you to draft and negotiate the deals to secure the position you deserve
Advising on clinical trials agreements

"HLK combine technological expertise with a highly efficient organisation which is capable of working with accuracy."

Client testimonial, Legal 500 20/21

76 "They are extraordinarily responsive and knowledgeable and are my go-to firm for matters in the UK and the EU."

Client testimonial, Legal 500 20/21

Our team: R&D agreements

Jason Dainty

Partner | Litigation

Richard Kempner

Partner | Litigation

Sanjeet Plaha

Partner | Litigation

Brian Whitehead

Partner | Litigation

Nicole Ockl

Partner, Head of Legal, Trademarks and Designs (Germany) | Litigation

Daniel Chew

Partner, President of The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys | Tech

Kayleigh Walker

Senior Solicitor | Litigation

Do you know what your IP is doing to bring in revenue? Can you show your business how you are using your IP to gain competitive advantage? Can you secure the best deal possible?

Due diligence can too often be seen as a box ticking exercise that lists the various IP assets of the target company. Not here.

As an owner of IP, you will sometimes need others to help your IP fulfil its commercial potential and support the strategic goals of the business. Make sure they value your IP as much as you do.

Ensuring that IP and associated rights are owned by the right entity is a vital part of corporate asset management, which can impact the ability of your business to leverage the value of those rights.

Confidence is important. Confidentiality frequently more so.

Collaborations, joint development, cross licensing and complex IP ownership structures require our specialist expertise.