In today’s competitive, global, knowledge-based business environment, companies live and die on the strength and security of their intellectual property.
Womble Bond Dickinson has the resources and skills to assist our clients in protecting, maximizing and monetizing their technology and intellectual property assets.
Intellectual property
Our intellectual property, technology and data team regularly supports our clients’ needs in the following areas:
Resolving patent, trademark, copyright, design, and other IP infringement, validity, opposition and entitlement disputes in UK, US and EU courts and patent offices, as well as by international arbitration. Our experience includes assisting clients with related antirust/unfair competition claims as well as with cross-border disputes
Conducting detailed patent investigations and analyses in all technical areas and procuring patents in the US, UK, the European Patent Office and in other international patent offices throughout the world
Representing clients in inter partes and post-grant review proceedings
Clearing, registering and maintaining trademarks and designs throughout the world
Developing worldwide anti-infringement and anti-counterfeiting strategies and protocols for leading brands
Structuring and negotiating complex IP transactions, including licensing arrangements, research and development agreements, collaboration agreements, technology joint ventures and strategic alliances, among others
Advising clients in sponsorship, advertising, sweepstakes and promotions, merchandising and franchising arrangements.
Strength of service - intellectual property
More than 150 qualified IP lawyers and patent agents in the US and UK.
Patent experience in the electrical, technology/software, mechanical, materials science, chemical, and pharmaceutical and biotech/genetics fields. Many of our team members hold advanced degrees (Masters or Ph.D.), and are former scientists and engineers. Several are former USPTO examiners
More than 2,000 patent and trademark prosecution clients worldwide
Womble Bond Dickinson has an active and growing patent prosecution practice and manages nearly 16,000 active patent matters, including issued and pending patents, throughout the world. We prepare and file approximately 2,000 patent applications per year throughout the world
Approximately 50,000 global trademarks under management
More than 30 practitioners focused on resolution of domestic and multinational IP-related disputes
IP transactional experience extending across a wide spectrum of industry sectors, including IT, life sciences, biotech and pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and advanced manufacturing.
Intellectual Property Litigation
Womble Bond Dickinson has a strong IP Litigation Practice with teams throughout the US and UK, including in Delaware, Texas and California, three of the busiest patent litigation venues in the US.
Technology, data and cybersecurity
Our technology, data and cybersecurity team advises clients in the ever-changing areas of information technology, privacy, cyber-security and data protection. We regularly advise clients in:
Data protection, including conducting privacy and security assessments, workplace policies and procedures, employee training, and managing privacy risks in mergers and acquisitions
Procurement and licensing of IT enterprise systems and services
Cloud-based solutions and software-as-a-service (“SaaS”) arrangements
eCommerce, online services and associated regulatory compliance
Technology acquisition and partnering, including M&A, joint venture, and licensing transactions
Technology investing, for start-ups, venture capital firms and our largest clients, including related securities, governance and employment issues
Communications network cybersecurity compliance planning and support, counseling communications providers on cybersecurity best practices and developing procedures for handling cyber incidents, breach recovery and response protocols that are designed to limit fall-out damages post-incident
Fintech (payment services, challenger banks)
Insurtech, including peer-to-peer networks, telematics, cyber insurance and other technology-related insurance products
Cyber and security technologies
Digital media
Strength of service - technology, data and cybersecurity
Womble Bond Dickinson has over 45+ lawyers who focus on technology, data protection and cybersecurity. Our multidisciplinary team works regionally and internationally on both contentious and non-contentious matters
Technology and data experience with a wide range of client industry groups, including financial institutions, insurance, retail and consumer, healthcare, transportation and infrastructure, public sector, and education
Served two of the Global Top 10 fintech companies and some of the world’s largest financial institutions
Specific experience helping clients safeguard consumer, financial and healthcare information
Regularly advise businesses about global consumer data collection and privacy protection regulations and qualification and compliance with the Privacy Shield program of the United States Department of Commerce and the European Union, as well as federal, state and local privacy law.
Some people believe innovation happens overnight, but not us. We understand how much money, time, and effort you pour into every piece of intellectual property.
Many of our IP attorneys and professionals are also technically trained, have advanced degrees in science and engineering, and have prior experience as patent examiners, business executives, and in-house counsel.We back our business experience with equal parts scientific and legal knowledge to help clients protect and leverage their IP. Our IP Team handles antitrust, distribution, trade practice, and technology issues for a global client base with full-service IP counseling, global procurement, and IP litigation services related to patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.
By investing in the right people and technology, we’ve built a high-impact intellectual property group with more than 250 attorneys and practitioners. We work across teams, practice groups, and offices to provide holistic IP support and access to attorneys with relevant experience in your industry.
We have offices in global innovation hubs like Silicon Valley, Boston, and Research Triangle Park in North Carolina and strong IP litigation teams in three (3) of the nation's busiest patent litigation venues: Delaware, Texas, and California.
Strategic IP Advice
IP strategy alignment with overall business objectives
Legal advice on promotions, sweepstakes, and marketing and advertising campaigns
Ongoing strategic IP counsel, i.e., we monitor IP trends that could potentially impact your business
Patent Preparation and Prosecution Our intellectual property lawyers, patent agents, and scientific advisors, many with advanced degrees, provide comprehensive legal support for U.S. and foreign patents.
Detailed patent investigations
Patent analysis
Procurement
Patent prosecution
IP Litigation Services We represent clients in all phases of litigation, with experience protecting and enforcing patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. We also engage in defensive litigation to protect our clients' products and businesses from unwarranted patent assertations.
Our IP litigators work closely with the patent prosecution attorneys to serve clients in post-grant proceedings, including inter partes reviews (IPRs).
IP Licensing and Transactions Our IP Team plays a critical role in transactions: negotiating and drafting documents that protect your interests and maximize your IP’s value. We have clients in all industries, but work extensively with energy, information technology, nanotechnology, life sciences, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare companies.
Complex licensing agreements
Strategic alliance agreements
IP matters in corporate transactions:
Technology transfer agreements
Joint ventures
Due diligence strategies
Research:
Government funding
University-industry relations
Corporate sponsored research contracts
Trademarksand Copyrights We handle every legal issue related to trademarks and copyrights, including U.S. and foreign trademark searching, trademark and copyright applications, prosecutions, and enforcement, as well as licensing and monitoring trademarks and copyrights in the U.S. and abroad.
Trademark, logo, and design registrability - Reports and opinions:
Trade dress protection and brand strategy
Trademark registrations and enforcement
Copyright analysis and strategies:
Copyrightability
Authorship protection for digital and print media
Your team
Your intellectual property team
Our team, based in the UK and US, includes specialist lawyers, attorneys, paralegals and strategists who can offer support throughout the lifespan of your intellectual property. We also have built strong working relationships with a trusted network of intellectual property practitioners globally, meaning we can help wherever your issues arise.
An ever-changing and fast developing area, a number of the team are also involved in various professional and industry associations, allowing them to stay abreast of latest developments and be at the heart of influencing practice. As a result, we can provide keen insight on your matters backed by the latest industry thinking and research – and we love talking about intellectual property too!
We cover all types of intellectual property rights and deal with establishing subsistence, clearance, audits and registration through to licensing, research and development, sponsorship, collaborations and other contractual arrangements.
Think your intellectual property is being misused or infringed? We can help there too. Our award-winning team has extensive experience with court disputes, as well as domain name and company name actions, and is adept at alternative dispute resolution.
You can rest easy knowing we’ve got the expertise and know-how to handle any intellectual property challenge you throw our way swiftly, effectively, and without fuss.
Need legal advice and guidance in intellectual property?
Our team is able to help provide solutions to you and your organization. Browse through our lawyers and professional staff to find the right attorney near you.
Duckhams managing the company’s global trade mark portfolio
Barbour as exclusive portfolio manager for its global trade mark applications
Buckler Boots on its registered design protection portfolio and intellectual property rights issue
Sterling Pharma Solutions on all aspects of intellectual property protection
Ergochair on delivery of an IP Audit and IP Management recommendations
Testimonials
"We are delighted with the court's decision, which vindicates the protection of our intellectual property and encourages innovation. It has been a pleasure working with the WBD team."
Gordon Donald, Managing Director at Geofabrics
“Lovely people to work with, great attention, good and strategic advice, a very good counsel.”
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