Hutchison Law Group | Practice Areas

Intellectual Property

Group Leader: Allen Baum

Technology companies constantly create, enhance, distribute, sell and buy significant technology assets. Hutchison Law Group's IP team works closely with our clients to strategically identify, protect, manage and exploit their intellectual property. We recognize that, for most of our clients, intellectual property is the cornerstone of their business, and protecting it is vital to their success.

Hutchison Law Group's IP team is an integrated group that provides services in all major areas of intellectual property protection and commercialization:

Patents
We have an experienced team of patent attorneys to help clients protect key technology, obtain meaningful competitive exclusivity and navigate the patent minefield. The patent group works closely with other lawyers in the firm handling corporate matters to provide well integrated legal advice that will help companies° achieve strategic business objectives.

The group originated from one of the largest firms specializing in patent law in the United States where the group worked together for many years serving emerging companies and leading international corporations. With backgrounds in pharmaceuticals, chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology, electronics and software, the group has prosecuted hundreds of U.S. patent applications. They also manage prosecution of foreign counterpart patent applications in countries around the world through an established network of foreign associates.

We provide patent services typically required by emerging companies and large established companies including the preparation and prosecution of patent applications, freedom-to-operate reviews, opinions, strategic counseling and patent licensing. The group frequently represents clients through the intellectual property due diligence phase of fundraising and licensing transactions.

Technology Commercialization.
Managing the commercial exploitation of technology presents enormous challenges and opportunities for technology companies. Our IP attorneys provide clients with seasoned strategic guidance based on many years of legal and industry experience, helping clients commercialize their IP assets and maintain successful business relationships.

Our technology commercialization team assists our clients with structuring and negotiating a wide variety of domestic and international technology licensing and other intellectual property-related transactions, including:

Inbound and outbound technology licenses
Strategic alliance and joint venture agreements
Research and collaboration agreements
Asset transfers and spin-out licenses
Development agreements
Distribution, manufacturing and supply agreements
Privacy and other usage policies and agreements

We also assist our clients with the design and execution of intellectual property strategies and programs and perform intellectual property audits and related due diligence in connection with mergers, acquisitions and investments.

Trademarks and Copyrights
Hutchison Law Group maintains a thriving domestic and international trademark practice. We regularly represent U.S. and foreign clients in all aspects of domestic and international trademarks. We filed more than 62 US applications and 34 foreign trademark applications in 2003.

Our trademark expertise includes not only preparation and prosecution of trademark applications, but also:

Handling of trademark cancellation, opposition, and other proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board
Negotiation and documentation of trademark license and consent/co-existence agreements
Counseling on internet domain name disputes and transfer agreements

We also advise clients on a variety of copyright issues, including issues related to the fair use of copyrighted materials, protection of databases, and copyright ownership and registrations.

IP Management System
In order to provide superior service to our clients, we have invested in a state-of-the-art, web-based patent docket and management system.This system allows our clients to have direct, on-line access to their patent portfolio information on a 24/7 basis. The system also allows us to easily customize reports and communications according to the preferences of our clients. Our trademark docket is managed on-site through a long standing patent and trademark software program.