Intellectual Property
Our Intellectual Property practice is dedicated to providing the best protection of our clients' intellectual property (IP) at the most cost-effective rates available. We provide services across a range of industries, including biotechnology, high technology, clean technology, pharmaceutical technology, medical devices, software, engineering solutions and other cutting edge technologies directed to meet the particular needs and stage of development of our clients. Our attorneys and specialists can offer companies counseling, strategic advice and specific protection for intellectual property in the fields of
• Patent
• Trademark
• Copyright
• Trade Secret
In addition, we work closely with clients
to develop business strategies to enhance intellectual property protection and
to advance its commercialization. We oversee our clients' interests in a variety
of business transactions, such as licensing, drafting joint development and
strategic alliance arrangements and addressing the IP aspects of everyday
business endeavors and potential litigation risks.
We specialize in building clients' IP
portfolios strategically and cost-effectively, while mentoring clients to
achieve the greatest value for their technology and resources and to use their
internal resources whenever possible. When it comes to patents, we do not just
prepare and file patent applications - we evaluate patent portfolios and analyze
existing patent technology licenses, and then structure in-house IP protection
processes and draft patent applications based on this knowledge and the intended
outcome. We guide protection of branding and marks, including trademark
selection, clearance and registration, structuring and restructuring trademark
ownership and trademark and copyright support. We represent clients in copyright
law and protection of artistic works and find creative ways to protect these
valuable, creative works.
VLP also provides an extensive array of IP
due diligence services. We are experienced in representing investors who wish to
investigate the IP aspects of a potential investment and in representing
acquirers who seek a more comprehensive understanding of a target company's IP
status. For a straightforward licensing transaction, we can assist in evaluating
the technology being licensed in addition to negotiating the transaction itself.
When representing companies preparing for a financing or acquisition, we can
conduct "pre-diligence," to help the company identify and correct weaknesses
that could concern the investor. We recognize that both sides of the table need
the diligence work to be focused, relevant, helpful and economical - in other
words, actual Due Diligence.
All of our attorneys have outstanding
credentials and an average of over ten years of experience. Our virtual
structure sharply reduces our firm's overhead, so that we can offer attractive
fee arrangements, often charging close to half the rates that large law firms
charge. And our virtual operation affects neither the quality of our work, nor
the availability and dedication of our lawyers. Quite the contrary - at VLP, we
are dedicated to proving that expensive overhead does not provide great service
- great people do.