IP Strategy for the Exit

IP strategy involves a range of topics including management of employees, contractors and suppliers; dealing with NDAs, MTAs and other contracts; branding; and building a patent portfolio. In this presentation, IP lawyers from Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG) discuss IP management focused on the guiding question, “Will this increase the valuation of my company when I exit?” Using experience gained through BLG’s Beyond IP Strategy program, the presentation considers the economics of IP, myths and errors in IP management, and alternative strategies for patent management. Following the presentation, the BLG team will be available to take your questions.  

Learning Outcomes:
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·         The importance of developing a continuous IP process
·         Asset value based IP strategy
·         IP pitfalls to avoid
·         Non-linear patenting process alternatives

About Your Speakers:
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Curtis Behmann is the National Leader of Beyond IP Strategy, BLG’s innovative suite of strategic intellectual property advisory services. He is passionate about innovation, design, technology and intellectual property strategy. One of the top IP strategists in the world according to the IAM Strategy 300, Curtis is a professional engineer, registered patent agent (in Canada and the US) and design expert. His more than 20 years’ experience brings a unique combination of deep expertise and board-level strategic insights to startups, scale-ups and world-leading multinationals.

Scott Pundsack specializes in patents related to clean technology and life sciences. His practice areas include: water, de-carbonization, green chemistry, bio-based materials, membrane technology, medical devices and drug delivery. In addition to drafting patent applications and prosecuting them through the patent office, Scott is active in contentious and corrective procedures such as protests, reissues, re-examinations and litigation. Scott also manages litigation and oppositions for companies involved in international disputes.  He is a member of the Golden Triangle Angel Network and Element 8. 

Brandon Evenson is a Patent and Trademark Agent, and Lawyer who builds and executes strategies for clients to enforce, acquire and monetize international IP portfolios, with a focus on high tech patents. Brandon specializes in advising executives on complex IP-focused transactions and commercial matters and is internationally ranked by IAM Patent 1000 and Chambers Global as a leading Canadian patent expert. He has experience directing the prosecution of patent portfolios in over 80 countries around the world, and regularly appears before the Canadian Patent Appeal Board and the Federal Court. Representative experience includes advising a publicly-held Canadian medical device company on a transaction with an S&P 100 medical equipment company involving licensing of a portfolio of over 50 patent assets and related confidential information and know how for royalties exceeding $15 million, and advised a Canadian manufacturing company with 50 offices worldwide on due diligence for a transaction involving a large patent portfolio including thousands of patent assets.

Natasha Gulati has a background in synthetic organic chemistry and business administration. Natasha helps innovators implement IP protection measures, litigate IP and navigate the commercial factors that drive innovation. Natasha completed her articles at BLG. During her legal studies, she was a research fellow with the Global Strategy Lab and volunteered as a consultant with several community organizations.