Persons creating products that can be the object of intellectual property rights, or similar legal rights, are ‎often employees in a business. And frequently, the intellectual property rights are crucial to that business. ‎However, the intellectual property rights that arise in the context of an employment relationship, or other ‎types of collaborative relations, do not always automatically vest in the employer or the client, respectively.‎

We are specialized in drafting and providing advice on the types of terms and agreements that are ‎necessary in order to ensure that intellectual property rights can be exploited as intended. Our expertise ‎also includes drafting and providing advice on the types of terms and agreements that can establish a ‎contractual basis for the legal protection of, for instance, trade secrets.‎

For example, we draft documents relating to and provide advice on:‎

• IP-clauses and confidentiality clauses in employment agreements, supply agreements and ‎consultancy agreements
• Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs)
• Repatriation and expatriation agreements for scientists and R&D personnel and other categories of ‎employees or project staff
• Policies and strategies for the protection of trade secrets and other types of confidential information ‎‎– for instance in connection with engagement and termination of employees

One aspect of the economic value of IP is the prospect of performing IP-related transactions. This can take ‎the form of licensing, but it can also take place in the form of cooperation agreements, such as distribution ‎agreements or research and development agreements. We have extensive experience in structuring, drafting ‎and negotiating international licenses and complex collaborative IP-based arrangements. We draft, ‎negotiate and provide advice across a wide range of IP-related transactions, including:‎

• Research and development agreements (R&D)
• Licensing in respect of all types of intellectual property rights
• Agreements concerning the sale and purchase of intellectual property rights
• Agreements with agents and other types of distribution agreements, including franchising