Intellectual property

We offer dedicated intellectual property (IP) specialism in the Middle East as part of our international network of contentious and non-contentious IP lawyers. We advise on all aspects of the exploitation and use of intellectual property rights and the acquisition and use of information technology products and services. We work in a variety of industries and our specialist industry knowledge coupled with our intellectual property expertise ensures that we are able to provide cost effective advice that is innovative and adds value.

We are experienced in providing commercial legal advice and corporate finance services geared to our technology and IP rich clients. Our lawyers are also experienced in dispute resolution and the enforcement of IP rights (including patents, unregistered and registered designs, copyright, database rights and trade marks).

We offer particular expertise in relation to acquisition of rights, transactions involving licensing and the transfer of technology, technology joint ventures, franchising and other forms of licensing, research and development, supply and distribution agreements, and dispute resolution. Additionally, we have considerable expertise dealing with data protection and data privacy issues and strategies.

We can

• provide strategic advice on IP protection, exploitation and enforcement;
• advise on IP licensing, assignment and other agreements;
• work with you to review your IP strategy and advise on ways to maximise the value you extract from intellectual property;
• advise on e-commerce, privacy policies, data protection, email marketing and similar issues;
• support mergers, acquisitions and financing projects in relation to innovative businesses.

Clients and experience

We advise both established and developing businesses and have been involved in a number of mergers and acquisitions, restructurings and public offerings in relation to IP-rich businesses such as media companies, content providers, social networking companies and multinational brands. We also advise clients on legal issues connected with introducing products to the market such as branding, marketing and advertising.

In the Middle East, we have:

• advised a major international cosmetics and beauty brand on data privacy issues in relation to its Middle East business;
• advised a Middle East telecoms operator on branding issues in the context of a consortium bid with an international operator for a GSM licence in the Kingdom of Bahrain;
• advised various investors on the IP aspects of investment in technology and IP rich companies, such as a Jordanian animation business, a manufacturer of iris recognition technology and a Middle East publishing business;
• advised a regional pharmaceutical distribution business on licences, marketing and distribution agreements in the Africa and Middle East region;
• advised an Abu Dhabi-based medical device manufacturer on confidentiality and patent licensing issues.