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Business Legal Services
Intellectual Property Audits
Service overview: Intellectual property audits
Effectively protect and exploit your business assets with a thorough IP audit. Most businesses generate valuable IP on a daily basis, but many don’t realise it. Understanding what IP you own, what steps you need to take to protect it and how you can exploit it commercially with a comprehensive IP audit will unlock value in your business.
Experts in intellectual property audits
Our team can assist you across all areas of intellectual property audits, including:
Audit your IP to understand what you own, how to protect it and how to maximise value
Our team of intellectual property solicitors can support you by:
Undertaking a systematic review of your IP portfolio.
We will consider what IP we would expect your business to generate and engage with key stakeholders to clearly map your entire IP portfolio.
Assessing the IP you use.
We’ll assess your business name, branding, copyright, trade marks, designs, patents, know-how, trade secrets, domain names, websites and databases.
Considering whether your IP is sufficiently protected
We’ll also make recommendations as to how you can better protect it.
Supporting you with applications and renewals of registrations at the UK Intellectual Property Office or offices further afield in respect of a range of rights such as patents and trade marks.
Reviewing your key commercial contracts
Such as terms and conditions and licences and considering your arrangements with third parties.
Highlighting any risks
For example; in relation to unregistered rights, potential disputes, or correcting defects in title (ownership).
Identifying key commercial opportunities
Such as obtaining or selling IP, or licensing IP in or out.
Supporting you with any subsequent negotiations and drafting documents to purchase IP assets, transfer rights or resolve disputes.
Considering any intra-group sharing of IP and drafting intra-group licences
For example, to help you avoid unregulated sharing of IP.
Developing your future IP strategy
We will also create policies and protocols for use going forward.
Assisting you with preparing your business for sale or investment
where applicable.
What are the benefits of conducting an IP audit?
Take stock
To protect, develop and exploit your IP, you need to know what you have. Intellectual property can be complex and it’s easy to lose track of what’s been developed over time without completing a thorough IP audit.
Protect what you have
An IP audit will identify whether you’re benefiting from all the protection available to you and will identify whether any registrations require renewal or whether there are any issues that need resolving.
Maximise opportunities
We’ll look for ways you could generate additional revenue through exploiting your own IP or by utilising third party IP.
Minimise risk
We’ll identify possible areas of risk, such as potential issues with third party IP, and create a strategy to overcome them.
Know your worth
With a complete IP audit, we’ll help you understand your intellectual property’s monetary worth, adding value to your business.
Who we help: Innovative businesses from a variety of industries
Every single business generates IP and will benefit from an IP audit, regardless of where your business is at in its lifecycle. We support a wide range of UK-based business in innovative industries where the effective protection and utilisation of intellectual property is crucial.
We regularly work with clients in the creative industries, IT and technology, manufacturing and engineering as well as emerging technologies such as AI. We advise clients of all shapes and sizes, from university spinouts and start-ups to SMEs and large multi-nationals.
Whether you’re a start-up looking to scale, or an established business seeking more growth, we offer accessible business legal services with an integrated approach across the team so that you know we have a wider view of your overall commercial aims and can help you achieve them, whatever your legal requirements.
Testimonials
What our clients say
What I’ve been most impressed with is the way Rob and Ed have dug deep, independently, into our website and made sure every base is covered. They’ve looked under the surface of the website and highlighted areas where we need to ensure we have correct terms and policies in place. That’s first-class support.
Lameece Nagib
Head of Operations,
Hopin
Amanda and Gemma were extremely accommodating at the lack of time we could dedicate to supporting the trademark applications and utilised the data we supplied to complete the applications in a speedy timeframe which was very much appreciated.
Jenny James
COO,
Findr Global
Lindsay gave me the peace of mind I needed to go ahead and sell my work online without fear of infringing anyone’s copyright. She recommended an intellectual property review of my work, so I knew where I stood commercially. Her feedback was really clear: she told me why my work didn’t actually infringe any copyright, without using jargon, making it easy for me to understand, and included examples which helped.
Gladys Holliday
Founder,
Gladys Holliday
Over the years Harper James have helped us navigate complex legal issues and red tape, providing distilled options and legal consultancy that far exceeds the service levels we’ve previously experienced from more traditional law firms. The team act like our own in-house counsel so, regardless of which lawyer we work with, we feel supported and that they truly have our best interests at heart.
Michael Edwards
Co-Founder,
Inspire Group
I was looking for intelligent, fast feedback on things I couldn’t do myself. Every step of the way, Harper James have fulfilled that promise – they’ve been so responsive. It’s run as a business, not as a law firm. Anyone who’s been near a law firm knows the difference. It’s a real pleasure.
Geeta Sidhu-Robb
CEO and Founder,
Nosh Detox
The advice set out in Rob’s initial IP audit has helped us create a clear road map for our IP. It has also strengthened our case to get the follow-on grant and with that now secured, I look forward to working with Harper James on the next phase of our IP strategy.
Lucy Fenn
Head of Communications,
eWATERservices
What I’ve been most impressed with is the way Rob and Ed have dug deep, independently, into our website and made sure every base is covered. They’ve looked under the surface of the website and highlighted areas where we need to ensure we have correct terms and policies in place. That’s first-class support.
Lameece Nagib
Head of Operations,
Hopin
Amanda and Gemma were extremely accommodating at the lack of time we could dedicate to supporting the trademark applications and utilised the data we supplied to complete the applications in a speedy timeframe which was very much appreciated.
Jenny James
COO,
Findr Global
Lindsay gave me the peace of mind I needed to go ahead and sell my work online without fear of infringing anyone’s copyright. She recommended an intellectual property review of my work, so I knew where I stood commercially. Her feedback was really clear: she told me why my work didn’t actually infringe any copyright, without using jargon, making it easy for me to understand, and included examples which helped.
Gladys Holliday
Founder,
Gladys Holliday
Over the years Harper James have helped us navigate complex legal issues and red tape, providing distilled options and legal consultancy that far exceeds the service levels we’ve previously experienced from more traditional law firms. The team act like our own in-house counsel so, regardless of which lawyer we work with, we feel supported and that they truly have our best interests at heart.
Michael Edwards
Co-Founder,
Inspire Group
I was looking for intelligent, fast feedback on things I couldn’t do myself. Every step of the way, Harper James have fulfilled that promise – they’ve been so responsive. It’s run as a business, not as a law firm. Anyone who’s been near a law firm knows the difference. It’s a real pleasure.
Geeta Sidhu-Robb
CEO and Founder,
Nosh Detox
The advice set out in Rob’s initial IP audit has helped us create a clear road map for our IP. It has also strengthened our case to get the follow-on grant and with that now secured, I look forward to working with Harper James on the next phase of our IP strategy.
Lucy Fenn
Head of Communications,
eWATERservices
Why choose Harper James Solicitors?
Our intellectual property solicitors have a wealth of experience and extensive knowledge across the whole spectrum of IP issues, from registrations to exploitation and dispute resolution, meaning we’re perfectly placed to conduct IP audits and support you in developing your IP strategy.
Our unique remote-working business model means that you can access high quality legal advice from partner-level solicitors at a fraction of the cost of traditional law firms. All our lawyers are recruited from top 100 UK law firms or from large international businesses and have advised clients both as external advisors and as in-house IP/brand management counsel.
Find out more about the team here:
Pricing plans
Legal support designed
to fit your business needs
Our three transparent pricing packages are designed to give you the widest possible access to high-quality legal advice, whatever the size and nature of your business:
City
Straightforward access to senior solicitors at a competitive rate.
An affordable solution for businesses needing one-off legal support. Receive ‘City’ partner-level expertise at a fraction of ‘City’ prices.
Enterprise
Have legal peace of mind for £215 per month with additional support from £145 per hour.
A monthly subscription legal support package specifically designed for start-ups and smaller businesses.
On-Demand
Providing you with priority access to a dedicated panel of highly experienced solicitors.
Fully account managed quarterly subscription service for businesses with more complex legal needs.