Hailed as ‘the utmost trusted advisors’, the group of attorneys at DLA Piper LLP (US) operates as an ‘extension of the in-house team’ with superb licensing expertise, which is ‘only matched by their business practicality’. Leading life sciences, manufacturing and technology companies rely on the group’s high level of expertise for the licensing components of major transactions, its solid skills negotiating settlement agreements, and its stand-alone licensing practice. Additionally, the firm’s global footprint provides the US licensing team with excellent capabilities to manage cross-border work. The practice is led in conjunction from San Diego, Silicon Valley and Boston by Mark Lehberg, global co-chair of the firm’s commercial contracts practice; Victoria Lee, who co-chairs the firm’s technology sector group; and Larissa Bifano, who steers the patent prosecution team, respectively. The San Diego-based Lisa Haile, who is skilled at handling mergers and acquisitions in the life sciences space as well as in strategic counseling for comprehensive life sciences patent portfolio management, is another key name.

Goodwin‘s practice continues to attract attention in the market, especially for its prowess in complex licensing agreements for a solid technology and life sciences client base. Its bench of skilled attorneys, which was further reinforced in November 2021 with the arrival of a new California-based partner Beni Surpin, who joined from Foley & Lardner LLP, is led by technology expert James Riley, and Catherine McCarty, whose main expertise falls within the life sciences sector. They co-steer the team from Silicon Valley and Boston respectively. The group assists clients through all stages of growth, by evaluating, structuring, drafting and negotiating licenses, collaborations and other strategic technology transfer transactions across a variety of technologies. It is also well known for handling the licensing aspects of financings, including public offerings, and M&A transactions. Additional expertise in the biotechnology market is brought in by Kingsley Taft, who operates from the Boston office, where technology, data and IP expert Stephen Charkoudian is also based. Washington DC’s Noelle Dubiansky, who represents biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, and other life science companies in a wide range of mandates, is another name to note.

Boasting a sturdy footprint in key global technology centers and commercial markets and therefore able to navigate mandates both in the United States and globally, Jones Day‘s licensing and technology transactions group advises on the development, acquisition, transfer, and exploitation of technology and IP assets through commercial transactions. The group’s expertise includes licensing, strategic alliances, collaboration agreements, joint development, M&A and joint ventures. Recent work highlights include advising Skyworks Solutions in connection with its acquisition of the Infrastructure and Automotive business of Silicon Laboratories in an all-cash asset transaction valued at $2.75bn. The practice, which is jointly led by Joseph Melnik in Silicon Valley and Anthony Insogna in San Diego, has garnered an excellent reputation in the market, particularly for its expertise in transactions in the high-tech, biotech and pharmaceutical industries. Several of the group’s attorneys have scientific or business degrees under their belt. Warren Nachlis and Scott Lyne in New York; and Ka-On Li in Silicon Valley are among the key names of the department.

The Silicon Valley-based Judith Hasko helms the practice at Latham & Watkins LLP. Regarded by clients as the firm's ‘ideal ambassador’, Hasko is widely recognized for her prowess in negotiating, structuring and executing strategic licensing alliances, joint ventures and other technology and intellectual property-based transactions for life sciences companies. The workload showcases a particular strength in matters related to pharmaceuticals, biologics, medical devices, gene therapy, diagnostics, nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and agricultural products. The practice also offers significant experience in technology-related matters; a strong national footprint across the West and East coast; as well as a wide global presence.

The robust practice at Morrison Foerster offers deep expertise spanning the full range of technology transactions, from patent and technology licensing and acquisitions, joint ventures and joint development projects, to strategic alliances, M&A-related tech transactions, distribution and supply agreements, and global outsourcing projects. In addition, the firm has developed subsector specialty groups in key disruptive technology fields, which makes them a preferred choice for semiconductor, software technology and life sciences clients as well as for blockchain, fintech, AI and virtual and augmented reality players. The practice enjoys a wide geographical footprint, and is led by Aaron Rubin from San Francisco. Working alongside him in this office are William Schwartz, Justin Haan, and Tessa Schwartz, who garners praise for her ‘good knowledge of how matters play out’. Stephanie Sharron in Palo Alto, and New York-based of counsel, Anthony Ramirez, are other names to note. Former partner Rufus Pichler left the firm in October 2021.

Earning plaudit for its ‘breadth of subject matter expertise and responsiveness’, and for offering ‘excellent legal advice’, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP‘s team houses a solid track record of good performances across a variety of disciplines, primarily licensing-driven commercial agreements and licensing-related litigation, with the busy transactional practice a further asset. The group has continued to expand its nationwide presence in 2021, further strengthening the ranks of its New York office with the arrival in March 2021 of partner Daniel Forester from Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP. It continues to be jointly led by Silicon Valley’s Daniel Yost and San Francisco’s Sarah Schaedler, whose arrival in 2020 reinforced the team’s capabilities when handling the licensing and data privacy aspects of corporate transactions, as well as when advising private equity funds and other clients on their investments in tech & innovation-driven companies. Senior associate Ramin Tahidi, also based in San Francisco, is also noted.

With over three decades of experience advising on technology and IP transactions under his belt, New York's Michael Epstein, who has lately advised on a number of global pharmaceutical deals and private equity investments in emerging technologies, heads the dedicated team at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP. The renowned practice shoulders a significant workload consisting of independent licensing work, and matters involving the patent aspects of M&A, private equity, financing and restructuring transactions. New York duo Charan Sandhu and Jeffrey Osterman, and Karen Ballack in Silicon Valley, complete the group which, in addition to boasting strong cross-border capabilities, is also well known for its prowess in assisting with research and development collaborations, licensing agreements, co-marketing arrangements, outsourcing transactions, professional services agreements and e-commerce agreements. The department's client roster includes names from the technology, life sciences, electronics and software sectors.

The licensing practice at Baker Botts L.L.P. appeals to clients for being ‘unusually adept at creating business-savvy licensing frameworks & agreements’, and garners additional praise for feeling ‘comfortable doing things in a new way’. With life sciences, technology, electronics and education as the main sectors of focus, the group is well known for handling a variety of licensing agreements, encompassing cross-border contracts for the acquisition or disposal of portfolios, the research and development of new technologies, and outsourcing agreements, for products and services in the US and abroad. The group is also well versed in transactional work, and the proximity with the firm’s litigation team reflects on the practice’s caseload. Robert Scheinfeld chairs the group from New York, with Christa Brown-Sanford in Dallas acting as deputy chair. Luke Pedersen in Washington DC and ‘exceptional licensing attorney’ Margaret Sampson in Austin are other names to note.

Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP's sizable practice comprises recognized authorities in the field such as Washington DC's Brian Kacedon who has a wealth of expertise handling the licensing aspects of transactions, in drafting and negotiating license and collaboration agreements in addition to having litigated multiple lawsuits and arbitrations based on his extensive transactional experience. Managing partner Anand Sharma and chair Mark Sweet, both also based in DC, are at the helm of the practice, which covers a variety of industries, with pharmaceutical, medical device, software, and consumer electronics as its mainstays. The firm enjoys a well-established footprint in the US thanks to its offices in Reston, Palo Alto, Boston, and Atlanta, as well as a significant international presence with offices in London and four hubs in Asia, which makes the team a solid choice for matters with a cross-border component.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP‘s extensive track record acting for licensors and licensees alike nourishes the practice with strong capabilities to negotiate mandates with a deep understanding of both perspectives. In addition to negotiating license agreements, the group is well versed in other commercial arrangements that are often implemented alongside of patent licensing deals, including joint development agreements, supply agreements, and service and technical assistance agreements. The team offers additional expertise in the development and implementation of patent licensing programs, often by way of corporate transactions. Key practitioners include David MacDonald in New York, who has a focus on pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies; Chicago-based trio Russell Levine, Adam Petravicius, and Seth Traxler, who leads the technology & IP transactions practice; and Shellie Freedman in New York, whose background in molecular and cell biology provides her with additional insight into life sciences transactions.

Spread across offices the firm’s offices in Philadelphia, Silicon Valley, Boston or Chicago, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP‘s practice has built a stellar reputation for its prowess handling domestic and international technology transactions, primarily outsourcing transactions, and is a preferred choice for semiconductors, software, electronics, engineering and life sciences clients. Business method and e-commerce patent licensing agreements are other areas of expertise. The large practice comprises a bench of deeply experienced practitioners, including Louis Beardell in Philadelphia; Pittsburgh’s Peter Watt-Morse; life sciences specialist Benjamin Pensak in San Francisco; and Silicon Valley duo Dion Bregman and Rahul Kapoor. Additionally, through representations and local partnerships, the firm routinely advises companies desiring to operate in Japan, China, and India, as well as Asia-based global companies expanding into the United States. The group was in charge of representing Takeda Pharmaceutical in its agreement with Moderna and Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare to import and distribute an additional doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine in Japan.

Praised for its ‘very strong knowledge’, Ropes & Gray LLP is the firm of choice for a number of large pharmaceutical companies, multiple biotech startups, and investors, while also acting for well-known names form the technology space. Particularly renowned for its expertise advising on research collaboration agreements -frequently including cross-border components-, and commercialization license agreements, the team is co-headed by Megan Baca in Silicon Valley and Melissa Rones in Boston, the firm’s main patent licensing center. Additional key expertise in the Boston office comes from former practice head David McIntosh and life sciences expert Hannah England, who has a particular focus on licensing and collaboration transactions, as well as on asset acquisitions and divestitures.

Clients appreciate Dickinson Wright PLLC’s ‘knowledge grounded in experience’. The  practice's roster includes patent attorneys who have previously worked as engineers, while most have worked in-house, which gives the group a good understanding how licensing arrangements arise within a business. The team advises clients from a variety of industries, including technology, real estate, automotive or education, covering a range of licensing matters such as software licensing, technology licensing for universities, cross-licensing to resolve disputes, and traditional patent licensing. Richard Jones in Troy, Michigan, chairs the group, closely supported by Lance Anderson in Austin, who is experienced in technology and IP focused transactions, as well as in handling the technology aspects of mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and other commercial transactions.

The ‘outstanding’ Salima Merani, who operates form Orange County, is one of the key contacts at Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP‘s extensive licensing practice. She brings to bear her more than 20 years of experience handling the development and commercialization of patent portfolios for life sciences companies, particularly medtech and biotech companies. The department’s expertise also spans licensing agreements in the context of financings and transactions, mainly in the venture and growth capital space, which also amount for a portion of the workload. Irvine-based partners Jason Gersting, who acts as practice co-head, and Terry Tullis are other names to note.