On the road to the commercializing new technologies, patents are often one of the most valuable business tools available to technology owners. At Hicks Intellectual Property, we assist the owners of technologies at all stages in the development and management of patent portfolios from the early conceptual stages through to the ongoing management and development of comprehensive international patent portfolios.

Patent Portfolio- Development and Management
In the development and management of a client’s patent portfolio, we work with our clients in:

• Reviewing and recommending patent protection strategies for new technologies
• Conducting comprehensive patentability searches and providing patentability opinions
• Drafting patent applications
• Filing patent applications
• Prosecuting patent applications in Canada, the United States, Europe and other countries and jurisdictions of the world.

Freedom-to-Operate/Infringement/Validity Analyses & Due Diligence
In determining the value of patent rights and possible IP risks, we assist our clients in:

• Conducting freedom-to-operate reviews and opinions
• Conducting infringement reviews and opinions
• Conducting patent validity analyses and opinions
• Providing transaction advice and due diligence in the evaluation and management of patents and patent portfolios in acquisitions, mergers, financings and bankruptcies

Expertise
Our patent agents and associates are trained in a range of science and engineering disciplines including chemical engineering, biochemistry, physical therapy and environmental science. In addition, our professionals have significant practical and industrial experience in the development and commercialization of new technologies.