TECHNOLOGY'S LEGAL EDGE®
Introduction
The Technology and Sourcing practice at DLA Piper offers a powerful group of strategic business lawyers who focus on the development, protection, exploitation and use of technology-related assets throughout the various stages of a company's growth and the sourcing of strategic assets and services for use in a company's operations.
The Technology and Sourcing Group consists of more than 40 attorneys who work closely with the firm's 220-lawyer IP practice and other business lawyers in the firm's 250-lawyer corporate group to offer clients comprehensive legal services.
In addition to offering clients comprehensive legal services, DLA Piper offers clients unparalleled geographic reach. The firm has offices in more than 20 United States cities, including leading technology and business markets like Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, Northern Virginia, San Diego, Silicon Valley and Seattle. Worldwide, we have 67 offices in 28 countries including access to key markets for the sourcing of IT and BPO services such as China, Eastern Europe and India.
In short, the success of our Technology and Sourcing practice can be attributed to the following simple statements:
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We help companies develop and implement IP strategies that capture value from innovation.
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We effectively drive technology transactions as a collaborative partner with our clients, because we bring industry experience, an understanding of technology and business know-how to every deal.
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We have technology and sourcing experience in traditional and developing areas, ranging from open source licensing to business process outsourcing.
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We can go where our clients are, both in the United States, and internationally, with more than 64 offices worldwide.
What We Do
DLA Piper's comprehensive technology and sourcing services involve working with our clients as their strategic business lawyers to address the many technology and sourcing issues that may arise during a company's growth cycle. Our lawyers work with you to the following ways:
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Intellectual Asset Management - developing and implementing IP strategies that capture value from innovation by protecting key IP assets and finding ways to exploit these assets and to maximize our clients return on their investment in research and development.
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Commercialization and Exploitation - negotiating commercial arrangements for the commercialization and exploitation of IP-based assets and services, including licensing, joint ventures, distribution agreements and strategic alliances.
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Acquisitions and Divestitures - negotiating the purchase or sale of IP-based assets, divisions, products or product lines.
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M&A Due Diligence - conducting due diligence of the intellectual property and/or information technology related assets of a potential target and addressing the issues related to the transfer of information-related assets such as customer information.
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Spin-off Ventures - establishing wholly-owned or venture-funded subsidiaries for the commercialization and exploitation of IP-based assets.
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E-Business Operations - establishing e-businesses either through the creation of new operations within the company, spin-offs or through the use of third-party providers.
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Sourcing - procuring goods, technologies and services from third-party providers for use throughout the client's operations, including the sourcing of services for IT or other key business process from third-party providers within and outside the United States.
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IT Portfolio Sourcing - working with our clients to develop a comprehensive contract program for the sourcing of software, hardware and IT-related services for use in our client's operations as well as a compliance program for the ongoing management of our client's IT portfolio.
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IT Governance and Regulatory Compliance - implementing governance programs for the use and management of information and technology in a company's operations and providing strategic regulatory advice regarding developing areas affecting a company's use of technology and information related assets, such as the use of open source software and information security.
Our Clients
DLA Piper's Technology and Sourcing group provides legal services to companies in multiple industries. Our clients range from startups to publicly traded companies including Fortune 1000 companies. We also represent entrepreneurs, standard setting organizations and non-profit corporations.
Our clients include leading companies in several sectors:
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Nanotechnology
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Real Estate
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Retail and Consumer
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Semiconductor
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Software
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Key Resources for Technology and Sourcing Clients
Practical Intellectual Property Advice
The Technology and Sourcing group works closely with the firm's Intellectual Property practice group, which consists of more than 220 lawyers and is one of the five largest IP practices in the United States, according to a 2004 survey by Managing Intellectual Property magazine. We are responsible for more than 34,000 active trademarks in more than 200 countries and, according to Intellectual Property Today (May 2005), we rank as the top law firm based on the number of trademarks filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Obtaining 475 patents in 2004, our United States patent team includes more than 60 attorneys admitted to practice before the USPTO, and more than 50 of the firm's attorneys have advanced scientific degrees, allowing DLA Piper to offer companies comprehensive patent prosecution, IP enforcement and defense services.
Truly Global Services and International Experience
DLA Piper is one of the only firms that can effectively represent clients engaged in transactions with business partners around the world. With more than 3,700 attorneys in 65 offices in 25 countries around the globe, including the United Kingdom, mainland Europe and Asia, we offer clients the advantage of hiring one firm to handle international matters.
In addition to working with clients in proximity to our offices, we have significant experience representing clients doing business in (or from) rapidly developing markets like India, Israel, and provinces in China, where investment is spawning manufacturing and R&D. Recently DLA Piper was named IT Firm of the Year in The Insider's Guide to Legal Services, in the UK.
What We Also Do
In addition to day-to-day collaboration with the firm's 250-lawyer corporate group, the Technology and Sourcing group works seamlessly with other groups to deliver comprehensive solutions to clients:
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Mergers and Acquisitions. In the United States, DLA Piper's Mergers and Acquisitions group consists of an integrated team of more than 130 transactional lawyers and has ranked among the most active M&A practices in the country. DLA Piper finished 2005 ranked fourth in the United States and third worldwide, based on the number of completed transactions, according to Thomson Financial. In 2004, Gray Cary and Piper Rudnick were involved in more than 100 completed United States transactions representing a total value of approximately $25 billion.
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Franchise. The firm's International Franchise and Distribution group is ranked as the world leader in its practice and has over 30 years of experience in all aspects of franchising and licensing, as well as distribution of virtually all types of goods and services. This practice includes commercial transactions, regulatory compliance and dispute resolution, including litigation, arbitration, and mediation, in over 120 countries and a wide range of business segments.
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Government affairs and regulatory. As clients venture into new markets or launch innovative businesses, they frequently reach a stage where they need representation before government and administrative agencies. DLA Piper has one of the best known Government Affairs and Regulatory practices in the US. Among the group's members are former Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell, former House Majority Leader Richard K. Armey, and former House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, former Michigan Governor and US Ambassador to Canada Jim Blanchard. The firm represents clients before federal agencies, such as the SEC, FDA, FCC, and FTC; and executive branch departments, like the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Commerce and Energy. The firm represents clients before federal agencies, including the FDA, FCC, and the FTC; and executive branch departments, like the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Commerce, and Energy.
In addition advising clients on how to remain in compliance and avoid regulatory pitfalls. We also offer services that are perfectly suited to companies looking to do business with the government.
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Privacy. We develop privacy compliance programs with clients to help them respond to their customers and government regulations. We also assist clients with comprehensive, company-wide privacy audits. Our privacy attorneys have a national and international reputation for taking leading roles in domestic and international privacy legislation.
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Commercial litigation and dispute resolution. Unfortunately, some business relationships result in disputes. Our litigation group assists in approaches to resolve disputes as quickly as possible. DLA Piper's Litigation practice consists of more than 550 litigators who have a national reputation for success.