DLA Piper's Technology, Sourcing and Commercial practice 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.
We offer more than 25 Technology, Sourcing and Commercial lawyers who work closely with DLA Piper's 220-lawyer IP and other business lawyers in our Corporate group to offer clients comprehensive legal services.
The services we offer not only encompass your business legal needs but offer you unparalleled geographic reach. We have offices throughout the United States in leading technology and business markets like Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, Northern Virginia, San Diego, Silicon Valley and Seattle. Worldwide, we have offices in nearly 30 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, Sourcing and Commercial practice can be summed up in 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 you, 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
What We Do
As your strategic business lawyers, we address the many technology and sourcing issues that may arise during a company's growth cycle. We work with you in 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 maximize return on your 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 IP and/or IT 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 by creating either new operations within the company or 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 your operations, including sourcing services for IT or other key business processes from third-party providers within and outside the United States.
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IT Portfolio Sourcing - working with you to develop a comprehensive contract program for sourcing software, hardware and IT-related services for use in your operations as well as a compliance program for ongoing management of your 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, Sourcing and Commercial 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 IP Advice
The Technology, Sourcing and Commercial group works closely with our Intellectual Property practice group. In 2008,
IP Law and Business said DLA Piper is recognized as one of the top law firms that "The 50 Most Innovative Companies in the World" relay on to protect their IP. With nearly 400 lawyers globally, we represent many of the world's most valuable brands. More than 60 of our lawyers have advanced technical degrees. We are consistently ranked among the top five US law firms for trademarks issued in the United States Patent and Trademarks Office, and more than 60 of our lawyers are admitted to practice before it.
IP Law 360 consistently ranks our Trademark Litigation practice among the top four busiest trademark practices in the US, based on new suits filed. In 2009, we were one of only two firms ranking in the top ten nationally in both trademark and copyright litigation.
Global Services and International Experience
DLA Piper is one of the few legal practices that can effectively represent clients engaged in transactions with business partners around the world.
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.
Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business named us among the world's leading IT and IT outsourcing groups in 2006 and 2007, and
Legal 500 ranked us in the top tier for both IT and outsourcing in both those years.
In 2008,
mergermarket ranked us as the #1 legal firm globally in M&A volume. We completed over 299 transactions globally and over 133 transactions in the US in 2008.
Our approach is both strategic and entrepreneurial, drawing upon the combined experience of over 300 attorneys globally, including 180 in the US alone. Our lawyers are highly responsive, multi-disciplined, and creative problem solvers dedicated to providing you with global advice and support, as well as the in-depth local knowledge of our specialist lawyers around the world. We word promptly, efficiently and creatively to facilitate deals.
What We Also Do
In addition to day-to-day collaboration with our 250-lawyer Corporate group, the Technology, Sourcing and Commercial group works seamlessly with other groups to deliver comprehensive solutions to clients:
Mergers and Acquisitions. DLA Piper's Mergers and Acquisitions group is an integrated team of more than 300 lawyers globally, 180 of them in the US. In 2008, when we completed about 300 transactions globally and over 133 transactions in the US,
mergermarket ranked us as the #1 legal firm globally in M&A volume.
Franchise. Our 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.
Government Affairs and Regulatory. Companies venturing into new markets or launching innovative businesses, frequently find they need representation before government and administrative agencies. DLA Piper has one of the best known Government Affairs and Regulatory practices in the US. We represent 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. Among the group's members are former Senate Majority and Minority Leader Tom Daschle and former Michigan Governor and US Ambassador to Canada Jim Blanchard. In addition to advising clients on how to remain in compliance and avoid regulatory pitfalls, we also offer services to companies looking to do business with the government.
Privacy. We develop privacy compliance programs to help you respond to your customers and to government regulations. We also assist with comprehensive, company-wide privacy audits. Our privacy lawyers have a national and international reputation for taking leading roles in domestic and international privacy legislation.
Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution. Unfortunately, some business relationships result in disputes. With more than 500 lawyers, our litigation group assists you in resolving disputes as quickly as possible in keeping with your strategic business needs.