** July 18th BioWorkshop. Patent management for biotech executives - licensing and investment. Hosted by Griffith Hack

Click here for registration form

You think you have signed a deal, or raised some capital to take your invention or company through to the next phase of its development. As part of the deal your investor or partner will undertake a due diligence investigation of your company. Have you carried out the necessary checks to be confident of your IP portfolio? What do you need to do to ensure that you get the investor ‘tick’?

Amanda Stark and Debbie Beadle, Principals at Griffith Hack Patent and Trademark Attorney, will discuss how your IP will be examined in a due diligence investigation and ways in which you can strengthen your portfolio.  They will ask you to consider:

• Do you have a patent portfolio to protect your invention?
• Do you have claims that cover your lead compound or use?
• Do you have adequate fall back positions in case your broad claims are knocked out?
• Have you filed in appropriate jurisdictions?
• Do you have adequate patent life?
• Are all inventors correctly named?
• Are all applicants correctly named and appropriate assignments from all inventors in place?
• Issues with joint inventors
• Is there prior art that could invalidate your patent?
• Do you have freedom to operate?
• If there is a problem with your portfolio, what can you do about it?

Between them Debbie and Amanda have 35 years as patent attorneys in Australia, the UK and Europe.  They have both been involved in due diligence many times, so they are alert to the problems which can arise, have experience in providing practical solutions and devising suitable patent strategies to ensure that the process runs as smoothly as possible.

Solubility Director, Lisa Keam will present on patent due diligence from an investor perspective. Lisa will examine:

• Key due diligence issues from both a pharmaceutical company and venture capital investment perspective
• How to prepare for an investor due diligence

Lisa has more than 15 years experience in the area of intellectual property management and technology commercialisation including having previously held the position of Investment Director at Starfish Ventures, a Melbourne based Venture Capital firm.

Don’t miss this chance to learn about patent management and due diligence from the experts.

Time: from 8:45 am for 9 am start.
Conclusion: 12:30 pm, followed by a light luncheon.
Venue: Griffith Hack Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, Level 3, 509 St Kilda Road, Melbourne  VIC  3004
Price (incl GST): Members $350 per person. Non members $800 per person.
RSVP DEADLINE - By 5 pm, Thursday July 10^th 2008.
NOTE: Speakers and topics may change without notice.