Sullivan & Cromwell’s Intellectual Property and Technology Group brings together attorneys from all aspects of the Firm’s practice to assist clients around the world with the full spectrum of intellectual property and technology issues that confront today’s businesses. These include enforcing patents, trademarks and other intellectual property against infringers and defending claims of infringement; negotiating, structuring and advising on technology transfer and licensing arrangements; conducting intellectual property due diligence in various corporate transactions; evaluating the desirability of seeking federal intellectual property protection; and obtaining security interests in intellectual property and licensing. The Group has a proven track record of achieving successful outcomes for our clients across multiple disciplines, including:

IP Litigation

Litigators in S&C’s Intellectual Property and Technology Group have extensive experience and world-renowned expertise in handling complex intellectual property disputes. They are regularly recognized as leading intellectual property practitioners by prominent legal media including Lawdragon, New York Super Lawyers and The Los Angeles Area’s Best Lawyers.

• S&C litigators are not solely “patent” counsel who handle only technical and scientific cases; they have a wide range of experience, making them able to communicate effectively with judges and juries regardless of the complexity of the technology involved.
• The Group’s experience and success in directing large and important litigation enable the Firm to provide outstanding representation in the most complex and difficult intellectual property lawsuits.
• The Firm’s lawyers take a multidisciplinary approach to every matter. Because many, if not most, intellectual property litigation now involves antitrust or competition law issues (sometimes pleaded in the form of a patent misuse defense), the lawyers in the Group are also ideally suited to handle such matters because of the Firm’s complementary antitrust experience.

IP Transactions

S&C provides specialized advice and insight to clients relating to the successful negotiation and completion of all manner of transactions involving intellectual property and technology. We are well-versed in the issues surrounding technology transfers, joint ventures, acquisitions, dispositions and licensing. We have assisted in the establishment and maintenance of various online and licensing-based businesses.

Licensing

S&C has the preeminent practice in advising on various intellectual property and antitrust issues that arise in licensing, particularly with respect to patent pools. Our lawyers regularly speak about these issues, and their publications are widely cited in this field. S&C has represented a number of clients in connection with the formation of patent pools involving standardized technologies such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4, IEEE 1394, DRM, Blu-ray disc, HDDVD, CD, DVB-T, ATSC, VC-1 and others. Our practice in this area extends outside the U.S. to the European Commission and other governmental or regulatory agencies.

Electronic Exchanges

S&C’s leading experience in the development and regulation of financial markets and exchanges has enabled the Firm to assist clients in the creation of new economy marketplaces. The Internet and the development of electronic commerce are rapidly reshaping the electronic marketplace. S&C has been involved in some of the most cutting edge issues and litigation on this frontier.

IP Counseling

S&C regularly counsels clients on a wide range of strategic and day-to-day intellectual property related issues associated with the development, acquisition and maintenance of intellectual property portfolios. We routinely consult with clients in connection with the development and management of intellectual property, including trademark clearance, brand strategy, patent licensing programs, the establishment and maintenance of website policies, trade secret protection and tax planning. We also assist companies in the interpretation and application of various licensing arrangements.

Selected Clients

Recognized for its superior track record, S&C’s Intellectual Property and Technology Group is retained, year after year, as counsel to leading companies worldwide in many of their most significant and complex intellectual property matters. The Group’s clients have included many of the world’s leading corporations, including The Clearing House Association, Columbia University, Dyson, France Telecom, j2 Global Communications, Koninklijke Philips Electronics, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Mitsubishi, MPEG LA, Novo Nordisk, Omnicom Group, Philips Electronics North America, Radica Games, Sony, Thomson, Tudor Investment and Verifone.