Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP

Ben has over 20 years experience in advising companies on the strategic management, commercialization and protection of their valuable intellectual property. He has worked with clients in a number of industries, including bio-pharma, IT, food and drink, energy, and university technology transfer. He has advised many different types of client, including multinational corporations, SMEs, lenders, and academic institutions on issues relating to the commercialization and licensing of IP. Ben spent two years in Shanghai, where he managed his previous firm’s China business and Asia commercial IP groups, and has internationally-recognized expertise in advising on strategies for the protection, commercialization and management of IP assets in China and Asia.

Ben is widely recognised as a leading IP practitioner. Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) magazine listed him in their 2012 editions of IAM Patent 1000 World's Leading Patent Practitioners and IAM Strategy 250 – The World’s Leading IP Strategists. He was also listed in their IAM Licensing 250: The World’s Leading Patent and Technology Licensing Practitioners in 2012 and is recognised in Chambers Global and UK Chambers legal directories, whilst Legal Business cited him as an expert in IP and IT in its “Legal Experts 2012.”  Ben is a founder member, and Fellow, of the International IP Strategists Association (INTIPSA).

The London team supports entrepreneurs, early stage businesses and angel investors through the firm's HIT Programme which defers legal fees for innovative business until such time as they raise significant finance or generate revenues and by offering start-up clients access to free software that enables them to write their own legal business documentation; to view please click here. We also support those that support entrepreneurs through our sponsorship and hosting of sponsoring various Angels Den events.

• Advised ASLAN Pharmaceuticals Pte Ltd, a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Singapore, on an innovative strategic partnership with Bristol-Myers Squibb, for the rapid development of BMS-777607, Bristol-Myers Squibb’s investigational small molecule inhibitor for treatment of solid tumours.
  
  
• Handled the negotiations and drafting of a licence agreement from a NASDAQ-listed biopharma to develop an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor, entering Phase 2 development for solid tumours. Ben negotiated a deal to fund and globally develop the compound through proof of concept, initially targeting patients with gastric cancer, through a development program conducted in Asia; and then to identify a global partner for phase 3 development and commercialisation. Under the deal, the client will share a significant portion of the proceeds of such commercialisation.
  
  
• Managed a four-year project involving the establishment of a strategic brand management company and reorganization of hundreds of internal licences for one of the world’s leading banks,
  involving complex transfer pricing issues.
  
  
• Conducted a comprehensive review of a publicly listed energy technology company’s IP strategy, processes and procedures to advise on their adequacy, and where improvements could be made.
  
  
• Advised a Canadian materials science company on a significant JV and investment in China, including dealing with a local challenge to title in the acquired IP.
  
  
• Managed the world wide trade mark portfolio of one of the world’s leading drinks companies.
  
  
• Advised an international software company on its IP protection position in China; and, subsequently advised on the roll out of this strategy globally.
  
  
• Acted for a major UK broadcasting corporation on their acquisition of the copyright in a famous children’s publication, so it could be turned into an animated TV series.
  
  
• Lead the IP due diligence on £$2 billion acquisition of the bulk chemical divisions of a major UK based chemical company for a global chemical company.
  
  
• Advised one of the UK’s leading universities on how to regularize a historically complicated IP position upon its research being identified as of great commercial significance in treating a previously incurable condition.
  
  
• Represented MARQUES (Association of European Brand Owners) at the United Nations in lobbying efforts on behalf of IP community in relation to UNCITRAL Legislative Guide on Secured Transactions.
  
  
• Advised a leading UK research university on strategies for commercializing a ground-breaking platform technology.
  
  
• Advised several companies on the divestment of patent portfolios to purchasers in China.

Ben has over 20 years experience in advising companies on the strategic management, commercialization and protection of their valuable intellectual property. He specializes in high technology, and has worked with clients in a number of industries, including bio-pharma, IT, food and drink, energy, and university technology transfer. He has advised many different types of client, including multinational corporations, SMEs, lenders, and academic institutions on issues relating to the commercialization and licensing of IP. Ben spent two years in Shanghai, where he managed his previous firm’s China business and Asia commercial IP groups, and has internationally-recognized expertise in advising on strategies for the protection, commercialization and management of IP assets in China and Asia.

Ben is widely recognised as a leading IP practitioner. Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) magazine listed him in their 2012 editions of IAM Patent 1000 World's Leading Patent Practitioners and IAM Strategy 250 – The World’s Leading IP Strategists. He was also listed in their IAM Licensing 250: The World’s Leading Patent and Technology Licensing Practitioners in 2012 and is recognised in Chambers Global and UK Chambers legal directories, whilst Legal Business cited him as an expert in IP and IT in its “Legal Experts 2012.”  Ben is a founder member, and Fellow, of the International IP Strategists Association (INTIPSA).

Notable Life Sciences Experience

• Advised ASLAN Pharmaceuticals Pte Ltd, a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Singapore, on an innovative strategic partnership with Bristol-Myers Squibb, for the rapid development of BMS-777607, Bristol-Myers Squibb’s investigational small molecule inhibitor for treatment of solid tumours.

 

• Handled the negotiations and drafting of a licence agreement from a NASDAQ-listed biopharma to develop an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor, entering Phase 2 development for solid tumours. Ben negotiated a deal to fund and globally develop the compound through proof of concept, initially targeting patients with gastric cancer, through a development program conducted in Asia; and then to identify a global partner for phase 3 development and commercialisation. Under the deal, the client will share a significant portion of the proceeds of such commercialisation.

 

• Advised one of the UK's leading universities on how to regularize a historically complicated IP position upon its research being identified as of great commercial significance in treating a previously incurable condition. He is currently negotiating two 'pipeline' licensing deals for the relevant spin-out company.

 

• Handling overall IP and legal strategy for a company established to exploit technology based on use of microbes for remediation of toxic fluids, including: patent procurement, settlement of a dispute from its key licensor and preparation for next rounds of funding.

 

• Advised a leading UK research university on strategies for commercializing a ground-breaking platform technology.

 

• Giving UK office one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies training on patent licensing. Advice in relation to audit of patent licences in portfolio companies.

 

• Clinical Trial agreements for a leading Oxford-based biotech company for its key products, including negotiations and drafting.

 

• Advised medical device company on its overall IP strategy, including protection of its technologies whilst seeking to manufacture in China.

 

• Advising one of the UK's leading Research Council on issues relating to confidentiality in relation to CDAs and settlement of a dispute.

 

• Advised several companies on the divestment of patent portfolios to purchasers in China.

 

• Advised Israeli biotech company on licensing deal for its PCR technology to a big pharmaceutical company.

Ben has over 20 years experience in advising companies on the strategic management, commercialization and protection of their valuable intellectual property. He has worked with clients in a number of industries, including bio-pharma, IT, food and drink, energy, and university technology transfer. He has advised many different types of client, including multinational corporations, SMEs, lenders, and academic institutions on issues relating to the commercialization and licensing of IP. Ben spent two years in Shanghai, where he managed his previous firm’s China business and Asia commercial IP groups, and has internationally-recognized expertise in advising on strategies for the protection, commercialization and management of IP assets in China and Asia.

Ben is widely recognised as a leading IP practitioner. Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) magazine listed him in their 2012 editions of IAM Patent 1000 World's Leading Patent Practitioners and IAM Strategy 250 – The World’s Leading IP Strategists. He was also listed in their IAM Licensing 250: The World’s Leading Patent and Technology Licensing Practitioners in 2012 and is recognised in Chambers Global and UK Chambers legal directories, whilst Legal Business cited him as an expert in IP and IT in its “Legal Experts 2012.”  Ben is a founder member, and Fellow, of the International IP Strategists Association (INTIPSA).

Notable Privacy & Data Protection Experience

• Ben has advised on data protection issues since the passing of the UK Data Protection Act 1998. His work in this area has included:

 

• Handling a serious problem during the Christmas period where data had been wrongly posted on a website on a world famous photographic goods company's website, potentially causing significant financial impact, including crisis management and damage limitation advice. 

 

• Coordinating Data Protection compliance programme and policies across Europe for an international luxury goods brand. 

 

• Drafting and negotiating safe harbour provisions in agreements for US clients. 

 

• Drafting and structuring data privacy polices for numerous UK and US businesses to comply with UK Data Protection rules. 

 

• Structuring Data Controller registration programmes across Europe. 

 

• Advising a leading London Insurance company on the exemptions for certain insurance business under UK Data Protection legislation.