Universities & Research

We have worked closely with universities and other research institutions since the firm was established. Mark Anderson has advised parts of University College London since 1988. Regular clients include University College London, Open University, City University (London) and several members of the Russell Group of leading UK universities. We have also advised universities in other European countries. Many of our clients are spin-outs from universities or have acquired rights to technology that originated in universities.

As specialists in this field, we assist our clients in a wide range of areas, examples include:

negotiating research contracts, collaboration agreements, funding agreements, licensing agreements, EU Framework consortium agreements, CDAs, MTAs, term sheets, option and evaluation agreements, pipeline agreements and consultancy agreements;
advising on technology transfer, licensing and spin-out transactions;
helping universities to establish policies and procedures in areas such as contract approval, IP ownership, revenue sharing, and conflicts of interest
advising on service arrangements between universities and their technology transfer vehicles; and
advising numerous charities (including several cancer charities), health trusts and other non-commercial organisations, as well as individual academics and medical consultants.

We have seconded our lawyers on a part-time basis to work with the research contracts groups and legal departments of several UK universities.

We have prepared guides to university commercialisation agreements for agencies of the UK and Irish governments.

Versions of our template agreements are in regular use at several leading UK universities.

Mark Anderson and Paul Maclennan are regular trainers for Praxis Unico, where Paul is also a member of the Training Committee. Mark also presents for ASTP on technology transfer. Mark is a Registered Technology Transfer Professional.

Our focus on this sector includes expertise in the following areas: