Simon Portman
Simon specialises as a commercial contract lawyer for technology companies. He works for clients in the electronics, bioscience, defence, software, nanotech and creative industries, advising companies ranging from small start-ups to big multinationals as well as individuals, public bodies and charities. Nordic clients form a significant part of his practice, notably Finland and Norway.
He advises on a wide range of contracts, including licenses, R&D collaborations, manufacturing agreements and procurement documentation.
On the regulatory front, he has advised on compliance with clinical trials legislation and novel food applications, as well as freedom of information and data protection issues.
Simon has co-written two business textbooks, Commercial Issues for Life Science Companies and Intellectual Property: the Lifeblood of your Company and has contributed articles to numerous publications, including the Financial Times, Patent World and Managing Intellectual Property. He regularly gives seminars and workshops at pharmaceutical conferences in the UK and internationally. He was also part of a UK IPO steering group putting together policies and contracts suitable for R&D collaborations in China.
He heads the firm’s Extended Reality team and in that capacity supplies specialist advice and training to members of XR organisations such as Immerse UK and XR Nation.
Simon has been recognised as a leading practitioner in Who’s Who Legal: Life Sciences 2019 and a rising star by Managing Intellectual Property, IP Stars, 2018.
Practice Area
Panels
- Consulting Editorial Board
- Contributing Author
Qualified Year
- 1997
Experience
- Boodle Hatfield (1995 - 1997)
- Hewitsons (now HCR Law) (1997 - 2009)
Membership
- Law Society
- One Nucleus
- Norwegian British Chamber of Commerce
- Finnish British Chamber of Commerce
Qualifications
- BA Hons Literae Humaniores (1990)
- Diploma in law (1995)
Education
- Magdalen College School, Merton College, Oxford, London Guildhall University
- Oxford University (1986-1990)
- London Guildhall University (1993-1995)
5 Contributions by Simon Portman
PRECEDENTS
Buyer-side intellectual property due diligence questionnaire for share purchases and business acquisitions
Introduction
This concerns the acquisition by [ insert buyer name ] (the Buyer) of the [ entire share capital of [ insert name of target company ] Limited, incorporated in England and Wales under number [ insert company number ] (the Company) OR [ insert description of the business to be acquired ] (the Business) as a going concern, together with specified assets used in the Business ] from [ insert seller name ] (the Seller) (the Proposed Acquisition). This questionnaire is intended to enable the Buyer, the Buyer's solicitors, patent and trade mark attorneys, and other professional advisers to gather essential information about the IP owned and/or used by the [ Company and its subsidiaries OR Business OR which the Buyer requires to assist in the valuation of the Company OR Business and with the negotiation of the Proposed Acquisition ] . Please respond to every single question in full. Please set out your answers in italics immediately beneath each question and supply copies of all relevant documentation, ensuring that all answers and documents are clearly and properly labelled by reference to the appropriate paragraph of this questionnaire...
IP
PRECEDENTS
Precedent intellectual property rights licence (copyright, trade marks, designs, patents, databases) with royalty, minimum royalty and sub-licensing options - pro-licensee - England and Wales law
This Agreement is entered into on [ insert date ]
Parties
[ insert name ], a company incorporated in [ England and Wales ] with number [ insert company number ] and whose registered office is at [ insert address ] (Licensor)
[ insert name ], a company incorporated in [ England and Wales ] under number [ insert company number ], with its registered office at [ insert address ] (Licensee)
Each of the Licensor and the Licensee is a party and, together, the Licensor and the Licensee are the parties.
BACKGROUND
(A) The Licensor [ is the [ registered ] proprietor of OR is the applicant to register OR has the right to licence and/or sub-licence ] certain intellectual property rights.
(B) The Licensee is [ insert background to licence/relevant transaction ].
(C) The Licensor has agreed to grant the Licensee a licence of these intellectual property rights and the Licensee has agreed to take such licence on the terms of this Licence.
AGREEMENT
1 Definitions and interpretation
1.1 In this Licence: Business Day means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or public...
IP
PRECEDENTS
Precedent pro-licensor IP licence agreement (copyright, trade marks, designs, patents) with royalties and quality control—England and Wales
This Agreement is entered into on [ insert date ]
Parties
[ insert name ], a company incorporated in [ England and Wales ] with number [ insert company number ] and having its registered office at [ insert address ] (Licensor); and
[ insert name ], a company incorporated in [ England and Wales ] with number [ insert company number ], whose registered office is at [ insert address ] (Licensee).
Each of the Licensor and the Licensee is a party, and together the Licensor and the Licensee are the parties.
BACKGROUND
(A) The Licensor [ is the [ registered ] proprietor of OR is the applicant to register OR has the right to licence and/or sub-licence ] certain intellectual property rights.
(B) The Licensee is [ insert background to licence/relevant transaction ].
(C) The Licensor has agreed to grant a licence of those intellectual property rights to the Licensee, and the Licensee has agreed to take a licence of the intellectual property rights on the terms of this Licence.
AGREEMENT
1 Definitions and interpretation
1.1 In this Licence:
Advance • means the sum of [ insert ];
Business Day • means...
IP
PRECEDENTS
Precedent: Pro-licensee Technology IP Evaluation and Option to Negotiate Licence Agreement (England and Wales)
This Agreement is dated [ insert date ]
Parties
[ insert licensor name ], [ of OR a [ company OR partnership OR limited liability partnership ] [ incorporated OR constituted ] in [ insert jurisdiction, eg England and Wales ], registered number [ insert company or LLP number ], with [ registered office OR principal place of business ] at [ insert address ] (Licensor); and
[ insert licensee name ], [ of OR a [ company OR partnership OR limited liability partnership ] [ incorporated OR constituted ] in [ insert jurisdiction, eg England and Wales ], registered number [ insert company or LLP number ], with [ registered office OR principal place of business ] at [ insert address ] (Licensee)
Each of the Licensor and the Licensee is a party; together, the Licensor and the Licensee are the parties.
Background
The Licensor is the proprietor of the Technology IP.
The Licensee has agreed to assess the Technology IP to determine whether to take a licence of it on the terms set out below...
IP
PRECEDENTS
Technology IP Evaluation and Option to Negotiate Licence Agreement (pro-licensor) — governed by the laws of England and Wales
This Agreement is dated [ insert date ]
Parties
[ insert licensor name ], [ of OR a [ company OR partnership OR limited liability partnership ] [ incorporated OR constituted ] in [ insert jurisdiction, eg England and Wales ], whose registered number is [ insert company or LLP number ] and whose [ registered office OR principal place of business ] is at [ insert address ] (Licensor); and
[ insert licensee name ], [ of OR a [ company OR partnership OR limited liability partnership ] [ incorporated OR constituted ] in [ insert jurisdiction, eg England and Wales ], whose registered number is [ insert company or LLP number ] and whose [ registered office OR principal place of business ] is at [ insert address ] (Licensee).
Each of the Licensor and the Licensee is a party, and together the Licensor and the Licensee are the parties.
BACKGROUND
The Licensor is the owner of the Technology IP.
The Licensee has agreed to assess the Technology IP to determine whether to take a licence to it on the terms set out below...
IP
If you expected to see yourself on this page, click here.
