Sam Fisher

Practicing IP solicitor, spanning commercial and contentious work in one of the largest IP teams in London. Recent highlights:

• Structured and negotiated long-duration IP royalty and licensing arrangements across multiple sectors and jurisdictions; recent work includes a 15-year licensed royalty stream arising from settlement of patent infringement proceedings (chemical additives), 10-year licensing agreements for rocket motor production facilities across three jurisdictions (Ukraine, India, UK), and a 10-year revenue stream under technology transfer documentation for mission-critical software for a Swiss-listed security company;
• Advising a global consultancy on the IP aspects of serial M&A transactions, reporting directly into the client's IP principal; experience includes IP due diligence, risk analysis, warranty and indemnity structuring, and negotiation of IP retention, carve-out and licence-back provisions in complex corporate transactions;
• Experienced in freedom-to-operate analysis and infringement assessment across patent-heavy sectors including life sciences and hardware technology, with direct client-facing presentation of analysis;
• Structuring and negotiating a first-in-class internet protocol leasing arrangement in nascent secondary market for a large IP righsholder, securing an innovative revenue stream;
• Overhauling licensing-in guidance of technical standards for a broadcast client, and specific advice on licensing video codec standards challenge from rightsholders;
• Broader transactional IP practice spanning standard essential patent licensing;
• Protecting Warner Bros. royalty income stream. Managing a small team identifying and apprehending infringers of key IP franchises, protecting and contributing to client royalty streams.

Seconded as Counsel into Sky's in-house IP legal team for 18 months (initially six months, extended on performance), advising business units directly on IP matters and developing commercially-oriented solutions to legal questions.

Mentoring and training new solicitors: helping to deliver the firm's Commerical Foundation program to junior lawyers: thought leadership output on IP law and civil procedure.

Accustomed to managing matters with minimal supervision, interfacing directly with opposing counsel and clients, and advising cross-functional teams on IP risk — experience directly applicable to supporting an investment team on transaction execution and ongoing portfolio monitoring.

Trainee solicitor taking seats in the Intellectual Property (x2), Corporate and Leveraged Finance (CALF) and Competition departments. highlights:

Familiarising self with diverse areas of law quickly in order to make a positive contribution to respective teams.

In IP, writing the expert report for a top-complexity ("category 5") patent dispute concerning a novel gene therapy product launch.

In CALF, helping to prepare documentation for complex leveraged finance deals.

In Competition, defending Aon Hewit in the CMA's market review of investment consultants and fiduciary services.

A brand licensing agency tasked with identifying, developing and managing licensing royalty streams for rightsholder clients. Highlights:

• Implementing national and international trade mark licensing programmes. Responsible for programmes with ~$77m retail sales value.
• Lead advisor to key clients ensuring strong working relationships with clients, and client satisfaction.
• Negotiating licensing contracts, including royalties, minimum guarantees, retail distribution and marketing with a focus on long term profitability.
• Responsible for building firm's correspondent network in Latin America, Europe, Asia.