Navigating Uncertainty: Valuation of IP in a Business Transaction

Foley & Lardner LLP and the accounting firm of Grant Thornton LLP have assembled a team of professionals in the fields of valuation, IP, forensic accounting, and litigation to share their perspectives on IP valuation. Their insights will be presented in a three-part Web conference series.

The second session, Navigating Uncertainty: Valuation of IP in a Business Transaction took place on Thursday, June 25, 2009.

Which is more essential, the business or the patented technology that drives it? Executive teams often debate this point and make significant internal development and acquisition decisions on the outcome. Mr. Richard Kaufman, Partner with Foley’s Private Equity & Venture Capital and Transactional & Securities Practices, and Mr. Bryan Benoit, Partner with Grant Thornton LLP’s Advisory Services Practice, explained how patents should be viewed at the crossroads of IP and business. Topics also covered included how patented technology is valued in mergers and acquisitions and how to think critically about the business records and assumptions upon which valuations of patented technology are based by:

• Thinking through post-transaction dispute scenarios
  
• Understanding cutting-edge valuation approaches used to value patents and technology in deals
  
• Gaining an awareness of new financial reporting requirements and discovery issues
  
• Becoming better acquainted with the considerations that go into valuing a business
  
• Learning to evaluate the interrelationship of patents and shareholder value

Additional sessions include:

• Tuesday, May 26, 2009
  Navigating Uncertainty: Patent Values and the Evolving IP Market
  
• Thursday, July 30, 2009
  Navigating Uncertainty: Valuation of IP in Litigation

Michael J. Lockerby is the attorney responsible for the content of these programs.