Bird & Bird hosts very successful 'Capturing the value of your IP' seminar in The Hague

For 2016, Bird & Bird NL has established a partnership with the Dutch Association for In-House Counsel (NGB). Every year NGB organises seminars about current legal topics for its members, including in-house counsel ranging from junior, senior to general counsel from all over different industries. This year, Bird & Bird The Hague has been selected to host four NGB seminars. This partnership offers Bird & Bird the unique opportunity to showcase its expertise to this audience.

On 15 March, 2016 the first NGB Seminar took place at Bird & Bird's office in The Hague on the topic 'Capturing the value of your IP'. Armand Killan (Partner, The Hague) and Maurits Westerik (Senior Counsel, The Hague) discussed with the delegates smart ways to enhance the value of technology and IP assets for businesses they work for. 

More than 40 in-house counsel from various national and international organisations  were present to learn that Technology & IP assets are now considered one of the most important assets in M&A and restructuring assets (research shows that over 80% of market value can reside in these assets).

The Bird & Bird speakers discussed with the delegates how such value can be assessed and improved.

Several topics were covered, such as:

• How your company's IP rights represent different kind of values
• How to identify, unlock & strengthen IP assets and the interplay with IP enforcement
• How to use IP rights in an innovative way for your company
• The importance of an IP due diligence when it comes to transactions
• Guidelines regarding trade secrets and the importance of know-how

This seminar was an excellent opportunity to create awareness that for any business with technology and IP at its heart, the ability to access, manage and realise the value of those assets is arguably the key success factor. Trade secret protection was also one of the discussed topics.

Armand and Maurits were very happy with the turnout. They commented: "We found it very inspiring to display our knowledge to a very keen group of in-house counsel who understood the relevance and importance of Tech & IP. IP rich transactions, strategy and enforcement require specialist knowledge: this is no child's play." 

One participant said: "Exceeded expectations. Very inspiring."

Other delegates commented: "Very interesting insights in clear language." "Informative and practical." "Top."

Bird & Bird is very pleased with the cooperation with NGB and is already looking forward to the next NGB seminar on 26 May 2016: Contracting presented by Evelyn Tjon-En-Fa and Olaf Trojan.