Licensing & Transfer

Intellectual Property

Commercial IP Licensing and Transfer for Businesses and Business Owners

Whether you are looking to generate revenue from intellectual property you already own, access technology or content that another business controls, or transfer IP rights as part of a deal, getting the legal structure right matters. Gurve Legal advises businesses, directors, and owners across London on the full range of IP licensing and transfer work, from straightforward licence agreements to complex portfolio assignments tied to acquisitions and restructures.

Our approach is built around your commercial objectives. We act for both licensors and licensees, which means we understand what a strong agreement looks like from both sides of the table. That perspective helps us draft terms that are clear, enforceable, and genuinely fit for purpose, rather than generic documents that leave room for dispute.

Most of our clients are SMEs and owner-managed businesses that have built up valuable IP and need practical legal support to commercialise or transfer it without unnecessary risk.

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Our IP Licensing and Transfer Services

IP Licence Agreement Drafting and Review

A well-drafted licence agreement defines what is being licensed, who can use it, how, for how long, and on what financial terms. We draft and review licence agreements across all IP types, including patents, trademarks, copyright, software, and designs. Whether you are entering a new commercial arrangement or reviewing terms put forward by a counterparty, we ensure your position is protected.

Exclusive, non-exclusive, and sole licence structures
Territory and field-of-use restrictions
Royalty and fee structures, including milestone payments
Sublicensing rights and controls
Term, renewal, and termination provisions

Licensing In: Accessing Third-Party IP

If your business needs to use IP that belongs to someone else, a licensing-in arrangement lets you do that without acquiring ownership. This is often a faster and more cost-effective route than developing equivalent technology or content from scratch. We advise licensees on the terms they are agreeing to, flag areas of risk, and negotiate improved terms where possible.

Software and technology licence agreements
Brand and trademark licences for distribution arrangements
Content and copyright licences
Review of supplier or platform licence terms

Licensing Out: Monetising Your IP

If you have developed a product, brand, process, or piece of technology, licensing it to others can create a significant revenue stream without giving up ownership. We help SMEs and growing businesses structure licensing arrangements that protect the value of what they have created while generating a commercial return. Our franchising solicitors can also advise where a licensing arrangement forms part of a wider franchise model.

Royalty structures and payment mechanisms
Quality control and brand integrity provisions
Performance obligations and audit rights
Multi-territory and cross-border licensing

IP Assignment and Transfer

Where a full transfer of IP ownership is required, an assignment is the appropriate route. This is common in business sales, acquisitions, management buy-outs, and restructuring situations. We handle standalone IP assignments and transfers that form part of broader corporate transactions, working alongside our mergers and acquisitions and management buy-in and buy-out teams where needed.

Assignment of patents, trademarks, copyright, and design rights
IP portfolio transfers as part of business sales
Technology transfer agreements
Employee and contractor IP assignment clauses

Technology Transfer Agreements

Technology transfer agreements govern the movement of proprietary technology, know-how, or processes from one business to another. These arrangements arise in joint ventures, research partnerships, and commercial collaborations. We ensure the agreement clearly defines what is being transferred, what is retained, and what obligations apply to each party.

Know-how and trade secret transfer provisions
Joint development and ownership arrangements
Confidentiality and non-disclosure obligations
Restrictions on further transfer or sublicensing

Intra-Group and Cross-Border Licensing

Businesses with multiple entities or international operations often need to structure how IP is shared or licensed within a group. We advise on intra-group licensing arrangements that avoid unregulated sharing of IP and on cross-border licences where the agreement needs to work across different legal jurisdictions. Our international IP protection service covers additional considerations for businesses operating globally.

Group IP holding structures
Transfer pricing considerations for intra-group licences
Jurisdiction-specific licence terms
Compliance with local IP registration requirements

IP Due Diligence for Transactions

When a business is bought, sold, or invested in, the IP it holds needs to be properly understood and documented. We carry out IP due diligence as part of corporate transactions, identifying what IP exists, who owns it, how it is licensed, and what risks attach to it. This work links closely to our IP due diligence service and ensures that buyers, sellers, and investors have the full picture before exchange.

Review of existing IP licences and assignments
Identification of unregistered IP and ownership gaps
Risk assessment on third-party IP dependencies
Post-transaction IP transfer and registration

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Why Choose Gurve Legal

We Act for Both Sides

Most IP disputes and poorly structured agreements arise because one party did not understand the other’s perspective when the deal was being done. Because we act for both licensors and licensees, and for both assignors and assignees, we know where the weaknesses in a standard position lie. That experience makes us more effective whether we are drafting for you or negotiating on your behalf.

Commercial Advice, Not Just Legal Drafting

Getting the documents right is only part of the job. We help clients think through the commercial structure of a licensing or transfer arrangement before we put pen to paper. That means considering the financial terms, the relationship between the parties, the risk profile, and how the arrangement fits with the broader direction of the business. For SMEs and owner-managed businesses, that commercial context is often what shapes the advice.

IP Licensing Within a Full-Service Commercial Practice

IP licensing and transfer rarely sits in isolation. It connects to contracts, corporate transactions, employment arrangements, and disputes. Because Gurve Legal advises across all of these areas, we can handle the full picture without the client needing to brief multiple firms. If a licensing arrangement forms part of a business sale, an acquisition, or a franchise rollout, our teams work together to deliver joined-up advice.

Practical Support for Growing Businesses

We focus on SMEs, directors, and business owners who need advice that is clear, proportionate to the transaction, and delivered without unnecessary delay. We do not apply a one-size-fits-all approach. Whether you are licensing a single trademark for the first time or managing a portfolio of IP rights across multiple arrangements, we scale our support to match what you actually need.

Talk to Our IP Licensing and Transfer Solicitors

Whether you are licensing IP for the first time, reviewing an agreement put forward by a counterparty, or transferring rights as part of a transaction, Gurve Legal can help you structure the arrangement correctly and protect your commercial position throughout.