Opinions & Counseling

The goal: minimize legal and business risks while maximizing business options.

Clients rely on our experienced attorneys and science advisors to help them make sound business decisions.

Lawyers in our patent opinions and counseling practice provide strategic advice to domestic and international companies. We work closely with clients to determine offensive and defensive patent strategies. Issues we routinely address include patent infringement, invalidity, unenforceability, licensing and freedom to operate.

Many lawyers in our practice have extensive patent portfolio development and patent litigation expertise, allowing us to make real world assessments regarding the strengths and weaknesses of patents owned by others. Experienced attorneys in our patent litigation practice collaborate to help defend against infringement claims. We work with clients’ in-house attorneys and technical personnel as well as outside technical consultants to ensure that all relevant information is considered before an opinion is rendered.

The best advice comes from attorneys who understand the legal parameters as well as the specific technologies involved. Our team of 100 IP attorneys includes former patent examiners from the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) as well as scientists and engineers who’ve worked in chemistry, biology, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, medicine and other fields before coming to Goodwin. Over  50 of our attorneys and science advisors are registered to practice before the USPTO.

With a primary focus on technologies involving biotechnology, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, electronics, computer hardware and software, lasers and telecommunications, our patent attorneys:

  • Limit exposure to charges of infringement by performing clearance searches, developing design around options and rendering infringement, validity, enforceability and patentability opinions
  • Counsel at all stages of product development and life cycle, advising on whether to enter new product markets, invest in businesses and forge new business alliances
  • Advise on strategies to minimize the legal and business risks inherent in marketing new products
  • Counsel on how to protect and maximize clients’ patent rights and whether to assert those patent rights against competitors.

Goodwin offers a range of interdisciplinary practices to serve clients throughout the business life cycle, from start-up, through IPO, and on to continued growth. And with the breakneck pace of technology disrupting industries around the world, we are uniquely positioned to partner with our clients and embrace the promise and potential of innovation.

We’re currently counsel to more than 2,500 technology-based clients, including companies listed on the NYSE and Nasdaq exchanges and among the Fortune 100 and S&P 500.