Expertise
Andrew is a leading IP strategist with over 20 years’ experience in a variety of commercial roles centred around licensing and other IP-based transactions.
Andrew holds a first-class honours degree in Biochemistry from the University of York, a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Leicester, and a triple-accredited MBA from the Open University Business School. Andrew has also held Certified Licensing Professional accreditation since 2012.
Andrew has a real “hands-on” experience of dealmaking in hundreds of IP-based transactions from the perspectives of big corporate, venture capital and top-tier technology transfer offices. Andrew has successfully completed several IP transaction projects for clients in multiple sectors, including in and out licensing, with an emphasis on valuation and determination of acceptable deal terms.
Andrew was previously head of technology transfer for Imperial College London, overseeing the formation of dozens of start-up companies and the completion of over 300 licence agreements. He has also held roles as Senior Director, Licensing & IP Strategy at Eagle Genomics, Director of Licensing at Royal DSM NV, as well as senior roles in a leading Contract Research Organisation.
Andrew was nominated in the “IAM300 Global Leader” group of the world’s leading IP strategists for the last three years.
How do you help clients?
I provide advice on the commercial aspects of licensing, buying, and selling intellectual property in all its forms, ranging from structuring licence deals to advising on IP terms in partnering agreements and valuing intellectual property for balance sheets or transactions. I also provide advice on technology transfer operations and strategy along with IP-related competitive intelligence and strategy.
My work involves the valuation of intellectual property based on robust methodology and meaningful assumptions. I draft term sheets and translate IP valuations into deal terms that deliver value to clients. I also advise on negotiation positions and strategy to guide clients through the licensing process and help clients determine market-reasonable or typical deal terms for their technology.
I also work on the design of strategic and operational initiatives in technology transfer, offering clients workable and pragmatic strategies to achieve their objectives.
I am particularly experienced in licensing and IP valuation, having led or overseen hundreds of licensing transactions in multiple sectors and industries, ranging from universities to very large corporate entities. This experience means that I can apply efficient, logical, and practical perspectives to clients’ licensing issues.
Experience
- Advised a global company on IP valuation and deal terms for IP valued at >$400m in the context of a $2bn business case, so that the client could support their negotiation strategy with an independent and robust valuation of their technology.
- Valued a licence income stream for a corporate client on an advanced therapy already under licence. Using validated and defendable assumptions and a deep understanding of the interaction between the addressable market and licence terms I was able to model future licence income in a number of scenarios (NPV>$200m).
- Advised on valuation and deal terms for a company owning IP in surgical technology. I was able to calculate the value of the technology from the perspective of different stakeholders and advise on the structure and acceptable deal terms for parties requiring a freedom to operate licence for the technology, giving the basis for the client to approach third parties with confidence.
- Advised a UK start-up on in-licensing terms and deal structure for foundational IP, providing them with strategies and negotiation assistance in eliminating adverse licence terms and dramatically improving their commercial position.
- Worked with numerous UK universities to analyse and improve their technology transfer operations, with a focus on arrangements for creating spin-out companies and licensing activities, including advice on “market norms” for out-licensing deal terms in their out-licensing programmes, such that the clients avoid substantial under-valuation of their IP assets in the transactions.