Intellectual Property Procurement & Transactions Attorney
At Phillips & Bathke, P.C., we help innovators, entrepreneurs, authors, artists, and other creative professionals, as well as companies, secure and structure their intellectual property so it can do what it’s meant to do: build value, create opportunity, and stand out in the marketplace. With offices in Chicago, Peoria, and New York, our team works with clients across a wide range of industries and creative fields to register and protect their IP, negotiate transactions, and ensure their rights are properly aligned with their business or artistic strategy.
We understand that intellectual property is more than just a legal concept, it’s often a business’s most valuable asset. Whether you’re bringing a new product to market, launching a tech startup, or expanding your brand, having the right protections in place from the start is essential. We provide practical, forward-thinking guidance to help clients identify what needs to be protected, how best to protect it, and how to leverage it effectively in transactions and partnerships.
Unfortunately, we require this initial consultation fee before reviewing and discussing your case. So, we are unable to assist you and wish you the best of luck.
Patent, Trademark, and Copyright Registration
Our attorneys work with clients to protect inventions, designs, branding, and creative works through formal registration and enforcement. We prepare and file patent applications across a range of technical areas, including mechanical, electrical, and software innovations. We also guide clients through the trademark process from clearance and selection to registration and maintenance, ensuring their brand identity is secure both domestically and internationally.
For copyrightable works such as marketing materials, software code, publications, and digital content, we assist with registration, enforcement, and proper licensing. We also help clients identify trade secrets and implement internal policies to keep them protected.
Structuring and Negotiating IP Transactions
Once your IP is protected, it needs to be structured in a way that supports your business. We advise clients on a variety of IP-related agreements, including licensing, assignment, technology development, collaboration, and non-disclosure agreements. These contracts are often at the center of partnerships, investments, and growth strategies, and getting them right matters.
We represent both rights holders and users in licensing transactions, working to balance protection with flexibility. Our team helps clients avoid the common pitfalls that can lead to disputes down the road by ensuring the terms are clearly defined, enforceable, and practical in real-world use.
Supporting Business Deals and Due Diligence
In corporate transactions like mergers, acquisitions, and private equity investments, intellectual property often plays a key role. We conduct detailed IP due diligence, clean up title and ownership issues, and advise on how the IP will be transferred, licensed, or retained. Our involvement helps buyers avoid hidden risks and sellers present their portfolios in the best possible light.
A Strategic Approach to Every Asset
At every stage, idea, development, commercialization, or exit, we help clients align their IP strategy with their business goals. This often includes planning for international protection, identifying revenue opportunities through licensing, and putting internal policies in place to manage confidential information and avoid inadvertent loss of rights.
Phillips & Bathke, P.C. brings a grounded, business-first perspective to intellectual property procurement and transactions. We help our clients turn their ideas into assets and make sure those assets are working for them.
