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Overview

Each year, thousands of discoveries originate in the fruitful minds of institutional researchers. Calfee’s technology transfer practice group helps research institutions and their corporate partners convert these valuable discoveries into income-generating assets.   

Our technology transfer experts regularly counsel institutions and their licensees in a broad range of transactions. By assembling a multidisciplinary team, including lawyers from our intellectual property, capital raising, and government relations practices, we find cohesive solutions to the unique challenges presented by moving technology out of labs and into the market.

In addition to transactions, Calfee assists major research institutions with establishing internal innovations programs, intellectual property cultivation exercises, internal intellectual property practices and policies, and licensing programs to monetize intellectual property resulting from years of research and funding.    

Noteworthy

Chambers USA Leading Law Firm Rankings

Since 2004, Calfee has been recognized as a Leading Law Firm for Intellectual Property by Chambers USA, most recently in Band 1 in Ohio (2024). Clients provided feedback to Chambers USA researchers, "Calfee is esteemed for its handling of IP litigation and portfolio management on behalf of large clients in Ohio and the Midwest and across the USA. The IP team is highly experienced in the engineering, chemical, and biological sectors, with notable abilities in handling matters for consumer products and manufacturing clients. The team is responsive, practical, and extremely knowledgeable."

Clients interviewed by Chambers USA said, "The firm offers excellent value for its services. The team is dedicated and provides sophisticated IP legal services at an attractive cost. Calfee's IP attorneys are highly regarded; they are true experts, and they do excellent work for their clients. This is a power bench; the team works well together and supports each other well. Each individual is responsive and knowledgeable in their expertise and experience. This is definitely one of my favorite firms to work with."

Chambers USA researchers also found Calfee's IP team to be held in "very high regard by fellow practitioners who note Calfee's extensive experience representing clients in wider patent and trademark matters, IP litigation matters, appellate work, and advising companies on managing IP assets in China."

Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” Rankings

Calfee was selected for inclusion in the 2025 "Best Law Firms" rankings in the following areas:

  • Copyright Law (Regional Tier 2 Cleveland)
  • Litigation – Intellectual Property (National Tier 3, Regional Tier 1 Cleveland)
  • Patent Law (Regional Tier 1 Cleveland, Regional Tier 2 Cincinnati)

Professionals

Experience

Experience

We regularly counsel universities, hospitals, public research facilities, and their industry counterparts through complex intellectual property matters. This includes technologies developed in renowned institutions such as the following:

  • The Ohio State University
  • Cleveland Clinic Foundation
  • Ohio University
  • Cleveland State University
  • University of Toledo
  • Miami University
  • University of Wisconsin
  • Georgetown University
  • Case Western Reserve University
  • The Regents of the University of California
  • University of Texas
  • Dalhousie University
  • University of Tennessee
  • University of South Florida

Services

Services

Our services include the following:

  • Structuring complex licensing deals
  • Establishing and funding private spinoffs built on institutional technologies
  • Negotiating material transfer agreements
  • Working with public and private incubators, development funds, and accelerators
  • Advising on clinical trials and sponsored research
  • Developing intellectual property enforcement programs

Client Feedback

Client Feedback

  • "Calfee's IP team is responsive, practical, and extremely knowledgeable."– Client quote, Chambers USA 2023
  • "The team handles very complex patent work for us and has proven to be very professional and knowledgeable." – Client quote, Chambers USA 2022
  • "They manage situations so they can be handled cost-effectively, they're great at communicating and make strong, practical recommendations, rather than just legal assessments." – Client quote, Chambers USA 2022
  • "Calfee does phenomenal work and has become our go-to firm for IP services." – Client quote, Chambers USA 2022
  • "They have a really good spectrum of talent across sectors and expertise, particularly in the technology space." – Client quote, Chambers USA 2022

News & Events

News

Blog Posts

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"Calfee's IP group is esteemed for its handling of IP litigation and portfolio management on behalf of large clients in Ohio, the Midwest, and across the USA. They are highly experienced in the engineering, chemical, and biological sectors, with notable abilities in handling matters for consumer products and manufacturing clients."

Researcher comments, Chambers USA

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