Initial Advice and Signposting in London

Author Chensiyuan Licence CC BY-SA 3.0 Source Wikimedia Commons

Jane Lambert

For the last 20 years, I have provided initial advice and signposting pro bono to entrepreneurs, innovators and creatives throughout the North of England and North Wales.  Until the pandemic, I held those sessions on a fixed date and at a fixed time and venue.  The social distancing restrictions obliged me to transfer the sessions online which enabled me to see enquirers whenever they and I had a slot in our diaries.  A 30-minute phone or video call was enough to resolve most issues.   For those who required a one-on-one meeting the ending of the Covid 19 restrictions enabled me to see them at the Barnsley Business Village or the Menai Science Park on Ynys Môn. 

Although they are close to major road and rail links, for most inhabitants of the United Kingdom London is much easier to reach than the Business Village or M-SParc.  For that reason, I am extending my initial advice and signposting service to the whole of the United Kingdom and indeed beyond should anybody be interested.

The extended service will function exactly as I stated in Relaunch of the Barnsley IP Clinic in NIPC Yorkshire on 24 Feb 2024:

"The new clinics will differ slightly from the previous ones in two respects, First, I have recruited patent and trade mark attorneys and other IP specialists to our clinic. If, for example, you want to apply for a patent for your invention you need to talk to a patent attorney rather than a lawyer like me. If you need a prototype I will introduce you to a product design consultant. I have spent my career advising specialist solicitors and patent and trade mark attorneys on difficult points of law, drafting complex legal instruments for use in business as well as litigation and representing parties in court, IPO tribunals and negotiations. I should be best placed to advise on strategy, licensing and dispute resolution. Secondly, we shall make more use of Zoom and other technologies so that we can address your issues promptly. rather than wait until the second Tuesday,"

Anybody who wants to use the service should fill in the form below or call me on 020 7404 5252 for an initial chat.   In that chat, we can then make an appointment for a 30-minute phone or Zoom call either with me or with some other professional if it appears that such other professional would be better placed to assist than me.  If I need to examine a document or exhibit in the presence of an enquirer I will offer him or her a 30-minute meeting in London, Barnsley or M-SParc, whichever is most convenient for him or her,,   Whether it takes place with me over the phone or Zoom or in person or with some other professional the 30 minute discussion will be free.

If it is obvious that the matter cannot be resolved in 30 minutes enquirers will be advised accordingly.  That would happen if an enquirer wants to apply for a patent, register a trade mark, defend litigation or negotiate a licence or joint venture agreement.  Even then we would discuss options and possibly make recommendations for further advice or assistance on a paying basis.

Anyone wishing to discuss this article may call me on  020 7404 5252  during office hours or send me a message through my contact form.

London Business Hub's Investment Ready Programme

Central London from Primrose Hill

Author Duncan from Nottingham Licence CC BY SA 2.0  Wikimedia Commons

  

Jane Lambert

The London Business Hub is the business support network for Greater London.  It is one of 38 local growth hubs that have been established across England.  It is delivered by the London Enterprise Action Programme which is the capital's local enterprise partnership.

The Hub offers a wide range of services including assistiance with drawing up business plans, accessing funding, intellectual property and growth and scaling up.  Its latest initiative and the reason for this article is the Hub's Investment Ready Programme which starts on 22 Sept 2022.  This is a programme delivered by Funding London which is sponsored by the British Business Bank.

According to the London Business Hub, attendees will be offered a range of group and one-to-one sessions on developing their business and seeking investment lasting up to 4 hours a week over 6 weeks. To qualify, businesses must have a minimum viable product and a strong business proposition as well as a number of other criteria. There have already been two of these programmes and testimonials from the previous cohorts appear on the programme's website. Applications for the third cohort should be lodged by 31 Aug 2022.  

Any business that is seeking investment whether through this programme or not should have regard to the legal protection of its corporate name and logo and those of its products and services.  If it has developed a new product or process it should consider how to prevent its competitors from making that product or using that service.   If the business is a joint venture there should be an agreement in writing to govern their relationship.   That is particularly important when they receive funding.  Terms for the supply of their goods or services to customers should be drawn up as well as terms for the procurement of goods and services from their suppliers.

Advice on those matters is available through the Hub and I can help too.   For well over 20 years I have been running a pro bono IP and tech law clinic in the North of England but it can be accessed by businesses in the rest of the country including London.    Anyone requiring up to 30 minutes of my time on any of those matters is welcome to  contact me through my "Initial Advice and Signposting Form".