Andrews Kurth and Murgitroyd & Company to Host Intellectual Property Seminar

Andrews Kurth and Murgitroyd Seminar to Help Businesses Capitalize on the Opportunities

(Houston, TX)—Increasing production challenges in the Middle East, the world’s largest petroleum region, are fueling the demand for advanced technology. Specialist energy lawyers, Andrews Kurth, claim there are more opportunities for UK energy companies than ever before.

The law firm, which concentrates in the energy sector in the Middle East, North America and the Far East, has teamed up with intellectual property practitioners, Murgitroyd, for a seminar in Aberdeen to highlight the growing potential in the Middle East, but also to warn of the pitfalls if technology and know-how are not properly protected.

Entitled “Intelligent Energy Law in the Middle East – Protecting and Exploiting Advanced Energy Technology and Know-How,” the seminar will take place at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre on 6th of February 2014, during Subsea Expo.

Following an overview of the Middle East market, delegates will be able to learn more about acquiring and transferring energy technology in the region, explore IP strategies developed by large companies and find out how smaller firms can cost-effectively implement a global IP strategy.

Hugh Fraser, Office Managing Partner Andrews Kurth (Middle East) JLT, said, “There is a rapidly changing scenario in the Middle East as the challenge of optimizing production requires advanced technology and expertise. This trend, which can be evidenced by Saudi Aramco’s drive towards high technology solutions, presents major opportunities for British companies. The caveat is that firms looking to exploit their technology and know-how in this region must guard against risks of exposure by taking steps to robustly protect their intellectual property."

“Conventional thinking has been to focus IP protection in the US and Europe. Our seminar will highlight the legal protections available for technology, brands, engineering designs, software and other specialist know-how in the Middle East and explore the trends in global IP strategies."

Hugh Fraser, Jeff Dodd and Greg Porter of Andrews Kurth will be joined on the panel by James Brown of Murgitroyd.

Mr Brown said, “The Middle East provides unique Intellectual Property protection for technology, brands, engineering designs and software. We will outline the options available in the six GCC countries and will also touch on Iraq, as well as the improving position with Iran. By exploring the consequences for IP in these locations and discussing the procedures, costs and timescales involved, we aim to help companies capitalize on the current market whilst minimizing the risks of proprietary technology and know-how being exploited by others.”

Places for the seminar are limited but can be reserved by contacting events@bigpartnership.co.uk 

About Murgitroyd

Murgitroyd is a global intellectual property firm with 15 worldwide offices located in the UK, US, Germany, France, Italy, Ireland and Finland and a staff of 240, and offers the largest specialist energy IP team in Europe, headquartered in Aberdeen.

As released by the former Andrews Kurth Kenyon LLP