Bio

Thomas Briggs negotiates technology-based transactions, such as licenses, strategic alliances, joint ventures, mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, where information, knowledge, and intellectual property constitute key subject matter. Tom also negotiates agreements that involve the transfer, protection, or sharing of IP or of new products and services, such as for distribution, manufacturing, supply, software and services, joint development, sponsored research, clinical trials, employee IP rights, and consulting. Tom is a founder and former co-leader of Jones Day's IP Licensing and Technology Transactions team. Tom has deep experience representing clients in cross-border transactions, in particular between the USA, Japan, China, and Europe. Clients include Athersys, Bunge, Celgene, EagleTree Capital, Genomatica, Idemitsu Kosan, Incyte, Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, Koch, Micreos, P&G, Shanghai Junshi, and Toolgen. Tom leverages his engineering career and scientific training by focusing on transactions that involve pharmaceuticals, biotech, medical devices, food, agriculture, semiconductors, software, polymers, fermentation, industrial chemicals, steel, oil, gas, and big data. He also regularly gives educational seminars on various intellectual property and transaction subjects in public and private settings. In helping clients with their technology transactions, Tom draws upon a rare combination of work experiences. He is a patent lawyer who has litigated cases involving infringement, misappropriation, and noncompetition and has prosecuted patent and trademark registrations. He has served as chief intellectual property officer and assistant general counsel of M.A. Hanna Company (now PolyOne Corporation). He also spent 10 years as a practicing chemical engineer and plant supervisor with Union Carbide/Praxair before his career as a lawyer.