IP Due Diligence in M&A: What Patent Counsel Actually Costs and Where Deals Break
IP Due Diligence in M&A: What Patent Counsel Actually Costs and Where Deals Break When buyers ask whether a target truly owns its technology—not merely uses it—the conversation shifts fast from valuation spreadsheets to chain-of-title questions. That is where intellectual property due diligence earns its keep in mergers and acquisitions. I have watched founders assume a provisional filing or a contractor handshake counted as ownership, only to see purchase price adjustments land weeks before closing. Cross-border deals add another layer. Recent coverage of China automotive acquisitions notes that representations and warranties insurers now underwrite IP reps more often, but only when diligence files show demonstrable review—not slide decks. Forbes commentary on AI patent strategy underscores the same point: portfolios covering training pipelines and system-level optimization read differently to acquirers than a handful of method claims filed late. If you are comparing advisor qu...