A growing recognition of the importance of environmentally sustainable business practices is leading to rapid investment and innovation in clean technologies. Global demand for alternative energy sources, energy-efficient materials, and safe food, water and clean air make the clean technology industry increasingly relevant to all of our clients.
Significant developments can already be seen in the production of electric hybrid automobiles, improved oil and mineral extraction techniques, smart grid efficiency software, agricultural biotechnology and water purification systems. Governmental regulations, such as local building efficiency codes or federal carbon trading programs, will continue to drive progress in this sector.
Sutherland’s Cleantech practice spans a broad range of legal services for clients, including intellectual property, environmental, energy trading, tax, venture and corporate finance, real estate, and litigation. Our intellectual property attorneys are adept at handling patentability opinions, patent drafting, international patent prosecution, freedom-to-operate opinions, licenses and other technology transfer agreements, due diligence, patent landscaping, intellectual property litigation, interferences and foreign oppositions.
In addition to their law degrees, the majority of our intellectual property attorneys hold pertinent technical degrees in areas including microbiology, cellular biology, biochemistry, organic and inorganic chemistry, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering and software development. Our technical and industry knowledge, coupled with broad patent prosecution, licensing and litigation experience, allow for a keen understanding of the legal issues affecting businesses in the clean technology industry. Our attorneys have helped clients protect and commercialize technologies in areas that include:
- Agricultural biotechnology
- Aquaponics systems
- Battery and energy cell storage
- Bioengineered ethanol fermentation
- Biodegradable plastics
- Biodiesel production
- Biomass to energy conversion
- Environmental control software systems
- Enzymatic catalysis of organic compounds
- Hydrocarbons emissions compliance
- Materials recovery and recycling
- Organic nutrition
- Soil remediation
- Solar energy generation and conversion
- Syngas production
- Turbine-related energy generation equipment
- Water and air purification products for consumers and industry
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