Navigating the Issues of

multidisciplinary Student
Teams
Entrepreneurial Law Clinic - University of
Washington
LAW CLINICS CONCEPT
General Description

In-house
supervisor
Entrepreneurs
Small businesses
Law students Medium
businesses

Law
Clini
c Pro bono legal
Business
students service & help
ENTREPRENEURIAL LAW CLINIC
University of Washington

ELC full time staf

Tech. entrepreneurs
Small, medium
business
Social entrepreneurs
UW tech. Spin-
offs
ELC
University
of
Washingto
n
Pro bono legal
Supervising service & help
attorneys &
ENTREPRENEURIAL LAW
CLINIC

?
University of Washington
Why the different approach?

No limitations of clinic size

Flexible stafed ELC teams
Higher-quality legal service

What are ELC missions?

Economic development in Washington State
Real-life education to UW students
Meaningful opportunities for external lawyers & consultants
WHAT DOES ELC OFFER?
Services provided to ELC clients

ELC AUDIT
Analysis of clients business model
Analysis of clients legal business planning
Simulates investors investigation

ELC AUDIT MEMO

Written report of ELC audit results
Reviewed by external supervisors & full-time staf
KEY TOPICS TO BE
DISCUSSED
ELC - University of Washington

Who is the client the tech transfer office or the

faculty researcher?

How to mediate among the different visions of the

stakeholders?

How to make sure the students are supervised

properly?
MEDITING AMONG DIFFERENT
COMMERCIALIZATION PLANS
Early stage innovations that are not ready for producition
But they might be patentable or IP protectable
QUESTION: who will do the further work to develop product?
And under what licence terms for the university?

Diferentiate between
Translational Stage
Innovations

Commercialization Stage Innovations

Translational Stage Innovations
Science or engineering breakthroughs
Primarily insights into phenomena
BUT: No product in sight
Often refered as cool science that have no current
commerc. potential

For example: a breakthrough in understanding how a cellular

process leads to tumor growth

Risky and may involve false starts!

Commercialization Stage Innovations

Directly solve problem that enables product development

Less risky, but still requires R&D
But identified product or service

We can anticipate the value!

Mediating among different
commerzialisation plans
Diferent visions by diferent steakholders
For example: Researcher vision Tech Transfer Office vision
Debate regarding the best use of technology? Three
pathways:
1. Dissemination through publication & low cost licenses
2. Exclusive licences to large enterprises
3. Exclusive licenses to small & medium enterprises (SMEs)