Our latest episode of Innovation Unlocked, How to Transform IP into a Valuable Asset is out now, and we are joined by Head of Consulting at Mathys & Squire Consulting Lyle Ellis, hosted by Partner Andrew White.
With intellectual property making up 80-90% of the value of a business, understanding the potential of your IP is crucial to successful growth. To assist, Mathys & Squire Consulting connect their in-depth understanding of commercial value with their own IP expertise, with Lyle personally drawing upon his own professional background as a patent attorney.
In the discussion, Lyle highlights the purpose and value of their consulting services, highlighting the common mistakes many companies can avoid through an advisor, and the benefits of being proactive in risk mitigation.
For those that already have assets or are unsure of the potential of their IP, this episode is a must watch.
You can listen to the episode on Spotify here.
Episode summary
Topics discussed🎙️
- The purpose and role of Mathys & Squire Consulting in connecting legal IP expertise with commercial value.
- Lyle Ellis’s career journey from patent attorney to IP consultant.
- Importance of intellectual property (IP) to business value (up to 80–90% of company worth).
- Common IP mistakes made by startups and SMEs.
- The function and timing of IP audits.
- The role of data analytics, competitor analysis, and valuations in IP strategy.
- How IP valuations are conducted and used in negotiations, acquisitions, and investment.
- The link between proactive IP management and business de-risking.
- Challenges in convincing businesses to invest in proactive IP risk mitigation.
Key takeaways💡
- IP is not just legal protection — it’s a core driver of business value and strategy.
- Many companies misunderstand ownership and undervalue their IP assets.
- IP consultancy helps translate technical and legal IP issues into commercial decisions.
- Early-stage IP awareness prevents costly mistakes later.
- Effective data and valuation tools help justify investment, support negotiations, and increase business credibility.
- Educating clients to make informed decisions is more valuable than simply selling services.
- Proactive IP management strengthens a company’s investment and exit prospects.
Notable quotes🔊
- “A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.”
- “Up to 80–90% of a company’s value is in its IP assets.”
- “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should — the question is what you’re trying to achieve.”
- “If you assume, ‘if you pay for it, you own it,’ that’s a fundamental mistake.”
- “I’d rather explain the situation and justify it than keep IP in a black box.”
- “It’s not about magic — it’s about helping people make informed decisions.”
- “You can take actions to increase your company’s value by managing IP proactively.”
