Independent UK law firm Burges Salmon has advised on the multifaceted and high value transfer of assets from nine separate UK research organisations to the UK’s new strategic research and innovation body UKRI.
This included four Royal Research Ships operated by the British Antarctic Survey and the National Oceanography Centre, six research aircraft registered in the UK and the Falkland Islands, 127 registered properties, 1,843 patents, trademarks and designs registered in the UK and across the world and 20 international conventions and treaties, including the Antarctic Treaty.
The work spanned 56 jurisdictions across all seven continents.
UKRI, an initiative driven by the Government’s new Industrial Strategy, brings together the seven UK Research Councils, Innovate UK and the research and knowledge exchange functions of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). This restructuring is intended to enhance cross-cutting research, create more effective innovation and research links and enable a strategic focus on impact and knowledge exchange across the research landscape.
Corporate partner and lead on the project Nick Graves says: “This year-long project has been a fantastic opportunity for all those involved. It truly showcases our specialist knowledge in advising central government bodies on high value and strategic projects, cross-departmental working across UK jurisdictions, and the strength of our network of preferred international firms. I would like to thank everyone involved for your time and commitment in seeing this project through to completion.”
The project was led by Corporate with input from across the firm, including Real Estate, Commercial and Intellectual Property.
The core team included Corporate: Nick Graves, Gregory Nash, Briony Barber, Tessa Harris and Sakshi Buttoo, Commercial: Helen Scott-Lawler, Tim Deacon, Charlie Hopper, Neil McLaren and Alicia Park and Real Estate: Philip Beer and Catriona Murray.