Understand the IP issues behind a deal, raise or expansion plan

Businesses usually request an IP due diligence review before raising capital, buying or selling a business, entering a joint venture, or licensing valuable assets. It is also useful for companies that have grown quickly and are unsure whether their IP paperwork matches reality. Common examples include software built by contractors, branding developed over time, or content created without clear assignment terms. If a buyer, investor or commercial partner is likely to ask who owns what, this review helps you check the position early and identify documents that may need attention.

An IP review often uncovers ownership gaps, missing assignment deeds, outdated licence terms, trade marks filed in the wrong name, and unclear rights in work created by founders, employees or contractors. We also regularly see issues where a business is using a brand more broadly than its registrations support, or relying on third party material without clear permission. These points can affect valuation, deal negotiations and rollout plans. In some cases, regulator or authority requirements may also matter for registered rights, and timeframes can vary by jurisdiction when corrections or new filings are needed.

A brand clearance review is narrower and usually asks one main question: whether a proposed name or brand is likely to create trade mark risk before launch. An IP due diligence review is broader. It looks across the wider IP position behind a business, product, transaction or investment round, including ownership history, registrations, licences, assignments and possible infringement exposure. If your concern is the overall quality of your IP records and commercial rights, this is usually the better fit. If you only need pre-launch checks for a new brand, a clearance review may be more appropriate.

Once you receive the report, the next step is usually to prioritise the issues by commercial importance and urgency. For example, you might need to obtain signed assignment documents, correct ownership records, update licence terms, or address a brand risk before a launch, sale or investment process continues. Some clients use the report to answer buyer or investor questions, while others treat it as an internal clean-up plan. If a filing, correction or approval is needed, approval depends on the relevant regulator or authority, and Where an external authority is involved, we will help you understand what may be needed for your situation..

Usually not. The fixed-fee generally covers the review itself, the written report and advice on the main findings. If the review identifies missing assignments, registration problems, contract amendments, enforcement options or other remedial work, those items are usually scoped separately. That approach is often more practical because some clients only need the report for a transaction, while others want help implementing a full clean-up. Ongoing representation is not included automatically, and any extra work depends on what the review uncovers, the documents involved and whether third-party or authority processes are required.

Submit an enquiry on this page or click 'Get started'. One of our legal consultants will review it within 1 business day and get in touch to understand what you need.

Your consultant will then email you a fixed-fee quote setting out the cost, scope and timing. If you're happy with it, you can accept the quote and sign our engagement letter online.

Once you've accepted, one of our Australian-qualified lawyers will work with you to complete your project. They'll contact you by email or phone if they need anything.

Sprintlaw works on fixed-fee pricing wherever possible, so you can review the scope and cost before you decide whether to proceed. For the IP Due Diligence Review service, pricing starts from $2,000.00.

After you enquire, a legal consultant will confirm what is included, the expected timing and whether any extra work is needed before you engage us.

We work online, so we can help wherever you are in New Zealand. Our team works remotely, mainly from Australia.

Your work is done by our Australian-qualified lawyers, who hold Australian practising certificates and specialise in business law. None of them are New Zealand lawyers or hold a New Zealand practising certificate.

Sprintlaw NZ Limited is a legal consultancy, not a law firm, and is not regulated by the New Zealand Law Society. We don't act in court or tribunal matters, conveyancing (including leases and business sales) or other reserved areas of work. Communications with Sprintlaw are unlikely to be protected by legal professional privilege. We still keep everything confidential under our engagement letter.