Recognized for more than a decade as one of the “World’s 300 Leading IP Strategists” by IAM magazine, Stephen has 20 years plus of experience in IP valuation and IP strategy. Offering guidance on IP valuation and monetisation, Stephen serves diverse clients such as business owners, financial institutions, private equity and VC investors on a variety of transactions involving IP including M&A, corporate restructuring, lending and investment across Europe, the US and Asia.

In 2003, he founded Metis Partners, a professional IP services firm focused on due diligence-led IP valuations and IP strategy advice, aimed at helping clients to identify, leverage and enhance their IP assets. Metis Partners also offers IP brokerage and corporate recovery and restructuring services, maximising sales of IP from going concern and financially distressed scenarios. Leveraging its unique and proprietary IP diligence methodology ( Metisology) and in-house database of IP sales and third party IP M&A data, Metis Partners can offer clients real confidence in the valuation numbers.

Stephen has led a variety of IP valuation transactions across diverse sectors, provided IP due diligence to support both IP-backed fundraisings and investments from $1m to $3.5bn, generated significant returns from IP asset sales and used IP to bridge valuation gaps in M&A. To encourage IP-centric deal-making, investment and finance, Stephen launched the IP100 in 2015, establishing it as the world’s first global IP benchmark ranking innovative companies based on their IP asset strength and track record in exploiting IP.

He is the former chair of the Licensing Executives Society (LES) Scotland and a board member of the LES Council Britain and Ireland. He has contributed to UK & European initiatives focused on national policy change – specifically IP-related finance, Banking on IP, the Patient Capital Review, and IP recognition among SMEs.