LES-SVC June Chapter Meeting:

IP Valuation in Special Situations - Part 1 of 4-Part Webinar Series:

"Closing the Intangible Valuation Gap in M&A Deal Pricing"

Tuesday, June 24, 2025 (TBC)
8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. PT

REGISTRATION COMING SOON!

Program:

Many mergers & acquisitions (M&A) deals are driven by IP in high-tech and heavy R&D industries (assets such as patents and developed technology) as well as in consumer goods and entertainment (assets such as brands and copyrights). While there is no dispute about
the importance of IP in M&A, when it comes to the valuation and pricing of the deal, it is not always easy or even possible to pinpoint exactly how intangible assets impact M&A deal pricing. Traditional business valuation methods often overlook or undervalue these intangible assets, leading to discrepancies between the perceived value by sellers and buyers. This “intangible valuation gap” can create challenges in reaching an agreeable deal price.

This webinar, led by IP valuation expert and LES Board member, Efrat Kasznik, will explore practical approaches to closing the intangible valuation gap in M&A deals across industries. Efrat will present four unique strategies for integrating IP assets in M&A deal pricing without disrupting deal workflows, while addressing the needs of both sellers and buyers.

The webinar will also include a guest speaker sharing their insights from an actual M&A deal where IP has been leveraged to enhance deal pricing.

The first 60 minutes will include the valuation presentation and the guest speaker, followed by 30 minutes of “ask me anything” (AMA) - an open forum for Q&A and group discussion on the topics covered in the webinar.

Topics to be covered include:

• Current trends in M&A deals
• How are companies valued in M&A deals?
• Why is there an intangible valuation gap in M&A deals?
• Seller and buyer M&A deal pricing considerations
• Strategies for bridging the intangible valuation gap
• Personal Insights from an M&A deal where the valuation gap was addressed using IP

Reading materials: "Closing the intangible valuation gap in M&A deal pricing" (IAM Media, Oct. 7, 2024).

Speakers:
Efrat Kasznik, LES-SVC Chair, LES Board Member, President, Foresight Valuation Group   LinkedIn
Efrat is an IP valuation and strategy expert with more than 25 years of consulting experience assisting clients with the valuation, strategic management and monetization of their intellectual property and technologies. She is president of Foresight Valuation Group LLC – a Silicon Valley-based IP valuation and litigation consulting firm – as well as a start-up advisory firm. Efrat is also an appointed lecturer on IP management at the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB), where she lectures on IP issues at the GSB’s MBA and executive education programs. Efrat specializes in analyzing IP and technology portfolios for a range of business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, financial reporting, technology commercialization and business liquidations. She frequently testifies as an expert witness in legal cases involving damages or valuations of intellectual property and start-ups, as well as in high net worth divorce cases involving the valuation of intangible assets and technology startups. Efrat has been listed on the IAM 300 list of World Leading IP Strategists every year since 2013. She is actively involved in leadership roles with LES USA-Canada, where she currently serves as a board member, in addition to serving as Chair of the LES Silicon Valley chapter.

Guest Speaker: Entrepreneur (TBC)

Leave the office behind!
“Explore Nature and Network with LES-SVC”

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Join the Silicon Valley Chapter on a fun hike in Palo Alto's Arastradero Preserve. Then we move to Rossotti’s Alpine Inn in Portola Valley for a social get-together. (If you don’t want to hike, then join us at Rossotti’s at 5:00 p.m.)

FOR HIKERS - Please read:  
WAIVER REQUIRED: Hike participants will be required to sign a waiver in order to participate.  Please download the link below, sign and bring to the hike.  Hard copies will also be available at the hike.

WAIVER LINK

HIKING (Optional)
Arastradero Preserve
4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

(Meeting at the parking lot at 4:15 p..m., leaving promptly at 4:30 p.m. – see parking lot link below)

Calling all beginners to experienced hikers! Take a break from the office and lace up your hiking boots or tennis shoes to explore the beautiful Arastradero Preserve trails around Portola Valley. 

We will be meeting at the Arastradero Preserve parking lot at 4:15 p.m. at 1530 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto (see link below).

Important: If you have difficulty locating the hiking group, please call Efrat Kasznik, 650-255-4943.

Be sure to bring plenty of water, sunscreen and a hat as we expect 80 degrees tomorrow!

Arastradero Preserve - Link to Parking Lot

Networking & Social Get-together
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Rossotti’s Alpine Inn
3915 Alpine Rd, at Arastradero Road, Portola Valley, CA
(Parking at Rossotti's – see below)

See you at Rossotti's Alpine Inn – whether you're coming straight from our scenic hike or joining us after work for networking and socializing in a beautiful setting (some of our SVC Board members will be in attendance to greet you). Please note, attendees are responsible for their own food and beverage expenses. See parking availability below.

Parking: Rossotti’s encourages guests to carpool, utilize ride share, horseback ride in, or bike in. All guests who arrive in a full car with 4+ adults will either receive front-row parking or a coupon for a free pitcher of beer if the front-row parking is full. The parking lot is staffed with attendants. Be mindful of parking on public roads. Please do not park vehicle in any way that blocks bikers and other vehicles. Cars parked over the white line on public roads can be ticketed and/or towed.

LES-SVC August Chapter Meeting: 

IP Valuation in Special Situations - Part 2 of 4-Part Webinar Series:

"Bankruptcy"

Tuesday, August 26, 2025 (TBC)
8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. PT

REGISTRATION COMING SOON!

Program:

TBC

The first 60 minutes will include the valuation presentation and the guest speaker, followed by 30 minutes of “ask me anything” (AMA) - an open forum for Q&A and group discussion on the topics covered in the webinar.

Topics to be covered include:

• TBC

Reading materials: "Closing the intangible valuation gap in M&A deal pricing" (IAM Media, Oct. 7, 2024).

Speakers:
Efrat Kasznik, LES-SVC Chair, LES Board Member, President, Foresight Valuation Group   LinkedIn
Efrat is an IP valuation and strategy expert with more than 25 years of consulting experience assisting clients with the valuation, strategic management and monetization of their intellectual property and technologies. She is president of Foresight Valuation Group LLC – a Silicon Valley-based IP valuation and litigation consulting firm – as well as a start-up advisory firm. Efrat is also an appointed lecturer on IP management at the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB), where she lectures on IP issues at the GSB’s MBA and executive education programs. Efrat specializes in analyzing IP and technology portfolios for a range of business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, financial reporting, technology commercialization and business liquidations. She frequently testifies as an expert witness in legal cases involving damages or valuations of intellectual property and start-ups, as well as in high net worth divorce cases involving the valuation of intangible assets and technology startups. Efrat has been listed on the IAM 300 list of World Leading IP Strategists every year since 2013. She is actively involved in leadership roles with LES USA-Canada, where she currently serves as a board member, in addition to serving as Chair of the LES Silicon Valley chapter.

Guest Speakers: Bankruptcy Attorney, IP Owner/Entrepreneur (all TBC)

LES-SVC October Chapter Meeting: 

IP Valuation in Special Situations - Part 3 of 4-Part Webinar Series:

"IP-backed lending"

Tuesday, October 28, 2025 (TBC)
8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. PT

REGISTRATION COMING SOON!

Program:

TBC

The first 60 minutes will include the valuation presentation and the guest speaker, followed by 30 minutes of “ask me anything” (AMA) - an open forum for Q&A and group discussion on the topics covered in the webinar.

Topics to be covered include:

• TBC

Reading materials: "Closing the intangible valuation gap in M&A deal pricing" (IAM Media, Oct. 7, 2024).

Speakers:
Efrat Kasznik, LES-SVC Chair, LES Board Member, President, Foresight Valuation Group   LinkedIn
Efrat is an IP valuation and strategy expert with more than 25 years of consulting experience assisting clients with the valuation, strategic management and monetization of their intellectual property and technologies. She is president of Foresight Valuation Group LLC – a Silicon Valley-based IP valuation and litigation consulting firm – as well as a start-up advisory firm. Efrat is also an appointed lecturer on IP management at the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB), where she lectures on IP issues at the GSB’s MBA and executive education programs. Efrat specializes in analyzing IP and technology portfolios for a range of business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, financial reporting, technology commercialization and business liquidations. She frequently testifies as an expert witness in legal cases involving damages or valuations of intellectual property and start-ups, as well as in high net worth divorce cases involving the valuation of intangible assets and technology startups. Efrat has been listed on the IAM 300 list of World Leading IP Strategists every year since 2013. She is actively involved in leadership roles with LES USA-Canada, where she currently serves as a board member, in addition to serving as Chair of the LES Silicon Valley chapter.

Guest Speakers: IP Capital Investor(s), Insurance Underwriter, Entrepreneur (all TBC)

November LES Silicon Valley Chapter In-Person Event

“Royalty Compliance and Dispute Resolution”

Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Networking, Registration, Lunch
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Program
1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Networking

Location: KPMG Silicon Valley Office

2755 Augustine Drive, Suite 701
Santa Clara, CA 95054

Thank you to our meeting sponsor:

PANEL-- TBC
Braden Weatherhead, Managing Director, KPMG IP Compliance
Michael Pierantozzi, Board Member, LES-SVC, IAM Strategy 300 (Fmr HP IPL and KPMG IP Consulting)

Who Should Attend: Licensing Professionals, Intellectual Property Managers, FFRDC Managers, Inventors, Entrepreneurs, Business Development Executives, Investors, and Attorneys

Braden Weatherhead, Managing Director, KPMG IP Compliance  LinkedIn
Braden is a Managing Director and KPMG’s commercial line of business leader for contract compliance. He has over sixteen years of experience in providing royalty audit services to multinational organizations in a variety of industries including High Technology, Semiconductors, Consumer Products, Diagnostics, and Pharmaceuticals.  Braden has deep experience in helping to establish and execute global contract compliance programs combining elements of data analytics, royalty monitoring, audit targeting and remediation. He has led the development of cloud-based data aggregation, monitoring and executive dashboard tool to help better identify licensee compliance issues which range from erroneous reporting, low royalty payment and fraud. He has significant experience successfully managing relationships between potentially contentious third parties in an audit environment. Braden is also well versed in performing advanced data analytics and has developed analytical tools to implement proactive monitoring solutions leveraging third party data.  All together, these programs have resulted in the identification of over $300 million in overpaid rebates & discounts while strengthening contract lifecycle management and strategy.  Braden is a Certified Public Accountant and member of the AICPA.

Michael Pierantozzi, Moderator and Board Member, LES-SVC (IAM Strategy 300)  LinkedIn
Based in Silicon Valley, Michael is a technology and intellectual property (Tech/IP) entrepreneur, strategist and transaction expert. Andiamo Associates is a management consulting firm that specializes in Tech/IP business catalyzing and monetizing matters. Previously, Michael was responsible for strategic business development, including sales, acquisitions, and licensing for the IP Licensing group at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), and served as Director of KPMG's IP Consulting practice. Previously, Michael held executive leadership positions at Hewlett-Packard Company (HP) including HPE, Intellectual Ventures (IV), IPotential, and an IP transaction data services startup that he co-founded. Since 2009, Michael has been recognized by Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) Magazine in their IAM 300 rankings as one of the “World’s Leading Intellectual Property Strategists”. He is a frequent speaker at Tech/IP industry events in the US, Europe, and Asia, and has delivered IP management seminars at Stanford University.

LES-SVC December Chapter Meeting: 

IP Valuation in Special Situations - Part 4 of 4-Part Webinar Series:

"Family court"

Tuesday, December 9, 2025 (TBC)
8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. PT

REGISTRATION COMING SOON!

Program:

TBC

The first 60 minutes will include the valuation presentation and the guest speaker, followed by 30 minutes of “ask me anything” (AMA) - an open forum for Q&A and group discussion on the topics covered in the webinar.

Topics to be covered include:

• TBC

Reading materials: "Closing the intangible valuation gap in M&A deal pricing" (IAM Media, Oct. 7, 2024).

Speakers:
Efrat Kasznik, LES-SVC Chair, LES Board Member, President, Foresight Valuation Group   LinkedIn
Efrat is an IP valuation and strategy expert with more than 25 years of consulting experience assisting clients with the valuation, strategic management and monetization of their intellectual property and technologies. She is president of Foresight Valuation Group LLC – a Silicon Valley-based IP valuation and litigation consulting firm – as well as a start-up advisory firm. Efrat is also an appointed lecturer on IP management at the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB), where she lectures on IP issues at the GSB’s MBA and executive education programs. Efrat specializes in analyzing IP and technology portfolios for a range of business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, financial reporting, technology commercialization and business liquidations. She frequently testifies as an expert witness in legal cases involving damages or valuations of intellectual property and start-ups, as well as in high net worth divorce cases involving the valuation of intangible assets and technology startups. Efrat has been listed on the IAM 300 list of World Leading IP Strategists every year since 2013. She is actively involved in leadership roles with LES USA-Canada, where she currently serves as a board member, in addition to serving as Chair of the LES Silicon Valley chapter.

Guest Speakers: Attorney, Family Office Manager, Entrepreneur (all TBC)