News
The combination of J.S. Held and Ocean Tomo uniquely presents experts on complex technical, scientific, and financial matters across all assets and value at risk.
JERICHO, N.Y. – March 30, 2022 – Global consulting firm J.S. Held announced today that it has acquired Ocean Tomo, an expert advisory firm specialized in Intellectual Property (IP) and other intangible assets; corporate accounting investigations; regulatory and reporting obligations; solvency and restructuring; and contractual or competition disputes.
Established in 2003, Ocean Tomo is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with offices throughout the United States. Ocean Tomo’s team is composed of industry-leading experts in IP and intangible asset valuations and disputes, financial forensics, risk and regulatory compliance, patent analytics, investment advisory, innovation management consulting, and transaction brokerage.
“The addition of Ocean Tomo strengthens our ability to address the unique needs of organizations around the world facing high-stakes situations involving intellectual property and other intangible assets,” said Jonathon C. Held, Chief Executive Officer of J.S. Held. “We are very excited about this partnership, which brings more than 80 of the most well-respected professionals in the industry to our firm.”
Collectively, Ocean Tomo’s experts have completed more than 1,000 engagements across a wide diversity of industry segments. They have consulted and provided expert testimony in some of the highest profile IP matters over the past two decades – spanning state, federal, and international courts. Their clients include businesses, law firms, investors, artists, designers, creators, researchers, educational institutions, and government agencies.
“We are thrilled to join J.S. Held. Together we can uniquely provide integrated technical, scientific, and financial expertise to our clients,” said James E. Malackowski, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ocean Tomo. “The diverse skills and experience of J.S. Held’s experts allows us to address complex matters involving tangible and intangible assets. Importantly, J.S. Held shares our core values for excellence and professional development, making for a strong and exciting partnership.”
Ocean Tomo employee shareholders have invested into J.S. Held as part of the announced transaction. J.S. Held’s acquisition provides an exit for Ocean Tomo institutional investors Bow River Capital (Denver) and Sinofaith IP Group (Shanghai). “Facilitating the growth of market leaders is a key part of Bow River’s investment strategy, and we are especially pleased with the outcome at Ocean Tomo,” said Bo Sutton, a Director at Bow River. “We are extremely proud of our successful partnership with Ocean Tomo and believe the team is well positioned for continued success as part of J.S. Held.”
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Houlihan Lokey served as financial advisor to Ocean Tomo in connection with the transaction. Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP served as legal counsel to Ocean Tomo. Vedder Price served as legal counsel to Ocean Tomo executives. Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP advised J.S. Held in connection with the transaction.
About J.S. Held
J.S. Held is a global consulting firm that combines technical, scientific, financial, and strategic expertise to advise clients seeking to realize value and mitigate risk. Our professionals serve as trusted advisors to organizations facing high stakes matters demanding urgent attention, staunch integrity, proven experience, clear-cut analysis, and an understanding of both tangible and intangible assets.
The firm provides a comprehensive suite of services, products, and data that enable clients to navigate complex, contentious, and often catastrophic situations.
About Ocean Tomo, a part of J.S. Held
Established in 2003, Ocean Tomo provides Expert Opinion, Management Consulting, Advisory, and Specialty Services focused on matters involving intellectual property (IP) and other intangible assets. Practice offerings address economic damage calculations and testimony; business licensing strategy and contract interpretation; patent-focused business intelligence; portfolio development strategy; litigation support; trade secret reasonable measures; asset and business valuation; strategy and risk management consulting; merger and acquisition advisory; debt and equity private placement; and IP brokerage. Subsidiaries of Ocean Tomo include Ocean Tomo Investments Group, LLC, a registered broker-dealer.
As a part of J.S. Held, Ocean Tomo works alongside more than 1,500 professionals globally and assists clients – corporations, insurers, law firms, governments, and institutional investors – on complex technical, scientific, and financial matters across all assets and value at risk.
J.S. Held, its affiliates and subsidiaries are not certified public accounting firm(s) and do not provide audit, attest, or any other public accounting services. J.S. Held is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Securities offered through PM Securities, LLC, d/b/a Phoenix IB, a part of J.S. Held, member FINRA/ SIPC or Ocean Tomo Investment Group, LLC, a part of J.S. Held, member FINRA/ SIPC. All rights reserved.