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Ocean Tomo
Ocean Tomo, a part of J.S. Held, provides Expert Opinion, Management Consulting, Advisory, and Patent Analysis and Reverse Engineering services focused on...
Ocean Tomo
Ocean Tomo, a part of J.S. Held, provides Expert Opinion, Management Consulting, Advisory, and Patent Analysis and Reverse Engineering services focused on matters involving intellectual property (IP) and other intangible assets. Subsidiaries of the firm include Ocean Tomo Investments, a registered broker-dealer. As a part of J.S. Held, Ocean Tomo works alongside more than 1500 professionals globally and assists clients including corporations, insurers, law firms, governments, and institutional investors on complex technical, scientific, and financial matters.
General information
Firm type
Intellectual Property advisory, valuation, and transactions
Year founded
2003
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Denver
Corporate office
Denver, CO, United States
Additional offices
Chicago, IL, United States
Principals
James E. Malackowski
Chief Executive Officer
Michael D. Friedman
Managing Director
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
How does Ocean Tomo generate proprietary deal flow?
The firm sources IP through patent auctions, relationships with corporate R&D teams, patent assertion entities, and bankruptcy estates. Its long involvement in the IP marketplace means it often receives inbound offers from patent holders seeking liquidity. The 600+ auctions conducted since 2003 provide a deep repository of counterparty relationships.
Does Ocean Tomo participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
Ocean Tomo operates through advisory mandates and brokerage services, not as a fund-of-funds or direct fund commitment vehicle. It does not manage blind-pool capital for LPs; rather it charges fees for valuation, brokerage, and structuring engagements. Clients include corporations, universities, and government entities paying for expertise.
What sectors does Ocean Tomo explicitly avoid?
Ocean Tomo does not target venture-stage technology companies, real estate, or commodity-based assets. Its focus is strictly on intellectual property and intangible assets, meaning it avoids any physical-asset-heavy or operational businesses outside the IP realm.
How is Ocean Tomo related to its spinout entities?
Ocean Tomo has spun out several entities over the years, including patent-holding companies and investment vehicles. The firm frequently uses special purpose vehicles (SPVs) to hold patent portfolios acquired through its brokerage and advisory arms, maintaining operational separation between its core services and investor-funded structures.
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