Research to Business

Professions in technology transfer: Lawyer

Claudia Kandler, responsible for strategic investments at KIT. As an expert on legal topics, she sometimes shares her knowledge at events such as the Innovation Day. (Image: KIT)

In addition to the extensive business management tasks, investment management at universities always involves compliance with legal frameworks. As a trained lawyer, Claudia Kandler fulfills this task in her role as investment manager at KIT. In the area of strategic investments, she does not act in the "classical way" in technology transfer, but accompanies some KIT-affiliated companies such as the Studentische Kulturzentrum (Student Cultural Center), Dagstuhl Castle (Leibniz Institute for Informatics), or the Digital Innovation Center (DIZ). In the interview, she tells us how legal support goes hand in hand with technology transfer at KIT.

 

How did you come to this profession?

Claudia Kandler: I completed the typical legal training – i.e. university studies and legal clerkship with completed bar exams. I became interested in working in a university environment early on. Initially, I worked for a university association focusing on copyright and rights management, and later for a patent exploitation agency of universities.

From there, I moved to KIT to the "Innovation Management" service unit, which still existed at that time, in order to look after the legal aspects of KIT's investments in particular in the Investments department. Within the framework of an internal restructuring, the existing service unit was formed into "Innovation and Relations Management". At the same time, KIT's investment activities were organizationally divided within the department: On the one hand, technology investments, for which my colleague Dr. Eric Braun is responsible. On the other hand, strategic investments, which are now under my responsibility. Nevertheless, we work closely together because the combination of business and legal expertise is particularly important for successful investment management at KIT.

 

What does a typical day look like for you? What exactly does your job involve?

Claudia Kandler: Of course, my job involves a lot of administration, documentation, as well as, for example, preparing shareholders' meetings, and attending these meetings. In addition, I regularly have to follow and check documents and processes in the environment of the companies, especially with regard to legal issues. Depending on the company's articles of association, these may, for example, contain regulations that provide for the involvement of the shareholders' meeting in special transactions. In principle, the focus of a legal audit is on whether the subject of the audit is possible or permissible for KIT as a shareholder or whether it could be legally problematic for KIT. Such an examination is always carried out in cooperation with the KIT Legal Department on the basis of the dual control principle.

In the area of investment management of KIT's strategic investments, the focus is on corporate law, although some of the companies I supervise are also in the technology environment.

 

Claudia Kandler at the NEULAND Innovation Day: Networking and professional exchange with representatives from industry and science are also part of everyday work. (Image: KIT)

What are the requirements of the profession?

Claudia Kandler: In any case, communication skills, because in this position you are the contact person for KIT's strategic investments. In addition, you have to be able to communicate the possible problems for KIT to the negotiating partner in an understandable and convincing manner when negotiating legal issues. In this context, a solution-oriented approach is always important, i.e. the ability not only to identify problems but also to work out possible solutions together. In principle, it is important to be involved as a lawyer in the process as early as possible. This usually makes it much easier to avoid legal pitfalls and solve any problems that may arise.

This ability to communicate is also important when advising on legal issues, which is part of my job. I value my consulting role very much, and I always strive to explain legal issues in the most understandable way possible. Basically, in addition to enthusiasm for legal work, one should also have an interest in business management and entrepreneurial issues, which are also part of the daily business in the environment of KIT's shareholdings under company law.

In addition, time flexibility and availability are also required. For example, in the context of investment and capital rounds for technology investments, where I have to review relatively extensive documents together with Mr. Braun and the KIT legal department, usually within short time windows. Here, the processes have to go hand in hand.

 

What do you like about your job?

Claudia Kandler: The environment at universities differs from the one of a law firm. But that's what makes it different: I really like both, the corporate law field of work and the scientific context it entails. In particular, I find the technology environment highly exciting, as my work within the technology transfer department gives me the opportunity to experience current technological developments and forward-looking research alongside my legal work.

I feel very comfortable in the university environment with my nice colleagues and a pleasantly informal atmosphere. I find the interesting tasks, which always present new challenges for me, as well as the current legal developments in this field very interesting. Regular further training offers me the opportunity to develop professionally. But also, the familiarization with new issues and problem constellations that arise time and again make the job very varied and exciting.

 

Why does KIT need a lawyer in the area of investment management?

Claudia Kandler: My position of a lawyer in investment management is currently not a matter of course at universities. At KIT, it has been recognized that legal expertise is important in technology transfer and especially in the area of corporate investments. Just as Mr. Braun covers the business management part, close and careful legal support of the investments is always important. The work in investment management always includes content where one cannot do without legal expertise. This "tandem" of business and legal expertise is an important basis for effective investment management.

 

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