Peter M. Watt-Morse, one of the founding partners of the firm’s Pittsburgh office, has worked on all forms of commercial and technology transactions for more than 40 years. Peter works on business and intellectual property (IP) matters for a broad range of clients, including software, hardware, networking, and other technology clients, pharmaceutical companies, and healthcare providers and payors, among other life science industry clients. He also represents banks, investment advisers, and other financial services institutions.
Combining his experience gained from many years of representing clients in negotiations with his technical and legal skills, Peter creatively structures agreements that meet clients’ business objectives and last the test of time. Peter advises companies on business process (BP), information technology (IT), and other outsourcing transactions. He also handles technology acquisition, development, licensing, and distribution agreements; strategic alliances and joint ventures; IP creation and strategy; university and governmental technology transfer issues; and general corporate and commercial matters.
The agreements Peter puts together have helped launch numerous spinoffs and new business developments, including the commercialization of revolutionary technologies involving networking software, big data, blockchain, and semiconductor technology (including license/equity structures). Peter has also developed innovative outsourcing arrangements for clinical trial services for major pharmaceutical companies that have improved efficiency and quality. Over the last 15 years, Peter has developed a nationally recognized practice regarding outsourcing of essential back-office operations of financial institutions and investment advisors.
On behalf of consumer product and manufacturing clients, Peter has created long-term supply arrangements for essential commodities and components. He has also developed complex IP agreements to carve up technologies in divestiture transactions as well as cutting-edge agreements and procedures regarding ecommerce.
Peter is an adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh Law School, where he teaches classes related to technology transactions and IP. He frequently speaks on and writes about outsourcing, IP, and technology-related topics. He also has an extensive background in technology use in the practice of law and formerly served as a chairman of Morgan Lewis’s Technology Steering Committee.
Recommended, Industry focus: Sport, The Legal 500 US (2024)
Recommended, Media, technology and telecoms: Outsourcing, The Legal 500 US (2023, 2024)
Recommended, Intellectual property: Patents: licensing, The Legal 500 US (2019–2022)
Recommended, Media, technology and telecoms - Technology - transactions, The Legal 500 US (2015, 2017)
Recommended, Outsourcing, The Legal 500 US (2013, 2014)
Recognized, IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals (2012–2014, 2017–2024)
Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Lawyer of the Year, Information Technology Law, Pittsburgh (2023, 2025)
Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Information Technology Law, Pittsburgh (2013–2018, 2020, 2022–2025)
Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Corporate Law, Pittsburgh (2024, 2025)
Member, Practice Group of the Year, Intellectual Property, Law360 (2019)
Recognized, IAM Licensing 250 (2011–2013)
Member, Sigma Xi
Member, Northwestern University Law Review
Adjunct Professor, University of Pittsburgh Law School