What Happens After You Reach Out
You will hear back within one business day, usually the same day. If your matter is time sensitive, say so in the message and call the number above as well.
The first conversation is a consultation, not a sales call. We will talk through what you have built or what you are trying to protect, identify the legal issues that actually apply to your situation, and tell you what we would recommend doing first. If that recommendation is to wait, or to handle something yourself, we will say so.
Before any work begins, you receive a written fee quote. We work on fixed fees for most matters, which means you know the cost of a provisional application, a non-provisional filing, a trademark registration, or a contract review before you commit to it. There are no hourly surprises.
What to Have Ready
None of this is required, and a conversation without it is still worthwhile. It simply makes the first call more productive.
For a new invention: a description of what it does and how it works, any drawings, sketches, or CAD files you have, whether you have disclosed it publicly or sold it, and whether you know of similar products already on the market. Public disclosure and sales matter a great deal, because they start deadlines that can permanently forfeit your rights.
For a trademark: the exact name or logo, the goods or services you use it with, and when you first used it in commerce.
For a contract or licensing matter: the draft agreement if one exists, and a short summary of the business deal you are trying to document.
Confidentiality
What you tell us during a consultation is confidential, whether or not you go on to hire us. You do not need a signed non-disclosure agreement before describing your invention. Attorneys are bound by professional obligations of confidentiality that apply from the first conversation.
Who We Work With
Independent inventors filing their first application. Startups that need IP in order before a raise. Established companies building or defending a portfolio. In-house counsel who need outside patent prosecution capacity. Companies preparing for a transaction that need their intangible assets documented.
We represent inventors and companies worldwide who want patent protection in the United States. Nearly all work is handled by phone, video, and email, so where you are located has no practical bearing on the representation.
Not Ready to Talk Yet?
Start with something free. The Tech Founder's IP Playbook covers how to protect your innovation before you raise. The Hidden IP Assets Checklist walks through the intangible assets most companies leave out of their valuation. Our patent cost guide explains what filings actually cost, and the patent process guide lays out each step from assessment through issuance.