Patent Portfolio Management

The firm offers comprehensive patent portfolio management services. Because of the level of detail and attention this requires, the firm can only offer this service to a few corporate clients at a time. Please contact Tom at the phone number at the top of the page to consult with him on whether the firm can accommodate your needs at this time.

Clients exploit patent portfolio management services to enhance their understanding of their own intellectual property and their competitors’ IP, to quickly and efficiently evaluate new ideas developed within the business entity for potential patent protection, and to establish a domestic or global web of legal protection that is consistent and harmonious.  Large or growing corporate patent portfolios can provide significant value to a company beyond just the aggregate value of the patents comprising the porfolio.

Portfolio management services are tailored to the needs of the client. Typically, Tom will consult with general counsel or a business executive to establish the needs for your company and a pricing structure commensurate to those needs. Follow-up meetings or teleconferences between Tom and key employees will then help the firm understand the technology sector, your company’s contributions to the industry, and the competitive market. Tom will appear for short-notice meetings and will make himself available for phone and email consultation when issues arise. Essentially, the firm works as an extension of your in-house counsel with the depth of knowledge and level of personal attention you would expect from one of your employees. This can be especially helpful if your company is sufficiently large to require a general counsel or legal department, but can realize significant cost savings by relying on an outside lawyer who has deep knowledge of your business and can provide intellectual property planning, development, and maintenance advice.

Specific portfolio management services include:

  • Development of internal corporate procedures for prompt disclosure of new ideas and inventions for evaluation
  • Identifying potential licensing of patents or patent rights, especially within industry
  • Evaluating assignment possibilities
  • Researching, discovering, and evaluating patent acquisition targets
  • Patent auditing to determine corporate assets and needs
  • Increased availability for in-person, short-notice, and telephonic meetings
  • Maintaining issued patents in the US and in foreign markets
  • Tracking and paying annuity payments in applicable foreign countries
  • Competitive watches to monitor others’ patent publications and issuances
  • On-site presentations and training for Engineering and R&D teams regarding patent best practices
  • Continuing education regarding domestic and foreign patent rule changes
  • Cooperatively developing strategies to leverage the patent portfolio
  • Continuing legal advice as needed