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Topic: 185 vs 500??? (Read 1121 times) |
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rougie
Newbie
Posts: 16
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185 vs 500???
« on: Nov 21st, 2007, 1:21am » |
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Hello,
I was just wondering, what is the difference between getting services from a large lawyer firm charging 500$/hour versus being srved by an independent lawyer charging 185$/hour.
I mean is the service of quality the same?
Is the competency of litigation the same?
With regards
Robert
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JSonnabend
Moderator
Senior Member
Posts: 2251
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Re: 185 vs 500???
« Reply #1 on: Nov 21st, 2007, 9:09am » |
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That depends on the lawyers. Is a $200 auto mechanic better than a $100 mechanic? How about a $20 hamburger vs. a $5 hamburger? Impossible to answer in the abstract, I think you'll agree.
- Jeff
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SonnabendLaw
Intellectual Property and Technology Law
Brooklyn, USA
718-832-8810
JSonnabend@SonnabendLaw.com
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Landers
Newbie
Posts: 10
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Re: 185 vs 500???
« Reply #2 on: Dec 1st, 2007, 12:21pm » |
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Will you get a better product for $500/hr than you'd get for $185/hr? What is a "better product"?
Part of the quality of the product is the brand name. A patent that was obtained through the services of a top firm has a sheen of legitimacy that one that was obtained through a solo practitioner lacks.
If your patent will be worth nine figures or more, the choice is obvious - go with the $500/hr firm. If it will only be worth six figures or less, the choice is also obvious - go with the $185/hr solo.
If it is worth something in between, use your best judgment.
No matter what firm you use to get the patent, you can use a different firm to handle litigation if it arises. Litigation is sold separately. If you obtain the patent through the $185/hr solo and it turns out to be worth $1,000,000,000, you can always hire the $500/hr firm for the litigation.
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| « Last Edit: Dec 1st, 2007, 12:24pm by Landers » |
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Paragen
Pharmaceuticals - small molecule drug discovery - business methods
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Wiscagent
Full Member
Posts: 843
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Re: 185 vs 500???
« Reply #3 on: Dec 1st, 2007, 4:38pm » |
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"A patent that was obtained through the services of a top firm has a sheen of legitimacy ..."
Well, that's one opinion. But the only sheen should be on the red ribbon that comes on the issued patent.
I've reviewed many patents with a concern about potential infringement for a new product, with many business people and many attorneys, and the only time we ever discussed what firm or attorney filed the patent application was in relation to potential for conflict of interest if we choose to challenge the patent.
On occasion I've seen first rate work filed by solo practitioners (and sometimes even pro se), and on occasion I’ve seen shoddy work by well-known firms. I don’t know that there is a general rule that paying more for an application or using a larger firm results in a better application.
One advantage a large firm has is the opportunity to have more individuals with the appropriate technical and legal background prepare and review a case. Of course (i) having the opportunity doesn’t mean that it was done, and (ii) an application written by a committee is not necessarily the best approach. Another potential advantage of a large firm is that there are other practitioners who can provide back-up if the primary practitioner is not available; but of course a solo practitioner can have a relationship with another practitioner and provide back-up too.
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Richard Tanzer
Patent Agent
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