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Client Intake Guide 

 

We appreciate your interest in Design IP and look forward to supporting your intellectual property needs.  Our team is dedicated to providing exceptional legal services with a practical, business-minded approach.

   

This page outlines our client intake process, billing policies, and the steps involved in evaluating potential representation.  If you have any questions along the way, please don't hesitate to reach out—we’re here to serve you.

 

Inquiry Form

The first step in the process is for us to gather essential information through our inquiry form.   This enables us to run a preliminary conflicts check and helps us better understand your needs.

 

Conflicts Check 

Before proceeding with any new client, we perform a conflicts check to confirm that there are no prior relationships or circumstances that could affect our ability to represent you.  The conflict process includes: 

  • Reviewing the intake form, including the scope of representation and details about the involved parties. 

  • Searching our internal records to identify potential conflicts with past or current clients. 

  • If a conflict is identified, we’ll work to resolve it quickly, whether through waivers or, if needed, referring you to another firm.   

 

Initial Consultation 

Once the conflicts check is complete, we schedule an initial consultation to discuss your needs and provide preliminary advice.  The consultation is typically conducted virtually via Zoom or Microsoft Teams.  During this consultation, we will:

 

  • review the details of your matter; 

  • assess key legal issues and applicable laws;  

  • outline potential strategies; and 

  • answer any questions you may have about the legal process, possible outcomes, or our approach.   

 

Initiating Representation 

If you choose to engage us to represent you, we will request that you complete our Potential Client Intake Form, then send our representation and fee agreement to you for review and execution, typically via DocuSign.  If a deposit is necessary for the initial project(s) that you have authorized us to perform, we will also send a deposit request.  Our representation will begin once we have received your deposit (if required) and the signed representation and fee agreement.

 

Billing, Rates & Cost Estimates

Our focus is on delivering high-quality, business-focused legal services at a reasonable cost.  We deliver value through: 

  • Competitive hourly rates.  Our rates are significantly lower than industry averages for attorneys with comparable skills and experience.  Our current hourly rates range from $250 - $450.

  • A small, dedicated team.  Our professionals develop deep institutional knowledge of our clients' technologies and needs.   

  • Efficiency through technology.  We leverage software tools, including responsible AI usage, to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness.   

 

Cost transparency is important to us.  Our goal is to provide clients with a clear understanding of the potential costs involved in their matters: 

 

  • Fee Structure.  We’ll explain our fee structure, including hourly rates, any applicable flat fees, or a fee cap, depending on the nature of your case and your budget preferences. 

  • Deposits.  Before beginning any project that will involve significant time and/or expense, we may request a deposit toward our expected fees and expenses.  Deposit funds are placed in our client trust account and are applied toward our invoices as they are issued.  Any unused deposit funds will be refunded at the conclusion of our representation. 

  • Cost Estimates.  If requested, we’ll give you an estimate of the total costs you can expect to incur.  The estimate will be based on the information you provide during the initial consultation. For some matters, such as litigation matters and patent examination, it is difficult to predict what the ultimate costs will be.  In such situations, we will provide cost ranges based on our experience and available industry cost data.   

 

Final Steps & Moving Forward 

We want you to feel informed and confident regarding our representation of your intellectual property needs.  If you have any further questions or would like to schedule your initial consultation, please don’t hesitate to contact us. 

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