Patent Law Practice Center

Fundamentals Of Patent Prosecution 2011 Highlights: Boot Camp for Claim Drafting & Amendment Writing

I’m sitting in this morning on Fundamentals of Patent Prosecution 2011: A Boot Camp for Claim Drafting & Amendment Writing and the first speaker of the day is John O’Brien, Co-Chair of the program and Practice Center Contributor, who provided tips on how to take an effective invention disclosure.  Here are some highlights from the presentation:

O’Brien discussed Engagement Letters and how the letter may minimize allegations made by a client that the lawyer improperly mishandled the matter in question.  He provided a suggested Engagement Letter Checklist that included: 

• Introduction with general description of matter
• parties included in representation
• any additional parties in matter who are not represented
• specific areas in which representation will be included
• specific areas which representation will not include
• establish the expectations
• detailed payment for services and timing for payment
• grounds for attorney termination
• primary responsible lawyer (more…)