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Legal Fees and Expenses

Initial Consultation

There is no charge for your initial consultation with me. The initial consultation continues until you and I have decided that I am to be your attorney, and have signed an engagement letter. This egagement letter will state:

• that I am to be your attorney;
• what services I am to perform;
• what fees and expenses I am to be paid; and 
• other important matters

If we do not decide that I am to be your attorney, there is no charge.

After the Initial Consultation

• about $10,000 now; plus
• about another $10,000 in four or five years (when your patent application has finally worked its way through the backlog at the United States Patent and Trademark Office).

These fees and expenses (other than expenses paid to the United States Patent and Trademark Office) are not fixed by law, and are subject to negotiation. 

Travel Expenses

I do not charge for time spent traveling. I do not charge for expenses incurred for travel within Southern California. For travel outside Southern California, I fly coach and stay at a mid-level hotel.

Outside Expenses

I charge actual expenses (without surcharge) as they are charged to me by:

• the Patent Office; and
• outside professionals (formal-drawings patent draftsmen, technical literature searchers, and so on).

I do not charge for postage, courier services, long distance telephone, copies, or other ordinary office expenses.

Payment Terms

For new clients, payment is due in advance unless otherwise agreed. Fees will be held in my client trust account until I have earned them. Expenses will be disbursed directly from the trust account.

For existing clients, payment is due as stated in our general retainer agreement.