I rarely leave reviews like this, but after more than three years and over $33,000 spent with this…read morefirm, I feel like I need to share my experience.
I originally hired this firm in 2023 to protect a product I am developing. My first attorney would sometimes go months without responding to emails or requests for phone calls. When I received the draft application, I was shocked by how much of it read more like a marketing campaign than a patent application. I spent hours researching patent language and rewriting portions myself because I did not feel the application accurately captured my invention. I also run two businesses so this was incredibly inconvenient for me.
At the time, I was hesitant to file because my final prototypes were not complete and the product was still evolving. I was assured that changes could be made down the road, so I trusted their advice and moved forward.
That attorney eventually left the firm and my case was transferred to another attorney. I hoped the circumstances would change but unfortunately the communication issues continued. Emails and requests for phone calls would go unanswered for weeks and sometimes months. I repeatedly felt that the core concept of my invention was not being understood. I spent countless hours researching prior art, rewriting claims, explaining the product, and preparing documents to help move the application forward. Much of that communication went unanswered or seemingly unacknowledged.
The application was rejected by the USPTO. I then spent considerable additional time rewriting amended claims and paid additional legal fees for the response.
I have now received a Final Office Action. What is particularly upsetting is that the examiner specifically noted that issues identified previously STILL had not been corrected, including a dependent claim that continued to depend from a cancelled claim and amendments previously suggested by the examiner that had not been made. The examiner also maintained an objection involving drawings that did not show a feature being claimed. (If this sounds confusing, trust me it is. That's why you should be able to trust your lawyers to handle it).
And this does not even cover my entire experience. I also requested patent protection in another country, paid the associated fees, and at this point do not have confidence that I understand the final status of that application.
After spending over $33,000 with this firm, I finally retained new patent counsel. I have since spent approximately another $15,000 changing counsel, reviewing the history of this case, and preparing and filing a new application that more accurately reflects the invention I have been trying to protect all along.
I understand that patent prosecution is complicated and that no attorney can guarantee a patent will be granted, of course. My dissatisfaction is not simply because my application was rejected. It is the years of poor communication, unanswered emails and requests for calls, the ENORMOUS amount of work I felt forced to do myself, and now seeing issues specifically identified by the USPTO that I believed I was paying professionals to address.
This has been an extraordinarily expensive and exhausting experience. I truly don't know how they have so many 5 stars reviews. If you have a ton of time to teach yourself patent law, are interested in litigating your own case and have an endless supply of cash, look no further. If not, continue the search for counsel.
