What Ongoing IP Counsel Looks Like
Patent Portfolio Strategy
We help businesses develop and manage a coherent patent portfolio strategy. This includes identifying what to file, what to maintain, what to let lapse, and how the portfolio supports long-term commercial goals.
Invention Disclosure & Internal IP Process
We help businesses put a working invention disclosure process in place, so new developments are captured, reviewed, and assessed for patent protection before they are publicly disclosed or sold.
Contract & Agreement Review for IP-Sensitive Deals
We review contracts and agreements that affect intellectual property rights, including employment agreements, contractor agreements, NDAs, and commercial contracts. The IP provisions in everyday agreements often have long-term consequences that are easy to miss.
IP Risk Monitoring & Issue Spotting
We help businesses spot IP risks as they emerge, including infringement risk, freedom-to-operate concerns, and threats to existing IP rights. Catching issues early is usually far less costly than responding after they escalate.
Internal IP Education for Founders and Teams
We support founder and team education on intellectual property fundamentals, invention disclosure practices, and IP-aware product development. This helps build a culture where IP protection happens naturally as the business grows.
Board-Level and Investor IP Reporting
We help companies present IP matters to boards, investors, and acquirers in a structured way that supports decision-making and diligence readiness. Strong IP reporting often becomes important during fundraising and transactions.
Ongoing IP Counsel Backed by Technical & Commercial Understanding
At Sleman & Lund LLP, we approach client counseling with both legal depth and an understanding of how businesses actually operate over time.
Multi-Industry Experience
Our ongoing IP counsel work spans technology-driven businesses across multiple industries, from medical and software to mechanical, clean energy, transportation, and consumer products.
Long-Term Perspective
We approach client relationships as long-term partnerships, not transactional engagements. Decisions made today are weighed against where the business is heading, not just the filing in front of us.
Fee Structures That Fit the Engagement
We agree the scope and fee arrangement at the outset, so you know what the engagement covers before it begins.
Technical Depth
Our attorneys hold advanced technical degrees, which supports counsel work in technology-driven businesses where IP and product strategy are tightly linked.
Direct Attorney Access
Clients work directly with the attorneys handling their matters. Ongoing counsel works best when there is continuity in who you talk to.
How an Ongoing IP Counsel Relationship Works at Sleman & Lund LLP
Initial Consultation
We begin with a confidential discussion of your business, your existing IP, your goals, and the areas where ongoing intellectual property counsel would add the most value.
Ongoing Communication & Issue-Spotting
We stay in regular contact, support decisions as they come up, and flag IP issues before they escalate.
Coordination With Other Services When Needed
When specific work is needed, such as patent filings, legal opinions, or IP due diligence, we coordinate it alongside the ongoing relationship.
Engagement Scope & Fee Structure
We agree on the scope of the counseling engagement, the cadence of communication, and how fees are structured. Many engagements are handled on fixed-fee or retainer terms.
Strategy Reviews as the Business Evolves
We revisit IP strategy at key inflection points, such as new product launches, funding rounds, or expansion into new markets.
Why Choose Sleman & Lund LLP
Patent-Focused Practice
Sleman & Lund LLP works almost entirely in patent and intellectual property law. Ongoing counsel comes from attorneys who spend their time on IP, not from a general practice handling it on the side.
Hundreds of Patents Obtained
Our attorneys have obtained hundreds of patents for clients ranging from individual inventors to multinational corporations, which informs the advice we give long before anything is filed.
Registered Before the USPTO
Our attorneys are registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, so we can support clients on patent matters anywhere in the United States.
One Firm Across the IP Lifecycle
Counseling connects directly to the work that follows it: patent preparation and prosecution, patent searching, legal opinions, and IP due diligence all sit within the same firm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is intellectual property client counseling?
IP client counseling is an ongoing advisory relationship in which a patent attorney supports your business on intellectual property matters over time, rather than on a single transaction.
How is this different from hiring a law firm per transaction?
A per-transaction firm handles a specific filing or matter and then steps back. Ongoing counsel provides continuous support across multiple IP matters and acts as an advisor on broader business decisions that affect IP.
Do I need in-house counsel instead of ongoing outside counsel?
Many growing companies use ongoing outside counsel before hiring in-house IP counsel. Outside counsel can provide breadth, specialization, and flexibility without the cost of a full-time hire.
How are fees structured for ongoing counsel?
Counseling engagements are usually handled on fixed-fee or retainer terms, with the structure tailored to the scope of work and discussed at the outset. Pricing depends on the level of involvement required.
Can ongoing counsel support a single project?
Ongoing counsel is best suited for businesses with continuing IP needs, not one-off projects. For a single matter, the right service is usually a specific engagement such as patent preparation, a patent search, or a legal opinion.
How often do we communicate?
Communication depends on the engagement. Some clients have monthly check-ins, while others get in touch as issues come up. We agree on the right rhythm based on your situation.
Will the same attorney handle my matters over time?
Yes. Ongoing counsel works best with continuity. The attorney who works with you at the start of the engagement is the attorney who continues to work with you over time.