During the last couple months, the law firms of Morrison Foerster, Wilson Sonsini, Cooley Godward, DLA Piper, and Goodwin Procter laid off more than 250 attorneys. While not enough to turn around the entire economy, we recently hired a patent clerk. We are not just surviving, out little boutique is thriving in this economy. I believe there are two basic reasons for our success: we have great clients, and we offer a great value for our patent work.

Through a local angel investor group, I have helped vet nearly 100 companies over the last two years. This experience has given me tremendous insight in building patent portfolios that attract investor money, but also in accepting new clients with an increased odds of eventual success. Stronger clients raise larger financing rounds, which facilitates further inventions and larger patent portfolios.

But we are doing more than just riding the success of our current clients, we are also providing a great value that is attracting new clients. We have recently accepted new clients that defected from Townsend and Townsend and Crew and from Wilson Sonsini, arguably two of the best (big) law firms in the world. Our new clients love our fixed fee arrangement, stating that - for the first time - they can now set (and keep) a budget for their patent work.