Who this is for
You built something new: a device, a process, a piece of software, a product. You want to know three things. Is it patentable? Is it worth patenting? And what will it cost? Those are exactly the questions the free strategy call answers. Patents are the right tool when your invention would be visible to competitors, when investors need to see ownership, or when you want licensing leverage. When secrecy would protect you better, I will say so and point you to the trade secret page instead.
Patent services
Provisional Applications
A lower-cost first filing that locks in your date and lets you say "patent pending" for 12 months while you validate the market. Done right, it is a real asset; done thin, it is an illusion. I draft them to survive conversion.
Utility Applications
Full applications with claims built around your business goals, drafted from inventor interviews, filed at the USPTO, and defended through examination, including office action responses and examiner interviews.
Design Patents
Protection for how a product looks. Often the fastest, cheapest way to stop knockoffs of consumer products.
Patentability Searches and Opinions
A deep prior-art search with a plain-English answer to "is my idea patentable?" before you spend real money on drafting.
Prosecution and Office Actions
Responses to USPTO rejections, examiner interviews, continuations, and allowance strategy, with scope quoted before work begins.
Portfolio, Licensing, and Transactions
Portfolio planning for fundraising and growth, competitive landscaping, licensing, and deal support, including patent questions raised by AI-assisted inventing.
What it costs
USPTO government fees are always listed separately and billed at cost. Full detail, including tiers and add-ons, on the pricing page.
How a patent engagement works
Strategy call
Free 15 minutes. We figure out whether a patent is the right tool and which filing path fits your timeline and budget.
Search, then draft
Most clients start with a patentability search. If the path is clear, I interview you, study the invention, and draft the application myself.
File and prosecute
I file at the USPTO, respond to examiner rejections, and keep you informed in plain English at every step.
Common questions
Do I need a prototype before filing?
Usually not. You need a description complete enough to teach someone skilled in the field how to make and use the invention, with drawings or diagrams. Many strong applications are filed before anything is built. More in this article.
How much does a patent really cost, all-in?
My drafting fees are flat and listed above. On top of that, USPTO fees are billed at cost and depend on your entity size, and most utility applications receive at least one rejection that costs additional attorney time to answer. I walk through realistic total numbers on the strategy call, before you commit to anything.
Should I start with a provisional or go straight to a utility application?
It depends on how settled the invention is and how fast you need enforceable rights. A provisional buys 12 months of "patent pending" at lower cost; a utility application starts examination immediately. The fork is explained in this guide.
How long does it take to get a patent?
Utility patents commonly take two to four years from filing to issuance depending on the technology area, though "patent pending" protection of your priority date starts the day you file. Expedited USPTO programs exist when speed matters.
Can you help me if I already filed something myself?
Yes. I regularly review self-drafted provisionals and pending applications, tell you honestly what is solid and what is at risk, and fix what can be fixed, ideally before your conversion deadline.
Will you steal my idea?
No, and you should not take that on faith from anyone: attorney ethics rules bar me from using information from prospective clients against them, and my entire practice depends on inventor trust. Before we talk details, we can also put the conversation under the framework described in the disclaimer.
Keep learning
Start with these plain-English guides from the blog: How to know if your idea is worth patenting, How to file a provisional patent, Provisional vs. utility, and What investors look for in a patent portfolio. Or compare all your options in the IP protection guide.