As the tech industry continues to grow, companies realize they need more than just a general corporate attorney on staff. A company that has patented many of its products may want an intellectual property lawyer specializing in patents. Likewise, if your company is involved with international trade or licensing agreements, you may be looking for help from someone who has expertise in those areas. Let’s take a closer look at what kind of attorneys does a tech company need.
Different Types of Legal work for a Tech Company
There are many different types of legal work that a tech company may need. Here are some of the most common:
Patents
A tech company may want an attorney who specializes in patents. This type of lawyer can help you decide what to patent and how to protect your products from being copied by others.
Intellectual property (IP) protection
Since so many tech companies rely on their intellectual property, it can be helpful to have a lawyer who specializes in protecting that IP. This type of attorney can help you file for patents, trademarks, and copyrights, as well as advise you on whether something is protected by copyright or trademark law or if it needs its protection under patent law.
Trade secrets
If your company has trade secrets, such as the formula for a soda or the code that powers your software, you may want an attorney who specializes in trade secrets. This lawyer can help you protect those secrets and defend them against leaks.
International trade
If your company is involved with international trading, it’s important to have someone on board who has experience in this area of law. This type of attorney can help you draft international trade agreements and understand the countries’ laws.
Licensing
If your company wants to license its products or technology, it may be helpful to have an attorney specializing in licensing agreements. This lawyer can also assist with negotiating contracts between licensors and licensees that protect both parties while ensuring future growth.
How to Find the Right Type of Attorney for your Business
Choosing the right type of attorney can be difficult, but it’s important to find one who specializes in your needs. Here are some things you should consider when choosing an attorney:
- Ask for recommendations from friends or other business owners
- You may also want to ask trade associations if they have any recommendations on which attorneys specialize in their niche area Related experience.
- Find out what kind of work a potential lawyer has done so far and whether they have worked with companies like yours before Education.
- Check that the candidate is licensed to practice law by asking for their bar number. Other considerations include cost, geographic location, and language skills.
Asking these questions will help ensure that you choose someone who is best suited for your company.
Different Ways to Save on Legal Fees when Hiring an Attorney
Even if you’re looking for an attorney who specializes in your niche area, it’s still important to find someone affordable. Consider these ways of saving on legal fees:
- Choosing a flat fee over hourly rates
- Flat fees are usually cheaper than hourly rates since they cover all the work needed instead of just the time spent on a project.
- Doing some of the work yourself.
- You can save money by doing as much research and paperwork as possible before handing it off to your lawyer. This could include drafting contracts, reviewing agreements, or summarizing information from meetings about potential lawsuits.
Why you should Hire In-house Counsel or Outside Counsel
You should consider hiring an in-house counsel if:
You want to handle the day-to-day legal work yourself. You have a small business that doesn’t need outside help, or you just don’t have enough money to hire someone else at this time. Your company has its unique type of law it needs to deal with.
You should hire an outside counsel if:
Your company is growing, and you need someone who can take on more cases than just yours. You want to pay for services only when needed instead of paying a salary or benefits to someone full-time. Your product has potential lawsuits against it, like patent infringement claims from other companies.
If your business needs help dealing with legal issues, finding the right attorney like kfblaw.com will be key in getting that assistance at an affordable cost while ensuring quality work is done quickly without compromising too much on the expertise level. Finding a good attorney can be difficult, but asking these questions will help ensure that you choose someone who is best suited to meet your company’s needs.
