Corporate Vision January 2017

78 CORPORATE VISION / January 2017 , Buskop LawGroup is an intellectual property lawfirmhandling issues in various technology areas includingmechanical devices, software patents, internet business methods, medical devices, chemical inventions, sub-seamatters, vessels, rigs and publishing issues. We invited Wendy Buskop, Managing Patent Attorney at the firm to try and tell us the secrets to the firm’s success. Secrets to Success Buskop Law Group, PC drafts, files, and issues US and foreign patents for clients in 20 states and 11 foreign countries. The firm’s clients are mostly privately held companies that manufacture equipment or produce software in the medical area, oil and natural gas, automation, ship building, and transportation industries. Wendy talked about her legal experience and expertise, as well as explaining how the firm ensures it maintains neutrality, confidentiality and fairness in their cases. “Even though I was in house counsel through the 1980’s with Dow Chemical, Shell Oil and Lyondell Petrochemical, I felt the need for my own practice. It was 25 years ago when I started the private practice and I even have the same executive director since opening doors in August 1992. Unlike most patent attorneys who generally only issue 400 or so patents in a 25-year period, I have originally drafted and successfully issued over 1,000 US patents, some in as little as four months from filing to issuance. I have a few secrets up my sleeve to pull this off! “Patents are about inventions. Patents enable clients to fulfil their dreams of a new process that stops death, a new machine that stops toxic spills or software that prevents fires and explosions by reducing risk of copying of that invention, and providing a marketing tool and an asset to the business.” Most of the law firm’s clients have between 30 and 300 employees and some are publically traded companies. Wendy explains what the Buskop Law Group does to ensure they have an innovative approach to client service. “We write cases for clients all over the world. We use Skype and other innovative technologies to make sure our clients understand the entire filing and all the parts, including each element in each figure so that our clients can say they understood the document and that the document correctly represented their invention. “With the US patent office, we use WEBEX interviews as the senior examiners are no longer located in the patent offices, but operate from their homes. The interviews are the easy way to talk to an examiner to explain a case and get the case allowed so the patent will issue. “I believe in looking at inventions. Because of that I fly a lot. Being based in Houston makes it easy to provide in person meetings to look at inventions anywhere in the US serviced by an airport. I also find it easy to go to Europe, Canada or Argentina for a quick trip to look at a big invention.” In addition to their innovative client approach, Wendy describes what other aspects of Buskop Law Group’s work helps them to stand out from their competitors. “We issue our cases, as well as issuing software cases. A lot of patent attorneys have given up writing software cases but we still succeed. “Also, we are quick. We can draft and file a case in one week if the inventor team cooperates. Most patent attorneys take three months to draft and file a case. We use only six hours of inventor time per case. We minimize the interruption to a client’s business to draft and file cases. Most patent attorneys require between 20-30 hours of interaction with the client. “Education is key in our law firm. We provide over 15 different educational programs to our clients. We provide 20 FAQ videos on a YouTube channel and we provide many brochures, charts and graphs that explain the government process and options. By systematically issuing the patents we file ensures our client satisfaction.” Lastly, Wendy ends our interview by describing the company’s future plans in 2017. “We plan to open new offices in the south and southwest. Currently, we are looking at Louisiana as a new location since we have an attorney licensed in that state. We are looking at New Mexico too.” K Company: Buskop Law Group, PC Name: Wendy Buskop Email: [email protected] Web Address: www.Buskoplaw.com Address: 4511 Dacoma Street, Houston, Texas 77092 Telephone: 713-275-3400 1701CV67 “Also, we are quick. We can draft and file a case in one week if the inventor team cooperates.”