Attorneys Should Learn More about Our Companies, Say In-House

In an article for Managing Intellectual Property, in-house counsel emphasize the importance of private practice attorneys understanding their business, particularly in the patent space. As technologies develop and become more complex, so does the company’s business, and outside IP counsel who understand the business and broader goals are better equipped to help. Managing Intellectual Property interviewed Finnegan partner Cory Bell for his insight from the perspective of outside counsel.

For contentious matters, in addition to asking in-house counsel what the company’s goals are, Cory also asks the client to tell him the story of how it got to that point so he can help plan for moving forward. He also encourages utilizing the notes from in-house counsel meetings with upper management; those notes provide insight into the goals of the company and can help outside counsel get a better sense of what the client is looking for.

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