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APLF Addresses the Future of IP Boutique Firms at Annual Meeting
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Generational Expectations and Best Business Practices Highlighted as Association of Patent Law Firms Announces New Strategic Plan for Organization
Arlington, VA -- The Association of Patent Law Firms (APLF) will hold its 11th annual meeting on Thursday October 22 at the George Mason University School of Law. The program will focus on best practices for making IP boutiques more competitive, online networking and successfully integrating gen-x, gen-y and boomer partners in the law firm work environment. In addition, the APLF will present its new strategic plan shifting the organization’s focus to business development, managerial and client service issues on behalf of its membership in this competitive legal environment.
"This year’s annual meeting should prove to be a significant milestone for the association," said APLF Co-President Howard Bernstein. "Not only do we have influential speakers like Paul Lippe of Legal OnRamp…we are also eager to present the start of what will become an accreditation program for IP boutiques to address competition issues in today’s legal marketplace."
Highlights of the program will include a seminar by Paul Lippe, COO of Legal OnRamp, an online networking site for attorneys, on how internet collaboration allows small and mid-sized firms to deliver more value and earn the loyalty of large and small clients. Later in the afternoon, Bob Filipczak, an expert in generational demographics and workplace dynamics, will present a seminar on "Generations at Work in Your Law Firm" discussing how to manage the clash of veterans, baby boomers, and generation "x-ers" and "nexters".
In light of the APLF’s new business management focus, additional lectures will include seminars on best practices in managing clients and billing procedures delivered by in-house counsel, as well as ethical responsibilities and liability risks. The new APLF will provide resources assisting its member firms in improving overall management, business process and client service, to complement the law-focused programs of other intellectual property organizations.
"This APLF brand concept will allow us to expand the value proposition beyond promoting the advantages of boutiques based on the technical and legal expertise of our member attorneys," added APLF Co-President Todd Van Thomme. "The brand will also stand for law firms that care about being well-run organizations committed to continuing improvement in order to serve their clients better."
About APLF
The Association of Patent Law Firms (www.aplf.org) is an international association of independent specialty law firms that devote a majority of their practice to patent, trademark and copyright law. The mandate of the APLF is to constantly strengthen the capability of the IP specialty law firm at all levels and in all functions while ensuring recognition of the advantages of these capabilities by businesses, industries and law schools worldwide.
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