Paparella & Associates, PLLC

The field of intellectual property (IP) law covers legal issues involving patents, trademarks, and copyrights. However, a broader definition of IP law also includes the areas of trade secrets, unfair competition, infringement matters, computer or internet law, entertainment law, and licensing.

The level of expertise required to represent a client in an intellectual property matter depends on the specific area of IP in question. In certain cases such as those involving patents and trademarks, the law is so specialized that an intellectual property lawyer, registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), should be consulted. In fact, when representing a client before the USPTO in a patent matter, the practitioner must be so registered. In cases involving trademarks, although registration is not required, the examination process is so extensive, and requires such a thorough knowledge of relevant case and statutory law, a registered practitioner who is experienced in this specialized field should nonetheless be consulted in order to represent your business interests more effectively.

Although the term intellectual property attorney is sometimes used rather loosely by some attorneys, registered intellectual property attorneys (also known as patent attorneys) belong to one of only two legally recognized specialized fields of law practice. A registered IP attorney is a specialized business attorney who must not only pass one or more of the requisite State Bars, but also must pass a Federal (USPTO) Bar. Further, in order to even sit for the Federal Bar, the attorney must possess a scientific or technical degree. The latter requirement is usually fulfilled with an engineering degree. As such, only practitioners that have passed State and Federal Bars, and have been admitted to practice before the USPTO, may call themselves registered intellectual property attorneys or patent attorneys, and as such, only then are they allowed to prosecute patents before the USPTO.
The Paparella & Associates Business Model - CRL (Control, Refer, and Leverage)

We offer our clients a wealth of experience and we operate under sound business practices.

First, we CONTROL our expenses. By operating under sound business practices, Paparella & Associates is able to control costs and reduce expenses without compromising on the quality of representation. Being a smaller intellectual property law firm allows us to react quickly to our clients changing needs and provide better, more personalized service, while keeping costs under control. As such, we are able to offer our clients billable rates that are in line with business expectations, while offering the highest quality representation and services.

Second, we REFER. We understand that our clients often need specialized services. To meet this need, we have developed relationships with a variety of attorneys, boutique law firms, and other organizations and businesses that we have vetted, ... and therefore can recommend. We are constantly monitoring and evaluating these providers to ensure that they are consistently operating at the level we feel our clients deserve. At Paparella & Associates, excellence is expected, not striven for. As such, we associate with others having a particular expertise, and then supervise these relationships, making recommendations and changes as the interests of our clients dictate. By leveraging our experience and our relationships, Paparella & Associates can provide a level of expertise and service that is unparalleled.

Third, we LEVERAGE our resources, technology, and business relationships in order to bring our clients the most effective representation, while remaining in-line with cost expectations. Like our business clients, we remain on the leading edge of technologies and therefore, we are constantly increasing efficiency and keeping costs under control. The result: increased efficiency, lower operating expenses, and more personalized attention.

Paparella & Associates is World-Wise? and has a client base which extends throughout the world. In the United States, the firm operates primarily from Atlanta Georgia and Grand Rapids Michigan. However, due to the firms nationwide practice and focus on client services, the firm routinely arranges and meets their business clients at their facility, even at remote locations. Of course, these visits have the advantage of saving our client's time. However, these routine on-site visits also allow us to perform services that are routinely overlooked by businesses and law firms. For example, when on site, our attorneys can can conduct IP and due diligence audits, thereby ensuring our client's intellectual property is being protected to the fullest possible extent.
Choosing an Intellectual Property (Patent & Trademark) Law Firm
One key to a successful business is choosing your business relationships carefully. Choosing a law firm is no different. This is especially true with respect to law firms that practice intellectual property (patent, trademark and copyright) law, as this area of law is so profoundly specialized. In fact, intellectual property law is so unique that businesses with some of the highest intellectual property expenditures, business concerns like Microsoft, SanDisk, National Semiconductor, and Palm Inc. are choosing to be represented by smaller specialized (boutique) firms like Paparella & Associates. Boutique firms are in a position to react more quickly to a client's changing needs, and are able to control costs more effectively, as well as provide better, more effective representation.