The Suit Magazine

For many customers, looking at a bill from a lawyer elicits a mixture of incomprehension and dread. Legal fees often amount to staggering costs, with little explanation as to where they came from.

But Workman Nydegger, a Utah-based patent, copyright and intellectual property law firm, is working to promote transparency with online tools and frequent reporting, allowing clients to see up-to-the-minute case statuses and cost breakdowns. “Providing up-to-date information about status and cost is valuable, both to the client and the firm, so that everyone is on the same page,” said Workman Nydegger president Brent Lorimer.  “On both the litigation and transactional sides of the firm, our focus on keeping the client informed prevents cost overruns and ensures that the expectations of the client and the firm are aligned.”

Workman Nydegger strives to marry technological savvy with an understanding of complex legal issues, which is what drew Lorimer to patent law in the first place. He has been practicing since 1982, and in 1987 he became the ninth member of W|N, which now has more than 50 lawyers helping clients around the world. “It’s been a great ride for me,” said Lorimer. “Patent law is a very intellectually stimulating area of practice.  We know the nuances of the law, and then overlay that understanding with an in-depth understanding of sophisticated technologies.”  Many of W|N’s lawyers have advanced degrees in engineering and science in addition to their experience in litigation and patent office practice.  The scientific focus of W|N’s lawyers is invaluable to its clients, because protection and enforcement of client innovations requires a clear understanding of those innovations, both from market and technology points of view.

Not only must the lawyers at Workman Nydegger keep up with their clients’ industries; they must also closely follow changes in patent, trademark and IP law. Lorimer cites recent initiatives by Chief Judge Randall Rader to streamline patent litigation, as well as the 2011 America Invents Act, which represents a sea change in the rules for obtaining and enforcing patents.

Workman Nydegger has expanded greatly throughout the years, jumping from eight lawyers in 1984 to 56 lawyers currently, and taking on clients from around the nation and the world. For 2012, one of the company’s goals is to expand its influence in Asia. The firm and its lawyers have won numerous awards, and only three patent law firms do more business with Fortune 100 companies than W|N.

Like most companies, Workman Nydegger has made changes to adapt to a struggling economy. Clients have less money in their budgets, says Lorimer, so W|N works hard to streamline services so clients spend their legal dollars as efficiently as possible. “The recent economic downturn has allowed us to further fine-tune our processes,” said Lorimer. “We’re doing everything we can to make ourselves leaner and more efficient. We want to be innovators in legal services, like our clients are innovators in technology.”

For more information, please visit: www.wnlaw.com

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