We hired a usability and time management consulting firm to run through our entire client interaction process, and they came up with a startling observation:  Our interaction with long distance clients (i.e. 80% of our current clients) is about twice as effective as with those clients who chose to meet us in person.   

The criterion for effective communication in patent drafting comprises total time spent (including on the road time!), avoiding rework, reducing the number of draft iterations, recording conversations, and accurately capturing the client’s inventive concept

We typically interact with clients through telephone, e-mail and Webex® computer collaboration. We would also be happy to meet our clients in person if they desire.  However, we save our clients considerable road travel time by using voice recordings, e-mail,user friendly Webex® online computer collaboration (requires no special software or installation at the clients' computer), e-mailing password protected web pages with patent search results, e-mailing secured documents etc.  Our method of communication greatly improves the quality of interaction, and reduces the number of patent draft iterations.  This allows us to focus our time on the most important aspect of the patent – the inventive concept embodied in the claims of the patent application, and the enablement of the inventive concept in the specification section of the patent document.