Our Process
Our 3-Step Fit Process
Laying the foundation for the attorney-client relationship is crucial to its success. We want potential clients to understand even before they decide to work with us what they can expect from Implement Legal. Most importantly, we want to make sure that we are a fit not only for your legal needs, but also for who you are as a creative business.
Our thorough 3-step process sets the tone for a productive relationship to help achieve your goals:
Initial Consultation
In a 30-minute, no-charge conversation, we will learn about you and your creative business and discuss why you are looking for a lawyer. We also will tell you more about our process and next steps and answer any questions you might have about Implement Legal.
We take this initial call – and your decision to retain an attorney – very seriously. We are a great fit for creatives and organizations looking for an open and collaborative approach to business law and intellectual property. But we don’t end up working with everyone who schedules an initial call with us. Whatever the reason, we believe the decision not to work with an attorney is just as important as the decision to work with an attorney. Careful evaluation refines the purpose of the relationship and ensures that you are happy with the attorneys you choose.
Schedule a Free Consultation:
Proposal
In this phase, we will recommend a plan for legal services to accomplish your goals.
Based on our conversation during the initial consultation, we will next prepare a personalized proposal for the legal work we recommend, along with an estimate for costs and fees. Depending on your needs, the proposal might include:
Project: If your legal needs are relatively simple, we will let you know after the initial consultation about the specific legal projects we recommend. Projects are either fixed-fee or hourly (with a not-to-exceed limit) and can be scheduled when you are ready to begin. Review of documents and legal memorandum can be requested for additional fees.
“Loops & Leaps”: If your legal needs are more complex, a strategy session will further explore the projects you are working on or the challenges you are facing. The purpose of our signature service –“Loops and Leaps”–is to prepare a complete plan for all of your legal needs, helping you close open “loops” so you can take big “leaps.” This meeting is a holistic deep-dive into your legal, business, and financial needs. After our session, we will deliver an overarching strategic plan that details the best path forward. Think of Loops and Leaps as the guide to your overall legal strategy.
Learn more about our legal strategy sessions.
Along with the proposal and plan, we will also send an engagement letter to officially sign you on as a client of Implement Legal. With your approval, we will start work.
Implementation
Our proposals and plans will lay out the steps we recommend along with the timeline for completing the work. We divide all our projects into Week, Month, and Quarterly, based on the time commitment:
One-Week Projects
Once we receive your confirmation to go ahead, along with any additional information we request during intake, we will turn a limited scope project around in a week. While each project will vary depending on your specific needs, a week-long project might include reviewing a service contract or completing a preliminary clearance search for one trademark.
One-Month Projects
Much of our work is in the category of one-month projects that we complete in approximately four weeks. For example, a one-month project might include all of the documents necessary for selling your business or full clearance search and filing of a trademark application.
Quarterly Projects:
For a large project, we set a timeline of one quarter (or three months). These projects are multifaceted and help secure your overall business strategy, such as all-inclusive business start-ups or intellectual property audits.
No matter the scope of your project, our proposal will include straightforward pricing information. Surprise bills have no place in a trusting client-attorney relationship. We provide simple price estimates up front and communicate with clients throughout the process, especially if your legal needs evolve.
Our proposal also sets forth specific timelines for completion of your project. Prompt, predictable legal service helps keep you on track to meet your business and creative goals.
What to Expect as an Implement Legal Client
When you become our client, you can expect:
Access to a secure, easy-to-use client portal where you can access documents, leave messages, and schedule appointments;
Prompt replies to your messages, usually within one business day;
Attorneys who understand the creative process and partner with you to bring your work to life. As the client, you direct the relationship. We proactively tailor our short- and long-term legal recommendations to your values.
We offer a range of services to protect your intellectual property. Some of the most common services include:
Negotiating and drafting contracts for art acquisitions, licensing agreements, public and private commissions, creative mergers, and more. We are strategic negotiators with deep experience in the art world.
Registering and defending trademarks and copyrights to protect your brand and work. The registration process for trademarks and copyrights generally takes at least several months and includes highly specific requirements. We educate clients on registration and maintenance to establish and preserve the strongest possible protection.
We advise artists and collectors about how to protect their work and collections, from tax implications to copyright management to avoid protracted legal battles.
For more information on the services we provide, see our Intellectual Property, Contracts, and The List service pages.
The Intangibles
Many of our clients have had bad experiences working with lawyers in the past. One of the main reasons for a poor fit is a lack of communication about scope of work, fees, deadlines, and the client’s long-term vision. We value promptness but also understand that rushing into legal representation often leads to lack of alignment between lawyer and client. We would love to be your attorneys for the long haul and believe a solid foundation is key to a satisfying relationship.
While we are always laser focused on our clients’ legal needs, we’ve been told that our consultations feel like therapy. We take this as a compliment! For artists and creatives, your work almost always involves emotion, whether it’s your motivations for creating or the interactions with business partners and family members. We help clients think about the personal impact of business decisions; your legal strategy will always align with your values.
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Whenever you need legal advice! Being proactive is better than being reactive. We regularly help in moments of crisis, but our strategic minds are even better at preventing crises before they happen.
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You can find information about our rates on this page: Fees
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After you sign up for a consultation, you will receive instructions from our team to help you organize and prepare.
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Maybe. If you are the official caretaker of a friend or family member with special needs, you may be the right person to supervise legal work on your loved one’s behalf. Schedule a Consultation so we can discuss your specific situation.
FAQs
Meaningful and Empowering.
“I felt that I had a committed partner to guide me through every step of the process with careful thought and intention. She transformed an experience that could have felt cold and tedious into something truly meaningful and empowering. I'm so grateful!”
Nicole McConville | Nicole McConville Photography
Implement offers affordable options for
every creative business.
Explore our sister site, Implement Tools, to see our expanded offerings.
Contract Templates
Built by attorneys, customized by creatives. Easy to use, and easy to understand.
Educational Resources
Learn about collaborating and negotiating smooth agreements.