Invoices must include the Skysong Innovations Ref #, outside counsel’s corresponding ref #, the title of the invention, and the date and description of the services rendered. Each matter should be on a separate invoice/page.
Bills should be received at SI’s office (by email as previously instructed) no later than the 15th of the month following the month in which the work was done.
Tasks that can be handled by junior associates and assistants, including but not limited to reviewing declarations, assignments, IDS filings, and routine reporting or reminding activities should be distributed accordingly. A partner with a billing rate of $300+ per hour should not, for example, be personally sending us routine reports or reminders if the partner intends to bill such routine activities at a rate of $300+ per hour.
For the sake of continuity, the number of attorneys handling a particular case should be kept to a reasonable minimum.
SI should not be billed for certain internal administrative tasks such as conflict checks, docketing, reviewing bills, and file transfers.
SI should not be billed for any extensions of time (EOTs) unless approved in advance.
SI must have approved all substantive patent work for which SI receives a bill.