Terms of service.

The information below articulates the general terms and conditions for agreements to engage with KPLR-IP for advice and representation regarding legal matters. Please fully review the general terms and conditions and keep a dated copy for future reference. Custom engagement letters provided by KPLR-IP supersede the terms and conditions below. Please contact us with any questions or concerns.

ENGAGEMENT & AFFILIATES: Work performed for you will be done by KPLR-IP directly, but, when necessary, expertise from specialists within our network of engineers, lawyers, and intellectual property practitioners will be utilized. Clients of KPLR-IP agree that information may be shared with affiliates if necessary. KPLR-IP agrees to keep all information confidential apart from affiliates who will not distribute any confidential information.  Utilizing experience from specialists in various practice areas allows KPLR-IP to provide you with prompt, accurate, effective, and more economic services.

NO GUARANTEED OUTCOME: Although we vigorously advocate for our clients, the client agrees that outcomes are never certain. KPLR-IP opinions and counsel are based upon your disclosures, relevant facts, court opinions, and our knowledge of the applicable laws, which cannot provide a certain result under any circumstances. Settlements are only entered into upon consent of the client.

AUTHORIZATION: Your engagement with KPLR-IP for research, opinions, prosecution, litigation, or other legal functions authorizes KPLR-IP to draft, execute, file, and otherwise implement communications, complaints, verifications, claims, and any other pertinent legal function on your behalf.

COSTS, FEES, ADVANCE FEE DEPOSITS, AND TRUST DEPOSITS: When quoting costs and fees, the time and labor required, novelty and difficulty of the engagement or case, required skills to adequately represent you will be considered. Records will be kept keeping track of time spent on a particular case or engagement. Billable hours may include conferences, negotiations, consultations, telephone calls, case law review, document review, legal research, discovery, factual research, written correspondence. Upon request, engagement agreements may include a maximum fee charge that will not be exceeded without authorization from the client. Fixed, maximum, and open fee arrangements are available. Estimates should not be considered an offer for a fixed or maximum fee arrangement. In some instances, KPLR-IP will offer IP and legal services on a contingency basis, which will need to be articulated clearly on the engagement agreement. Necessary 3rd party consulting fees will be charged to the client or against their deposit account. Other expenses incurred by KPLR-IP that will be charged to the client: photocopy  and printed presentation projects, depositions and transcripts, paid legal research, transportation expenses, shipping and filing fees, expert witness fees, other consulting fees, lay witness expenses, document drafting, document review.

ADVANCE FEE DEPOSITS AND TRUST DEPOSITS: In some instances, the scope of work necessitates an advance fee deposit, which will be held in a trust account and applied to future costs and fees. All advance fee deposits and cost deposits we receive from you will be placed in a trust account and only drawn upon after services are rendered.

PAYMENT TERMS: ½% 10 / NET 30

RECORDS, FILES AND DOCUMENTS: After your case or engagement is concluded, all files related to your engagement or case will be returned upon your request. Absent a request to retain or return, KPLR-IP is under no obligation to maintain records once the case or engagement is concluded. Files will generally be destroyed or deleted upon the conclusion of the case or engagement, but KPLR-IP retains the right to hold digital copies for future use if deemed necessary by KPLR-IP.

TERMINATION OF ENGAGEMENT OR REPRESENTATION: Clients may terminate representation anytime via written notification, unless court permission is required to end the representation, which is rare. After termination, the client is still responsible for all outstanding fees and charges.