John J. Swift Law Corporation -- The Practice

The Practice

The Law Practice is centred on the formation, organization, financing and development and business activities of new start-up knowledge-based businesses.

For the most part, my clients are inventors and scientists working on the commercial deployment of technology developed in whole or in part by them.

In addition, we frequently act for early stage companies as in house/out house counsel, devoting 1 or 2 days per week solely to the client’s affairs. A notable recent example was NCompass Labs Inc which sold to Microsoft.

Since 1996 we have helped over 2 dozen clients successfully start businesses to bring their ideas to market.

Finally, we do transactional work in negotiating and preparing licensing and other intellectual property and business agreements for more mature and well-established technology-based businesses.

Philosophy of the Practice

We try and give our clients effective advice, in real time. Ask a question, get an answer, in plain English. For documentation we will provide a prompt and reliable time for delivery and deliver the draft document on or before that time.

Fees, Billing, Retainers and Disbursements

Typically, we represent and advise clients, on an agreed retainer
basis, in respect of defined objectives.

We work to ensure that our fees are more than competitive with those currently charged by other lawyers for similar services, of similar quality, in comparable circumstances, on similar matters.

We deliver very competitively priced services in a timely manner.

We provide services to clients on a number of different terms. Our preference is to work for a client on a fixed, negotiated fee basis. We believe in our clients and frequently we are paid partially in equity for services rendered.

We only work when formally retained with a Retainer Agreement and have been paid a retainer which will be replenished as appropriate. Accounts are submitted at the end of every month and are payable when due.

We would not provide, and retainer services would not include, any
legal services or advice for matters in respect of which we have little expertise or experience or which necessarily involve resources and personnel which we do not have. Consequently, for example, we may require and separately retain counsel for any advice required with respect to income tax issues or software matters.

When the services of other counsel or advisors are required as described above we will, if requested, help clients find and appoint them. We assist clients in instructing such counsel concerning the services required. These other counsel will be retained by the client, will report to the client directly and will be instructed by the client you in consultation with us. Other counsel and advisors will bill clients directly for their services and clients are will be responsible to pay the accounts of such other counsel and advisors directly. These other counsel would not be sub-contractors of the John J. Swift Law Corporation.

In addition to paying our fees, clients are also responsible for reimbursing us for certain disbursements. Disbursements include expenses such as long distance telephone calls, travel expenses, deliveries (if frequent), telegrams, transcripts, the fees of agents who conduct investigations, searches and registrations, and all other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

We do not charge clients, as disbursements, for photocopies, faxes, postage and other similar expenses.

Disbursements may be included with our accounts for fees or be billed as a separate item. Disbursements will be billed separately when they exceed the sum of $100.