hotbed of technological innovation :: PHOSITA in the news

Darren Barefoot, a partner in InsideBlogging, recently interviewed me for an article about DCR and the success/interest we have had with PHOSITA over the past 18 months.  The article is now online over at Professional Marketing North America.

I think the opening paragraph sums up the tone of the article pretty well:

The law firm of Dunlap, Codding & Rogers is a little unorthodox. First, they specialize in intellectual property law, but aren’t headquartered in New York or Silicon Valley. Instead, this 18-person firm makes its home in Oklahoma City, OK—hardly a hotbed of technological innovation.

Another peculiar thing about Dunlap, Codding & Rogers is that they’ve got a popular Weblog or “blawg.” Companies that blog are still the exception to the rule. Law firms—those staid, old world institutions—that blog are nearly unheard of…

I would argue with the “hotbed of technological innovation” comment – but, then again, what he doesn’t know is our gain.  Those flying under the radar will always be the victors over those in the “spotlight”. 

The firms in the “middle coast” are expanding to fulfill a real need: client driven legal services, alternative billing and compensation systems, sanity concerning the number of billable hours required, and service. 

Companies are no longer willing to pay sky-high rates in order to subsidize $100+ per square foot office space rates, unsustainable associate salaries and rosewood conference tables. 

As Laura Owen, director of worldwide legal services at Cisco Systems, said in her ‘Change or Die’ manifesto:

Move your legal work to low cost firms located in the Midwest, South or other regions away from high cost centers. Doesn't sound like technology here, but it is. Extranets provide ways for companies to work with firms across the country (and the world ). Web-based worksites are always open, always on. Work flow tools -- putting the right person in the right order at the right time -- can dramatically improve productivity and reduce costs.

For example, patent prosecution works well for this model -- and if the client uses an online patent application tool for its employees, connecting to the firms that do the work, clients improve the patent prosecution for the company and the firms make more money through an increase in patent filings.

By the way – Cisco is located in San Jose, California – right in the middle of the “hotbed of technology” Darren mentions. 

Thanks to Larry Bodine and the Information Dirty Road and Feed Me Legal blogs for the mentions as well.