Thinking about growing your brand or launching new products? It might be time to sit down with your IP attorney. In this post, I’ll walk you through what to bring to our meeting, what to expect, and how to leave with a stronger, future-proof IP strategy.
Let’s Set the Scene — You’re Meeting With Your IP Attorney
I’m Karima Gulick, a registered patent attorney and founder of Innovent Law. If you’re scaling your business, developing new products, or prepping a franchise launch, it’s the perfect moment to revisit your IP portfolio.
You might ask, “What should I bring? What should I expect?” I’m here to guide you.
What Should You Bring to the IP Portfolio Meeting?
- A list of products, inventions, logos, taglines, or creative works.
- Copies of past trademark or patent filings—even from another firm.
- Your business plan or roadmap.
- Existing licensing agreements, NDAs, or IP-related contracts.
- Marketing materials or brand guidelines.
- Your questions! Ask about deadlines, costs, and strategies—I love when you come prepared.
- Ask your Attorney for a disclosure form or IP Inventory checklist. If we’re your attorneys, ask me if I have not already provided you with one.
The IP Portfolio Checklist I’ll Walk You Through
This checklist isn’t just a task list. It’s a tool I use to help you map your business vision to IP protection. After we go through each section, we’ll organize your assets by category, identify gaps, and decide how to move forward.
Trademark Inventory Review
We’ll confirm which names, logos, and slogans are registered. If you haven’t protected them yet, we’ll strategize together.
- Explore Trademark Registration Benefits.
Patent Review
Have you patented your core innovations? Are any applications pending? We’ll walk through everything you’ve filed and flag what’s missing. We’ll discuss timelines, and whether it makes sense to patent certain systems and methods.
Start with these:
Provisional to Non-Provisional Conversions
Still sitting on a provisional? Don’t let it expire. We’ll assess if it’s time to file the non-provisional.
Learn more: Provisional vs Non-Provisional Patents
Trademark Monitoring
If you’re not watching for infringers, it’s time to set up alerts. We’ll help you stay protected and respond fast.
Licensing and Monetization Strategy
Want to create new income streams? We’ll assess which patents or trademarks could generate royalties.
Resources:
IP Agreement Reviews
We’ll review contracts from freelancers, agencies, or co-founders. Let’s make sure your company owns the rights.
Renewals & Maintenance
Missed deadlines mean lost protection. And more than lost protection, it might be harder for you now to claim what’s yours. I’ll make sure every asset is docketed and scheduled for renewal.
International IP Strategy
If you’re expanding overseas, we’ll talk about p trademark filings and International Patent Protection.
Franchise or Licensing Growth
We’ll build a system to protect your brand as you franchise or license your products to others.
If You Worked With Another Lawyer
We’ll review their work and, if needed, consolidate everything into our docketing system.
How We Put It All Together
Once we go through this checklist, we create a working IP inventory—a master list of your assets with status updates, renewal dates, and ownership records. From there, we draft a roadmap tailored to your business goals. Whether it’s expanding into new markets or prepping for investors, this portfolio becomes the legal foundation that supports your growth.
If you’re ready to dig deeper, visit our Annual IP Audit Guide to see how this system works in action.
What’s the IP Portfolio Deliverable?
After our session, you’ll walk away with:
- A detailed spreadsheet or database of your IP assets
- A list of next steps with filing and renewal deadlines
- Legal recommendations personalized to your business phase
This document becomes your IP action plan.
Why It Matters
Over the years, I’ve seen promising businesses lose out because they didn’t know what IP they owned—or needed. A well-maintained IP portfolio doesn’t just protect you. It adds value to your company, boosts investor confidence, and opens doors to new partnerships.
Whether we end up working together long-term or not, I want you to walk out knowing your IP assets are secure, organized, and ready to scale.
When Should We Talk?
Let’s connect if:
- You’re launching a new product, line, or location.
- You haven’t reviewed your IP in over a year.
- You need someone to clean up or take over your filings.
- You’re thinking about licensing, franchising, or investor pitches.