James & Wells to increase IP management efficiency further by deploying CPA Global’s First To File Patents module

Australasia News

23
May
2013

Editor

Top New Zealand IP law firm expands use of online technology to enhance service delivery for patent and trademark clients

CPA Global’s First To File® (FTF), a leading provider of hosted intellectual property (IP) management technology, announced today that top New Zealand law firm James & Wells Intellectual Property is expanding its use of FTF’s Electronic File Room™ (EFR) electronic IP information management system by deploying the Patents module.  

James & Wells has already been using the EFR Trademarks (EFR-TM) module for several months and has been delighted with the results, which led them to add the Patents module.  

EFR helps increase operating efficiencies by organizing all IP documents and correspondence into electronic files and providing a platform for automation, electronic workflow and document sharing.  This is particularly important for James & Wells as they move to a new operating model, with staff members supporting multiple lawyers, so efficiency is all the more critical.  EFR-TM has already proved a success at the firm, providing benefits in terms of significant time savings and ‘anytime anywhere’ mobile access to IP data for attorneys and their clients.  The firm now wants to bring these benefits to its Patents group, which represents 60% of the firm’s practice. 

Ian Finch, Managing Partner at James & Wells, said: “We have been very impressed with the implementation of Electronic File Room’s Trademarks module.  Recently, a colleague and I have been travelling in the US, and we have been able to work exactly as though we were in our offices in New Zealand.  The convenience and efficiency of First To File’s technology is exceptional, and we look forward to extending these benefits to our Patents group.”

For the Patents rollout, Finch says the firm will start implementation with a small pilot group of users who are already familiar with the Trademarks system.  Then the rest of the Patents group will eventually be brought online.  He anticipates that full implementation will take about three-four months to complete.

Kurt Wedel, Vice President, Operations at CPA Global’s First To File, remarked, “We are thrilled that James & Wells is expanding its use of Electronic File Room to include Patents too.  Our technology and paperless process provide greater efficiency, accessibility and sustainability to our IP law firm and corporate IP clients.  We are pleased that James & Wells has had a positive experience with First To File’s system and we look forward to assisting them with the implementation of an extended service.”