Patent Law

Outsourcing IP Work to India? Maybe its Time for a Career Change

By Les Weinstein, Michael Young, John Leo Wagner, Eric van Ginkel, and Victoria Pynchon

Apparently, you can outsource IP work, along with your document management tasks, to India. 

At least that's what Howrey's counting on all the while denying that its outsourcing.  Here's an excerpt from Howrey Opens Office in India, Gives Clients Lower-Cost Option, 

"It's not outsourcing," insists Robert Ruyak, managing partner and CEO of Howrey, describing his firm's new office in India. Of course, it's not lawyering, either, since an American firm practicing in India would violate Indian law. Instead, it's a new attempt by an American law firm to cut costs by creating an office in India that will handle document management in litigation, IP and arbitration matters pending around the world.

Like many U.S. businesses, Howrey hopes to take advantage of the growing class of well-trained -- and comparatively low-paid -- young Indian professionals. And Ruyak believes he can persuade reluctant clients, who will choose where their work is done, to embrace the venture. The question is whether they will do so. [See Howrey's Trial and Litigation Support Services Brochure here]

And the recession/mid-life career-change angle?  We've long said that litigation -- conflict -- is recession-proof.  Apparently, however, it is not out-source-proof.  What is?  Mediation my friends.  And until someone actually develops that Star Trek instantaneous "beam me up, Scottie" people-mover, you won't be able to outsource us.

Full post as published by IP ADR Blog on February 12, 2008 (boomark / email).