Would the PTGC or the ProGenCo be an employee of the company?  

No, the PTGC and the ProGenCo would remain a part of ALR Law with whom the company would sign an engagement letter.  However, the company may decide to give the PTGC or the ProGenCo direct access to the company’s server, an email address, and/or business cards. 

How would PTGC fees be managed if the company does not have any legal matters for a time period?  

Even if there are no immediate legal matters for any time period, the PTGC will make productive use of his time at the company by proactively learning about the company’s business, reviewing existing company contracts and governance agreements, banking documents, HR policies and other documentation to be better able to provide good counsel to the company.  ALR Law believes that it is good business to review costs and utilization of the PTGC with its clients on a regular basis to ensure that the client is not paying for more PTGC coverage than it needs and that ALR Law is being appropriately compensated.  Therefore, if the PTGC’s services are regularly not required as much as then being utilized, the company and ALR Law would discuss alternative schedules for the PTGC. 

Would the PTGC be available to provide additional services on a temporary basis if the need arises?  

Generally, the answer is yes.  However, if the PTGC would be required to spend a material amount of time working for the company in excess of what is contemplated in the company’s existing engagement letter with ALR Law, ALR Law may suggest that a separate scope of work or engagement letter be agreed upon by the parties for that work.  ALR Law believes that it is good business to review costs and utilization of the PTGC with its clients on a regular basis to ensure that the client is not paying for more PTGC coverage than it needs and that ALR Law is being appropriately compensated.  Therefore, if the company requires the PTGC to spend time working for the company in excess of what is contemplated in the company’s existing engagement letter with ALR Law over a period of several consecutive billing cycles, ALR Law may suggest that the parties reconsider the standard fee package described in the company’s engagement letter.

How is the contractual relationship between ALR Law and the company managed?  

ALR Law aspires to have a collaborative working relationship with the company such that the parties discuss any potential issues to the working relationship as or before they arise.  To that end, ALR Law believes that both ALR Law and the company benefit from regularly scheduled business relationship meetings where the parties can maintain an ongoing dialogue about how to strengthen the working relationship.  These meetings would generally be handled by the PTGC or ProGenCo on behalf of ALR Law.  ALR Law is happy to cooperate with the company and its contract and relationship management policies.

Are there any termination fees, penalties or advance notices if the company wishes to terminate the engagement?

The company may terminate the engagement with ALR Law at any time, without having to pay any termination fee, penalty or provide any advance notice.  However, it is ALR Law’s goal that with good, proactive relationship management, any termination of the engagement should come as no surprise to the other party.      

In what industries does ALR Law practice?  

Although ALR has experience in a wide range of industries, ALR Law focuses its practice in two primary industry verticals, life sciences and technology.  Andy Romberger, the founder of ALR Law, was previously the Vice President and General Counsel of Nuron Biotech, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company based in Exton, Pennsylvania that marketed and developed vaccines for the prevention of childhood infectious diseases as well as specialty biologics for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.  Prior to that, Andy was an associate and then a partner at Fox Rothschild LLP and, before that, an associate at other highly respected Pennsylvania and California based law firms.  Throughout his career, Andy has focused his practice on business matters affecting emerging growth companies in the life science and technology sectors such as mergers, acquisitions, technology licenses, joint ventures, finance arrangements and other commercial relationships.

Are there areas of the law in which ALR Law does not practice?  

Yes, there are a few.  For example, in addition to matters outside of jurisdictions in which ALR Law attorneys are licensed to practice law, ALR Law does not prosecute or defend registered or registrable intellectual property, litigate any branch of the law or provide tax opinions.  However, ALR Law has experience in managing outside counsel in these fields of the law.