Christopher Ziegler

Competent on patent filing, but communication could improve

I engaged Christopher Ziegler at Alston & Bird to assist with a utility patent application for a mechanical component my small engineering firm developed. As his profile indicates, his practice is recognized in patent law, and that expertise was evident in the thoroughness of the initial prior art search and the drafting of the claims. The technical understanding of the subject matter was solid, which was my primary concern. However, the experience was mixed on the service side. While the final work product was professionally done, there were several instances where I had to follow up multiple times over a week or more to get status updates or responses to clarifying questions. For a process as detail-oriented and time-sensitive as a patent filing, more proactive communication would have been appreciated. The billing was as expected for a firm of this caliber in Charlotte. Ultimately, the application was filed successfully, and I believe it is well-prepared. I would describe Mr. Ziegler as a technically capable attorney who delivered on the core legal task, but the client service aspect felt somewhat transactional and fell short of the seamless experience I had hoped for given the firm's reputation.