Boutique firm

A collection of highly specialized attorneys dedicated to serving narrow client interests. Traditionally, law firms handled a wide range of client interests. Corporations employing law firms, for example, would use the same law firm for tort law matters, contract law matters, and patent law matters. However, with the increasing importance of intellectual property associated with the tech boom of the late 1990s, some law firms became specialized in narrow areas. Many patent law boutique firms came about during this time.