Practice Areas
What are Montgomery Legal's practice areas? We focus on areas where technology, commerce, and law intersect. All practice areas are available for Washington state matters; federal practice areas (IP, DMCA, tax, FTC) are available to clients nationwide.
- What is a boutique law practice?
- A small firm that focuses on specific practice areas rather than trying to cover everything. Montgomery Legal concentrates on IP, e-commerce, consumer protection, and business law — areas where technology and legal complexity intersect.
Intellectual Property & Copyright
Copyright registration with the U.S. Copyright Office. Enforcement actions against unauthorized use. Licensing agreements for creative works, software, and digital content. Trade secret protection and non-disclosure agreements.
Federal practice — available nationwide.
DMCA Enforcement & Defense
DMCA takedown notices for content theft and piracy. Counter-notice filing when your content is wrongly removed. Platform-specific enforcement (YouTube, Amazon, social media). Defense against frivolous DMCA claims used to suppress competition.
Federal practice — available nationwide.
E-Commerce & Advertising Compliance
FTC advertising compliance reviews — endorsement disclosures, substantiation requirements, and Made in USA claims. Google Ads and platform policy disputes. Terms of service, privacy policy, and refund policy drafting. Seller account suspensions and appeals. For information on the Google AdWords class action settlement, see AdWords Settlement.
Federal (FTC) + Washington state.
Consumer Protection
Claims under the Washington Consumer Protection Act (RCW 19.86). Unfair or deceptive business practices. Product liability referrals and coordination with mass tort attorneys. Dangerous drug and medical device case evaluation through our partner, Infinity Law Center.
Washington state.
Business Formation & Contracts
LLC and corporation formation in Washington. Operating agreements, partnership agreements, and bylaws. Contract drafting, review, and negotiation. Commercial dispute resolution and breach of contract claims.
Washington state + federal.
Tax Consultation
Federal tax planning and compliance for small businesses and individuals. IRS dispute resolution and audit representation. State tax obligations for Washington businesses (B&O tax, sales tax). Entity selection for tax optimization.
Federal + Washington state.
Best For
Attorney vs. LegalZoom vs. ChatGPT
| Montgomery Legal | LegalZoom | ChatGPT | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research your legal issue | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Draft a first version of a contract | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Educated eyes on the final document | ✓ | ||
| File with the court or government agency | ✓ | ✓ (templates only) | |
| Negotiate with opposing counsel | ✓ | ||
| Represent you in court | ✓ | ||
| Explain consequences in plain English | ✓ | ✓ (no liability) | |
| Send a demand letter that carries weight | ✓ | ||
| Know when the template doesn't fit | ✓ | ||
| Be accountable if the advice is wrong | ✓ | ||
| Available at 3 AM | ✓ |
Is This the Right Fit?
| Situation | Right for Us | Better Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| DMCA takedown or copyright dispute | ✓ Federal — nationwide | |
| FTC advertising compliance review | ✓ Federal — nationwide | |
| Washington consumer protection claim | ✓ WA state | |
| LLC formation in Washington | ✓ WA state | |
| AI-generated content IP dispute | ✓ Federal — nationwide | |
| California landlord-tenant dispute | ✗ | CA-licensed attorney |
| Small claims under $10K | ✗ | Small claims court (no attorney needed) |
| Simple contract from a template | ✗ | LegalZoom, Rocket Lawyer, or AI drafting tools |
| Dangerous drug injury claim | ✗ | Infinity Law Center (mass tort specialist) |
Not every legal situation requires an attorney — our practice is not ideal for minor disputes, matters outside Washington state law, or areas where self-service tools are genuinely sufficient. If your research suggests the issue is self-resolvable, we'll tell you that honestly. The risk of over-lawyering is real, and we actively guard against it.
How It Works
Step 1: Share Your Research
Contact us with what you've found — AI chat transcripts, screenshots, case summaries, timeline of events. The more context you bring, the faster we can assess. Initial consultations are free and typically take 20–30 minutes by phone or video.
Step 2: Jurisdiction & Merit Check
We determine whether your matter falls under Washington state law, federal law, or another state's jurisdiction (in which case we'll refer you to an appropriately licensed attorney). We assess the legal merits honestly — if the case isn't strong enough to pursue, or if a self-service option would serve you better, we'll say so.
Step 3: Scope & Fee Agreement
If you decide to proceed, we draft a clear engagement letter specifying exactly what's covered, the fee structure (contingency, flat rate, or hourly depending on case type), and the expected timeline. No surprises, no open-ended billing.
Step 4: Execution
We handle the legal work — filings, demand letters, negotiations, DMCA notices, contract drafting, court appearances, or whatever the matter requires. You'll get regular status updates and direct access to your attorney throughout.