a) Staff Modiano's goal is to ensure that each case is handled by the Attorney who is capable to perform the particular assignment with the highest qualified specialization, rapidity and effectiveness and on the basis of a previous successful experience in a similar case. The policy of using the most specialized Attorney usually translates into noticeable savings of time and thus of costs, which fact is thoroughly beneficial for our clients. Frequent and periodic exchanges occur among the Attorneys handling different files for the same client so as to implement a continuous updating process of the client's portfolio. This enables our Attorneys to be informed about parallel cases, ensures an overview on the general situation of each case and a full knowledge of all the information regarding a case or a client. b) Budgeting The procedure adopted by Modiano ensures that, before any initiative is taken, our foreign associates and clients are provided with an estimate of the costs related to the course of action to be taken. Since such estimates are only approximate, being based on previous experience in similar cases, it is possible that they may not correspond exactly to the amounts billed later. However, we are aware of the budget requirements of our foreign associates, and therefore we always make sure that they are notified immediately about all the changes of circumstances which could influence the cost estimates already indicated. c) Databases All our Departments are provided with the most updated computerized information support for consultation of the most valuable databases on laws, case-law repertories, patents, trademarks, etc. Our internal network is constantly connected on-line with the main Patent and Trademark databases; this allows extremely speedy search procedures. Moreover, our internal libraries contain the most important Intellectual Property Laws (European, U.S., Japanese, South Korean, Chinese, etc.), as well as National and International treaties, reviews, journals and magazines.