American Express has applied to patent a solution to law firm rate increases

American Express’s law department dislikes automatic billing rate increases by its law firms. “No matter how aggressive we get, firms believe that each year they get to raise their rates.” (From a teleconference hosted by ACC’s Law Department Management, Litigation and Small Law Department committees, and comments by the Chief Litigation Counsel of American Express, Stuart Alderoty)

Amex is currently in the process of patenting a solution to rate increases. Within this system, apparently, firms must demonstrate why the rate increase is justified. I am very curious what can be patented.