I agree Tom,

I suppose there could be some other meaning of Blakley's statement, "and outside law firms have intensified patent due diligence" other than your interpretation,  "that they (edig) are working with (hired) law firms", but why would an outside lawfirm intensify patent due dilligence if they haven't been contracted to do so? ergo.....they have contracted someone...... and given the plural nature of the statement I'd say there is more than one lawfirm.

Larry