Darrin A. Auito

Darrin A. Auito is a highly experienced intellectual property attorney and business advisor based in Detroit, Michigan. With over 15 years in the field, he provides expert guidance on portfolio development, patent preparation and prosecution, trademark and brand protection, litigation, licensing, and corporate due diligence. Darrin holds a JD/MBA/MSE and is registered to practice before the United States Patent Office (USPTO) (Reg. No. 56,024). He is also admitted to practice in the State of Michigan, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC), and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Darrin has developed extensive expertise in preparing, filing, and prosecuting thousands of patent applications across diverse industries, including automotive, autonomous vehicles, blockchain, drones, AI, medical devices, manufacturing systems, mobile payments, sporting equipment, and heat exchangers. His practice also encompasses advising clients on branding strategies, such as trademark selection, conducting clearance searches, filing applications, and representing clients in district courts and before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

In addition to his legal practice, Darrin serves on the Business Growth Council (BGC) and the Advisory Board of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBEC) in Washington DC, organizations dedicated to promoting entrepreneurship and small business growth both domestically and internationally. He also advises and represents technology startups in sectors such as mobile payment, UAV, blockchain, and esports.

Before founding HEA, Darrin was an equity partner at a prominent intellectual property firm in Washington DC, where he focused on patent prosecution and litigation. His earlier career includes serving as a project engineer at Applied Safety & Ergonomics, Inc. in Ann Arbor, Michigan.