Darrin A. Auito

Darrin A. Auito, a distinguished intellectual property attorney and business advisor, brings over 15 years of expertise in counseling clients on a diverse array of matters. Holding a JD, MBA, and MSE, he excels in portfolio development, patent preparation and prosecution, trademark and brand protection, litigation, licensing, and corporate due diligence. Darrin is registered with the United States Patent Office (USPTO) (Reg. No. 56,024) and is 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 successfully prepared, filed, and prosecuted thousands of patent applications across various industries, including automotive, autonomous vehicles, blockchain, drones, AI, medical devices, manufacturing systems, mobile payments, sporting equipment, and heat exchangers. His expertise extends to advising clients on branding strategies, encompassing the selection of new trademarks, conducting clearance searches, filing applications, and managing trademark disputes in district court and at 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. These roles involve supporting entrepreneurship and small business growth both in the United States and internationally. He also advises and represents technology startups in sectors such as mobile payments, UAV, blockchain, and esports.

Before establishing HEA, Darrin was an equity partner at a former top 25 intellectual property firm in Washington DC, where he focused on patent prosecution and litigation. Earlier in his career, he worked as a project engineer at Applied Safety & Ergonomics, Inc., an engineering consulting firm in Ann Arbor, Michigan.