Overview
In practice, Aaron helps clients make strategic IP decisions at pivotal points in their business—when they are preparing to launch a product, seeking investment, evaluating a competitor’s patent position, expanding a portfolio, negotiating a transaction, or responding to a potential dispute. He focuses on aligning IP development with the client’s broader commercial goals, so IP is not treated as a standalone legal asset or cost center, but as a tool to support growth, reduce risk, and strengthen enterprise value.
Clients turn to Aaron when they need more than patent prosecution. He helps companies understand how IP can support funding, product development, commercialization, licensing, acquisitions, divestitures, competitive positioning, portfolio expansion, and litigation defense. His counsel is especially valuable for businesses operating in fast-moving technology markets, including software, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, mobility technologies, energy technologies, and other innovation-driven products and services, where IP decisions often need to account for technical complexity, investor expectations, evolving artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, global competition, and long-term enterprise value.
Aaron has guided startups from inception and initial investment through public offerings and acquisitions. He also helps established companies and global businesses build, assess, acquire, divest, and manage strategic patent portfolios; evaluate infringement and validity issues; prepare IP assets for sale; and assess IP portfolios in mergers and acquisitions. He has advised on deals totaling more than $10 billion and has defended clients against patent infringement allegations brought by competitors and non-practicing entities.
His experience includes work for Fortune 100 companies, global leaders in enterprise software, automotive, and advanced technology sectors including flat-panel display fields, and disruptive startups focused on energy production, storage, transmission, commercialization, and unmanned vehicles. Before joining Butzel, Aaron founded and managed a boutique IP law firm for 10 years, focused on strategic portfolio design and patent acquisition, and practiced at IP specialty firms headquartered in New York and San Francisco.
Aaron is admitted to practice in Washington, DC and before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. He received his juris doctor from Vanderbilt University Law School and holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of Evansville.
Primary Practice Areas
Credentials
Education
Vanderbilt University Law School, J.D.
University of Evansville, B.S., Physics
Admissions
- District of Columbia
- United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- United States Patent and Trademark Office
Memberships
- DC Bar
