Meet Dan Brownstone
Fun Facts:
I’m a private pilot
My first NFL Game was the Super Bowl (as a reporter!)
My team won the costume contest on a Star Trek cruise - LLAP
If I weren’t a lawyer, I would be …
Flying a Cessna around the world.
What’s the most unusual thing in your office?
A walrus tusk from Kimmirut, Nunavut, carved from ivory in the 1960s.
Companies I’ve helped to grow and thrive:
Aechelon
Dropbox
Mapbox
Niantic
Uber
WhatsApp
YouTube
I launched my first startup at 12—a dial‑up bulletin board called Mount Olympus—and I’ve been building and experimenting ever since.
What I enjoy most about working with startups is getting involved early, before everything is fully defined. I help founders identify what’s truly worth protecting, develop an IP strategy aligned with their business goals, and avoid unnecessary spend on things that don’t move the needle. It’s especially rewarding to watch those strategies mature and deliver value in financings, partnerships, and acquisitions.
My practice spans patent prosecution, IP strategy, and technology transactions, with a focus on software, AI and machine learning, FinTech, and transportation. I’ve worked with companies ranging from early-stage startups to global technology leaders, helping them secure and manage patent portfolios through thoughtful drafting, portfolio strategy, and international coordination. I also advise on licensing, commercialization, and broader IP issues, ensuring innovations are protected and positioned for growth at every stage. While I’ve been doing this for more than 25 years, I still try to bring the same curiosity I had as a 12‑year‑old running a BBS out of my bedroom.
If you’re building something interesting, I’d love to hear about it.
Contact Dan:
1.212.692.8173
Professional details
Member, Mintz, Intellectual Property
Education
JD, Washington University in St. Louis School of Law
AB, Duke University (Computer Science, Economics)