Dusty Gwinn
Dusty Gwinn is admitted to practice law in the State of West Virginia and is also licensed to practice before United States Patent and Trademark Office. He has more than seventeen years of experience both in practicing law and in business consulting and management.
Dusty enjoys advising entrepreneurs and businesses on issues related to intellectual property, entrepreneurship, business formation, business development and business governance. He has advised clients regarding intellectual property, performed prior art searches for patents and trademarks, filed applications to register patents, copyrights, and trademarks, prepared business plans, and negotiated and prepared legal documents concerning business transactions and governance.
Throughout his career, Dusty has represented both public and private universities in a diverse range of matters. He began his legal career as a U. S. Patent Attorney working for West Virginia University Research Corporation where he was responsible for securing, managing, and licensing intellectual property rights for the university. During this time, he was also General Manager for the West Virginia University Business Incubator and assisted with the formation and development of numerous startup businesses.
Following West Virginia University, Dusty served the higher education community as General Counsel and Vice President of Legal Affairs for Mountain State University, Inc., where he provided in-house legal counsel throughout its intense period of transition culminating in its sale to West Virginia University. A portion of his duties were also spent as General Counsel for the Martinsburg Mall which he managed and eventually sold to a private development company.
Dusty has been very active all across the State of West Virginia with entrepreneurship and business development through business coaching, public speaking, and other volunteer activities. He is a graduate of Leadership WV and Leadership Mon, and was a West Virginia State Journal Generation Next, 40 Under 40, honoree in the year 2007.
Dusty has also been a founder, partner, and manager of several West Virginia companies, including Light the Way, LLC, and A & G Intellectual Property Group, LLC. Dusty currently maintains a practice representing numerous athletes as a National Football League Players Association Certified Contract Advisor and a Women's National Basketball Association Certified Agent and Olympic Agent under Wild Dog Management, LLC, which he founded in the year 2008.
Dusty enjoys advising entrepreneurs and businesses on issues related to intellectual property, entrepreneurship, business formation, business development and business governance. He has advised clients regarding intellectual property, performed prior art searches for patents and trademarks, filed applications to register patents, copyrights, and trademarks, prepared business plans, and negotiated and prepared legal documents concerning business transactions and governance.
Throughout his career, Dusty has represented both public and private universities in a diverse range of matters. He began his legal career as a U. S. Patent Attorney working for West Virginia University Research Corporation where he was responsible for securing, managing, and licensing intellectual property rights for the university. During this time, he was also General Manager for the West Virginia University Business Incubator and assisted with the formation and development of numerous startup businesses.
Following West Virginia University, Dusty served the higher education community as General Counsel and Vice President of Legal Affairs for Mountain State University, Inc., where he provided in-house legal counsel throughout its intense period of transition culminating in its sale to West Virginia University. A portion of his duties were also spent as General Counsel for the Martinsburg Mall which he managed and eventually sold to a private development company.
Dusty has been very active all across the State of West Virginia with entrepreneurship and business development through business coaching, public speaking, and other volunteer activities. He is a graduate of Leadership WV and Leadership Mon, and was a West Virginia State Journal Generation Next, 40 Under 40, honoree in the year 2007.
Dusty has also been a founder, partner, and manager of several West Virginia companies, including Light the Way, LLC, and A & G Intellectual Property Group, LLC. Dusty currently maintains a practice representing numerous athletes as a National Football League Players Association Certified Contract Advisor and a Women's National Basketball Association Certified Agent and Olympic Agent under Wild Dog Management, LLC, which he founded in the year 2008.
Professional Highlights
· Partner, Akers Gwinn, Attorneys at Law (2017 to present).
· Founder and Owner, Wild Dog Management, LLC (2008 to present).
· General Counsel and Vice President of Legal Affairs, Mountain State University (2011-2015).
· General Counsel, The Martinsburg Mall (2011 to 2015).
· Business Coach, New River Gorge Regional Development Authority/WV Small Business Development Center (2012 to 2014).
· Patent Attorney, West Virginia University Research Corporation (2003 to 2011).
· General Manager, West Virginia University Business Incubator (2004 to 2011).
Professional Highlights
· Partner, Akers Gwinn, Attorneys at Law (2017 to present).
· Founder and Owner, Wild Dog Management, LLC (2008 to present).
· General Counsel and Vice President of Legal Affairs, Mountain State University (2011-2015).
· General Counsel, The Martinsburg Mall (2011 to 2015).
· Business Coach, New River Gorge Regional Development Authority/WV Small Business Development Center (2012 to 2014).
· Patent Attorney, West Virginia University Research Corporation (2003 to 2011).
· General Manager, West Virginia University Business Incubator (2004 to 2011).
Formal Education
· Doctorate of Jurisprudence, West Virginia University College of Law, Class of 2004
· Masters of Business Administration, West Virginia University College of Law, Class of 2004
· Bachelor of Arts in Biology, West Virginia University, Class of 2000
· Doctorate of Jurisprudence, West Virginia University College of Law, Class of 2004
· Masters of Business Administration, West Virginia University College of Law, Class of 2004
· Bachelor of Arts in Biology, West Virginia University, Class of 2000