our story

Babino Law Group, LLC is a Chicago-based intellectual property law firm serving solo inventors, engineers, early-stage founders, startups, and emerging technology teams.

The firm was established around a straightforward belief: independent innovators deserve thoughtful, technically rigorous intellectual property counsel—not a reduced level of service simply because they are not part of a large corporation.

After years of working with inventors, startups, and engineering teams, founder Donell Babino recognized a recurring problem. Talented creators were developing sophisticated and commercially valuable technologies, but many were underserved by traditional law-firm models designed primarily around established corporate clients.

Some inventors struggled to find counsel who could understand the technology. Others entered the patent process without a clear explanation of what they were purchasing, why a particular approach was being recommended, or how the filing fit into their larger plans.

Babino Law Group was founded to offer a more accessible and collaborative alternative.

Babino Law Group provides technically fluent patent and IP counsel to inventors, engineers, founders, and startups nationwide.

the Firm’s Mission

Babino Law Group empowers independent innovators by delivering clear, strategic, and technically rigorous intellectual property counsel. The firm helps clients:

  • Understand the patent and intellectual property process
  • Make informed decisions about their innovations
  • Translate complex technologies into strong legal filings
  • Identify practical protection priorities
  • Establish clear ownership of intellectual property
  • Protect brands, creative works, and confidential information
  • Develop IP strategies that support long-term growth

Every engagement is grounded in accessibility, transparency, technical precision, and respect for the people doing the work of innovation.

Founder & Patent Attorney


Donell Babino is a patent attorney whose practice focuses on software, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies.

His work includes drafting complex patent applications involving hypervisor-based security systems, virtualized computing tools, cybersecurity technologies, and advanced software architectures. This experience allows him to engage closely with inventors and engineering teams, understand how their systems operate, and translate technical concepts into clear and defensible patent filings.

Before founding Babino Law Group, Donell worked extensively with inventors, startups, and technical teams seeking to protect sophisticated innovations. His practice combines legal analysis with a strong understanding of computing, systems architecture, and engineering principles.

Donell’s approach is collaborative. Rather than treating the inventor as a passive source of information, he works with clients to identify what is technically distinctive, explore possible implementations, understand the commercial context, and develop a protection strategy aligned with the client’s goals.

Education​

Donell earned his Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he completed the school’s Program in Intellectual Property Law.

He also earned:

  • A Master of Science in Computer Science from the University of Chicago
  • A Bachelor of Science in Physics from Xavier University of Louisiana

This combination of legal, computing, and scientific education supports the firm’s work with technically sophisticated inventions.

Chicago-Based, Serving Innovators Nationwide

Babino Law Group is located in Chicago, Illinois.

Because patent matters are handled under federal law before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the firm can represent patent clients throughout the United States.

Remote communication also allows the firm to collaborate effectively with inventors, founders, and engineering teams regardless of location.