Cassandra Munoz
- Mar 9, 2023
- 3 min read

Make48 Nationals | Meet Patent Attorney Andrea Hence Evans, Esq.

With the big Make48 nationals competition show coming up, we wanted to put the spotlight on a patent attorney who has been assisting teams since 2017 and has been a big advocate for the Make48 mission. Meet Attorney Andrea Hence Evans, Esq.

Andrea Hence Evans, Esq. firm represents independent inventors, entrepreneurs, small, medium, and Fortune 100 clients in multiple states and multiple countries with patent, trademark and copyright issues. She is also the owner of a hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math program, KidGINEER, LLC. On top of that, Attorney Evans is the author of All About Inventing and All About Trademarks (LINK).

In a few weeks, Andrea Evans will bring her expertise to Make48. “The contestants inspire and motivate me,” Attorney Evans told me. “I love seeing what the challenges are and ideas the teams come up with to solve it. It really shows that with the right community and team, you can achieve great things. Coming to these event competitions reinforces that dreams do come true.”

We first met Attorney Evans at the second national competition in Kansas City at The Kansas City Art Institute where she connected with the contestants and Make48’s team. There are many reasons she listed off on why she returns. “I have so many favorite parts. Networking with the other experts during the competition and at the VIP event are a favorite for me. Meeting the incredible teams and witnessing their excitement when they learn about the challenge is also great. Of course, the countdown of the clock is always exciting!”

It may look easy on tv, but it’s not as easy as one would think. With only 2 days to come up with the teams’ idea, it cannot infringe on any existing patent. With only 15 minutes to research (per team) it can be fairly overwhelming. “It’s not as easy as it seems. There are many great ideas but only a handful that may not be infringing on an existing patent. To see the teams identify the problem and create a solution together, using collaboration, shows that Make48 is a concept that everyone can use.”

If you think you have a patentable invention, consulting with an attorney to research and then file a patent application to secure a filing date is most desirable. As an attorney, one of the most difficult things she sees inventors overcoming is the Non-obvious requirement for obtaining a patent. Would the invention be obvious to one of ordinary skills in the art to make or use the invention? If so, the invention is not patentable. “Learning your idea isn’t patentable is disheartening. That’s why a consultation with an attorney is so important. Hiring an attorney does alleviate a multitude of problems,” Attorney Evans said.

Patent Attorney Andrea Evans at Nationals in Wichita ('22)

Attorney Evans is looking forward to the competition in Kansas City this month. “I’m excited to see what the big reveal (challenge) is going to be. It’s going to be nice to connect with all my old friends, network with guests, and meet all the teams. I can’t wait to see what’s new in Kansas City too.”

Attorney Andrea Evans utilizes her education, legal skills and resources, training, and hands-on USPTO experience to assist inventors. Her career path is unique. She worked at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for approximately 5 years as both a patent examiner and a trademark examining attorney after graduating from The George Washington Law School in Washington, DC. She is also a graduate of Spelman College and Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in Atlanta, Georgia, where she obtained a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics and a Bachelors of Civil Engineering, respectively.

Make48 has been lucky to have Attorney Evans as a supporter since season 2. To learn more about The Law Firm of Andrea Hence Evans services, visit their website at https://evansiplaw.com/ or follow the links below.