Uncovering the Truth
Protecting Your Brand
Founded on a commitment to precision, integrity, and global reach, National Trademark Investigations has spent decades helping clients safeguard their most valuable intellectual property assets. From trademark in-use investigations and domain acquisitions to anti-counterfeiting efforts, our experienced team delivers clear, actionable insights that empower you to protect your brand.
Our work is guided by a deep understanding of IP law, a dedication to confidentiality, and a relentless drive to achieve meaningful, lasting results for our clients.
Years of Trademark Investigations
Timothy Santoni
President/CEO, LPI, CPI
Tim is responsible for the firm’s overall operations. Since joining the firm in 2001, Tim has directed thousands of undercover purchases and provided declarations in support of the issuance of temporary restraining orders and seizure orders in anti-counterfeiting matters, and has coordinated many raids for the seizure of counterfeit goods based on court orders. He also assists brand owners with the preparation of anti-counterfeit programs, including brand manuals to assist investigators and law enforcement to readily identify counterfeit items and consulting with brand owners and luxury goods manufacturers on loss prevention strategies. He is a recognized expert in anti-counterfeit civil seizures and has served as an expert witness on the topic. Tim holds a Bachelor’s degree from Point Loma Nazarene University and is a licensed private investigator and registered process server in the state of California, and has earned his certified private investigator designation (CPI) from the California Association of Licensed Investigators (CALI). He is an active member of CALI, the International Trademark Association (INTA) and the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition (IACC).
Michael Santoni
Director of Investigations
Tim is responsible for the firm’s overall operations. Since joining the firm in 2001, Tim has directed thousands of undercover purchases and provided declarations in support of the issuance of temporary restraining orders and seizure orders in anti-counterfeiting matters, and has coordinated many raids for the seizure of counterfeit goods based on court orders. He also assists brand owners with the preparation of anti-counterfeit programs, including brand manuals to assist investigators and law enforcement to readily identify counterfeit items and consulting with brand owners and luxury goods manufacturers on loss prevention strategies. He is a recognized expert in anti-counterfeit civil seizures and has served as an expert witness on the topic. Tim holds a Bachelor’s degree from Point Loma Nazarene University and is a licensed private investigator and registered process server in the state of California, and has earned his certified private investigator designation (CPI) from the California Association of Licensed Investigators (CALI). He is an active member of CALI, the International Trademark Association (INTA) and the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition (IACC).
Experience On Your Side
Investigative Team
The investigation team at National Trademark Investigations has over 40 years of experience, totaling many tens of thousands of investigations completed. Our investigators are experts in trademark investigations, domain name acquisition, trademark acquisition and the acquisition and preparation of evidence for use in anti-counterfeiting and anti-piracy seizures.
National Trademark Investigations
A Pioneer in Anti-Counterfeiting and Trademark Investigations
Our History
Founded in 1980 as National Sales Audits, National Trademark Investigations roots are in handling private investigations involving the use of trademarks and creating/implementing anti-counterfeiting programs.
Led by founders Bill Ellis and Kathy Braunstein, in its first decade the firm conducted investigations of thousands of counterfeiters and participated in ensuing execution of orders for seizure and impoundment of counterfeit goods.
Recognizing the needs of brand owners for substantive information on the use of trademarks in commerce, the firm expanded its scope to include trademark investigations, adopting the its current name of National Trademark Investigations in 1992.
National Trademark Investigations (NTI) came under the leadership of veteran private investigator Mike Santoni in 2001. Under his leadership, the firm opened a new headquarters in Orange County, California and continued to expand its scope of services and built out the management and investigative team.
Today, the firm’s capabilities include in-depth trademark usage investigations, comprehensive anti-counterfeit and anti-piracy investigations, and tactical and anonymous domain name valuation, negotiation and acquisition services, tailored to the needs of intellectual property attorneys, brand owners and IP protection services.