Estudio Benedetti is renowned as a market leader in IP law, fielding a specialist, four-partner team, which advises on the full spread of IP matters, from filing a high volume of trade mark and patent applications to handling anti-counterfeiting claims and opposition, cancellation and annulment actions. The team assists an impressive roster of household-name international clients from the media, aviation, fashion, cosmetics, telecoms and pharmaceutical sectors with the management of their IP portfolios (in addition to assisting with regulatory matters, including health registrations). The vastly experienced Ramón Benedetti V oversees the trade mark and patent prosecution department; Audrey Williams (who also serves as vice president of the Panamanian Association of Intellectual Property Law) is the go-to figure for anti-counterfeiting litigation; Diana Leandro leads the IP litigation practice; and Ramon Benedetti Alemán focuses on renewals, recordations and foreign filings. The talented pool of associates includes Fernando Reyes, who has expertise in complex infringement cases, and Julissa Farah, who handles renewals and recordations, while the firm also benefits from the experience of patent agent Jeane Johnson.

Praised by clients as a ‘robust, professional team with in-depth and fast responses‘, Alfaro, Ferrer & Ramírez‘ IP department advises an enviable list of multinationals on the protection of their IP rights. The team is well versed in trade mark prosecutions and litigation (including opposition, cancellation and nullity actions), and also has recent experience in copyright-related matters. Advising clients in the cosmetics, food and pharmaceutical industries on health registrations and other regulatory issues is also a core area of activity. The ‘always available‘ Marissa Lasso de la Vega, who is skilled in IP litigation and related consumer protection claims, leads the team with Monique Ferrer, a specialist in prosecutions and the head of the regulatory and compliance department. The team also draws on the input of associates Marycarmen González, who has a focus on the health and life sciences sectors, and Nicole López, who frequently provides support in IP litigation.

The IP lawyers at Icaza, González-Ruiz & Alemán are highlighted as ‘very skilled trade mark practitioners‘, but also have expertise in patent matters, with a comprehensive practice which covers filings, oppositions and renewals, as well as anti-counterfeiting litigation. The firm enjoys strong connections with international law firms thanks to its membership of alliances such as Multilaw, allowing it to advise multinationals across a broad spread of sectors, including pharmaceuticals, telecoms, luxury goods, sports, and food and beverages, on the management of their IP portfolios. ‘Excellent‘ practice head Gabriela Tejada de Britton, who is the current president of the Panamanian Association of Intellectual Property Law, is renowned for her experience in the full spectrum of trade mark and patent matters. She is supported by up-and-coming partners Moisés Rivera, an expert in IP litigation (particularly opposition actions), and Mariela de la Guardia (who leads the firm’s growing data privacy and protection department), and ‘remarkable‘ associate Fernando González-Ruiz, whose practice has an emphasis on brand protection and anti-counterfeiting litigation.

Arias, Fábrega & Fábrega houses a wide-ranging IP practice, which is prolific in the registration and renewal of trade marks, as well as handling opposition, cancellation and nullity actions, IP licensing and health registrations. The team is also active in the anti-counterfeiting arena, including coordinating a training programme for Panama’s customs authority. Drawing on its membership of global networks such as Lex Mundi, the firm frequently joins up with law firms worldwide to assist international companies in protecting their IP portfolios in Latin America and further afield. Rosa Restrepo oversees the practice, while associate Melissa Del Busto is skilled in both contentious and non-contentious matters, and brings in-house experience at the Ministry of Health when advising on health registrations.

Cedeño & Méndez‘s ‘very well-established‘ IP department plays a prominent role in the registration of trade marks in both Panama and internationally, benefitting from the firm’s presence across Central America as well as its close links with practices throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. The firm’s expertise also extends to advising on patent prosecutions and copyright issues (including in relation to software), and the IP aspects of M&A transactions, commercial contracts and licensing. On the contentious front, it has a strong recent track record in opposition, nullity and cancellation actions. ‘Smart, reliable‘ managing partner and practice head Roberto Gómez Cedeño has an excellent reputation across the full range of IP issues, with a client base that covers the food, healthcare, technology, logistics and fashion sectors.

An ‘exceptional‘ team which ‘stands out for its efficiency, excellence, knowledge and track record‘, the IP group at Fabrega Molino handles a healthy mix of advisory work and litigation, with a broad client base spanning the healthcare and life sciences, consumer products, food, textiles and technology sectors. The team advises on trade mark registrations in Panama and throughout Latin America, and also has expertise in patents and copyright, in addition to routinely representing clients in cancellation, nullity and opposition actions. ‘Spectacular‘ practice head Farah Molino is well versed in the management of IP portfolios nationally and internationally and has a particular strength in the copyright area, acting as local adviser to collective management organisations in Panama.

IP is a core specialism for Guinard & Noriega, which is particularly prolific in the filing of trade marks in Panama, acting for an extensive roster of domestic and multinational clients in industries ranging from pharmaceuticals to technology and financial services. Other key areas of activity include trade mark and patent litigation, patent prosecutions and, most recently, data protection. Luis Guinard, a specialist in IP-related litigation, registrations and data privacy issues, jointly heads the practice with Vanessa Noriega, who is highly experienced in trade mark protection strategies. In the strong group of associates, María Noguera provides support with the management of clients’ trade mark portfolios, Marta Almanza focuses on litigation and María Gabriela Solís oversees international trade mark matters.

Morgan & Morgan is noted for its robust experience in the registration of trade marks and management of portfolios in Panama and internationally, benefitting from close links to firms in other jurisdictions. It is also a strong performer in patent prosecutions and has recently been increasingly active on copyright mandates (particularly in the entertainment and software development sectors). In addition, the team frequently assists clients with regulatory issues, including health registrations, and with the IP aspects of M&A and franchising and distribution agreements. Francisco Arias steers the practice, while experienced associate Allan Candanedo is a go-to specialist in the full range of IP matters, from litigation to portfolio management and commercial agreements. Corporate associate María Eugenia Brenes brings additional IP and regulatory expertise to the team.