Intellectual Property: Argentina

According to clients, the prestigious IP lawyers at this firm are “available, responsive and business-oriented, and they understand local customs.” Sources also highlight their excellent delivery, efficiency and good value for money. The 30-strong team covers the range of trade mark work and is able to handle multiple concurrent mandates. It is also equipped to process the most demanding patent matters, thanks to its technical specialists in chemical engineering and the physical sciences. Senior partner Jorge Otamendi is “one of the best-recognised lawyers in this area,” and an outstanding figure in Argentine legal circles. Clients highlight his profound knowledge of the sector and describe him as “a dedicated legal scholar and author, a skilled negotiator and creative attorney – he approaches matters with tremendous energy.” Alejandro Breuer-Moreno supervises the firm’s prosecution service and is “a highly responsive practitioner – you get your answers without having to go back and ask.” Alberto Villegas is primarily engaged in infringement and related customs work. Sources say he is easy to work with and "his razor-sharp interest and curiosity drive a fine practice.” Agustina Martínez Estrada is recommended by clients for her “excellent professional manner – she has great potential for the future.” 

This Argentine heavyweight “has excellent knowledge and sets international standards for the region.” The IP team offers a comprehensive registration and protection service, including litigation, with regard to patents, trade marks, copyright and domain names, border measures, transactional due diligence, technology transfer, data protection, advertising and entertainment law, Internet and IT, and unfair competition. Clients described the team as “efficient, responsive, up-to-date, proactive and a pleasure to work with,” although some raised concerns about fees and a slightly impersonal corporate style. The sizeable team of 45 legal and technical staff is able to handle several contentious issues or precautionary measures concurrently. This ability to undertake integrated and large-scale work is a notable competitive advantage for clients. In recent work highlights, the group represented Novartis in a case that established a precedent in terms of obtaining preliminary injunctions ex parte, and successfully defended Bell IP in a case requiring local competitor Bellcom to cease using its trade name, corporate name and trade mark. Martín Bensadon is universally acknowledged as a leader in his field: "He is the patents specialist par excellence!” He also handles patent litigation and is widely published. The "truly brilliant" Ivan Poli and his small team recently joined the IP department here, notably strengthening its patent practice. Iris Quadrio handles trade mark prosecution, assessment, portfolio management and pre-litigation work, particularly for the firm’s international clients. Co-head of the trade mark department Sergio Ellmann is "very skilled and responsive." His prestigious clientele includes Microsoft and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Gustavo Giay is also active on the trade mark side of the practice, and has "a great future." He specialises in enforcement work and anti-piracy, and is increasingly active in IT and data protection. He was involved in co-ordinating and presenting a submission to the Argentine Congress for modification of the nation's trade mark law, through his role as chair of the International Trademark Association's Anti-counterfeiting and Enforcement Subcommittee for Latin America and the Caribbean. Senior partner Miguel O'Farrell heads the IP litigation team. In a busy year, he handled the Bell case mentioned above, and defended McDonald’s franchisee Arcos Cordobeses against an alleged infringement case brought by food manufacturer Prodial. “We have never lost a case under his direction,” reported one satisfied client. Associate Ignacio Manuel Sanchez Echague impresses sources, with one client labelling him "a marvel."

With over a century in the market, Hausheer Belgrano & Fernandez “really is up there with the big firms,” according to clients. It provides excellent service, proving its dedication to the field by recently incorporating several new junior associates on the litigation side of the practice and a semi-senior associate on the trade mark prosecution side. The 15-strong team has expertise in chemical, biotech and electronic engineering, in addition to “exceptional trade mark knowledge, negotiation and litigation skills, and fine contacts at the relevant administrative bodies.” Clients also say: “The lawyers are forthright and clear, and willing to say ‘don’t go ahead’ if that is what they believe – the advice is simply excellent.” Graciela Claudia Perez de Inzaurraga is "dedicated and precise,” has an excellent reputation for both trade mark and patent work, and provides a “first-rate service.” Gabriela Musante is also growing in profile. Clients include major international firms such as Procter & Gamble, Nestlé, Samsonite, BP and Shell.

This well-established, specialist boutique offers a comprehensive IP service, advising on general IP matters and various specialisations, including plant varieties, IP audits and due diligence. Clients say it is "very efficient at handling everything we bring to it,” be it trade mark prosecution, title updating or enforcement. In addition, the team is “a pleasure to work with and the clarity of its business advice on trade mark risk analysis sets it apart from much of the competition,” commented one client. With market sources highlighting the firm's reasonable pricing and depth of patent and trade mark knowledge, it appears set to maintain its hard-earned position in this competitive market. Team leader Fernando Noetinger is “intelligent, friendly and a fine lawyer,” according to peers. He is talented in both patent and trade mark work, and further recognised for his licensing activity. Miguel Armando and Matías Noetinger, sons of the founding partners, are also becoming more visible, which bodes well for the future development of the firm. The clientele includes numerous prestigious multinationals as well as local clients from across the business spectrum.

This well-respected and traditional family firm has specialised in IP work for almost 70 years. It maintains a sharp commercial focus and covers the full range of industrial and IP matters, including trade marks, patents, authors' rights, IP litigation, plant varieties, licensing and technology transfer, and Internet domain names. The eight-strong team is primarily known for its excellent trade mark work, but is also capable in the patent sector and handles litigation. Ricardo Richelet Sr is "a true heavyweight" in the sector and "an all-rounder of the highest quality." He wins praise for the breadth of his practice, which includes prosecution, litigation, trade marks and patents. Although the father and sons at this firm dominate the practice, "the younger generation is showing growing promise." 

The 16-strong team at this specialised IP boutique is undoubtedly at its best in patents work, and has developed a significant niche in the pharma sector, extending into the academic research community. Clients highlight the firm's excellent service levels and "in-depth knowledge, experience, availability and ability to find solutions and resolve situations." Some local sources question the firm's emergence as a significant market player but foreign peers who have used its patent services say it as "an excellent firm - smart, focused, efficient, and cheaper than many of its competitors." The firm has also struck up an association with Bruchou, Fernandez Madero & Lombardi for patents work, further increasing its workflow and market exposure. Founding partner Pedro Berkenwald is "an excellent negotiator and a great business lawyer." Clients say he is "focused, attentive and responsive," and "an absolute expert in the legal and business aspects of IP." Chemical engineer and patent agent Alicia Alvarez is also a recognised figure in the Argentine IP market, and has played a key role in the firm's recent development. 

Established as an independent firm in 2002, this six-person boutique covers the entire IP sector and has a particularly good reputation for patent litigation. Pedro Chaloupka is notably experienced and well prepared. His practice has "considerable depth," and he is primarily responsible for the firm's reputation in IP litigation. Described as "reliable, knowledgeable and growing in profile," Claudia Serritelli is building a practice focused on patents and patent litigation.

This burgeoning corporate firm with a distinct international focus fields a growing and dynamic 29-strong IP department. The team is divided into three subgroups: litigation, prosecution and consultancy. It is currently representing SC Johnson, Grupo Televisa, Thermage and Pernod Ricard in trade mark and domain name issues, and assisting Reed Elsevier and Starbucks with copyright issues. Sources highlight the team's high-quality output, although some note its more limited profile in contentious IP work. Department head Juan Carlos Ojam is "a hard-working and progressive lawyer who has built a good team." Clients highlight his ability to comprehend their needs and manage complex caseloads. "A fine all-rounder across the entire IP sector," he is best known for his trade mark work. Associate Ignacio Bérèterbide is "brilliant in IP licensing, contractual agreements and litigation," and looks set to improve the department's profile in contentious IP work: "He's young but really dedicated, capable and focused," commentators agree. Elsewhere in the department there are additional signs of vitality: senior associate Raquel Flanzbaum has published extensively over the past year, and the team has incorporated junior associate Celia Lerman and senior associate Manuel Alonso. The latter has considerable experience, having begun his career at a prestigous IP boutique before building a department at another well-regarded firm.

Originally a trade mark agency organised along family lines, this firm began its transformation into an IP law boutique earlier than many of its competitors. It has benefited from sending staff abroad as foreign associates and actively seeking out overseas clients. "We regard it as a reference point in the market," commented one client, highlighting its excellent track record in trade mark issues. The team covers the full range of patent and trade mark work, including all relevant administrative and judicial proceedings, as well as licensing and franchise agreements, biotech protection, and software, Internet and copyright matters. It primarily acts for major domestic clients such as Quilmes but has also established a small yet notable international profile, representing Brazilian clients such as Petrobras and Vale, and acting for major US corporations such as Intel and Apple. Senior partner Alberto Berton Moreno is highlighted for his experience, availability and friendly manner. Enrique Gatti co-ordinates the firm's judicial work, and is "a tough litigator who really knows his way around the sector." 

Partner Valeriano Guevara Lynch leads this firm's six-strong intellectual and industrial property department. Recent work highlights include successfully obtaining an injunction in the first Argentine case involving the use of a trade mark as a keyword in sponsored links in search engine advertising. The firm has also handled domain name-related litigation for several clients, at both local courts and the World Intellectual Property Organization Arbitration Center. In the biotech sector, the team handled the due diligence of Syngenta's acquisition of SPS; elsewhere it advised Dow Jones on IP enforcement relating to its data compilations and indexes in Argentina. While his two fellow senior associates are primarily engaged in trade mark and patent prosecution, Pablo Andrés Palazzi focuses on software issues and is "very good at what he does." Above and beyond trade mark and copyright litigation, his practice includes database law, domain names and general Internet law, e-mail forensics, digital, data and computer crime, and data confidentiality and protection. One peer noted: "He writes extensively and I've heard him quoted by judges." 

This dedicated IP boutique with three partners and six associates is gradually building itself a solid reputation. It has considerable experience in patents, trade marks, software matters and anti-piracy campaigns; it also handles unfair competition and antitrust issues, consumers' rights, licensing, and distribution and supply agreements. Clients include a notable sportswear manufacturer. Diego Bouché undertakes the full range of IP work but earns special commendation for his trade mark work. Julia Elena Tellechea is heavily involved in the pharma industry and recognised by peers as "a good lawyer with long experience in the sector." 

In addition to its commercial and company law practice, this small, dynamic firm handles trade marks and patents (including industrial designs and utility models), copyright, Internet domain names, technology transfer and related customs issues. The 12-strong team has five lawyers, trade mark and patents agents, plus a technical team and a translator. Clients confirm that the team is "prompt and good value," with one noting that "its history of reliable service sets it apart and gives us great confidence." The firm has a nucleus of key domestic clients and some international exposure. Founding partner Héctor Palacio is "rapid, proactive and demonstrates great flexibility," clients report.

This well-known, full-service powerhouse has a 16-strong department, which includes an in-house technical team. In a busy year, the team advised Internet company Dada on the main aspects of Argentine privacy issues and compliance, and assisted advertising agencies Del Campo Nazca Saatchi & Saatchi and Publicis Groupe with copyright issues and trade mark registration, respectively. It also obtained injunctions for Philip Morris, Occidental Petroleum and Honda Motor de Argentina, and represented Google in a suit pertaining to copyright and Internet issues. The department is led by two experienced lawyers who previously ran their own firm. Dámaso Pardo is best known for his work on trade marks and for backing the World Intellectual Property Organization's Madrid protocol, while Fernando Alonso has written a well-respected book on jurisprudence and works across both trade marks and patents.