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.

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.