The powerhouse intellectual property group at Arias remains a market leader, coordinating with seven offices in six countries across Central America to employ regional strength when managing and safeguarding the intellectual property portfolios of household-name global corporates (including Bayer), across sectors ranging from pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, consumer goods and chemicals to entertainment, hospitality and the automotive industry. The practice’s comprehensive service covers litigation and enforcement, licensing, brand management and the development of registration strategies for copyrights, trade marks, trade names, slogans and patents. The practice is jointly led by IP authority María Del Pilar López, who brings expertise to regulatory affairs, personal data protection, and judicial and administrative processes; veteran patent prosecutor Simón Valverde; and biotech patent expert Luis Diego Castro. Key support is provided by senior associate Ariana Lizano, who develops strategies for Costa Rica market entrants in the food and consumer products industries, and associate Valeria Grant, who handles patent registration procedures. Associate María Laura Torres joined in October 2022 from trade mark boutique RJM Abogados.

The market-leading team at BLP employs the combined bench strength of offices in San José, Puntarenas and Guanacaste, in addition to branches across Latin America and Europe, to advise global household names including Adidas, Sony and WeWork, on the management, licensing and enforcement of their international intellectual property portfolios. With an active client base spanning such sectors as apparel, food, education, entertainment and financial services, the practice brings expertise to matters involving trade marks, copyrights and sanitary registrations, in addition to complex patent prosecutions, cross-border registration reports, the seizure of counterfeit goods, third-party infringements and the assignment of rights. Giselle Reuben leads the team, bringing expertise to the anti-counterfeiting litigation practice. Other key figures include Uri Weinstok, whose utilises a multidisciplinary skill set to handle IP issues related to competition and antitrust law, advertising, and, along with senior associate León Weinstok, manages complex IP data protection matters. Key support at the associate level is provided by Anel Aguilar, a specialist in trade mark filing strategies.

With offices in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua, the team at Consortium Legal pairs deep bench strength with the experience of its team to manage and safeguard the intellectual property portfolios of national and multinational corporates and financial institutions. With an active client base spanning such sectors as banking, food, building materials, cosmetics, transport and packaging, the practice’s full offering covers copyright, patent and trade mark prosecution, due diligence and impact assessments. Senior associate and department head Fabiola Sáenz brings experience and expertise to a diverse spectrum of IP matters, including major transactions, counterfeiting cases and regulatory compliance matters.

With offices in 17 countries spanning Central America, Europe and Asia (in addition to one in the metaverse), the team at ECIJA utilises deep bench strength to safeguard and manage the trade marks, copyrights and patents of national and multinational corporates, such as Pfizer and Church & Dwight, across a diverse range of sectors, including consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, health, logistics, textiles and beverages. The practice’s full service offering extends to utility models, industrial designs, advertising, merchandising and sponsorship, and assignments. Senior associate Monserrat Soto Roig leads the team, bringing expertise to such matters as IP risk assessment, image rights, software licences and work-for-hire agreements.

Faycamark, the intellectual property division of Facio & Cañas (which expanded in March 2023, opening two new offices in Puntarenas and Guanacaste) brings strength to advising major multinational corporates such as Jaguar Land Rover on a diverse spectrum of matters related to copyrights, patents, trade marks, trade secrets and regulatory law. Assisting clients across sectors ranging from apparel, tech and entertainment to food and beverages and the automotive industry, the group’s comprehensive service covers enforcement, strategic portfolio development and management, due diligence and complex IP litigation, representing foreign and national franchisors, licensors and distributors engaged in merchandising ventures and product licensing. Managing partner and IP authority Milagro Chaves leads the team, with senior associate and life sciences specialist Laura Valverde.

The experienced team at Lexincorp brings strength to advising regional and multinational corporates across the food, manufacturing, automotive, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, consumer products and telecoms industries on the maintenance and administrative, criminal, civil and precautionary measures for protection of their international intellectual property portfolios. The firm’s comprehensive services include registrations and renewals, cancellations, oppositions and nullity actions. The team is co-led by associate and trade mark litigation specialist Ana Laura Cubero and Philip Andre, who assists with the protection, advice and monitoring of distinctive signs, trade mark registrations, and sanitary and patent records.

The team at boutique firm MMonivation brings experience to assisting multinationals, regional companies and start-ups on the maintenance and protection of their trade marks, patents, copyrights and sanitary registrations. Providing a full line of IP services ranging from registration procedures, refusals and assignments to cancellations, litigation and due diligence, the group’s client base spans such sectors as food and beverages, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, where the firm shows considerable strength. The practice is led by international director Ana Catalina Monge, a former deputy director of the Office of Industrial Property, and an expert in cross-border IP transactions. Senior associate and former Trademark Registry examiner Andrés Hernandez leads the firm’s national IP practice, bringing to the team over 30 years’ experience in the practice area.