The Legal 500 > Latin America > Mexico > Intellectual property

Basham, Ringe y Correa, S.C. has an extremely well respected IP department that stands out for its ability to match the top boutiques in scale and depth, both for contentious and non-contentious advice. The firm has seven partners specialised in this area: managing partner Eduardo Kleinberg heads the trade mark, franchising and licensing practice and is currently president of the Intellectual Property Commission of the Confederation of Industrial Chambers of Mexico. Martín Michaus and Adolfo Athie are highly active on the litigation side; Claudio Ulloa is highly experienced in patent-related work; while Jose Hinojosa, Jorge Vega and Juan Carlos Hernandez are recommended for their general non-contentious work. The department was further strengthened in July 2019 with the hire of Manuel Guerra Zamorro; formerly the director of Mexico's National Copyright Institute (Indautor), he joins as a senior associate and head of the entertainment law sub-practice. Clients are drawn from a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, retail, fashion, pharmaceuticals, and entertainment.

OLIVARES - English translation:

OLIVARES es una de las boutiques legales de propiedad intelectual líderes del mercado, reconocida por sus "conocimientos sobre derecho de marcas en México y su predisposición para brindar asesoramiento práctico y conciso". Su equipo con "capacidad de respuesta rápida" abarca todos los aspectos relacionados con la propiedad intelectual, y se ha elogiado su capacidad para "elaborar una estrategia clara". Recientemente, el bufete representó al grupo de apoyo a la industria farmacéutica AMIIF en relación con asuntos asociados a las regulaciones, las patentes y la aplicación en el contexto de la renegociación del Tratado de Libre Comercio de América del Norte. Además, un equipo está representando a un grupo de empresas farmacéuticas, entre ellas Takeda, Celgene y Abbvie, en una disputa administrativa relacionada con la exclusividad de los paquetes de datos.  Algunos de los socios clave son Sergio L. Olivares Jr. (patentes), Luis Schmidt (derechos de autor), Gustavo Alcocer (licencias y contratos), Antonio Belaunzarán (marcas comerciales) y Alejandro Luna (litigios). Entre los clientes principales, se destacan Netflix, Campbell Soup, JT International, Microsoft y Novartis.

Founded in 1905, Uhthoff, Gómez Vega & Uhthoff, SC is a major institution in Mexican IP law. The 11-partner team covers all areas, including corporate-related IP advice, franchising, data protection, and every aspect of patent and trade mark prosecution and litigation. The firm has a particularly strong focus on the life sciences sector, and represents a broad array of biotech, medical device, agribusiness, and chemical companies. Notable highlights include obtaining a $1.2m settlement for a plant breeder following a right's infringement. Key partners include litigation experts Saúl Santoyo  and Xavier Hadad; trade mark partners Marcella Bolland, Consuelo González and Eryck Castillo; and Javier Uhthoff and Eugenio Pérez for patents. Ignacio Domínguez-Torrado is also recommended for licensing work, as are Carlos Trujillo and Mario Ponce Walraven  for copyright advice. Associate Gerardo Parra is an up-and-coming trade mark specialist of note. Since publication, Trujillo has left the firm, effective January 2020.

The 'very responsive' team at well-respected boutique, Dumont 'meets deadlines', is 'price comeptitive' and is 'knowledgeable about our complex business products and service offerings'. Managing partner Laura Collada is praised for her 'good IP knowledge and strategy' and is especially strong on the patent litigation front. Other key individuals include patents head Victor Garrido, trade marks head Christian Thomae, and litigation head Israel Escobedo. Major clients include Kraft Foods -which the team represented in a successful appeal before the Federal Administrative Court over the denial of a patent application- Unilever, Boehringer Ingelheim International and Lego.

Hogan Lovells has a strong team that is recommended for its 'availability, knowledge of law, talent and communication'. The practice group, which is led by Bernardo Herrerías, has good experience in litigation and enforcement, including criminal, civil and customs actions. The firm also handles a broad range of non-contentious matters, such as advising Mars on the consolidation of its Mexican trade mark portfolio. The firm's international strengths were reflected in its advice to Merck on a global trade mark litigation, while on the anti-counterfeting front, it represented Duracell on the enforcement of border and precautionary measures over the importation of batteries into Mexico.

Müggenburg, Gorches y Peñalosa, S.C. (MGPS) covers every aspect of copyright, trade mark and patent protection, as well as advising on related areas such as data protection and trade secrets. The practice, which is praised for its 'excellent knowledge', is especially active on the litigation side, handling an impressive caseload of administrative and IP disputes across a range of sectors. Recently, the team has been involved in several major patent litigation cases on behalf of international pharmaceutical companies. On the copyright front it made an infringement claim against a fast food chain for the unauthorised use of music in an advertising campaign. Esteban Gorches is the key practice contact.

Baker McKenzie Abogados, S.C. has a strong practice group dispersed throughout its network of Mexican offices. The team -which demonstrates strength across all areas of IP- works out of the firm's offices nationwide, with Guadalajara-based IP partner, Fernando Robles-Pesqueira particularly well-regarded. The team has recently handled several significant trade mark actions for the tequila producer Brown Forman, as well as representing publisher Scholastic in the successful defence of a trade mark claim. Other active clients include Tommy Hilfiger, Lucha Libre, Symantec, Marriott, and Netflix. Former practice head Dentons López Velarde left to head the venture technology practice at Dentons López Velarde in December 2019.

Goodrich, Riquelme y Asociados is a popular choice for a broad range of domestic and international companies working in the technology, pharmaceutical, retail and automotive sectors. This includes contentious advice on patent, trade mark, and copyright infringement claims, as well as other, non-contentious matters. Major clients include POW! Entertainment and the toy manufacturer Ty. Experienced senior partner Enrique Diaz leads the team, which includes Guillermo Sosa, who handles IP litigation matters, and Julio Prieto, who is highly experienced in trade mark filings and prosecution.

Santamarina y Steta has a solid IP practice which covers a broad range of areas, including the protection of plant varieties, trade secrets and domain names, as well as prosecution and litigation. Key partners include Jose Pablo Pérez Zea, who is also noted for his franchising and licensing expertise. The firm represents several major international clients from the pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and automotive industries.

Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC provides 'excellent strategic advice and analysis' and the lawyers 'give different views and options to resolve the cases entrusted to them'. The 'professional team is oriented towards great results and understanding the client's needs'. The team is co-led by Marco Tulio Venegas and the 'responsive' Rupert Hüttler who provides 'excellent insight'. The practice is particularly strong on the litigation front, regularly advising clients such as Nike, Procter & Gamble, JC Decaux and WM Wrigley Jr.

C&L Attorneys is a strong, two-partner boutique that handles a broad mix of contentious and non-contentious patent, trade mark and copyright work for a variety of international clients including Sony, Sega Games, and Teva Pharmaceuticals. Recent highlights include representing Starbucks on the the unauthorized use of its Frappuccino brand throughout Mexico. Founding partner Jorge Leon has a strong focus on IP litigation, including infringement actions; while co-founder Ana Castañeda, who was formerly an electrical engineer, is recommended for patent  and trade mark prosecution.

Cuesta Campos y Asociados S.C. is considered 'excellent in the life science sector', although it acts for clients across a range of industries, including automotive, food, and fashion. The team, which is led by Mauricio Chozas, handles patent and trade mark litigation, as well as trade mark registrations. Recently the team successfully defended Synthon Mexico against an annulment action that resulted in a four-year litigation. Other active clients include Loto System, Almex, M&C Saatchi and Biofarma Natural.

Méndez + Cortés S.C. has an ever-growing market-presence since its establishment in 2014; the firm fields a mix of lawyers, engineers and translators who are praised for their 'excellent quality' work. The 'extremely knowledgeable and responsive' team has recently been advising Volkswagen De Mexico on patent protection for a new process of digitally printing a vehicle body. Other significant clients include Paris Saint-Germain, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals and Arvensis. Among the partners, Emmanuel Cortés is highly recommended for his patent work, while Jose Juan Mendez 'is terrific at identifying potential problems and even better at proposing strategies and solutions'. Since publication the firm has promoted Oscar Hurtado  to the partnership, effective January 2020.

SOLCARGO's IP group is praised by clients for its 'teamwork' and 'quick responses'. Guillermo Solórzano Leiro leads the eight-lawyer practice which handles patent and trade mark work for clients in the pharmaceuticals, technology, telecoms, media and entertainment industries. Recent mandates include successfully representing Landsteiner Scientific in denying Pfizer's request to the National Institute of Transparency to access confidential information. Other clients include Glenmark Pharmaceuticals and Sun Pharma de Mexico.