A giant of Mexico’s IP law market, Olivares is a dedicated IP specialist firm with a client base that includes some of the best-known multinationals operating in the country. The practice is a go-to for the full spectrum of advice. As regards patents, the firm regularly counsels in litigation, as well as filing claims across the chemistry, nanotechnology, electronics, biotech, bioinformatics, computer programs and mechanical sectors. The trade mark team assists a blue chip client base with regulatory and enforcement matters; while on the copyright front, work highlights include distribution and licensing of creative works, copyright transactions and litigation, and software protection. Contacts to note in the sizeable team include: veteran copyright and entertainment law specialist Luis Schmidt; founding partner Sergio Olivares, who advises on the prosecution and litigation of the full range of IP rights; co-chair of the life sciences and pharmaceuticals industry group and coordinator of the litigation department, Alejandro Luna; trade mark counsel to many of the firm’s key clients, Alonso Camargo; and Abraham Díaz, who is the main contact for privacy matters and heads the IT industry group. Further key partners include, Daniel Sánchez, Gustavo Alcocer, Víctor Ramírez and Armando Arenas. Rommy Morales and Jaime Rodríguez represent the next generation of the partnership at the firm, while associate Karla Olvera stands out for her support on litigious matters.

Renowned IP boutique Uhthoff, Gómez Vega & Uhthoff, SC is valued for its ‘high level of expertise in the field’ and is ‘always looking for innovative ways to deliver services’. The firm is a go-to destination for patent and trade mark filing for major multinationals operating in Mexico, and has a robust offering in enforcement of IP rights through litigation. The client roster reflects a broad spectrum of sectors, with the practice evidencing particular depth in pharmaceuticals, healthcare, biotech, the education sector, and food and beverages. Senior partner and head of the patent department Javier Uhthoff O. is one of the elder statesmen of IP law in Mexico and continues to lead advice to key clients on major patent matters. Fellow senior partner Connie González is the main contact for trade mark mandates, with Eryck Castillo and Marcella Bolland being further key contacts in that field. Saúl Santoyo leads the litigation department, while also co-chairing the entertainment law and copyright practice groups alongside Castillo. Xavier Hadad supports on the full range of litigious work, and Eugenio Pérez adds expertise on the technical side of patent matters. At the senior associate level, José Luis Ramos stands out for litigation and IP protection, and Janett Lumbreras supports on patent instructions.

Baker McKenzie Abogados, S.C. acts on the full suite of IP matters, from disputes to transactional support, with the combination of its international presence and practitioners on the ground across Mexico constituting a significant plus for its international client base. The department is organised along industry lines, with partners focused on up to two sectors. Fernando Robles-Pesqueira is especially strong in the consumer goods and retail sectors and coordinates the IP litigation sub-group of the department. For patent matters, Marina Hurtado-Cruz is the lead contact; an expert on health, advertising and consumer law, she excels in healthcare and life sciences. Carlos Dávila-Peniche is in charge of the copyright and media, and the enforcement groups; his practice covers the drafting, negotiation, review and enforcement of licensing and franchising agreements, as well as technology and intangible asset transfers. The four-strong leadership group is rounded out by counsel Gresly Marcano, the name to note for brand management matters. All above named lawyers are based in Mexico City, while in Guadalajara, Daniel Villanueva-Plasencia and associate Sebastian Salido-Aguilera are the key names.

Boutique firm BC&B Law and Business is a strong choice across the board for intellectual property matters, with capabilities in patent and trade mark prosecution, litigation and strategy, designs and copyright, technology transfer, licensing, and business management. Juan Carlos Amaro is in charge of the practice groups for IP litigation, trade mark and copyright, along with corporate and commercial law; he coordinates the wider IP team with Octavio Espejo, the main contact for patents and technology. Carlos Hernández handles contentious IP matters and litigation; however, Mariana González left the firm in August 2023.

Bernardo Herrerías has led Hogan Lovells’ intellectual property offering in Mexico for over 15 years and directs a practice that is relied on by a wealth of multinationals for portfolio management, prosecution and IP litigation. Focusing on the protection, registration, and preservation of all types of IP rights, the department is familiar with a range of sectors, from the patent and design landscape of pharmaceutical products, to copyright in the entertainment industry. Herrerías’s experience in the market covers all types of IP and he has cultivated strong relationships with the patent and trademark office, customs, the office of the attorney general, and other IP-related authorities. In January 2023, Edgar Mata was promoted to counsel and he is the most senior team member after Herrerías. He acts across the full range of the practice group’s workload and has particular experience in cross-border portfolio management. Senior associates José Casillas and Valentina Schmid are also experienced practitioners of note.

Boutique IP firm TMI Abogados provides ‘excellent solutions’ on the gamut of IP issues and stands out for its litigation offering, which takes on some of the most complex contentious challenges in the Mexican market. More specifically, it is in information technology (IT)-sector litigation that the practice is especially well known, taking a high share of the market’s digital copyright cases. The practice is led by Kiyoshi Tsuru, a reference in the market for IP and technology protection and who regularly represents clients in complex cases before courts, tribunals and panels. IP strategist and administrative and constitutional litigator Rodolfo Rangel is another key figure; he acts on cross-border trade mark franchising and licensing matters. Irely Aquique draws on experience working at the Mexican Institute for Intellectual Property to advising on the administrative litigation of trade marks, patents and copyright. Senior associate Cristian Aviña has public sector professional experience having worked at the Mexican PTO; his practice is focused on the safeguarding and enforcement of trade marks and patents.

Known for its ‘deep knowledge on the subject’ and housing ‘lawyers specialised in intellectual property, focused on the practice of advising national and foreign clients’, the IP department at Bello, Gallardo, Bonequi y García, S.C. is a reliable choice for portfolio management and protection. In August 2022 the team bolstered the breadth of its offering with the hire of senior associate Romeo Chora from Dumont, who has taken on leadership of the patent subgroup, as well as adding litigation strength regarding patent infringement. Chora joins a sizeable team that includes the ‘very diligent’ client favourite, Jonathan Rangel, one of the go-to experts in Mexico for the use of IP rights in the digital field; he frequently works in close conjunction with the firm’s TMT sector group. Rangel co-leads the IP team with Lilia Aguilar, whose practice focuses on IP portfolio management and protection for both domestic and international companies. Senior associate Juan Carlos Salazar has a strong focus on litigation regarding trade marks, domain names and copyright. Since publication, the firm has hired copyright and IT specialist Ricardo Sánchez Gil (formerly at González Rossi Abogados) as overall practice head – effective as of January 2024.

The breadth of the IP practice at Gonzalez Calvillo makes it reliable counsel for companies operating in Mexico, whether they need ongoing advice on rights protection or representation in court on specific issues. A large client base of both domestic and international market-leaders instruct the team, and as the practice has become increasingly recognised, it has acted on more cross-border matters, co-ordinating counsel across Latin America. In a near 30-year career, Pablo Hooper has established himself as one of the market’s leading names across trade mark, copyright, franchising and entertainment matters; he particularly stands out for strategic litigation regarding the protection of intellectual property rights. Co-leading the department alongside Hooper is Alberto Pliego, whose broad slate of work currently encompasses the real estate, energy and technology sectors. In support, associate Lirio Salgado (‘the knowledge she has on the subject is evident’), is the main contact for patents work; and fellow associate Constantino Aquique supports on litigation.

‘A skilled, safe pair of hands on trade mark matters’, filing, prosecution and litigation in that field are the focus of Goodrich, Riquelme y Asociados’ IP team, which acts for a diverse client list both in terms of sector and size. The team is as comfortable advising major multinationals as it is start-ups looking for security establishing themselves in the Mexican market. ‘Trusted advisor’ Enrique Diaz is the main contact for advisory and prosecution matters; senior partner Guillermo Sosa is the name to note for litigation; Julio Cesar Prieto advises on regulatory matters; while for patent matters, Juan Carlos Suárez is the go-to figure. Senior associate Maria Rosa Diaz is an IP litigation specialist; and from the broader pool of associates, Natalia Merino stands out in trade mark and copyright strategy.

Iberbrand S.C. is an IP boutique that focuses on contentious matters and is recognised for its ‘bench strength in the subjects of trade mark prosecution and enforcement’. The practice regularly advises on investigations, oppositions,  cancellation and nullity trials, infringement actions and appeals. Moreover, the team is accustomed to representing clients before the Mexican Trademark Office, and administrative and federal courts. Ana Vargas leads the litigation department but is equally strong on strategic trade mark and enforcement advice to support marketing and advertising campaigns in Mexico. Firm co-founder Gilberto Martinez (‘personally attentive to all matters’), heads the trade marks and copyright team and undertakes the full range of matters in those segments. Fellow founding partner Diego Rossi has approaching three decades in the market and assists across the gamut of matters handled by the firm. Senior associates Samantha González and Christian Nava assist with IP litigation and prosecution, respectively.

The intellectual property and entertainment law practice at Müggenburg, Gorches y Peñalosa, S.C. (MGPS) is one of the key pillars of the firm. The ‘very knowledgeable and responsive’ practice is co-led by Esteban Gorches, one of the firm’s founding partners and who is known for his prowess in litigation; and of counsel Ana Esther Urquizo, a dedicated IP professional who concentrates on the development of prior search processes, strategies for trade mark and patent protection, and obtaining rights and maintenance actions. The pair are closely supported by senior associate Fernando Sánchez Tarasco, whose practice centres on litigation; and on the IP prosecution and protection side, the ‘knowledgeable and helpful’ Ricardo Gómez Hernández. José Antonio Navarro Reyes and Bernardo López Smith are further associate-level contacts on the litigation side.

‘A very modern team’ at Santamarina y Steta assists its the clients with registration of sizeable IP portfolios, as well as ongoing protection, prosecution and IP litigation. As a full-service firm, multi-practice teams can coordinate on transactional matters, with the IP team available to support on associate IP and intangible-asset issues. José Pablo Pérez Zea is well-versed in advising national and international companies on franchising and licensing, and also has specialisms in both patent and trade mark prosecution, copyright, unfair competition and plant variety matters, among other areas. Pérez Zea co-heads the practice with Daniel Legaspi, a partner since January 2022, who has drawn in a number of new clients since his appointment to the promotion, and works across the trade marks, patents, plant varieties, appellation of origin, copyright, industrial secrets, licensing and litigation areas. Counsel Efraín Olmedo is admired by clients as ‘a great litigation lawyer’ and acts on all contentious IP matters.

Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC’s ‘highly attentive team’ for intellectual property matters remains a strong choice for a host of issues, whether as counsel on the IP components of M&A and joint ventures, or regarding portfolio management and the registration of trade marks and patents. Clients include both domestic sector leaders and household multinational names, with Nike Innovation being a recent addition to the client roster; the team is advising the company on patent matters. Practice head Patricia Kaim is an up-and-coming partner in the Mexican IP market; she has experience in constitutional and administrative IP proceedings, along with the IP aspects of transactional matters and IP-related dispute resolution. Kahn is supported by a five-strong associate team from which copyright specialist Silverio Sandate has been particularly active, recently.

Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. maintains a robust intellectual property offering that regularly assists clients with filing and prosecution of applications to obtain, maintain, and renew its intellectual property rights and protection. The team is equipped to handle the full array of intangible assets, including patents, trade marks, utility models, industrial designs, slogans and copyrights. Counsel Gaby Finkel heads the department and draws on considerable experience in an in-house position that gives her and the team a strong commercial aspect. Associate Sofía Castañón assists on the full range of matters.

The recent focus of the intellectual property department at Cuesta Campos y Asociados S.C. has been on the pharmaceutical, personal care and retail sectors. The practice advises both domestic and foreign clients on trade mark portfolios, including representation in trade mark litigation cases before the administrative and judicial courts. Practice head Mauricio Chozas is an accomplished litigator across the various areas of IP and is highlighted by one client as a ‘knowledgeable and pragmatic lawyer’. Key support comes from associate Lorena Pinto, particularly regarding the registration and renewal of trade marks, oppositions, and the management and administration of IP portfolios.

Jáuregui y Del Valle, S.C.’s work in IP has a distinct strength in anti-counterfeiting, piracy and online infringements, and demonstrates experience across a broad range of sectors - it has a notably strong client bases in pharmaceuticals, technology, telecoms and consumer goods. The firm also has an IP litigation offering that covers IP infringement actions on administrative, civil and criminal courts in matters related to trade marks, copyrights, plant varieties and patents. Israel Ledesma Meléndez leads the department and has particular expertise in administrative, civil and criminal litigation, specifically in cancellation, infringement, lapse and enforcement actions. Associate Marta Celis further bolsters the IP litigation offering.

Under the leadership of counsel Alejandro Díaz, Mijares, Angoitia, Cortés y Fuentes S.C.’s intellectual property practice is a key component of the firm’s wider offering in transactional matters, supporting on all relevant issues. In recent years the team has grown it IP portfolio management, protection and enforcement caseload; it also -in conjunction with the firm's litigation department- handles contentious IP matters. Areas of particular experience for the team include advertising matters, IP asset due diligence, and work in both the sports and entertainment sectors. Díaz is supported by associates Claudia Gutiérrez, who focuses on trade marks, patents, IT and regulatory matters; Alfonso Alcázar, who is often involved in copyright cases; and March 2022 hire Juan Pablo Cárdenas.

Leader of Chevez Ruiz Zamarripa’s intellectual property department, Gloria Niembro was raised to the partnership in January 2023 and is seen as an ‘invaluable asset’ to clients thanks to her ‘incredible’ work and dedication. The practice has a strong focus on trade mark registration and prosecution, infringements, and licensing, and is also instructed on one-off intellectual property disputes. Senior associate Arturo Revilla is a dedicated IP lawyer and acts on trade mark prosecution and litigation cases.

Leveraging its presence across Latin America and Iberia, ECIJA fields an IP team in Mexico that acts as an integral part of the firm’s coordinated registration and protection offering for the range of IP categories. The firm’s longstanding specialism in TMT matters gives it an extra edge in digital law issues and its IP client base has considerable overlap with the digital technology space. The hire of new practice head Miguel Ángel Margáin (from Pérez Correa González) in June 2023 has substatially strengthened the practice group. Martáin is supported by dedicated senior associate Georgina García - who ‘has an impressive ability to offer straightforward solutions’ and is experienced in portfolio management across a variety of businesses. Additionally, office managing partner Ricardo Chacón oversees the full range of IP work, while TMT-practice co-head Joaquín Rodríguez is also active in relation to IP matters.

Led from its Monterrey office by senior counsel José Luis Villareal, Holland & Knight’s intellectual property practice is a component of the wider firm’s global service across trade marks, patents and copyright. The team handles the full range of registration, protection and enforcement matters, as well as being a reliable support on transactional work and counsel in IP dispute resolution.

The IP team at Ibarra, del Paso y Gallego assists its clients with the design, protection, application and maintenance of trade mark portfolios. The team also regularly handles the registration of copyright, patents and domain names, and also represents clients in administrative proceedings for infringement, nullity, cancellations and foreclosure. Practice head Juan Manuel Álvarez del Castillo is highlighted by one client for his ‘very good service’; he is supported by associates Yvonne Amaya Becerra and Andrea Guttiérez Romero.