Seven decades on from its inception as an intellectual property law boutique, BKM | Berkemeyer remains synonymous with this area of practice in Paraguay. Its client base includes a comprehensive list of major multinational and domestic players in various markets, the food and beverage industry being a particularly strong area for the team, where it counts Coca-Cola and Grupo Bimbo among its clients. The highly specialised department has team leaders for particular disciplines within IP, with seasoned veteran and market reference Marta Berkemeyer overseeing the department as a whole. The trade mark group is led by associate Irene Angulo, and Cristobal Gonzalez heads the patent division, while also having expertise in copyright. Bárbara Dollstadt is highly regarded in the market and is the name to note for IP disputes, and senior figure Hugo Berkemeyer is a further key contact, leading across the full range of matters. An international department is coordinated by associates Jaqueline Querciola, whose focus is on contentious matters, and Valeria Carron, another trade mark expert.

Uruguay-headquartered multijurisdictional IP specialist Cervieri Monsuárez operates an Asunción office offering comprehensive IP services to its primarily international client roster. Counterfeit seizure actions and trade mark oppositions are particularly busy areas for the practice; the former being the focus of Diego Pérez, the latter handled by Marcela Cárdenas. Together the pair co-lead the department, with associate-level support coming from Giovanna Milessi on the anti-counterfeit side, and Miriam Colmán in relation to trade marks. The six-strong local team can also call on the firm's resources in both Bolivia and Uruguay with regard to matters concerning IP strategy and litigation, patents and copyright, along with corporate matters, commercial agreements and regulatory affairs.

Ferrere‘s client base of major Paraguayan and international clients turn to the firm for assistance in a wide range of IP and regulatory matters, from trade mark, patent, design and domain name registry to oppositions and litigation. The firm’s presence in Bolivia and Uruguay is ‘an attractive quality‘ for multinational clients in particular, providing a smoother service in terms of managing IP portfolios across Latin America. Senior associate Montserrat Puente is the standout IP-focused practitioner in the team, ‘leading the area with great expertise‘. Alongside her as practice co-head is corporate partner Néstor Loizaga, while associate Cynthia Sanabria has considerable experience in managing IP portfolios, and senior associate Miguel Saguier assists with IP disputes.

Mersán Abogados has a notable history in IP law and maintains a broad practice in both contentious and advisory capacities. A host of clients, both domestic and international and spanning an array of industries, look to the practice for IP advice, and its client base continues to grow year on year. Senior partner Hugo Mersán is an elder statesman of the Paraguayan IP law scene, and he oversees the practice with several other lawyers with considerable IP practices: Lorena Mersán, an up-and-coming expert in the field; trade mark-focused senior associate Melissa Stimson; Liliana Nolan, who has particular strength in patents, plant breeder’s rights, agribusiness and criminal law; and Maria de los Angeles Barrios, who has an IP litigation focus.

Patent matters for international clients are a recent area of growth for Vouga Abogados‘ IP department, which goes from strength to strength. Co-leader of the practice Laura Lezcano has particular renown in the patent field, which is furthered by associate Manuel Acevedo‘s extensive experience in cross-border patent matters. The team covers a range of other IP matters as it is well integrated with the firm’s corporate group, and other related practices. Siegfried Vouga leads the practice with Lezcano and is the primary contact for a number of key clients looking for support in the management and defence of their IP. Rodrigo Fernández is especially strong in matters that have an overlap with corporate law, while associate Grecia Florentin supports the practice heads across all issues.

Olmedo Abogados is the firm of choice for a range of domestic and international companies looking for assistance in filing trade marks and managing their IP portfolios. The practice is also called upon by a number of international law firms whose clients need IP advice on trade mark and patent registration in Paraguay. Sebastián Olmedo, who has broad experience in various practice areas and a focus on contentious IP matters, co-leads the department with IP-dedicated associate Julia Schmidt, who is strong in patents, utility models, industrial models and copyright.

A mix of domestic and international companies, as well as foreign law firms needing advice in Paraguay, look to Peroni Sosa Tellechea Burt & Narvaja for the filing of trade marks and patents in Paraguay. The team also assists with concessions and the licensing of brand name products, as well as distribution, representation and agency rights contracts. IP experts Elba Britez de Ortiz, Mariana Peroni and Juan Ortiz Britez jointly lead the department.