Audrey Williams > Estudio Benedetti > Panama, Panama > Lawyer Profile
Estudio Benedetti Offices
EDIFICIO COMOSA, PISO 19, AVENIDA SAMUEL LEWIS
PANAMA
Panama
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Audrey Williams
Work Department
Partner - Head of anti-counterfeiting practice
Position
Partner – Head of anti-counterfeiting practice
Career
Mrs. Williams is recognized for her outstanding work in anti-counterfeiting matters in Panama, with more than 27 years of experience in IP law. She heads the anti-piracy litigation department and her practice areas include intellectual property, unfair competition, trademark and copyright litigation, distributorship, licensing and franchising, among others.
After obtaining her licentiate degree in Law and Political Science with honors (Magna Cum Laude) from the Universidad Santa María La Antigua in Panama, she began working at Panamanian law firm Benedetti & Benedetti. She won a Fullbright scholarship and went on to obtain LL.M. with specialization in Commercial Law from the University of California at Berkeley and then rejoined the internationally renowned firm, where she was promoted to partner and headed the anti-piracy litigation department for more than 20 years.
Mrs. Williams is constantly advising clients on IP infringement matters, handling criminal and civil litigation, seeking ways to resolve out of court whenever possible, and securing deals that allow the clients to recover what they invested in legal action plus compensation.
She also handles trademark filing projects, copyright matters, and franchising issues.
Mrs. Williams advises and represents international companies from all industries, including market leaders in apparel, media, food and beverage, consumer products, pharmaceuticals, and technologies.
Because of her excellent work, she is also frequently contacted by foreign law firms and attorneys seeking IP services in Panama.
Aside from being active in INTA and ASIPI committees, she is the President of the National Group of AIPPI, and current Vice President of the Panamanian Intellectual Property Association. She has authored several IP related articles for international publications and regularly contributes with INTA guides. She has served as trademark expert witness in proceedings at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.
Languages
Spanish and English
Memberships
Panama Bar Association, the Panamanian Association of Intellectual Property Law – APADEPI (Vice President, 2020-2022, 2010-2016; Deputy Secretary 2017-2019), the Inter-American Association of Intellectual Property – ASIPI (Secretary Ethics committee 2012-2014, Secretary Anti-counterfeiting committee 2009-2011), the Association Internationale pour la Protection de la Propriété Industrielie – AIPPI (President of Panamanian group since 2016), and the International Trademark Association – INTA.
Education
Licentiate degree in Law and Political Science (Cum Laude) – Universidad de Panama, Panama
Master of Laws – LLM, Commercial Law (Fullbright Scholar) – University of California at Berkeley, USA
Lawyer Rankings
Panama > Intellectual property
(Hall of Fame)‘A benchmark in Panama in intellectual property matters‘, specialist firm Estudio Benedetti handles the IP portfolios of household-name multinationals, including companies from the pharmaceuticals, retail, entertainment and luxury goods sectors. Trade mark, patent, utility model and design filings, and Colón Free Zone trade mark issues are among the practice’s key areas of expertise; the group is also active in opposition, cancellation and annulment actions. The sizeable team is led by Ramón Benedetti Velázquez
, who oversees the IP prosecution practice; Audrey Williams, who excels in anti-counterfeiting litigation and is ‘very skilled in negotiating trade mark cases‘; IP litigation specialist Diana Leandro; and Ramón Benedetti Alemán, who handles IP renewals and foreign filings. Other noteworthy practitioners include patent agent Jeane Johnson and associate Graziella Benedetti, whose ‘extensive experience in regulatory issues allows her to provide good solutions to all client issues‘. Fernando Reyes, a name to note for infringement cases, and Julissa Farah also stand out at the associate level.