Full-service legal giant Carey is ‘far superior to other firms in Chile’, according to certain clients. Acting for a wide range of companies from the energy, infrastructure, mining, transportation, technology, life sciences and healthcare sectors, the multidisciplinary IP group has an enviable reputation for its identification and protection of IP rights at each stage of the innovation lifecycle. The group’s experience ranges from the prosecution and litigation of trade marks, patents and industrial designs, to geographical indications, designations of origin, plant varieties and domain names. It is also home to experts in pharmaceutical-related regulatory matters, copyright, anti-counterfeiting and technology contracting, as well as privacy, licensing, advertising, trade secrets, intangible asset valuations and unfair competition. Largely responsible for the firm's emergence as an IP powerhouse, Guillermo Carey's wide-ranging experience includes assisting pharmaceutical laboratories with regulatory issues and patent infringements. He co-leads the practice in conjunction with  Francisco Carey, who is ‘without a doubt one of the main IP experts in the country’; counsel and invention patent expert Fernando García; and director Jorge Fuentes, who assists with obtaining patents before the Chilean Institute of Industrial Property (INAPI). At associate level, Catalina Aldunate assists with intellectual and industrial property-related assessments and litigation, while IP litigator Carla Encalada focuses on trade marks, patents and domain names.

Sargent & Krahn is ‘a go-to firm in Chile that always provides business-focused advice and looks for the most pragmatic solution possible’. The large IP group advises on sizeable portfolios of trade marks and patents, its assistance encompassing contractual, prosecution and contentious matters. The practice is increasingly active in relation to life sciences and pharmaceutical-related IP work; and the firm’s litigation department, particularly the anti-counterfeiting branch, routinely assists with the seizure and destruction of counterfeit products. The team is also routinely mandated to act in significant civil and criminal trade mark and patent infringement cases. Among the firm’s several key advisers, senior counsel Alfredo Montaner heads the trade mark and domain name groups; Juan Pablo Egaña advises on industrial secrets and invention licenses; and Rodrigo Lavados assists with the IP side of software, database and internet-related matters. The department further showcases Eduardo Lobos, who ‘always resolves trade mark and domain registration problems’; Cristian Barros M, a specialist in patents, trade marks and life sciences; and infringement department head Pablo Cariola, who is an experienced trade mark, industrial property and copyright litigation practitioner. In the firm’s associate group, senior Gabriel Pensa, along with Daniela Guerrero and Alejandra Varela, also maintain notable IP practices.

The ‘very strong, experienced and diverse’ team at IP law firm Silva comprises lawyers, engineers, and chemists, who protect, manage and defend IP rights at the global level. The large group covers the gamut of IP work, ranging from trade marks, patents, industrial designs, utility models and copyright, to domain names, regulatory issues and litigation. The practice also field specialists in IT, entertainment, sports law, data protection and access to information, along with geographical indications and designations of origin. The team is co-led by founding partner; Juan Pablo Silva, an expert in trade marks, geographical indications and designations of origin; trade mark and patent practitioner Francisco Silva, who also heads the firm’s international department; and Ricardo Montero, an adviser on trade marks, domain names and copyright. The next line of experienced advisers includes Andrés Grunewaldt (the current director of the Chilean Association of Intellectual Property) and Sebastián Alvarado, who both ‘always provide the best advice for patent cases’; and Rodrigo León, whose track record includes drafting IP policies and regulations for major universities and companies in Chile. At associate level, Luis Felipe Opazo (trade marks, geographical indications and appellations of origin) and Manuel Concha (trade marks, copyright, license agreements, opposition lawsuits, and nullity claims) are both experienced IP practitioners.

‘Very knowledgeable about IP law’, Albagli Zaliasnik houses sector specialists in technology, electronics, telecoms, automobiles, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, retail, and food and beverages. The seven-member team handles copyright, trade marks, patents, and digital and internet rights. It also assists with consumer protection issues, anti-piracy, licensing, unfair competition, and industrial and business secrets. Recent highlights include assisting pharmaceutical company Sandoz Group with reviewing the status of several patent applications of competitors. The IP, technology and data group is led by Eugenio Gormáz, whose expertise encompasses trade marks, patents, copyright, advertising law, licenses, plant varieties and denominations of origin / geographical indications. Gormáz is ‘able to navigate complex and dynamic subjects’; and is supported by Ariela Agosin, whose wide-ranging practice covers IP work, in addition to civil, commercial and regulatory litigation. In the firm’s senior associate ranks, intellectual and industrial property specialist Antonia Nudman advises on litigation and contracts involving copyright, trade marks, investment patents, consumer protection, e-commerce, and unfair competition; and Carlos Lazcano, a 2023 hire from Baker McKenzie Chile, who focuses on intellectual and industrial property matters, including prosecutions, disputes and monitoring trade marks in Chile and abroad. Laczano also advises on copyright, domain names, patents, industrial designs, plant varieties and advertising law.

The 13-strong multidisciplinary IP practice at Alessandri & Compañía Abogados fields engineers, chemists, biotechnologists and designers, in addition to lawyers. The team is highly experienced in obtaining protection for innovation, both at domestic and foreign levels; and it is particularly active in relation to the evaluation of potential patents of university projects. Recent highlights include acting for retailer Michael Kors International (Switzerland) in a trade mark infringement-related nullity action; and assisting Uber Technologies with its opposition to a trade mark application for cosmetic products. The department is co-led by music industry specialist Rodrigo Velasco A, who routinely advises on the licensing contractual, taxation and litigious aspects of domain names, trade marks, patents, data protection, software and the internet; and Santiago Ortúzar, who focuses on the protection of innovation and patents, as well as contracts and defence-side free competition cases. Ortúzar is also notably experienced in designing strategies for the global protection and licensing of the innovation and patents of Chilean companies, universities and inventors. At director level, Carla Pacheco advises on portfolio management, advertising and unfair competition, along with litigation and the management of portfolios abroad. Associates Francisco Silva, Martín Vicuña, Jaime Urzúa, Francesca Bozzo and Álvaro Ávila are also experienced IP practitioners.

According to some clients, Claro & Cia. 's IP practice is ‘as good as any Chilean firm’. The six-member, full-service intellectual property group undertakes traditional brand and patent-related matters, as well as advertising, software, data protection, unfair competition, consumer law, regulatory issues and IP-related transactions. The group handles work across a range of sectors, but is particularly active in the agricultural, clothing, footwear, cosmetics, mining, pharmaceutical, technology, tobacco, and food and beverage sectors. The practice also has a notable track record in IP litigation, prosecution, opposition and cancellation procedures, along with the enforcement of IP rights in Chile’s ordinary courts. The team is led by Felipe Claro, a former international president of the International Association for the Protection of Industrial Property (AIPPI), who has extensive experience in advising on high-stakes IP issues. The team further includes Paulina Bardón, who specialises in data protection and technology, in addition to IP law. In the firm’s senior associate pool, the ‘excellent’ Claus Krebs is experienced in the IP aspects of new technologies and software; Mahish Sadarangani advises on trade mark, copyright and internet issues; trade mark, patent and copyright expert Bryan Kernitsky ‘provides very practical advice’; and Trinidad Rojas focuses predominantly on patents and trade mark portfolios.

IP and technology-focused firm Covarrubias houses practitioners who ‘always strive to offer commercially pragmatic solutions’. The 11-member IP department handles patents, life sciences, trade marks, domain names and copyright. It also fields specialists in new technologies, data protection and litigation. The group recently advised telecoms multinational Telefónica on a potential opposition to a trade mark application. The practice’s key figures are esteemed founding partner Arturo Covarrubias, an expert in industrial property and copyright-related protection strategies, as well as industrial property litigation involving the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, tissue paper, food, retail and telecoms sectors; trade mark and domain name specialist Sofía Covarrubias, who heads the firm’s international trade mark department and ‘has vast experience in IP’. In the firm’s associate team, biochemist and patent group leader Matías Valenzuela focuses on the protection of patents for chemical, pharmaceutical and biotechnology-related inventions. Growth for the practice includes the late 2023 recruitment of trade mark and domain name associate Felipe Maldonado from IP registry Simple Marcas; and Universidad de Santiago professor and copyright and industrial property contract expert, Gabriel Vargas. Former associates Camilo Cammas and Diego Bilbao left the firm in December 2023 and March 2024, respectively (with Bilbao replaced in the litigation department by recent associate hire Paulina Espinoza).

Baker McKenzie Chile's three-member team acts across the gamut of IP work. Its expertise covers trade marks, copyright, domain names and patent law, including prosecution, enforcement, litigation and regulatory work. The group’s experience also extends to innovation-related advice and IP-related transactional issues, such as licensing and assignments. The practice is led by Valentina Venturelli, who is particularly experienced in pharmaceutical and healthcare-related trade mark and patent prosecutions. Providing key support, senior associate Sebastián Dorena predominantly focuses on anti-counterfeiting work, IP litigation, and enforcements and prosecutions. Former associate Carlos Lazcano left the firm in June 2023.

With ‘vast experience in IP’, Dentons‘s nine-member group is experienced in building, protecting, exploiting and defending clients’ IP assets in Chile and other Latin American countries. Its workload covers both patents and trade marks, along with licensing and technology transfers. The team is also increasingly active in relation to technology surveillance for patents, know-how, and inventions involving new technologies (software, AI, machine learning and big data). The department is co-led by intellectual and industrial property specialist Maria Carolina Del Rio, whose practice includes trade mark and patent prosecution and litigation; and Maria Mercedes Londoño, who has extensive experience in the strategic management of IP assets. Key support is provided by senior associate Gabriela Wildner who handles IP matters as part of her broad practice, which also takes in data protection and TMT matters.

IP boutique Jarry IP is mandated by universities, entrepreneurs and corporations to advise on utility models, trade marks and domain names, as well as to assist with preparing invention reports that lead to national patent applications. The six-member team is particularly active in relation to the technology, cosmetic products, food and pharmaceutical industries. Among the firm’s principal figures, founding partner Allan Jarry has longstanding IP expertise; Magdalena Barros leads the legal and enforcement department; Olga Moreno is patent division head; and Paula Mardones leads the firm’s overseas patent cases. In the associate group, senior Javiera Diaz advises on both corporate and IP matters. Promoted to junior partner during 2023, Arantzazu Bermudez specialises in IP litigation.

Magliona Abogados' seven-member team handles patent and trade mark litigation, software licensing and IP-related transactions (including tax issues). It also assists with negotiations involving performance rights organisations; IP-related public policy and government relations; and copyright clearance for advertising companies. The practice’s principal advisers are intellectual and industrial property specialist Claudio Magliona; Nicolás Yuraszeck P, an adviser on IP, new technologies and telecoms law; and Giovanni Donati, whose broad expertise includes intellectual and industrial property litigation. Primary support comes from associate practice directors Rodrigo Valenzuela, who assists with trade mark, patent and license-related infringements; Carlos Araya, an advisor on the exploitation of audiovisual works; and Karla Cid, whose practice takes in new technologies and telecoms law as well as IP matters.

‘Highly specialised in intellectual and industrial property issues’, Andes IP fields a multidisciplinary team of lawyers, engineers and biotechnologists. The five-member group advises on the protection and operation of intangible assets, such as trade marks, patents and copyrights. It also advises on technology transfers, patents, piracy, infringements and image rights. The group is co-led by IP and entrepreneurship expert Andrea Lobos in conjunction with international IP protection strategy specialist Rodrigo Sammut. At senior associate level, Fernanda Olmedo is ‘very up to date on the latest IP trends’.

Rebranding from Beytia Badilla Davis to BBD Badilla Davis in March 2024, the firm’s ‘very committed’ IP group is experienced in trade marks, patents, copyright, free competition, software and personal data. The three-member team also assists with IP-related contracts, as well as litigation. The practice is co-led by Agustina Davis, who assists with the administration of national and foreign trade mark portfolios and the enforcement of IP rights, along with copyright issues and domain names; and Javiera Badilla, an adviser on trade marks, copyright, domain names, software legislation, data protection and technology transfers.

Specialised in the protection of industrial and intellectual property, CMS Carey & Allende's IP team comprises sector specialists in banking, technology, media, life sciences, automotive, consumer products, healthcare and fast-moving consumer goods. Acting at both local and global levels, the group advises on trade mark registrations, oppositions and portfolio management, as well as patents, copyright, domain names, litigation, data protection and counterfeiting and piracy. The IP team is led by Matías Somarriva, who has longstanding experience in trade marks, patents, industrial designs, copyright, and counterfeiting and piracy-related criminal and civil lawsuits.

Fielding ‘a multidisciplinary team that is always available’, Flores Acevedo's trade mark team advises start-ups, entrepreneurs, inventors, and business incubators and accelerators on IP issues. The group also acts for small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as research and development centres. The patent team focuses primarily on mining industry clients that develop inventions for drilling, processing and extraction; while its recent experience also includes the protection of health devices’ IP. The six-member team is led by Pablo Acevedo, who ‘transmits solid expertise’, and senior associate Carolina Toro Bragg assists with IP-related deals and prosecutions.

Guerrero Olivos' five-member IP team is experienced in the prosecution of IP rights, as well as enforcement matters involving copyrights and trade marks, and patent litigation. The practice also assists with cross-border portfolio management, IP contracts, and denomination of origin and geographical indication procedures, along with customs issues, technology transfers and IP-related joint venture agreements. It additionally acts in anti-counterfeiting-related civil infringement cases and criminal proceedings. The group is led by senior associate Diego Morandé, a trade mark and innovation protection specialist, who also litigates civil and criminal IP matters. The more junior Alejandra Leiton handles a broad IP workload.

Delivering ‘precise advice based on experience’, Larrain y Asociados Abogados' four-member IP group comprises experts in industrial property matters and copyright law. It has notable experience in licensing agreements, as well as music industry-related contracts that combine constitutional law and IP issues. The practice is also experienced in plant varieties, along with litigation before the Chilean Trademark Office, the Industrial Property Court, and the Supreme Court. The firm additionally fields experts in domain name disputes. The team is co-led by experienced litigator José Pedro Baraona; and senior associate Sebastián Prieto Damm, who is ‘attentive, proactive and an expert in IP’.

Mühlenbrok & Kühner's 19-strong IP practice routinely assists with the registration of trade marks and patents, as well as the legal protection of works - such as books, music, art, films and software. It also assists with defence-side domain name matters, and transactions involving intangible assets and know-how contracts. The wide-ranging practice of name partner and industrial and intellectual property specialist, Alexander Mühlenbrock, encompasses trade marks, patents, copyright, privacy and advertising. Mühlenbrock further assists with the protection of intangible assets in Chile, as well as IP-related dispute resolution and litigation. Associate Daniel Suárez is an experienced trial lawyer.

Boutique firm Russi & Eguiguren | Quadrant routinely assists its clients with the protection of their IP assets. The firm’s ‘top-notch practitioners’ advise on trade marks, patents, utility models, industrial designs and domain names. The team also comprises specialists in copyright, unfair competition, consumer protection, plant varieties and sanitary registrations. The all-female department is co-led at director level by ‘tremendous lawyer’ Nicole Alfero Marti, a specialist in trade marks, patents and domain names; and Francisca Figueroa Illanes, whose practice encompasses trade marks and patents (including litigation), licences, and technology transfer and protection strategies.

SCR Abogados' ‘lawyers have extensive experience in IP’. The team’s coverage encompasses trade mark protection, patent strategy and inventions. It also advises on copyright, trade secrets, IP-related transactional matters, piracy and plant breeders' rights. The practice is additionally home to specialists in domain names, copyright enforcement and unfair competition. The team is led by Juan Francisco Reyes, whose track record includes assisting software, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, retail, automotive and medical device companies with protecting their intangible assets.

Boutique law firm Santa Cruz IP advises businesses, governments, academic institutions, non-profit entities and international organisations on IP, innovation and technology transfers. The ‘highly innovative firm’ assists with both procedural and transactional IP mandates; and its IP practice is headed up by founding partner and ‘eminent intellectual and industrial property specialist’, Maximiliano Santa Cruz. Providing notable support, Gonzalo Sánchez's experience includes assisting with the registration of designations of origin; and Catalina Olivos currently serves as co-chair of the International Relations Committee at the International Institute for IP Management (I3PM). Promoted to senior associate in November 2023, IP and patent specialist Lionel Bascur is also an integral member of the team.