Maria Smith

Maria Smith is a highly accomplished trade mark lawyer serving as Head of Trade Mark Practice at Dentons Hong Kong LLP. Her extensive career includes leading the trade mark practices of two other major multi-jurisdictional law firms.

Core Areas of Practice:

Maria's legal work focuses on regional and global brand protection and enforcement strategies, and intellectual property (IP) portfolio management. She routinely advises clients on several key strategic pillars:

- Brand Strategy: Securing and clearing brand names prior to market entry or product launches.

- IP Management: Coordinating, streamlining, and managing complex regional and global portfolios.

- Enforcement: Defending brands in contentious matters and administrative hearings.

- Commercial IP: Handling IP audits, IP acquisitions, and IP commercial deals.

Key Recognitions:

Maria is widely recognised as a leading lawyer and a top-tier brand protection and enforcement strategist in the Asia-Pacific region:

- Chambers Asia-Pacific: Recognised as a leading lawyer in her field for eight consecutive years.

- World Trademark Review (WTR 1000): Highlighted as a market favourite for devising brand protection strategies.

- Asia IP: Listed as an IP Expert within the Hong Kong legal landscape.

Recognition:

- Leading Lawyer (Intellectual Property – International Firm, China/Hong Kong) – Chambers Greater China Region (2022-2025)

- Leading Lawyer (Intellectual Property – International Firm, China/Hong Kong) – Chambers Asia Pacific (2009-2011, 2013-2021)

- IP Star (trade mark) – Managing Intellectual Property: IP Stars (2012-2025)

- WIPR Leader (Intellectual Property, Hong Kong) – World Intellectual Property Review (2010-2020)

- Notable Practitioner (Hong Kong) – IFLR1000 (2019-2020)

- Top 250 Women in IP (Hong Kong) – Managing Intellectual Property (2019 -2022)

- Gold Tier (Prosecution and Strategy, Hong Kong) – World Trademark Review 1000 (2016-2024)

- Leading Trade Mark Practitioner – Managing Intellectual Property (2010-2024)

- Leading Trade Mark Lawyer – Asia IP Experts (2013-2025)

- The World’s Leading Trademark Lawyers – Who’s Who Legal: IP (2012-2023)

- The World's Leading Trade Mark Practitioners World Trade Mark Review 1000 (2011-2025)

- World's Leading Female Trade Mark Practitioners – Euromoney Women in Business Law Expert Guide (2016-2023)

- Euromoney's Women in Business Law Shortlisted for The Most Admired Women in Law – Intellectual Property Review (2021)

- Influential Women in IP – WIPR Diversity: 'Shining Lights' (2023)

Member, Hong Kong Institute of Trade Mark Practitioners

Member, International Trademark Association