Intellectual Property | Europe

Clifford Chance maintains its reputation as a dominant firm in patent law matters. The law firm represents an impressive roster of global pharmaceutical and biotechnology company clients. The lawyers demonstrate broad experience in trade mark infringement mandates for major companies in the sports, food and drinks, and electronics industries. The department provides excellent advice on software licence agreements that clarify ownership of IP rights in contracts between commercial partners.

Garrigues handles a diverse range of copyright mandates for media and IT companies, with experience in the assignment of image rights, the protection of database rights and the defence of infringement actions relating to the use of protected software. The law firm has notable experience in plant variety rights cases. Garrigues is home to a prestigious IP team that acts on international trade mark disputes against infringers of Spanish and EU trade marks, also assisting multinationals with unfair competition claims, including cases relating to the protection of trade secrets.

Uría Menéndez attracts attention for standout copyright expertise, benefiting from key partners in the Madrid office who often advise on sensitive administrative proceedings or civil litigation. The law firm possesses a broad patent litigation client base that extends across the life sciences, telecoms and retail sectors. It drafts policies to ensure the protection of trade secrets and pursues related unfair competition claims against competitors. Uría Menéndez earns further praise for activity in disputes concerning the protection of plant varieties.

Baker McKenzie leverages the excellent reputation of copyright experts in Madrid to attract key international media clients seeking to acquire rights to distribute content in Spain. The team is particularly well versed in handling mandates for US-based media clients. It earns praise for its handling of anti-counterfeiting mandates, with experience in the coordination of criminal investigations in Spain. Its wider trade mark and design practice advises both on civil infringement actions and on oppositions or cancellations filed with the EU or Spanish IP agencies.

Bird & Bird acts both for generics and for innovator pharmaceutical sector companies in infringement and related invalidity actions. The law firm houses an emerging IP portfolio management practice that assists with the prosecution of patents, trade marks and designs on a global scale. It has further strength in trade mark infringement and misleading advertising cases. The team also assists with litigation relating to the breach of IP rights in patents, trade marks and copyright.

Cuatrecasas is noted for its expertise in handling copyright matters for IT sector clients that are commercialising new technologies. The law firm is recognised by market sources for its trade mark, design and copyright legal advice. The team also acts for high-profile individuals on the defence of their image rights, having further experience in patent litigation and unfair competition mandates.

Elzaburu has an active litigation practice that complements renowned capabilities in patent and trade mark prosecution and management. The law firm advises on applications to the Spanish or EU IP agencies and handles appeals against adverse decisions. It assists major international clients with trade mark infringement and anti-counterfeiting cases, including those that are accompanied by customs seizures and criminal prosecutions. The team acts on patent disputes in the technology sector, demonstrating additional non-contentious copyright capabilities in the media sector.

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo offers excellent coverage of numerous areas of IP law. The law firm handles patent disputes on behalf of a varied client list that includes pharmaceutical companies, telecoms companies and manufacturers of biosimilar products. The team has experience in trade mark infringement and cancellation actions brought before Spain's civil courts or the EU trade mark court in Alicante. It assists with administrative proceedings seeking to block or overturn the award of Spanish trade marks. Gómez-Acebo & Pombo's expertise extends to digital business and copyright issues.

Hogan Lovells regularly assists leading global brands with trade mark management and advises on EU trade mark and designs, involving registrations, cancellation actions and the opposition of filings by competitors. Its Madrid team plays a significant role in patent and trade mark infringement cases, including those that are coordinated with offices in other European jurisdictions. The law firm is well known for representing clients from the life sciences, media, food and drink, and technology industries.

HOYNG ROKH MONEGIER is an international IP practice that advises on all aspects of patent and trade mark law on a pan-European scale. The team receives patent litigation instructions from major international clients in the pharmaceutical and technology sectors. It also possesses a Madrid-based brand protection and prosecution practice that regularly acts for global brands on trade mark enforcement matters. Its copyright lawyers assist with challenges to the interpretation of legislation affecting Spain's collecting societies, with further standout experience in high-profile proceedings seeking to prevent piracy of media content.

Abril Abogados participates in court cases and provides advice on cases that seek remedies for trade mark infringements and the cancellation of competitors' marks. The law firm's experience extends to criminal proceedings and customs seizures of counterfeit goods, as well as prosecution issues. It also maintains a proven track record in non-contentious copyright mandates on behalf of IT sector clients that extends to cross-border.

Pérez-Llorca rises in the rankings due to strong market support and its increasing visibility. The law firm houses a strong team that regularly advises clients on trade mark, image rights and copyright mandates. The team is active on both contentious and regulatory matters, offering additional support with licensing agreements. Pérez-Llorca also provides significant expertise in complex patent litigation and unfair competition mandates.

Vidal-Quadras & Ramon climbs a tier up due to strong market support and its increasing visibility. The law firm benefits from the superb reputations of two partners who have a strong presence in pharmaceutical sector-related patent litigation. The law firm defends manufacturers of generic drugs in infringement actions and in attached preliminary injunction requests. The team has additional proven experience on the defendant side of trade mark infringement actions.

Ecija Abogados services an impressive list of major clients from the IT, telecoms and media sectors. The group assists with diverse copyright mandates ranging from the negotiation of agreements for the sale and licensing of rights through to enforcement actions taken against infringers. Its lawyers also advise on unfair competition and trade mark issues. The team benefits from an international network that has offices in several countries in Central and Latin America.

Pedro Alemán Abogados assists domestic and foreign film, TV and music producers with commercial and litigious mandates deriving from their activities in Spain. The law firm regularly handles highlight mandates relating to the contested ownership of works of art, also acting for software developers and end users on licensing agreements and related disputes. The team offers additional expertise in technology and data protection issues.

RocaJunyent IP team offers solid experience in a wide array of intellectual property matters. The law firm has copyright capabilities and boasts a strong reputation for work on behalf of architects, musicians and creators of audiovisual work. The wider team handles trade mark registrations, technology transfer mandates and trade mark or image rights infringement actions filed in foreign jurisdictions.