Fernandez Secco & Asociados, Law Firm AT Montevideo , Montevideo, Uruguay

THE FIRM: Fernández Secco & Asociados is a Montevideo based firm with over 35 years of experience in intellectual property law. The firm also provides legal and accounting services relating the incorporation and operation of Uruguayan companies. Fernández Secco & Asociados established itself as one of the preeminent intellectual property shops in Uruguay, and takes pride in its personal relationship with its clients. The firm’s multidisciplinary staff of professionals provides a breadth of services across a wide range of areas to ensure their clients receive the best advice tailored to their requirements and needs. The firm’s resolve, pursuit of excellence and strict adherence to ethical principles are the inspirations behind their work and the reason behind the firm high ranking both local and internationally. Fernandez Secco & Asociados is based in Montevideo, but its work spans beyond the country as the firm´s strong international connections allow them to provide IP services worldwide, with particular emphasis in Latin America. For many decades the firm has worked with national and multinational clients who do business or protect their IP assets in Uruguay helping them structure, organise, and manage their IP portfolios and set up new companies in the country dealing with accounting and tax issues as well as general corporate needs. MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE: Intellectual Property: Fernández Secco & Asociados has a leading fullservice intellectual property practice and provides Uruguayan and foreign companies with a full range of legal and technical services in the fields of management of IP portfolios and the prosecution, acquisition, commercialisation, litigation and enforcement of intellectual property rights. The firm’s experienced team of professionals specialises in obtaining and protecting trademark, patent, utility model, industrial design, domains, copyrights and plant variety rights in Uruguay and internationally. Fernandez Secco & Asociados also offers comprehensive legal advice in anti-counterfeiting, unfair competition, data protection, internet law, regulatory matters, advertisement law, entertainment law, technology transfer, franchising and licensing and has first-rate capabilities in the litigation and dispute resolution of intellectual property matters. Dispute Resolution & Litigation: Fernandez Secco & Asociados has exceptional ADR capabilities and prioritises the client’s economic and commercial needs in order to obtain a pragmatic and cost effective answer to the client´s needs. The firm has top-level litigation skills, and its lawyer’s academic work is frequently cited by the Administrative Tribunal in intellectual property cases. Fernandez Secco & Asociados represents clients at First Instance Courts, Courts of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Uruguay as well as before the Administrative Tribunal and in administrative appeals before the Trademark and Patent Office and de Ministry of Industry. Transactions & Contracts: The Firm has comprehensive experience in the negotiation of contracts and commercial transactions. Recent deals include negotiation and transactions regarding IP rights, coexistence agreement, the renegotiation of distribution and representation agreements in the pharmaceutical industry, license agreements or copyrighted works related to the cultural industry, the negotiation of licensing of patents, due diligence and real estate transactions. Corporate Law: The firm’s corporate practice provides all forms of business entities with strategic planning and exceptional, high quality assistance in day-to-day operations to companies and startups. An experienced team of professionals incorporate and manage Uruguayan companies, providing legal, accounting and tax services from a single venue and advising companies on corporate, commercial and labor law including the legal and business aspects of organising, operating, financing, and growing a businesses in Uruguay. Accounting & Tax: Fernandez Secco & Asociados has in-depth knowledge and resource in providing audit, accounting, and tax services for a wide variety of clients. The firm’s multidisciplinary team of professionals have in-depth understanding of their clients’ business, being able to anticipate its needs. The firm has built a reputation by helping clients with a wide range of comprehensive services including tax compliance and tax planning strategies, audit and due diligence, and general accounting services such as accounting systems implementation and training. LANGUAGES: English, French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. CLIENTS The firm has gained a remarkable local, regional and international client base, thus reinforcing its positioning as one of the leading law firms in Uruguay. The firm represents local and international clients in diverse industries such as: agriculture, automotive, beauty and wellness, clothing and footwear, consumer goods, education and learning, entertainment and sport, financial services, food and drinks, health care, industrial, pharmaceutical, and real estate, amongst others.