With over 75 years in business and the fourth generation of lawyers now running its practice, Palacio & Asociados is one of the most traditional and experienced IP firms in Argentina. Founded in 1933, the firm specialises in trade marks and patents but also offers services in commercial and corporate law. Its diverse clients include Wal-Mart, Danish food ingredient developer Danisco, Argentine winery Finca Flinchman and Arla Foods Zacco, a Scandinavian dairy company. It also represents the airlines Air Canada, Lan Chile and Aeromexica. The firm's main services are IP litigation, conflict prevention, support of client interests and out-of-court dispute resolution.
Palacio has been working with Wal-Mart since 1995 and is now representing the store in a dispute with a competitor. The disagreement concerns the rival company's decision to name itself Wal-Mar Toys. The firm also represented H&M against a local company called Todo Moda, which used a design with the letters TM in connection with its line of accessories. H&M objected to the design, which was being used in over one hundred stores in Argentina and over 60 stores in Mexico, because it felt that the type letters and colour combination were confusingly similar to its own trade mark. Within a few months, Todo Moda agreed to restyle all its shops, discard all items bearing the logo and stop using it in future. The agreement included a severe penalty clause and court action was avoided.