Founded in 1988, Gusmão & Labrunie has quickly made a name for itself as a dynamic IP practice with "very capable, very tough litigators". Clients of this mid-sized boutique include Unilever, Danone, Ford, GE Healthcare, Akzo Nobel and Fremantle Media.
"Gusmão is a very young, interesting firm," said one competitor. "I really think it is very valuable and I admire what they do." Another peer felt that partners José Roberto Gusmão and Jacques Labrunie "mix professional and academic skills very well".
The firm is representing Spectrum Brands in a comparative advertising and unfair competition case against Procter & Gamble, which filed for damages over the use of the trade mark and trade dress of Duracell in comparison with Rayovac. The case will define the limits of comparative advertising in Brazil. Gusmão also emerged victorious on behalf of TV Globo after a 10-year court battle, which concluded in August 2010. The broadcaster filed a copyright infringement and unfair competition action against competitor TV SBT over the Gente Inocente show. Damages were awarded to TV Globo based on TV SBT's profits from the programme.