Caracas-based Estudio Antequera Parilli & Rodríguez is one of the country's leading full-service IP boutiques, which in 2007 added advertising law, sports and entertainment and consumer protection to its core practice. The firm has a team of five partners and seven associates. Clients include Abbott Laboratories, HBO, Ralph Lauren, Coca-Cola and British-American Tobacco.
On the patent side, the firm represents companies from the pharmaceutical and energy sectors, such as Halliburton and Schlumberger. Another client is Colombia-based Pacific Rubiales Energy, for whom the firm drafted all patent applications worldwide. The patent group, led by Ricardo Enrique Antequera, has an in-house biochemist and a team of engineers. In 2012, Estudio Antequera conducted around 40 investigations on behalf of oil/gas and biochemistry companies interested in investing in Venezuela.
IP enforcement is also a significant part of its practice. Estudio Antequera conducts a number of anti-counterfeiting campaigns for clients that include Adidas, Nike, Lacoste, Tommy Hilfiger and Levi's. During 2012, the firm was successful in over 130 seizures, resulting in the recovery of more than one million pieces of counterfeit apparel. The department is led by Manuel Antonio Rodríguez.
Clients describe Estudio Antequera as top tier. "They know the system really well. They have given us great advice about a market and system we are not that familiar with," says one client. "I would recommend them to any multinational doing business in Venezuela," the client adds.