Partner

Rodrigo A. de Ouro Preto Santos

Experience

Rodrigo A. de Ouro Preto Santos is admitted to the Brazilian Bar Association since 1992 (OAB/RJ and OAB/SP) and is a registered Industrial Property Agent at the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office. His legal career initiated in 1992, the last 26 years in the intellectual property area. In particular, his experience in complex intellectual property litigation, involving simultaneous and multiple cross-action disputes at both the administrative and judicial levels, gives him an in-depth understanding of how to handle the most challenging legal issues to protect clients’ rights in Brazil and globally. Rodrigo’s litigation experience also gives him a result-oriented approach to portfolio management, negotiations and licensing.

Rodrigo earned his Law degree from Candido Mendes Law School in 1992 and a Master of Laws (LLM) degree in Patent and Intellectual Property Laws from The George Washington University Law School in 1999, followed by a work experience as a foreign attorney at the law firm Arent Fox, LLP, in Washington DC.

Rodrigo is a seasoned lecturer, with over twenty years of experience as an adjunct professor of trademark laws and IP litigation at the most prestigious postgraduate courses on Intellectual Property Laws in Brazil. Rodrigo also speaks frequently in seminars and conferences in Brazil and abroad.

Since 2000, Rodrigo has consecutively served in different committees of the International Trademark Association – INTA. During the period of 2010-2011, he acted as chair of the Latin America and Caribbean Subcommittee of the Legislation and Regulation Committee of the INTA, and currently he serves as a member of the Enforcement Committee. Most importantly, Rodrigo has been acting for the past 10 years as a board member of the Brazilian Intellectual Property Association (ABPI), as Treasurer (2014 – 2017), General Counsel (2018 – 2021) and Chief Reporteaur (2022 – 2025), leading and coordinating the work of all 15 committees of the Association.

Practice Areas

Trademarks, Patents, Copyright, Unfair Competition, Domain Names, Administrative and Judicial Litigation, Technology Transfer Agreements, Geographical Indication and Employee Invention

Languages

Portuguese, English and French

Awards

  • World Trademark Review – Best Lawyers (Brazil)
  • Chambers and Partners – Best Lawyers (Global Guide 2024) – Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets
  • Análise Advocacia – Most Admired Lawyer 2023/2024