Skip to content
Career
Join & Build your career with trust
Ajay S. Rao
SENIOR PARTNER
About
Trademarks, Copyright, Domain names, Designs, IP Office Prosecution (contentious and non-contentious), IP Litigation, Brand Strategist, Contractual and Commercial IP, Licensing and Franchising, Transactions involving acquisition of IP, Anti-Counterfeiting and Brand Enforcement.
As a practicing Attorney with top law firms, Mr. Rao has represented international and domestic clients in host of matters involving white collar crimes, trademarks, trade dress, names, goodwill, copyright, designs and internet and domain name. His practice is concentrated on counseling and advice, IP Office Prosecution (contentious and non-contentious), litigation and transactions.
Mr. Rao has extensive experience of more than 21 years in representing clients from diverse industries on issues relating to brand adoption and selection, prosecution and registration of trademarks, opposition and cancellation matters before the Trademarks Registry, (erstwhile)Intellectual Property Appellate Board and litigation in Courts of India. He has advised clients on global trademark portfolio management strategies, protection and enforcement of IP in India and abroad. Assisted clients in IP audits and review of existing portfolios for identification of unprotected elements, commercial transactions involving acquisition/ sale and licensing of trademarks and related IP.
Mr. Rao has a vast experience of conducting enforcement actions, Customs and Border recordal, Anti-Piracy and Anti-Counterfeiting actions (Criminal and Civil). He has distinctive experience of working, coordinating and liaising with the law enforcement agencies to ensure focused solutions for IP infringement.
He has handled the incorporation of domestic companies and subsidiaries of multinational corporations. His experience also includes advising clients on regulations in diverse industries such as food and beverages, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, gaming industries, personal care, hospitality and tourism.
He regularly appears for matters before the various courts throughout the Indian jurisdiction. Dispute resolution through alternate means including mediation, arbitration and conciliation is also some of Mr. Rao’s additional attributes.
Prior to starting his counsel practice, he was working with British Petroleum as ‘Counsel- Brands’ (on the rolls of Castrol India Ltd.) for nearly six years.
Read More
Mr. Rao has a vast experience of conducting enforcement actions, Customs and Border recordal, Anti-Piracy and Anti-Counterfeiting actions (Criminal and Civil). He has distinctive experience of working, coordinating and liaising with the law enforcement agencies to ensure focused solutions for IP infringement.
He has handled the incorporation of domestic companies and subsidiaries of multinational corporations. His experience also includes advising clients on regulations in diverse industries such as food and beverages, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, gaming industries, personal care, hospitality and tourism.
He regularly appears for matters before the various courts throughout the Indian jurisdiction. Dispute resolution through alternate means including mediation, arbitration and conciliation is also some of Mr. Rao’s additional attributes.
Prior to starting his counsel practice, he was working with British Petroleum as ‘Counsel- Brands’ (on the rolls of Castrol India Ltd.) for nearly six years.
Education:-
BSc in Chemistry
Psychology and Criminology
MA in English Literature
LLB
Honors and Recognition:-
She has been mentioned in various publications as one of the leading IP Attorneys in the country and was also named in the list of lawyers published as “40 under 45” to watch amongst the legal community in India. She was also named as the IP Star Woman of the Year in the 2019 Legal Era Intellectual Property Awards. She has also been ranked as the Top Managing Partner (above 10 years experience) by India Forbes Legal Powerlist 2020.
She has personally been consistently ranked by World Trade Mark Review for ‘strategy’. She has served in various INTA committees for more than a decade now and is also a co-chair of the INTA’s India initiative to collaborate with the Indian Government (DIPP) for the spread of IP awareness amongst school going children.
Professional affiliations:-
She is a member of International Trademark Association (INTA), MARQUES, International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI) and Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA).
Hobbies/ Extra-curricular interests:-
Her hobbies include her affiliation towards yoga coupled with her love towards painting, reading, writing.
