Manuel Durães Rocha

Partner | Lisbon

Manuel Durães Rocha is a Partner whose practice focuses on intellectual and industrial property and in the pharmaceutical sector in Portugal and international markets. He is also an official Industrial Property Agent and European Patent Attorney before the European Patent Office, and European Trademark Attorney before the EUIPO.

He focuses mainly on disputes  (both judicial and arbitration) in connection with cases relating to the validity of patent and trademark rights, as well as the violation of patents, particularly in the medical and pharmaceutical fields, trademarks, design and unfair competition violations, CCP, protection and transfer of trade secrets, protection of software and copyrights and related rights. He has participated in cross-border proceedings under the scope of trademark protection and invention patents and advises a range of Portuguese companies on life sciences matters and, more recently, on matters related to personal data protection and databases.

Additionally, Manuel has extensive experience in establishing and defining strategies for the registration and protection of patents, trademarks, and design for Portuguese companies with international operations, as well as in advising many foreign companies on establishing trademarks in Portugal through distribution arrangements, franchise and licensing in different economic sectors, specifically retail, fashion, and advertising.

Manuel is a Partner and has been at Abreu Advogados since 2017. He coordinates Abreu Advogados’ Intellectual Property and Information Technology practices and has been distinguished by IP Stars.

The Intellectual Property and Information Technologies practice area of Abreu Advogados has received distinctions from Chambers, Legal 500 and IP Stars. The firm has also been awarded the “Gold Band” distinction by the World Trademark Review 1000 for Intellectual Property in Portugal.

Intellectual Property: Leading Individual, 2022

Corporate Law, Portugal (2020-2022)

Intellectual Property Law, Portugal (2013-2022)

Litigation, Portugal (2020-2022)

The “very knowledgeable” Manuel Durães Rocha leads the team and receives recognition for his abilities in mandates relating to pharmaceutical patents. He also advises on IP protection strategies relating to trade marks.

“Manuel Durães Rocha leads the team and advises on patent, trade mark and copyright issues. He frequently represents important life sciences clients in patent infringement actions.”

Experience

Advising an international company in the watch industry on its establishment in Portugal and the opening of its chain stores in Portugal.

Advising a Portuguese company in the garment and fashion industry on the framework of the brand's international development, licensing third parties to open a chain of stores in countries outside of Europe.

Representing a multinational watch company to regain ownership of its trademark which had been registered by an unauthorized third party in Portugal.

Representing a major multinational company in the hospitality sector to protect its internationally prestigious brand in Portugal.

Legal representation in several arbitration proceedings on pharmaceutical patents and supplementary protection certificates.

Legal representation in several court cases on patent validity.

Representing a major national hotel chain in cases of alleged breach of rights related to copyrights.

Representing clients in a legal suit to protect an invention patent against violation by third parties for expresso coffee capsules.

Advising and then representing one of the leading multinational corporations of the American film industry in a legal suit regarding the right to terminate a film distribution agreement.

Advising a Portuguese multinational company in the communications sector, under the framework of its strategy to protect the trademark abroad, including registration and protection against breaches by third parties and the contracting process.

Associations

Academic

Lusiada University

Law degree from Lusiada University, Lisbon, Faculty of Law (1985);

Université Robert Schuman

Master of Laws on Industrial Property and Competition from Université Robert Schuman in Strasbourg, Faculty of Law (1988);