Macau

In September 2021, the Guangdong-Macau In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin was officially established. The 106-square-kilometre cooperation zone aims to develop new industries to promote the diversification of Macau’s economy, including sci-tech research, high-end manufacturing, traditional Chinese medicine and other signature businesses of Macau, such as tourism, conventions and exhibitions. For the management of the zone, a committee will be jointly established by the Guangdong and Macau governments for overall decisions on major plans, policies and projects.  

Apart from the cooperation with mainland China and the effort in developing new industries, another advantage Macau has is its historical and cultural linkage with Portuguese-speaking countries, and therefore the cooperation zone will offer a financial service platform between China and these countries to attract overseas investment, to provide more support for the high-tech industries, innovations and start-ups it plans to encompass. While the legal community of Macau might be relatively modest at this stage, the opportunities it promises to offer are massive. 

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The team at BN Intellectual Property Services, which was named Asia IP patents firm of the year for Macau in 2023, encompasses a wide range of services, in particular, the registration and protection of trademarks, patents, and domain names. The firm also provides legal support in the area of advertising and consumer law, and in the area of consumer law, it provides assistance in regards to food and beverages, in consumption conflicts, and e-commerce. Managing partner Bruno Nunes, who handles IP, gaming and corporate and commercial work, is a key contact. The firm works closely with its sister firm, BN Lawyers. 

C&C Lawyers & Notaries provides legal advice and services on a wide range of legal issues for both domestic and international clients. On top of general advice on IP issues, the firm’s practice includes registration and IP portfolio maintenance; IP enforcement and protection; licensing and franchising; anti-counterfeiting and customs actions. Partner Lu Zhao leads the IP practice and acts as the top liaison for the firm’s Chinese-speaking clients. The need to provide specific and focused IP solutions led the C&C group to create IPSOL, a full-service dedicated intellectual property agency. Focused on the planning, registration and management of trademarks, patents and other IP rights, IPSOL offers solutions that maximize the protection of IP assets. C&C also has offices in Portugal, East Timor and Cabo Verde. 

CFB Lawyers is a full-service law firm which includes specialization in areas including cybersecurity and data protection, intellectual and industrial property, and hospitality and gaming, as well as having a litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution practice. The firm’s hospitality and gaming practitioners have experience in all stages of the development and operation of hotels and integrated resorts, and is experienced in representing gaming promoters and retailers in their relationships with gaming and hospitality industry players. Hugo Maia Bandeira, one of the firm’s three founding partners, has a special focus on gaming, leisure and hospitality, as well as on banking and finance and corporate matters. 

In October 2023, DSL Lawyers became part of MdME, another top law office in Macau. 

Established in 2003, FCLaw Lawyers & Private Notaries’ IP practice mainly focuses on patent and trademark work. The firm endeavours to manage and mitigate the risk of maximizing return from IP assets for the benefit of its clients. It provides assistance in all procedures for IP registration and protection, as well as formulation of strategies in order to safeguard and defend IPRs.  

Inventa International specializes in IP protection, including trademarks, patents, designs copyright and domain names, in Portugal and African countries including Nigeria, Mozambique and Angola. It advises clients on national and international searches and registrations, licenses and commercial transactions, enforcement, litigation and maintenance of IP rights.  

JNV – Lawyers and Notaries, previously known by its founder’s name, Jorge Neto Valente, established in 1970, is one of the largest law offices in Macau. The firm has extensive and long experience advising clients on IP matters as well as commercial issues such as international and domestic transactions and other corporate services. Ricardo Morgado Igreja is a key IP contact.  

Macao Victory Intellectual Property Agent specializes in registration of trademark, invention patent, utility model and design. Other common services that the firm offers are trademark searches, trademark oppositions, trademark assignments and trademark renewals.  

Manuela António Lawyers and Notaries has solid experience in IP. The firm was responsible for the registration of a considerable number of prestigious trademarks in Macau, as well as patents, business names, logos and registered designs. It has also acted in several court cases involving disputes on intellectual property rights, particularly on the right to register trademarks in Macau, with a large number of its clients based in other jurisdictions. Associates Tiago Assunção and Daniel da Silva e Melo are key contacts for IP matters. 

General practice MdME Lawyers was only established in 2006, but it has quickly grown to include some of the most-experienced and most-active IP lawyers in Macau. Its clients encompass key corporations operating in Macau, covering diverse sectors such as banking, insurance, finance, gaming, real estate, energy, construction, infrastructure, retail, pharmaceuticals and telecommunication. In October 2023, DSL Lawyers, another prestigious law office in Macau, became part of MdME. Partner João Encarnação, head of the IP team, has advised and assisted on prosecution of thousands of applications for trademark, design, patent and other IP rights in Macau and overseas.  The firm was named Macau trademarks firm of the year at the 2023 Asia IP Awards.  

Nuno Simões & Associados – Lawyers and Notary offers full-service IP coverage in a wide range of categories, from consumer goods to software, electronics, medical devices or manufacturing. Its practice includes all aspects of patent, trademark and copyright, including litigation, due diligence and opinions, and licensing and technology transfer. Amongst others, Nuno Simões is highly respected and has great experience in both IP related commercial and litigation cases. 

Rato, Ling, Lei & Cortés provides advice to local, regional and international entities. Founding partner Frederico Rato and senior partner Paula Ling are key contacts for IP matters. Managing partner Pedro Cortés is an excellent source for advice on gaming. In 2021, Cortés earned an LL.M in gaming law from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.  

An international law firm with offices in Macau SAR and in Portugal, Riquito Advogados provides legal services to clients in many industries, with a special focus on corporate clients. Riquito specializes in managing and assisting complex and large transactions, disputes and projects that involve leading companies and is also involved in cross-border operations. The firm has a distinct and strong IP and Gaming practice in line with Macau as a gaming hub. Founder and managing partner since 2005 João Nuno Riquito is a key contact.  

RPmacau is a full-service IP firm able to provide assistance on the full spectrum of matters including managing IP portfolios, determining the scope of IP, advising on registrability, acquisition and exploit value of IP as well as ensuring their protection. The firm handles both contentious and non-contentious matters including availability searches, registration, licensing, anti-counterfeiting, enforcement, and litigation.  

Sá Carneiro Pinheiro Torres & Associados was established in late 2001, and today boasts significant experience in IP and other fields. Clients range from individuals to large corporations and other institutional clients, both local and international, including clients from Hong Kong, China, other countries in Asia, Europe, the US, Australia and elsewhere. In addition to IP, the firm advises on gaming, banking and finance, corporate and business, civil and tax law.