Ricardo J. Bendaña-Guerrero holds degrees in Engineering and Law, as well as a master’s degree in Intellectual Property Law. In 1986 he obtained his engineering degree from Florida International University. After working as an engineer for several years, he decided to join his father’s law firm, Bendaña & Bendaña, for which purpose, he pursued a law degree in Nicaragua from Universidad Americana (Managua, Nicaragua), which he obtained in 1998, and subsequently incorporated as an Attorney with the Nicaraguan Supreme Court in 1999. Mr. Bendaña obtained his Master of Laws from the University of Alicante in Spain in 1999. His master’s degree, of over 600 hours of face-to-face classes, centered around patents of invention, trademarks, designs and copyrights. In order to be awarded the degree, he successfully defended a thesis entitled Comparison of Word Marks Involving Elements Lacking Distinctiveness before an international jury, in which he critically analyzed several judgments of the Nicaraguan Supreme Court. Later, with additional materials, he published his thesis as a book. Throughout his professional life, Mr. Bendaña has been closely involved in trademark and patent prosecution, enforcement and litigation. Mr. Bendaña routinely oversees the response to office actions to patent applications issued by the Patent Offices in Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Costa Rica, as well as the response to office actions and oppositions to trademark applications in Nicaragua and other Central American countries. In addition, he oversees the drafting and submission of oppositions to trademark applications by third parties in Nicaraguan and other Central American countries. He has successfully participated in numerous lawsuits related to trademark and patent infringement, in which he has obtained the seizure of infringing goods, and subsequently the declaration in a judgment that the infringement took place. He also has participated in proceedings before the Nicaraguan Supreme Court in cases involving trademarks and patents. As part of his work, Mr. Bendaña routinely deals with a variety of clients, including individuals, multi-national, national, and local companies involved in many different industries, including pharmaceutical, foodstuffs, agricultural, financial services, beverage, manufacturing, etc. Mr. Bendaña has authored numerous articles on Intellectual Property law, and has served as a consultant in Intellectual Property matters to national and international organizations. He is also a member of the European Communities Trade Mark Association (ECTA), the Inter-American Association of Intellectual Property (ASIPI), International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI) and the International Bar Association (IBA). Additionally, he has been recognized as a Leading Lawyer by The Legal 500 and as a Notable Practitioner by Chambers and Partners. Ms. María José Bendaña is a managing partner at Bendaña & Bendaña. Having started her trademark career early in life, as secretary to her father and founder of the firm, Mr. Julián Bendaña Silva, Ms. Bendaña has over 40 years of experience in trademark and patent matters in Nicaragua. Despite having worked in intellectual property matters for years, Ms. Bendaña obtained a bachelor’s degree in business before studying law and joining the Nicaraguan bar in the 1990’s. As such, in addition to holding a bachelor’s degree in law, Ms. Bendaña also holds a bachelor’s degree in business and a post graduate degree in Commercial Law. As managing partner and head of the firm’s Trademark Department, Ms. Bendaña is involved in overseeing trademark activities and prosecutions not only in Nicaragua, but also in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica and Panama. She consults and coordinates with legal staff in all the countries in which the firm offers services. This ensures a region-wide strategy when filing applications or litigating other issues. Ms. Bendaña is also the head of the Regulatory Affairs department and overseas matters in Nicaragua. Ms. Bendaña is well known for her experience in Intellectual Property matters in Nicaragua and is well regarded among her colleagues. She is also a member of several local organizations such as the German Nicaraguan Chamber of Commerce and is involved in the firm’s pro-bono efforts and charity work as well as international organizations such as International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI) and the International Trademark Association (INTA). She has also been recognized as a Leading Lawyer by The Legal 500 in Intellectual Property.
