Vanessa Noriega is a Senior Partner at Guinard & Noriega, a firm she co-founded in 2016 alongside her partner, Luis Guinard. She has over 23 years of experience, focusing her practice on Intellectual Property, Commercial Law, and Franchising.
Her professional approach is strategic, preventive, and results-driven. In the field of intellectual property, she goes beyond registration processes, analyzing each matter within the client’s commercial context, assessing risks, opportunities, and the long-term projection of their intangible assets.
Her work is distinguished by prioritizing conflict prevention, clarity in communication, and well-founded decision-making. She believes that an intellectual property advisor must not only protect rights but also add value to the business through efficient, practical management aligned with the client’s commercial objectives. She also maintains a high technical and ethical standard in every matter she handles, basing her professional practice on consistency, transparency, and commitment as pillars of strong and lasting professional relationships.
ACADEMIC BACKGROUND:
- LL.B. in Law and Political Science, University of Panama, 2003.
- Graduate Studies in Banking Law, Universidad Católica Santa María La Antigua, Panama.
- Certified Banking Operations Technician, International Banking Institute of Panama.
- Postgraduate Studies in the Franchise Executive Certification Program, Universidad Anáhuac, Mexico.
- Extension Course in Copyright, Entertainment Law and Image Rights in the Orange Economy, Universidad de los Andes, Colombia.
- Specialized Course in Intellectual Property, University of Pennsylvania, USA.
- International Diploma in Data Protection Regulation in Panama, University of Panama.
LANGUAGES:
- Spanish and English
EXPERIENCE:
Before founding her own firm, Vanessa worked at several local law firms, including Pedreschi & Pedreschi, Galindo, Arias & Lopez, and Vallarino, Vallarino & García-Maritano.
Among her most relevant projects are:
- Coordination of the transfer of approximately 100 trademarks as part of the acquisition of a major food and beverage company.
- Participation in the protection of Colombia’s country brand.
- Coordination of trademark protection for a major Central American agricultural inputs company, involving approximately 150 trademarks.
- Speaker on branding strategies for entrepreneurs, as well as Intellectual Property and Franchising topics.
MEMBERSHIPS AND RECOGNITIONS:
- Member of the Panamanian Association of Intellectual Property Law (APADEPI).
- Member of the Inter-American Association of Intellectual Property (ASIPI).
- Member of the International Trademark Association (INTA).
- Deputy Director of the Panamanian Association of Intellectual Property Law.
- Recognized as a leading intellectual property lawyer by publications such as Chambers & Partners, Legal 500, Leaders League, World Trademark Review, and Lexology, among others.
Relentless Advocacy. Strategic Defense.
Trusted Advisors. Proven Professionals.
With a reputation built on integrity, expertise, and results, our team delivers strategic legal guidance grounded in experience. We combine technical precision with practical insight, earning the trust of clients who rely on us to protect and advance their most valuable interests.
Our professionals work collaboratively across disciplines, bringing a comprehensive perspective to each matter and ensuring tailored solutions that address both immediate challenges and long-term objectives. This commitment to excellence allows us to consistently provide effective, reliable, and forward-thinking legal support.