Fred Rocafort

Fred leads Harris Sliwoski’s intellectual property practice and is the coordinator of the firm’s international team. Much of Fred’s practice consists of helping cannabis businesses protect their brands. He also works with entrepreneurs and companies entering the Web3 space, a new frontier for IP law. Prior to joining Harris Sliwoski, Fred worked overseas for more than a decade, in both government and private sector roles. Fred is a regular contributor to the award-winning China Law Blog and Canna Law Blog.

Fred began his career overseas as a U.S. consular officer in Guangzhou, China, where he advocated for fairer treatment of American companies and citizens in China and for stronger intellectual property rights enforcement. After entering the private sector, Fred worked at a Shanghai law firm as a foreign legal advisor and later joined one of the oldest American law firms in China, helping foreign companies navigate the Chinese legal environment. He also led the legal team at a Hong Kong-based brand protection consultancy, spending most of his time out in the field, protecting clients against counterfeiters and fraudsters in Greater China, Southeast Asia and Latin America.

In addition to his IP work, as a native Spanish speaker, Fred works closely with different Harris Sliwoski teams on Latin America and Spain matters. Fred also provides advice to cannabis industry participants and other businesses on import and export transactions.

Fred is an ardent supporter of FC Barcelona—and would be even in the absence of Catalan forebears who immigrated to Puerto Rico in the mid-1800s.

Illustration comparing individual and corporate trademark ownership, with a person on one side and an office building on the other, both displaying registered trademark symbols.

Who Should Own Your Trademarks: You or Your Company?

Who Should Own Your Trademarks? When launching a business, registering a trademark in the countries where you operate (including where you manufacture) is often, and wisely, one of the first steps you as an entrepreneur will take to protect your brand. But a deceptively simple question quickly arises: Who should own the trademark? You as

Map of Russia and China with national flags, a large trademark symbol, and text warning of risks for foreign trademark holders in China due to Russian non-use cancelation actions.

Russia’s IP Crackdown: A Warning for Brands in China

Russia Non-Use Cancellation Actions Signal Risk for Foreign Trademark Holders in China Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, foreign trademark owners have faced an increasingly volatile and unpredictable intellectual property environment. Forced to navigate a spider’s web of sanctions, corporate exits, and deteriorating diplomatic relations, many international brands scaled back or fully withdrew from

Image with the Chinese flag, a trademark symbol, and the text: "Navigating Trademark 'Use' in China: Your Essential Guide" on a blue background.

Navigating Trademark “Use” in China: Your Essential Guide

Navigating Trademark “Use” in China: Your Essential Guide The Cornerstone of Chinese IP Law: Understanding Trademark “Use” Navigating trademark law in China can be challenging, especially when it comes to understanding what counts as legitimate trademark “use.” This guide will help you understand the key aspects of trademark use under Chinese law. It offers actionable

China trademark transfer lawyer

Move Your China Trademarks NOW—Before It’s Too Late

Transferring Your China Trademarks: How to Move Them Safely and Strategically If your China trademarks are still owned by your China-based entity or by a company actively doing business in China, you’re exposed to significant legal and operational risks. These trademarks are valuable IP assets—but because they are registered in China, they remain subject to

El Caso Daniel Sancho y las 3 Lecciones Clave Para Empresarios en el Extranjero

El caso Daniel Sancho y las 3 lecciones clave para empresarios en el extranjero

El caso Daniel Sancho y las 3 lecciones clave para empresarios en el extranjero En agosto de 2024, un tribunal tailandés condenó al español Daniel Sancho a cadena perpetua por el asesinato y descuartizamiento del cirujano plástico colombiano Edwin Arrieta. El crimen ocurrió en la isla turística tailandesa de Koh Pha Ngan, más conocida por

New Challenges for Non-Use Trademark Cancellations in China

China Trademarks and Non-Use Cancellations: The Stakes Just Got Higher

New Standards for Non-Use China Trademark Cancellations Foreign brand owners have long relied on non-use cancellations (NUCs) as a powerful tool to clear the path for trademark registration in China, particularly in instances where an unrelated party had previously registered the mark in question in bad faith. Under Article 49(2) of China’s Trademark Law, any

Tariffs, tariffs, tarrifs.

Navigating the Trade War: Perspective, Patience, and Planning

Tariffs, Turbulence, and the Need to Stay Steady With each new round of tariff hikes and rollbacks—not to mention the inevitable retaliations—economic uncertainty deepens. Volatility in the stock markets mirrors this anxiety, as businesses and investors try to anticipate what comes next. It’s only natural to feel unsettled. But for companies that depend on imports,