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.
A Practical Guide to Trademark Registration in Türkiye: Protecting Your Brand at the Crossroads of Europe and Asia This is the third post in our global trademark series. After covering Australia and Brazil, we now turn to Türkiye—the 16th-largest economy in the world and a critical bridge between East and West. With its expansive consumer
A Practical Guide to Trademark Registration in Brazil: Protecting Your Brand in Latin America This is the second post in our global trademark registration series. We began with Australia, a jurisdiction known for its modern and flexible system. We now turn to Brazil—the largest economy in Latin America and an important jurisdiction for any brand
A Practical Guide to Trademark Registration in Australia: Protecting Your Brand Down Under This is the first post in a new series exploring trademark registration around the world. We’re starting with Australia—not just because it’s a key global market, but because our firm has deep experience there. Our Sydney-based colleague, Mathew Alderson, is a veteran
Expanding Your Restaurant Internationally: Intellectual Property Considerations It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of new markets and emerging culinary scenes, but international expansion requires far more than translating your brand or replicating your menu abroad. It demands that you navigate unfamiliar legal systems, mitigate new risks, structure smartly, and ensure your intellectual
Frisby Trademark Fight Highlights Key Risks for Global Brands A European trademark dispute is heating up over the use of the Frisby name, pitting a well-known Colombian fast-food chain against a Spanish company that successfully registered the Frisby trademark with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). (Having put up with the title, we promise
Florida’s CHOICE Act Poised to Expand Noncompete Enforcement On April 24, 2025, the Florida Legislature approved the Florida Contracts Honoring Opportunity, Investment, Confidentiality, and Economic Growth Act, which now awaits the Governor’s signature. In a striking departure from the national trend toward limiting restrictive covenants, the CHOICE Act positions the Sunshine State as the most
Los acuerdos operativos (operating agreements) de las LLC (limited liability companies o sociedades de responsabilidad limitada) establecen cómo se gestionará dicha entidad y son equivalentes a los estatutos de una sociedad anónima. En la mayoría de los estados de EE. UU., incluidos algunos muy populares para la constitución de LLC, como Florida, Nevada y Wyoming,
Trade dress, a subset of trademark law, plays a critical role in protecting the unique visual identity of businesses, including restaurants and hotels. Violations of trade dress can lead to significant intellectual property concerns, impacting a business’s reputation and market position. This blog post explores the concept of trade dress, its importance in the hospitality
U.S. Territories and Their Status For international businesses considering expansion into U.S. territories, a clear understanding of U.S. laws for foreign companies is essential. While it may seem that doing business in the United States follows a uniform legal framework, each U.S. territory operates under distinct legal, tax, and immigration rules. This guide provides key
The India and Brazil Trademark Boom India and Brazil are experiencing a surge in trademark applications, reflecting a major shift in their business landscapes. As these economies grow rapidly, companies worldwide are recognizing the need to secure brand protection in these key markets. If your business hasn’t yet considered trademark registration in India or Brazil,
