About Our Firm

 

Intellectual Property Protection & Enforcement

Experienced across 28 Caribbean jurisdictions, we employ a modern and logical approach to protecting trademarks and patents, as well as take a forward-thinking view when it comes to enforcing your valuable rights in the region. 

 
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We Create Value for Our Clients.

Caribbean IP has worked exclusively in Caribbean-focused intellectual property matters since its founding, which means our clients benefit from our singular focus, knowledge, and experience across 28 jurisdictions. Since the firm’s early days, Katherine Hely has dedicated her practice to international IP matters, helping global brands, law firms, and portfolio managers secure and maintain the rights they need. 

We offer an effective and easy one-point-of-contact approach to managing IP across the Caribbean region. We navigate the nuanced requirements and legal regulations impacting intellectual property assets so that our clients are able to secure the rights in their brand, as well as have a trusted partner in the region to enforce rights and pursue infringers.


Our global approach to portfolio management means we are reliable and responsive. We provide timely, up-to-date, and accurate status reports, and offer strategic advice with a forward-thinking view. You will always know where you stand with your valuable trademark and patent rights.

 

What People Are Saying

 

“Our firm has worked with Katherine, Patrick and their team at Caribbean IP for several years. The team has a wealth of experience throughout the Caribbean and Katherine’s expertise has been invaluable in protecting our client’s well-known brands throughout the region.

Katherine is highly regarded by our team and her expert advice is delivered thoughtfully in a timely and cost-effective manner. It is an absolute pleasure working with Katherine and the Caribbean IP team.”

— Tony Pluckrose, Boult Wade Tennant LLP

“Caribbean IP has been an excellent resource for A&F. Katherine understands our objectives and is truly a strategic partner—she is incredibly responsive, reliable and offers clear paths forward with efficiency in mind. Pricing is competitive and reasonable. And, last but not least, the firm is very friendly and pleasant to work with!”

— Lindsay Capps, Senior Legal Counsel (Intellectual Property), Abercrombie & Fitch

“Katherine and Patrick are critical to our clients’ day-to-day operations in the Caribbean and provide tremendous peace of mind that our matters will be expertly handled in whatever Caribbean jurisdiction issues arise.  Their command of the entire Caribbean region is only matched by their personal attention and impressive bedside manner.  This one-stop shop for the Caribbean is pragmatic and cost-conscious while being strategic and comprehensive.  Above all, they take the time to get to know our clients and their businesses.”

— Joel R. Feldman, Greenberg Traurig LLP

Disclaimer: Clients may not obtain the same or similar results.

Awards & Recognitions

Caribbean IP is recognized for skillfully executed pan-regional and nuanced views on matters impacting today’s intellectual property rights. Top U.S. and European law firms and multinational companies have praised us for our local work and global working style. Further, IP professional organizations have recognized us for our practice in this discipline.

  • Caribbean-wide

    Firm – Band 1
    Katherine Hely – Band 1
    Patrick Hely – Band 2

    Chambers Commentary:

    What the team is known for:

    Caribbean IP is a highly regarded boutique law firm known for its skilled handling of trade mark prosecutions throughout the Caribbean. Based in West Palm Beach, Florida, the team coordinates region-wide filings for an impressive list of clients, with a particular emphasis on Commonwealth and Dutch Caribbean jurisdictions. The group possesses wide-ranging sector-specific expertise, with a particularly strong roster of consumer goods and retail clients. The practice handles a prodigious volume of work, and is regularly sought out by other law firms in the USA and Europe to assist with the management of the Caribbean portion of global trade mark portfolios. It is also increasingly active in IP enforcement.

    Strengths:

    "Caribbean IP is best in class when it comes to service. We are never disappointed."

    "They are incredibly responsive and clear in their advice."

    "Every task in any jurisdiction covered was completed to our utmost satisfaction."

    Notable practitioners:

    Katherine Hely is the founder of Caribbean IP and oversees the firm's trade mark practice and all client-facing matters. She is based in West Palm Beach, Florida and counsels a variety of high-profile international brands in regard to their regional IP portfolios. "Katherine is as dependable as they come. She is responsive and strategic." "Katherine's knowledge of trade mark law is truly remarkable, as well as her attention to detail."

    Patrick Hely is primarily focused on contentious IP work, handling opposition proceedings as well as advising on brand protection and infringement-related issues. He practises from West Palm Beach, Florida. "Patrick is a wonderful counsellor and supports our practice immensely." "He is responsive, thorough, knowledgeable, and practical. He helps balance theoretical risk and practical needs."

  • Caribbean Trademark Firm of The Year –
    IAM & WTR Global IP Awards – 2022, 2023

    Pan-Caribbean

    Firm – recommended
    Katherine Hely – recommended
    Patrick Hely – recommended

    WTR Commentary:

    “Covering 28 jurisdictions in the Caribbean, Caribbean IP is a staple in the region whose comprehensive trademark service satisfies its superb clientele: “The team’s assistance is top notch. They have great knowledge of all the different legislations of the Caribbean and are able to provide good strategies that in the end save time and costs. The Caribbean is not an easy market, as the IP offices are very slow, but they are great in letting us know beforehand what to expect and are always on top of the matters.” The firm’s deep knowledge of the various trademark systems in the Caribbean comes from leading duo Patrick Hely and Katherine Van Deusen Hely, who are strongly devoted to increasing their market knowledge and expanding their IP network in the region. Katherine leads the team as a powerful trademark filer. Patrons confide in her to build robust trademark registration plans for the management of their entire portfolios throughout the region. Patrick is a seasoned trademark litigator who also files assertive actions to protect clients’ interests.

  • Cross-Caribbean

    Firm – Tier 1

    Katherine Hely – Leading Individual

    Patrick Hely – Leading Individual

    Legal 500 commentary:

    From its base in West Palm Beach, Florida, the ‘incredibly knowledgeable and responsive’ team at Caribbean IP is singled out by clients for its ‘very unique service’ with ‘great attention to detail, diligent responses and a friendly service’. The practice provides trade mark and patent portfolio management services across 28 Caribbean jurisdictions and is also increasingly active in infringement and enforcement work. The team leverages its expertise in the pharmaceuticals sector to act for a client roster which includes global pharmaceutical companies; it is also a go-to name for corporates in the tech, media and entertainment spaces. Katherine Hely is the key contact for filing and prosecution matters and is praised for being ‘very responsive and always willing to jump straight in and help’, while Patrick Hely leads on the contentious front and is ‘very well connected and very friendly’.

    Testimonials:

    ‘The team are incredibly knowledgeable and responsive. They are my preferred firm for Caribbean matters, by far!’

    ‘Katherine Hely is excellent. A pleasure to work with: knowledgeable and efficient.’

    ‘Katherine Hely and Patrick Hely are updated, very well connected and very friendly. They are both very academic, a lot of IP background.’