Contact Info

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Otto Licks

Founding Partner

With over three decades of experience, Otto Licks stands out for his top-tier work advising domestic and international clients on complex patent matters.

WWL Brazil - IP Brazil - 2024

Leveraging three decades in the field, Otto Licks is well established as a leading intellectual property attorney in Brazil whose expertise is sought out by life sciences clients for their most complex IP matters.

IAM Strategy 300 - 2024

Otto is fantastic. He is smart, creative and very personable, and I trust him with everything to do with litigation in Brazil.

Chambers Brazil Contentious: IP - Patent 2024

He is an ace and has important clients.

Chambers Brazil Contentious: IP - Patent 2024

Otto Licks is the greatest patent lawyer in the country.

Chambers Brazil Contentious: IP - Patent 2024

He has established a huge reputation and is an inspiring and extremely qualified lawyer. He is very technical.

Chambers Brazil Contentious: IP - Patent 2024

Otto Licks has vast experience advising domestic and international clients on complex patent litigation in the life sciences sector.

Who’s Who Legal: Life Sciences Brazil - Patent Litigation 2024

In patent prosecution and patent value assessment, Otto and his team can always provide productive legal opinions to strength our portfolio.

IAM Patent 1000 - 2024

Otto Licks is singled out by market commentators for his vast experience advising domestic and international clients on complex patent litigation in the life sciences sector.

Who’s Who Legal: Life Sciences 2024

“He is extremely intelligent, active and a scholar”

Chambers Brazil: Patent 2023

“One of the most recognised IP lawyers in Brazil”

Who’s Who Legal: Patent Litigation 2023

"Highly respected litigator and licensing expert”

IAM Strategy 300 - 2023

"He is a renowned practitioner and thinks outside the box”

Chambers Global: Patent 2023

“Unconventional thinking and visionary approach to intellectual property law.”

Business Today: Intellectual Property 2023

“Recognised for his ability to secure successful injunctions on behalf of patrons”

IAM Patent 1000: Patent Litigation 2023

Otto Licks is a founding partner at Licks Attorneys, a Brazilian law firm with over 300 people among its five offices in Brazil and Japan, as well as a German Desk. Otto is an expert on complex litigation and policy making, with 30 years of experience representing international clients in life sciences (small molecules, biologicals, agrochemicals, and medical devices), telecommunications, electronics, and internet. He has established a reputation as a trial and appellate practice specialist, focusing on preliminary and permanent injunctions and monetization (damages and licensing), advising clients primarily on patent, trade secrets, unfair competition and regulatory data exclusivity, government procurement, food and drug, and regulatory of telecommunications and internet.

Otto was responsible for the first Brazilian nationwide adjudication campaign for patent monetization (optical CD-R disks). Before joining private practice, Mr. Licks worked as a UN/PINUD consultant for the Brazilian State Department, during the implementation of the WTO Agreements.

He has been the first chair in over 100 cases, from TROs and ex-parte injunctions up to leading cases before the Brazilian Supreme Court, establishing a reputation as a trial and appellate practice specialist, with an outstanding track record in obtaining, defending, and enforcing preliminary and permanent injunctions.

+ Languages
  • Portuguese
  • English
  • Spanish
+ Practice Areas
  • Patents
  • Copyright
  • Anti-counterfeiting
  • UPOV
  • Trademark, Trade Dress & Publicity Rights Matters
  • Trade Secrets & Regulatory
  • Data Protection
  • Licensing & Technology Transfer
  • Internet, E-commerce & Software
  • Food & Drug Law
+ Representative Cases
+ Professional Highlights
  • Legal 500 Latin America – Intellectual Property (2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2019, 2018, 2017);
  • Legal 500 Latin America – Life Sciences (2025, 2024, 2023, 2022);
  • IAM Global Leader (2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021);
  • Who’s Who Legal – Global Elite Thought Leader – Intellectual Property – Patents (2024, 2023, 2022);
  • IAM Strategy 300 (2024, 2023, 2022);
  • Leaders League – Patent Litigation (2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017);
  • Leaders League – Artificial Intelligence (2024)
  • Leaders League – Patent Prosecution (2024, 2023, 2022, 2021);
  • Leaders League – Trademark Litigation (2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018);
  • IAM Patent 1000 – Patent Litigation (2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 , 2015);
  • IP Stars – Patent Star (2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019);
  • Who’s Who Legal – Global Elite Thought Leader – Life Sciences – Patent Litigation (2024, 2023);
  • Chambers Brazil Contentious – Intellectual Property – Patent (2024, 2023, 2022, 2021);
  • Leaders League – Civil and Commercial Litigation (2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018);
  • Chambers Global – Intellectual Property – Patent – Brazil (2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018);
  • IAM Strategy 300 Global Leaders (2024, 2023);
  • Análise Advocacia – Intellectual Property (2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015);
  • Análise Advocacia – Rio de Janeiro (2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015);
  • Who’s Who Legal — Thought Leader Brazil – Life Sciences (2023, 2021);
  • Who’s Who Legal — Thought Leader Brazil – Patents (2023, 2021, 2020);
  • WIPR Leaders (2023, 2022, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017);
  • Business Today – Intellectual Property – Lawyer Awards (2023);
  • Decisor Brasil – Top Decisores: Managing Partners (2023);
  • Chambers Brazil Industries & Sectors: Life Sciences (2023, 2022, 2021);
  • Leaders League – Life Sciences (2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017);
  • Best Lawyers – Intellectual Property Law (2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019);
  • LACCA Approved – Intellectual Property (2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019);
  • Best Lawyers – Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice (2023, 2022, 2021, 2020);
  • Best Lawyers – Litigation (2023);
  • Leaders League – Technology (2022, 2021, 2019, 2018);
  • Análise Advocacia – Regulatory (2022, 2020);
  • Análise Advocacia – Pharmaceutical (2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015);
  • Análise Advocacia – Health (2022);
  • Who’s Who Legal – National Leader – Brazil – Intellectual Property – Patents (2022, 2021);
  • Who’s Who Legal – National Leader – Brazil – Life Sciences (2022, 2021);
  • Who’s Who Legal – Global Leader – Intellectual Property – Patents – (2022);
  • Who’s Who Legal – Intellectual Property (Patents) & Life Sciences (Patent Litigation) (2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014);
  • Best Lawyers – Intellectual Property and Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice (2021);
  • Análise Advocacia – Eletronics (2021);
  • Benchmark Litigation – Intellectual Property (2021);
  • Chambers Latin America – Intellectual Property & Life Sciences Brazil (2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017);
  • LACCA Approved – Intellectual Property (2020, 2019);
  • Benchmark Litigation – ‘Litigation Star’ (2020, 2019, 2018);
  • Chambers Latin America – Intellectual Property & Life Sciences (2020);
  • Benchmark Litigation – Intellectual Property (2019, 2018);
  • Chambers Latin America (2019);
  • Benchmark Litigation – Appellate (2018);
  • Chambers Latin America – Intellectual Property & Life Sciences – Brazil (2017);
  • Leaders League – Intellectual Property Litigation (2016);
  • Chambers & Partner (2015);
  • PLC Life Sciences – Life Sciences (2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006);
  • PLC Intellectual – Intellectual Property (2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008);
  • Which Lawyer – Intellectual Property attorney – Life sciences (2009, 2008).
+ Representative Experience
+ Affiliations
  • Brazilian Bar Association – Rio de Janeiro (OAB/RJ);
  • Brazilian Bar Association – Distrito Federal (OAB/DF);
  • Member of national and international associations such as ABPI, ABAPI, AIPLA, AIPPI, BIO, IBA, IPO, etc.;
  • ITechLaw (International Technology Law Association).
+ Education
  • Fellow, Chizaiken – Institute of Intellectual Property (1997);
  • Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D), George Washington University Law School – GW Law (1996);
  • Master of Laws (LL.M), Intellectual Property, George Washington University Law School – GW Law (1994);
  • Master of Laws (LL.M), International Law, George Washington University Law School – GW Law (1993);
  • Bachelor of Laws (LL.B), Rio de Janeiro State University – UERJ (1993).
+ Publications
+ Speaking Engagements and Others
+ Articles