Atchuthan Sriskandarajah
Atchuthan Sriskandarajah, known professionally as Mr. Sris, is the Owner and Founder of Law Offices of SRIS, P.C., a US law firm founded in 1997 with locations in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, New York, and Pereira, Colombia. Mr. Sris is admitted to practice law in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. He leads the firm’s Brand & Entity practice, advising international clients—including businesses and entrepreneurs with Colombian ties—on US entity formation, brand protection, and cross-border corporate structuring. His practice spans the full lifecycle of a business: from selecting the appropriate entity type and jurisdiction of formation, through trademark registration and brand enforcement, to ongoing corporate governance and transactional support. Reach Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747 to schedule a consultation.
A US Law Firm Serving International Clients in Brand and Entity Matters
Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. is a US law firm with an international clientele, founded in 1997 and headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia. The firm’s Brand & Entity practice serves businesses and individuals navigating the intersection of US corporate law and international commercial interests. For clients with Colombian connections—whether a Colombian company establishing a US subsidiary, a US brand expanding into the Colombian market, or a binational family business structuring cross-border holdings—the firm provides US-side counsel on entity formation, trademark registration, operating agreements, and corporate compliance. The firm’s location in Pereira, Colombia (by appointment only) supports its work with Colombian clients, and the firm collaborates with Colombian-licensed Of Counsel attorneys on matters of Colombian law.
Entity selection is one of the most consequential decisions a business owner makes. The choice between a limited liability company, a C corporation, an S corporation, a limited partnership, or a sole proprietorship affects tax treatment, personal liability exposure, governance structure, and the ability to attract investment. For international founders, additional considerations apply—treaty-based tax positions, foreign ownership restrictions in certain industries, and the interplay between US entity classification and the home country’s tax regime. Mr. Sris and his Of Counsel bring extensive combined legal experience to these determinations, working to align the entity structure with the client’s operational goals and cross-border realities.
Brand Protection Across Borders
Trademark registration in the United States is governed by the Lanham Act and administered by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). For international brand owners, US trademark protection is often essential: the US market is the world’s largest consumer economy, and a registered mark provides nationwide constructive notice, a legal presumption of validity, and the right to bring infringement actions in federal court. Mr. Sris guides clients through the trademark clearance process—searching for potentially conflicting marks, assessing registrability, and preparing and prosecuting applications. For clients whose brands also operate in Colombia, the firm coordinates with Colombian-licensed Of Counsel on parallel trademark protection under Colombian industrial property law, administered by the Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio (SIC).
Brand protection does not end with registration. Monitoring for infringement, sending cease-and-desist letters, negotiating coexistence agreements, and, when necessary, litigating in federal court under the Lanham Act are integral to maintaining a brand’s value. Mr. Sris’s experience with litigation informs the firm’s brand-enforcement strategy: a well-drafted demand letter backed by a credible threat of litigation often resolves disputes without the cost of trial, but when litigation becomes necessary, the firm is prepared to pursue injunctive relief and damages on behalf of its clients.
About Atchuthan Sriskandarajah
Mr. Sris founded Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. in 1997. He is a former prosecutor whose career has spanned criminal prosecution, civil litigation, and transactional practice. He is admitted to practice in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. Mr. Sris testified before the Virginia House Courts of Justice Committee in support of 2019 HB 635 (chief patron Del. David Bulova), the bill that became the 2019 revision to Va. Code § 20-107.3(g). He was also involved in the introduction of Virginia House Joint Resolution HJR 573 (2017), recognizing Pongal Day in the Commonwealth (chief patron Del. David Bulova), agreed to by the House January 24, 2017 and by the Senate February 14, 2017. Mr. Sris speaks English and Tamil.
The firm’s Colombia-facing work is supported by Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel for Colombia practice at Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. Mr. Duport Jaramillo is licensed in Colombia and is not admitted in any US state bar. His practice with Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. is limited to matters of Colombian law and to serving as a liaison for international clients with US-licensed attorneys at the firm. A former Minister Counselor at the Embassy of Colombia to the European Union and former Executive President of the Pereira Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Duport Jaramillo holds his JD from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and speaks Spanish, English, and French.
Frequently Asked Questions
What entity type should a Colombian business choose for its US subsidiary?
The appropriate entity type for a Colombian business entering the US market depends on the company’s ownership structure, tax strategy, liability concerns, and long-term objectives. Many international founders form a Delaware limited liability company (LLC) or C corporation. An LLC offers pass-through taxation and operational flexibility, while a C corporation may be preferable if the company plans to seek venture capital or eventually go public. The analysis also considers the US-Colombia tax treaty and whether the Colombian parent’s home-country tax treatment favors one entity classification over another. A consultation with US counsel and Colombian tax advisors is recommended before formation. For guidance on your specific situation, reach Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747.
How does a Colombian brand register its trademark in the United States?
A Colombian brand owner may file a US trademark application with the USPTO under Section 1(a) (use in commerce) or Section 1(b) (intent to use), or through the Madrid Protocol if the mark is already registered or applied for in Colombia. The Madrid Protocol, administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), permits a trademark owner to designate the United States in an international application based on a Colombian filing. The USPTO examines the application for substantive compliance with the Lanham Act. Working with US counsel helps ensure the application meets USPTO requirements and avoids common pitfalls. For a consultation on US trademark registration, contact Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747.
Does the firm handle Colombian corporate law matters directly?
Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. does not practice Colombian law directly. The firm is a US law firm whose attorneys are admitted in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. For matters involving Colombian law—such as forming a Colombian sociedad, registering a trademark with the SIC, or navigating Colombian regulatory requirements—the firm collaborates with Colombian-licensed Of Counsel attorneys, including Eric Duport Jaramillo, who is licensed in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar. The US-licensed attorneys handle the US-side legal work; the Colombian-licensed Of Counsel handle the Colombian-side legal work. To discuss your cross-border matter, reach the firm at (888) 437-7747.
What ongoing compliance obligations apply to a US entity with Colombian ownership?
A US entity with Colombian ownership must comply with federal, state, and local requirements including annual report filings, franchise tax payments, registered agent maintenance, and federal tax filings—which may include informational reporting on foreign ownership under the Bank Secrecy Act. State-level requirements vary: Delaware requires an annual franchise tax report; Virginia requires an annual registration fee; other states impose their own schedules. Additionally, the Corporate Transparency Act, effective January 1, 2024, requires many US entities to report beneficial ownership information to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). For specific guidance on your entity’s compliance obligations, contact Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747.
Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. attorneys are admitted to practice law in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. The firm collaborates with foreign-jurisdiction Of Counsel attorneys on matters involving foreign law. No attorney in the firm or its Of Counsel network practices law in a jurisdiction where they are not admitted.
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Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Case results depend on a variety of factors unique to each case. Results may vary. The information on this site is general in nature and should not be construed as legal advice for any particular matter. Consult an attorney licensed in the relevant jurisdiction before taking any action. All firm locations are by appointment only.
Mr. Sriskandarajah is admitted to practice in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. He is not admitted to practice Colombian law. If your matter requires Colombian law representation, you should consult an attorney admitted by the Consejo Superior de la Judicatura. For US-law matters involving Colombian interests, contact Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747.