SRIS international attorneys
Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. is a US law firm founded in 1997 that advises companies, entrepreneurs, and investors on brand protection and business entity matters with a cross-border dimension. Our clients include Colombian businesses entering the US market, US companies expanding operations into Colombia, and individuals with brand portfolios spanning both countries. The firm handles the US-law side of trademark registration, corporate formation, and brand-enforcement strategy from its principal location in Virginia and additional locations across five states. For the Colombian-law dimension, the firm coordinates with Colombia-admitted counsel to ensure that cross-border brand and entity structures are sound on both sides of the border. Reach Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747 to discuss your cross-border brand or entity matter.
What cross-border brand and entity practice covers
Cross-border brand and entity practice addresses the legal needs of businesses and individuals whose trademark portfolios, corporate structures, or commercial identities span more than one country. For clients with a US-Colombia nexus, this practice area brings together US trademark law under the Lanham Act, US business entity law (corporations, LLCs, and partnerships formed under state statutes), and Colombian intellectual property and corporate law administered by the Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio (SIC) and the Cámaras de Comercio. A brand operating in both markets must secure protection in each jurisdiction independently — a US trademark registration with the USPTO does not confer rights in Colombia, and a Colombian registration with the SIC does not confer rights in the United States.
The entity-formation side involves choosing the right corporate vehicle for cross-border operations. A Colombian company entering the US market may form a Delaware corporation or a Virginia LLC as its US subsidiary. A US company expanding into Colombia may establish a Sociedad por Acciones Simplificada (SAS) or a Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada (Ltda.) under Colombian corporate law. Each choice carries distinct tax, liability, and governance implications under the laws of both countries. General considerations include the US-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (effective 2012), which reduced tariffs and created market-access opportunities for brand owners in both directions, and the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention — to which both the United States and Colombia are contracting parties — which simplifies the authentication of corporate documents used across borders.
How Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. approaches US-Colombia brand and entity matters
The firm handles the US-law components of cross-border brand and entity engagements directly, and coordinates with Colombia-admitted counsel for the Colombian-law side. On the US side, Mr. Sris and the firm’s US-licensed Of Counsel manage federal trademark applications before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), state-level business entity formations, operating agreements, shareholder agreements, and US-side brand-enforcement actions. The firm draws on its experience with business formation across Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York, and applies that experience to structuring US subsidiaries for Colombian parent companies.
On the Colombian side, the firm has identified Eric Duport Jaramillo as its Of Counsel contact for Colombia practice. Mr. Duport Jaramillo is licensed to practice law 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. For brand and entity matters requiring Colombian-law representation — including SIC trademark registrations, Cámara de Comercio entity registrations, and Colombian corporate governance — the firm works alongside Mr. Duport Jaramillo or other Colombia-admitted counsel as the matter requires. This jurisdictional division ensures that the US-law advice comes from a US-admitted attorney and the Colombian-law advice comes from a Colombia-admitted attorney, consistent with the ethical rules of both jurisdictions.
About Mr. Sris and the firm’s cross-border practice
Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder of Law Offices of SRIS, P.C., is admitted to practice law in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. He founded the firm in 1997 and has since built a practice that serves an international clientele from the firm’s principal location in Fairfax, Virginia, and from additional locations in Richmond, Ashburn, Arlington, Woodstock, Rockville (Maryland), Tinton Falls (New Jersey), and Buffalo (New York). All firm locations are by appointment only. 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).
The firm’s practice extends to a location in Pereira, Colombia — by appointment only — reflecting its commitment to serving clients with US-Colombia legal needs. Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. is a US law firm with an international clientele. 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. For brand and entity matters, this means the firm delivers US-side counsel directly and coordinates with qualified Colombia-admitted attorneys for Colombian-side requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need separate trademark registrations in the US and Colombia?
Yes — trademark rights are territorial, and a US registration with the USPTO does not protect your brand in Colombia, nor does a Colombian registration with the SIC protect your brand in the United States. A brand owner doing business in both markets should pursue registration in each country independently. The US follows a use-based system under the Lanham Act, while Colombia’s trademark regime is administered by the Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio under a first-to-file framework. The firm handles US trademark applications and coordinates with Colombia-admitted counsel for Colombian filings. For guidance on cross-border brand protection, reach Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747.
What US business entity should a Colombian company use for its US subsidiary?
The choice depends on the company’s goals, but many Colombian businesses use a Delaware corporation or a Virginia LLC as their US subsidiary vehicle. A Delaware corporation offers a well-developed body of corporate law familiar to US investors and counterparties. A Virginia LLC provides pass-through taxation and operational flexibility. The analysis considers the parent company’s Colombian corporate structure, US tax treaty implications, and the subsidiary’s intended business activities. The firm advises on entity selection and formation under US state law, and coordinates with Colombian counsel on the parent-company side. To discuss entity structure for your US subsidiary, contact us at (888) 437-7747.
Can I use the same brand name in the US and Colombia without conflict?
Using the same brand name in both countries is possible but requires clearance searching in each jurisdiction independently. A brand name that is available for use and registration in Colombia may be confusingly similar to a prior-registered mark in the United States, and vice versa. Comprehensive clearance involves searching the USPTO database for US marks and the SIC database for Colombian marks. The firm conducts US-side clearance and collaborates with Colombia-admitted counsel for Colombian-side searching. Cross-border brand clearance is a preventive measure that helps avoid infringement disputes before they arise. For a consultation on cross-border brand strategy, reach Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747.
How does the US-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement affect brand owners?
The US-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, effective since 2012, strengthened intellectual property protections for brand owners in both countries and reduced tariffs on qualifying goods. The agreement requires each country to provide adequate and effective protection for trademarks, copyrights, and patents, and includes enforcement mechanisms against counterfeiting and piracy. For brand owners, the TPA means that a US company’s trademarks enjoy a minimum standard of protection under Colombian law, and Colombian brands receive reciprocal treatment in the US. The agreement also facilitates market access — brand owners can move goods across the border with reduced duty exposure when origin requirements are met. The firm advises clients on the US-side implications of the TPA for brand strategy and entity structure.
What documents do I need to register a US entity if my corporate records are in Spanish?
Corporate records in Spanish typically require certified English translations and may need apostille authentication under the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention before US authorities will accept them. Both the United States and Colombia are contracting parties to the Apostille Convention, which means a Colombian public document — such as a certificate of incorporation from the Cámara de Comercio — can be authenticated by obtaining an apostille from the competent Colombian authority rather than going through consular legalization. The apostille certifies the document’s origin so that US state authorities, banks, and the IRS can rely on it. The firm guides clients through the US-side requirements for entity formation when source documents originate in Colombia. To discuss the entity-formation process, contact us at (888) 437-7747.
Does the firm handle brand-enforcement disputes in Colombia?
Brand-enforcement disputes in Colombia are handled by Colombia-admitted counsel because they arise under Colombian law and proceed before Colombian authorities. The firm’s role is to coordinate the US-side aspects of a cross-border enforcement strategy — for example, pursuing a parallel USPTO opposition or cancellation proceeding while Colombia-admitted counsel handles the SIC proceeding, or enforcing a US judgment against assets located in the United States. The firm works with its Colombia Of Counsel network on coordinated brand-protection strategies, maintaining the jurisdictional division between US-law and Colombian-law representation. For cross-border enforcement guidance, reach Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747.
Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Results may vary. Case results depend on a variety of factors unique to each case. Attorney responsible for this advertising in the State of New Jersey: Atchuthan Sriskandarajah, Esq. 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. This content discusses general principles of cross-border legal practice and does not constitute legal advice for any specific matter. Cross-border legal questions depend on the specific facts, jurisdictions involved, and current law in multiple countries. Consult an attorney licensed in the relevant jurisdiction before taking action. The information on this site is general in nature and should not be construed as legal advice for any particular matter. No attorney-client relationship is formed by visiting this site or contacting us.
Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder of Law Offices of SRIS, P.C., is a former prosecutor admitted to practice in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. He founded the firm in 1997. Mr. Sris has prepared this information as part of the firm’s knowledge resource on cross-border brand and entity matters involving Colombia.