Sriskandarajah attorney
Atchuthan Sriskandarajah, Esq., founder of Law Offices of SRIS, P.C., is a US-licensed attorney who helps international clients protect their brands and structure their business entities under US law. For clients with ties to Colombia, the firm’s cross-border practice bridges US trademark registration, entity formation, and brand enforcement with the Colombian-law support of Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, who is licensed in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar. Whether you are a Colombian entrepreneur entering the US market or a US company expanding into Colombia, the firm provides coordinated counsel that respects the jurisdictional boundaries of each country’s legal system. Reach Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747 to discuss your brand and entity needs.
What This Cross-Border Practice Area Covers
US brand and entity law governs the creation, protection, and enforcement of trademarks, service marks, and business structures within the United States. For international clients, the intersection of US law with the laws of their home country—here, Colombia—requires careful navigation. The firm’s practice focuses on US-side matters: federal trademark registration through the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), state-level entity formation (LLCs, corporations, partnerships), and the enforcement of intellectual property rights under the Lanham Act. Colombian-law aspects, such as registering a trademark with the Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio or forming a Colombian sociedad, are handled by Eric Duport Jaramillo, the firm’s Colombia Of Counsel, in collaboration with the US-admitted attorneys.
Clients often need to coordinate brand protection across both jurisdictions simultaneously. A US trademark registration does not automatically confer rights in Colombia, and a Colombian business entity does not automatically satisfy US state-law requirements for doing business. The firm’s cross-border approach ensures that each side of the matter is addressed by an attorney licensed in the relevant jurisdiction, with clear communication between the US and Colombian counsel.
How Mr. Sris and His Of Counsel Network Handle These Matters
Mr. Sris and the US-admitted attorneys of the firm manage all US-law aspects of brand and entity matters, while Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, provides Colombian-law support under a strict jurisdictional separation. Atchuthan Sriskandarajah, Esq. is the principal attorney and founder of Law Offices of SRIS, P.C., admitted to practice law in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. For Colombia-law matters, the firm works with Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, admitted to practice law in Colombian bar and not admitted in any US state bar; that role is limited to Colombia-law matters in collaboration with the US-admitted attorneys of the firm. All US-law aspects are handled by Mr. Sris and the US-admitted attorneys of the firm.
When a client needs to register a US trademark, Mr. Sris or another US-licensed attorney prepares and files the application with the USPTO, responds to office actions, and handles any opposition or cancellation proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. If the same client also needs Colombian trademark protection, the firm engages Eric Duport Jaramillo to advise on Colombian registration requirements and to coordinate with the Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio. The two sides work in parallel, with the client receiving integrated updates, but each attorney remains solely responsible for the law of their own jurisdiction. This structure avoids unauthorized practice of law and ensures that every legal task is performed by a properly licensed professional.
About Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel Network
Mr. Sris founded Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. in 1997 and has built a practice that serves international clients from locations in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, New York, and Pereira, Colombia (by appointment only). A former prosecutor, Mr. Sris is admitted to practice in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. He 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). His experience spans US litigation, transactional work, and cross-border coordination.
Eric Duport Jaramillo serves as Of Counsel for Colombia matters. Licensed in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar, his practice with the firm is limited to Colombian law and to serving as a liaison for international clients with the US-licensed attorneys. Mr. Duport Jaramillo’s background includes service as a former Minister Counselor at the Embassy of Colombia to the European Union and as Executive President of the Pereira Chamber of Commerce, giving him deep insight into Colombian business and regulatory environments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a US trademark attorney do for a Colombian business?
A US trademark attorney helps a Colombian business secure federal trademark protection in the United States by preparing and prosecuting applications before the USPTO. The attorney conducts a clearance search to identify potential conflicts with existing US marks, drafts the application to meet USPTO requirements, and responds to any substantive refusals. If the mark is opposed or challenged, the attorney represents the client in proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Because US trademark rights are territorial, a Colombian registration does not provide protection in the US; a separate US application is necessary. The firm’s US-licensed attorneys handle all aspects of the US process, while Eric Duport Jaramillo can advise on parallel Colombian registration if needed.
Can a Colombian citizen form a US company?
Yes, a Colombian citizen can form a US company, and there is no US citizenship or residency requirement to own a US limited liability company (LLC) or corporation. The formation process is governed by the law of the chosen US state—typically Delaware, Wyoming, or the state where the business will operate. The US-licensed attorney prepares and files the articles of organization or incorporation, drafts the operating agreement or bylaws, and obtains an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. The Colombian owner must also consider any Colombian tax or reporting obligations that arise from owning a foreign entity; those questions are addressed by Eric Duport Jaramillo under Colombian law. The firm coordinates both sides so the client receives comprehensive guidance without any single attorney practicing outside their licensed jurisdiction.
How does the firm handle brand enforcement across the US and Colombia?
Brand enforcement is handled separately under US law and Colombian law, with each side managed by an attorney licensed in the relevant jurisdiction. In the US, the firm’s US-admitted attorneys can send cease-and-desist letters, file opposition or cancellation proceedings with the USPTO, and litigate trademark infringement in federal court under the Lanham Act. In Colombia, Eric Duport Jaramillo advises on enforcement options under Colombian intellectual property law, including administrative actions before the Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio and judicial proceedings. The two attorneys coordinate strategy and share information, but each remains within the bounds of their own license. This dual-jurisdiction approach ensures that a brand owner can protect their rights on both sides of the border without any unauthorized practice of law.
Do I need a US lawyer and a Colombian lawyer for a cross-border brand matter?
In most cases, yes—a cross-border brand matter involving both US and Colombian law requires separate counsel for each jurisdiction. US trademark registration, entity formation, and litigation are matters of US law that must be handled by an attorney licensed in a US state. Colombian trademark registration, corporate governance, and litigation are matters of Colombian law that require a Colombian-licensed attorney. The firm’s model provides both through a single point of contact: Mr. Sris and the US-admitted attorneys handle the US side, and Eric Duport Jaramillo handles the Colombian side. The client benefits from coordinated representation without the risk of one attorney practicing law where they are not admitted.
What should I bring to a consultation about US brand and entity matters?
For a consultation on US brand and entity matters, bring a description of your business, the mark you wish to protect, the goods or services associated with it, and any existing Colombian registrations or business documents. If you already have a Colombian trademark registration, that can help the US attorney assess potential conflicts and priority claims. For entity formation, be prepared to discuss the ownership structure, the intended US state of formation, and the nature of the business activities. The firm’s US-licensed attorney will explain the US requirements, and if Colombian-law issues arise, Eric Duport Jaramillo can be engaged to address them. Contact Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747 to schedule a consultation.
How do I engage the firm for a cross-border brand or entity matter?
To engage the firm, call (888) 437-7747 or email colombia@the firm.com to discuss your matter with a US-licensed attorney. The initial consultation will identify which aspects of your matter involve US law and which involve Colombian law. The firm will then outline the scope of work for each side and provide an engagement letter that clearly delineates the responsibilities of the US-admitted attorneys and Eric Duport Jaramillo as Colombia Of Counsel. All US-law work is performed by Mr. Sris or another US-licensed attorney; all Colombian-law work is performed by Mr. Duport Jaramillo under his Colombian license. The firm’s location in Pereira, Colombia, is available by appointment for in-person meetings with the Colombia Of Counsel.