Alicia is partner of BERKEN IP and a patent attorney with over three decades of experience drafting and prosecuting patents in the fields of chemistry, oil gas, steel and material sciences. She also renders opinions regarding patentability, validity, infringement and freedom-to-operate in Argentina. Alicia advices on patent rights and acts as an expert in patent litigation cases. Prior to joining the Firm, she served as researcher at Conarco, a local wire and welding company.
Alicia has published several articles related to her practice and co-authored a book entitled “Patent Law. The new legal regime of inventions and utility models”, which reviews the new argentine Patent Law issued in 1996.
As postgraduate professor, she used to lead a Workshop on Patents of Invention (1998-2009) at the Intellectual Property Posgraduate Course from the Universidad de Buenos Aires.
Alicia has been guest lecturer at universities (DePaul University College of Law in the US and Universidad de Buenos Aires, Universidad Austral and Universidad Nacional de Quilmes in Argentina), congresses and international meetings (AIPLA, ASIPI and AAAPI) and local government entities (SECYT – Secretariat of Science and Technique). Her usual topics refer to pharmaceutical, chemical and biotech patents.
Alicia attends IP meetings held throughout the world on a permanent basis, being an active member in several committees. Her local and international IP associations include the Argentine Association of Industrial Property Agents (AAAPI); Interamerican Association of Industrial Property (ASIPI); International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI); American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA); International Trademark Association (INTA) and Brazilian Intellectual Property Association (ABPI).
Alicia is currently member of AIPPI’s IP and Green Technology Standing Committee. She is also a member of AIPLA’s IP in Latin America Committee and Women in IP Law Committee, and of FICPI’s CET 5 Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals Committee. During 2010-2014 she was Vice-President of the Argentine Group of AIPPI.
She earned her Degree in Chemical Engineering (1980) from the Universidad Tecnológica Nacional in Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina. Alicia holds a Postgraduate Degree in Iron & Steel (1981) from the Instituto Argentino de Siderurgia and is also a registered Patent and Trademark Agent at the National Institute of Industrial Property.