Carmen is the founding partner of castellano ip – studio legale.
She specializes in resolving disputes, both in and out of court, in the field of intellectual and industrial property, particularly in the area of distinctive signs (trademarks, domain names, company names, etc.), patents, designs, copyright, advertising law and unfair competition.
She graduated from the University of Bari “Aldo Moro” in 2003 and has been a member of the Milan Bar Association since 2006.
She has specialized experience in contentious and non-contentious IP, in all areas of IP, including patents, design and trademark law, copyright and unfair competition and she regularly represents clients in front of various Italian Courts.
Carmen has gained considerable experience in various areas of intellectual property law, particularly in trademarks, patents, designs, copyright and unfair competition.
She also provides assistance in cases of counterfeiting, transfer and exploitation of intellectual property rights, employee inventions, consumer law and labelling.
Carmen assists leading Italian and international companies operating in various industrial sectors (including fashion, automotive, information technology, publishing and food) and also represents clients in litigation matters.
Before founding Castellano IP – law firm, Carmen was Managing Partner of the Italian office of Acuminis (2019), an American boutique specialising in intellectual property, and before that she was head of the IP practice in Italy at Allen & Overy (2016/2019). Prior to that, she worked for 10 years at the law firm Jacobacci & Associati, in the Milan office. Previously, Carmen worked in the intellectual property department of Gianni Origoni (2006). Carmen also completed an internship at the Italian headquarters of Reuters (2007).
Her legal training has a strong international connotation and includes: post-graduate specialisation diploma in international trade law from the International Labour Organisation and the University Institute of European Studies of Turin (2006); post-graduate specialisation diploma in UK, US and EU Copyright law from King’s College London (2012).
Carmen completed her legal training at the State District Attorney’s Office in Bari (2003), as well as notarial practice and notarial specialisation courses at the Notarial School of Prof. Guido Capozzi and the Neapolitan Notarial School Lodovico Genghini (2006). Carmen was a member of the Unfair Competition Committee (2018-2022), Non-Traditional Marks (2021-2023) and Trade Secrets (2024) of INTA (International Trademark Association) and, continuously since 2021, of the Unfair Competition Team of Marques.
Carmen is also a member of the European Leadership team of ChIPs (a non-profit association that connects and encourages networking among women who operate successfully in the technology, law and policy sectors), as well as co-head and co-founder of the Italian Chapter.
Carmen has received numerous awards. In particular, after being ranked as an “IP Rising Star Professional” by the IP Stars International guide in 2018 and 2019, she was included among the “Notable Partitioners” in 2020/2021 and, constantly, since 2022, as a Trademark Star.
Carmen has been ranked among the top “Litigator and enforcement practitioner” by WTR1000 since 2020. Since 2022, Carmen has been ranked as “silver” among intellectual property professionals in Italy and described by WTR1000 as the creator of “rigorously business-oriented strategies that drive the commercial growth of her clients. She is the founder of Castellano IP, which continues to grow and strengthen, and is a solid partner to have on your side when it comes to enforcement issues.”
Carmen is frequently invited as a speaker and moderator at international conferences on industrial property (including INTA).
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