Malavika T. Vikram

Malavika T. Vikram, Practice Head for Trademark, Copyright and Litigation at De Penning & De Penning, has been named Trademark Advisory Expert of the Year in India at the Corporate INTL Global Awards 2025. The recognition acknowledges one of India's most experienced trademark practitioners and the enforcement-led approach she has developed at the country's oldest intellectual property law firm. Established in 1856, De Penning & De Penning has protected the brands and creations of clients for more than 165 years, and Ms. Vikram has been central to its trademark practice since joining in 2002.

Her expertise spans the full arc of trademark work, from clearance and prosecution through to enforcement and litigation. As head of the firm's litigation department, she oversees pre-litigation investigation, discovery and enforcement strategy, guiding matters through to infringement action where the protection of a brand demands it. This means her advisory work is grounded in practical enforcement experience: recommendations on adoption, registration and portfolio management are informed by a clear understanding of how rights will be defended if they are challenged or infringed.

Ms. Vikram's career began as a research scholar in the criminology department of the University of Strathclyde in Scotland. On returning to India she practised before the Madras High Court, developing a focus on constitutional, family and company law alongside intellectual property, before concentrating fully on trademark, copyright and IP litigation at De Penning & De Penning. Her advocacy background has shaped a notably assertive enforcement style, which combines civil infringement action with criminal proceedings against counterfeiting on e-commerce platforms and in physical retail outlets.

Operating from the firm's network of offices in Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, she manages cross-border trademark work across the Asia-Pacific region, advising domestic and international brand owners on securing and policing their marks in India. Her trademark advisory encompasses the strategic questions that matter most to clients: how to build a defensible portfolio, how to navigate opposition and cancellation proceedings, and how to respond decisively to infringement and passing off. She also advises on the valuation and commercialisation of intellectual property, linking legal protection to business value.

Trademark advisory work calls for a blend of foresight and pragmatism: anticipating the obstacles a mark may face, positioning it to withstand opposition, and preparing to enforce it decisively once registered. Ms. Vikram approaches this work with the perspective of a litigator, ensuring that the advice she gives at the adoption and prosecution stages is informed by how rights are ultimately defended. This is especially valuable in India, where the sheer scale of commerce and the prevalence of counterfeiting make robust enforcement essential to preserving brand value. By linking clearance and registration strategy to a clear plan for enforcement, she helps brand owners build portfolios that are not merely registered but genuinely defensible in the market.

Ms. Vikram's standing is reflected in her recognition by leading directories, including recommendations for prosecution and litigation work, and in her acknowledgement among influential women in intellectual property, having received a Powerful Woman in IP accolade from the World IP Forum. These distinctions, together with her leadership of De Penning & De Penning's trademark and litigation practice, underline the authority she brings to the field. Her selection as Trademark Advisory Expert of the Year in India at the Corporate INTL Global Awards 2025 confirms her reputation as a trusted and effective adviser to brand owners operating in one of the world's most active trademark jurisdictions.