Malavika Vikram

Malavika Vikram is a senior attorney and practice head at De Penning & De Penning, the oldest established firm of intellectual property lawyers in India. She has been recognised in the Corporate INTL Global Awards 2026 as Trademark Advisory Expert of the Year in India, an accolade that reflects her wealth of experience in trade mark, copyright, design and domain name protection and enforcement.

India's oldest intellectual property firm

De Penning & De Penning was founded in 1856 and describes itself as the oldest established firm of intellectual property lawyers in India. The firm provides a comprehensive range of IP services, including patents, trade marks, designs, copyright, domain names, geographical indications, market investigations and portfolio management, and it operates from offices in Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. Within this long-established practice, Malavika Vikram leads work on litigation, trade marks, copyright and design, and is described by the firm as one of its senior attorneys with a wealth of experience in trade mark, copyright and domain name protection and enforcement.

Trade mark advisory in India

Trade marks are vital business assets that distinguish the goods and services of one enterprise from those of another and carry the reputation and goodwill a business has built. Trade mark advisory work encompasses far more than registration: it includes advising on the selection and clearance of new marks, developing filing strategies, managing portfolios across classes and jurisdictions, monitoring for conflicting marks and infringements, and enforcing rights through opposition, litigation and other proceedings. It also involves defensive advice, ensuring that a client's use of a mark does not encroach on the rights of others, and resolving disputes through negotiation, settlement or the courts.

India is a large and dynamic market with a well-developed intellectual property regime, and both domestic and international businesses place great importance on protecting their brands there. As commerce increasingly moves online, issues such as domain name disputes, online counterfeiting and the enforcement of rights across e-commerce platforms have become ever more significant. A practitioner who combines trade mark advisory expertise with litigation experience is well placed to help clients protect their brands comprehensively, from initial strategy through to enforcement.

Areas of focus

• Trade mark strategy, registration and portfolio management
• Trade mark, copyright and design enforcement
• Domain name protection and disputes
• IP litigation
• Advisory work across the intellectual property spectrum

The value of a brand depends on the strength and consistency with which it is protected. Businesses that invest in building recognisable, trusted brands need advisers who can secure and defend their rights against imitation and infringement, both in traditional markets and in the digital economy. With its long history and multi-office national presence, De Penning & De Penning offers clients the depth of experience that effective brand protection in India requires.

The digital economy has transformed how brands are built, used and challenged. Marketplaces, social media and domain names have created new opportunities for businesses to reach customers, but also new avenues for infringement, counterfeiting and misuse. Trade mark advisers now routinely help clients monitor online channels, take action against infringing listings and domains, and adapt their protection strategies to a marketplace that spans physical and digital commerce. Malavika Vikram's combined experience in trade mark, copyright, design and domain name protection places her well to advise clients on safeguarding their brands across this increasingly complex landscape in India.

Corporate INTL Global Awards 2026

The Corporate INTL Global Awards recognise leading practitioners and firms across the world's legal and advisory markets, identified through the publication's research among clients and peers. Malavika Vikram's recognition as Trademark Advisory Expert of the Year in India reflects both her personal expertise and the enduring reputation of De Penning & De Penning. For businesses seeking to protect and enforce their trade marks and other intellectual property rights in India, her experience within the country's oldest IP firm provides a knowledgeable and trusted point of contact.