De Penning & De Penning

De Penning & De Penning has been recognised as Patent Prosecution Law Firm of the Year in India at the Corporate INTL Global Awards 2025, an accolade that acknowledges one of the country's most enduring and respected intellectual property practices. Founded in 1856, when George Alfred De Penning filed the first patent application in India, the firm is the oldest established intellectual property practice in the country and has maintained continuous operation for more than 165 years. From its origins at the very inception of Indian patent law, it has grown into a full-service intellectual property organisation with a national footprint.

The firm is headquartered in Chennai and operates from offices across five major Indian cities, including Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. This geographic breadth allows it to serve domestic innovators and international rights holders alike, coordinating filings, prosecution and enforcement strategy across jurisdictions. Its patent practice sits at the heart of the firm's reputation, supported by a dedicated search team of patent engineers spanning a wide range of technical fields, from engineering and electronics to chemistry and the life sciences.

De Penning & De Penning's patent prosecution work encompasses the full lifecycle of an invention, from prior-art searching and drafting through to filing, examination response and grant. The firm advises on portfolio management, patent strategy and the alignment of protection with commercial objectives, helping clients secure robust rights that withstand scrutiny. Its technical depth enables patent attorneys to engage closely with the substance of an invention, translating complex science into precise and defensible specifications that satisfy the requirements of the Indian Patent Office.

Beyond prosecution, the firm's practice extends to patent litigation, trademarks, copyright, industrial designs, geographical indications, domain-name enforcement and market investigations. This breadth means clients can rely on a single organisation to protect, manage and enforce their intellectual property across its many forms. The firm has reported handling several thousand cases and welcoming large numbers of new clients each year, a scale that reflects both the trust it commands and the efficiency of its systems.

Patent prosecution in India requires close familiarity with the procedures of the Indian Patent Office and with an evolving body of law governing patentability, examination and opposition. De Penning & De Penning's long institutional memory in this area is a distinct asset, allowing it to anticipate objections and to shape applications that are both technically sound and legally durable. Its patent engineers and attorneys work in tandem so that the science of an invention is captured accurately and its commercial significance is protected. For international applicants entering the Indian market, this local depth is complemented by an understanding of how national filings fit within global patent strategies, including priority claims and the co-ordination of parallel prosecution in other jurisdictions.

Quality and security underpin the firm's operations, evidenced by its ISO 27001 certification and its consistent recognition by leading directories such as The Legal 500 Asia Pacific and Chambers Asia Pacific. Its client base ranges from individual inventors and start-ups to multinational corporations seeking dependable representation in one of the world's most important and fast-growing markets for innovation. The firm is known for combining historical pedigree with a forward-looking, service-oriented approach, offering ongoing support to businesses as their needs evolve. Its recognition as Patent Prosecution Law Firm of the Year in India at the Corporate INTL Global Awards 2025 affirms its standing as a benchmark practice in Indian intellectual property law.