Manuel Polanco is the managing partner of Bolet & Terrero. He has extensive experience in all branches of IP law, including trademarks, patents, franchising, licensing and arbitration.

Throughout his career he has managed worldwide trademark portfolios across a range of industries, including alcoholic beverages, music, entertainment, fashion and apparel; counselled clients on worldwide clearance, registration, licensing, policing and enforcement of trademarks; negotiated and drafted assignment, coexistence and settlement agreements; and conducted due diligence on IP-related aspects of corporate transactions.

Since he became managing partner in 1999, the firm has – through the incorporation of new technologies and the creation of a team of lawyers, paralegals and high-level technicians – successfully addressed the registration and processing of its clients' patents, trademarks, copyrights and domain names in Venezuela. Over the years, Bolet & Terrero has been consistently recognised in international rankings as the main IP firm in Venezuela and Mr Polanco has earned several recognitions for the firm’s efficiency and loyalty to its clients.

He frequently contributes to various publications in the IP field, with articles such as "Exciting Prospects for Trademarks in Venezuela", "Actions to Defend Trademarks in Venezuela" and "Venezuela’s New Patent Grant Procedure".

Mr Polanco has also collaborated with several international organisations, such as the International Trademark Association, the Inter-American Association of Intellectual Property (ASIPI), the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property and the Asian Patent Attorneys Association, where he is also actively involved in areas such as the code of ethics (ASIPI), new legislative proposals, academic formation and the protection of rights holders.