Luis Diego Castro

Partner, Costa Rica
luisdiego.castro@ariaslaw.com

Luis Diego Castro is a partner at the firm, practicing in the areas of Intellectual Property, Technology, and Corporate Law.
He is currently regarded as one of the most experienced attorneys on Patent Law in Costa Rica and Central America. He has been a frequent invited lecturer and speaker on intellectual property topics at universities and trade associations in Costa Rica and abroad. Has spoken about biotech patents and patent eligibility in Central America at several AIPLA events and webinars. Has written about patents in Costa Rica for several publishing companies, including the Chambers and Partners. Mr. Castro was head legal counsel for the plaintiff in the two landmark patent cases before the Costa Rican courts. He filed and prosecuted the first plant variety to be registered in Costa Rica and has obtained patent protection for multiple pharma and agrochemical biotech inventions filed on behalf of multinational companies.
He has been a consultant for Nathan Associates on the project for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) “Support for Trade Capacity Building in Central America – E-Commerce”.
Mr. Castro constantly advises local and foreign technology-based companies investing in Costa Rica on setting up their operation; negotiating joint technology development projects, licensing, know-how and trade secrets.
He founded and directed for 25 years the law firm Castro y Pal Abogados, which merged with Arias in 2019.

Career

Law Degree from the University of Costa Rica (UCR).
Public Notary.
His continuing legal education includes the Program for Instruction for Lawyers at Harvard Law School (1999).

Ranked in Chambers and Partners Global and Chambers and Partners Latin America for his Intellectual Property practice.
Listed in Whos Who Legal for his Intellectual Property practice.
Ranked as Patent Star by IP Stars.

Memberships

Costa Rican Bar Association.
American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA).
Association Internationale pour la Protection de la Propriété Intellectuelle (AIPPI).
Innovation Committee at the Costa Rican Chamber of Industries (CICR).
International Trademark Association (INTA).
Inter-American Association of Intellectual Property (ASIPI).
ItechLaw – International Technology Law.
APPICR – Costa Rican Intellectual Property Professionals.
Costa Rican Chamber of Information and Communication Technologies (CAMTIC).
International Bar Association (IBA)

Publications

Co-authored the Costa Rican Chapter of “Trademarks - 2018 Chambers Global Practice Guides”, a publication by Chambers and Partners.
Co-authored the Costa Rican Chapter of “Patent Litigation - 2018 Chambers Global Practice Guides”, a publication by Chambers and Partners.
Co-authored the Costa Rican Chapter of Patents, the book of the collection Getting the Deal Through, a 2017 publication by Law Business Research Ltd.
Biotech and Pharma Patents in Costa Rica – Biotech Committee at the American Intellectual Property Law Association - 2013.

‘Luis Diego Castro is an excellent professional and we trust him to handle our patent matters in Costa Rica.’ – The Legal 500
‘Arias’ team in Costa Rica has shown without a doubt that it has established itself as a leader in the Central American market in patent matters. The merger with Castro & Pal has combined technical knowledge with the administrative and logistical support that a strong intellectual property practice needs.’ – The Legal 500
‘Arias benefits from the portfolio management skills that the partners of Castro & Pal have brought to the firm.’ – The Legal 500
Department co-head Luis Castro is noted for his experience in IP affairs, particularly patents, and is described by a client as "a proficient team player." "He has a lot of experience working with foreign clients," reports a market insider. – Chambers and Partners Global
Co-head of department Luis Castro is active in various relevant mandates within the Costa Rica IP sphere. He is described as "a very good lawyer" by an impressed client, who adds: "He has a lot of experience and knows how to handle legal processes." – Chambers and Partners Latin America
Luis Diego Castro possesses more than 25 years of experience advising multinationals on cross-border patent disputes and licensing issues. – Who’s Who Legal