Supporting substantial international IP portfolios
Khursheed Khan & Associates maintains intellectual-property portfolios for some of the world’s largest fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) businesses, including a number of Fortune 500 companies. The firm advises on strengthening, protecting and enforcing their IP assets and responding to threats arising across international markets.
Portfolio operations connect the everyday administration of rights with their commercial purpose. Accurate records, timely action and a clear view of market exposure help corporate IP teams make informed decisions about investment, protection and enforcement.
We provide Pakistan portfolio support and coordinate cross-border work with appropriately qualified local counsel and agents. The scope of each engagement defines the rights, jurisdictions, responsibilities and reporting arrangements involved.
Management across the IP lifecycle
Portfolio onboarding and reconciliation
We review the portfolio received against available certificates, applications, correspondence and client records. Differences in ownership, status, goods and services, territorial coverage or deadlines are flagged for resolution. The aim is a dependable working inventory with the source and status of each record identified.
Renewals, annuities and deadline control
We manage instructed maintenance work, including renewals and annuities where applicable, with reminders, approval requests and completion reporting. Responsibility for each deadline is agreed during onboarding. Matters awaiting instructions, funding or missing records are escalated so that the client can act in time.
Ownership changes and recordals
We assist with assignments, changes of name or address and other relevant recordals. Transactions and corporate reorganisations can leave registry records out of step with the business. We identify required documentation and coordinate updates in the jurisdictions covered by the mandate.
Protection strengthening and gap reviews
We review whether existing rights support current products, packaging, territories and commercial plans. The assessment can identify filing priorities, inconsistencies and changes requiring further advice. A gap review is scoped separately from a formal clearance or freedom-to-operate opinion.
Watching and threat assessment
Where instructed, we review agreed watch sources and reports for potentially conflicting applications or market activity. Alerts are assessed against the relevant rights, commercial significance and available response routes. Watch coverage and frequency are defined expressly; no service can detect every threat.
Oppositions, challenges and enforcement
We coordinate responses to conflicting applications, infringement and challenges to the client’s own rights. Work begins with the applicable deadlines, evidence and commercial objectives. Pakistan proceedings and overseas instructions are managed through the appropriate lawyers, with strategy and reporting aligned to the client’s priorities.
Cross-border response coordination
When a threat affects several markets, we help organise country-specific advice, evidence and proposed action. A coordinated approach can reduce inconsistent positions and avoidable duplication while recognising that procedures, remedies and authority differ between jurisdictions.
Reporting, budgets and decision support
We prepare portfolio summaries, matter updates and action lists suited to in-house teams and instructing counsel. Reports can distinguish routine maintenance, urgent issues, strategic recommendations and expenditure requiring approval. Frequency, format and approval thresholds are agreed with the client.
Portfolio support for FMCG and consumer brands
Consumer-goods portfolios often combine house marks, product names, packaging, designs, advertising content and other valuable assets. Changes to a product range or presentation can create new protection needs even where the principal brand is well established.
Brand families and product launches
Coordinate records and protection priorities across related brands, product extensions and planned launches. Work with commercial teams to identify which changes require additional review before market introduction.
Packaging and presentation
Track significant changes to labels, artwork and packaging and identify questions for trade mark, design or copyright advice. Ownership of commissioned work and supporting records should remain accessible.
Market threats and lookalikes
Assess reported imitation, confusing presentation or unauthorised use against the rights and evidence available. The response should reflect urgency, market impact and the client’s preferred commercial outcome.
Distributors and local partners
Help organise rights documentation and instructions where market activity involves distributors, licensees or affiliates. Clear authority and reliable information support timely decisions when a concern arises.
A coordinated response to threats across markets
- Record the reported threat, affected market, relevant rights and any immediate deadline.
- Check ownership, standing and the available evidence with the appropriate advisers.
- Identify the commercial objective and assess the available response options.
- Obtain client approval for the proposed action, scope and budget.
- Coordinate instructions to the responsible legal team or local counsel.
- Track developments, report decisions required and update the portfolio record.
Overseas action depends on local law, available evidence and the authority granted to local representatives. A central point of coordination supports consistent instructions without assuming that a single procedure applies worldwide.
How a portfolio mandate is established
At the outset, we agree the portfolio scope, countries, authorised contacts and division of responsibility. We then reconcile records, identify urgent matters and establish the reporting and approval process.
- Defined responsibility for filings, maintenance, monitoring and disputes
- Named client contacts and instruction or expenditure approval thresholds
- Agreed reminders, escalation routes and reporting intervals
- Clear treatment of pending transfers and incomplete historical records
- Periodic reviews of coverage, cost and commercial relevance
- Orderly handover arrangements when instructions or representatives change
Information for onboarding
- Current portfolio list, jurisdictions and internal matter references
- Registration certificates, application details and latest status reports
- Upcoming deadlines and outstanding instructions
- Ownership, assignment and corporate-change documents
- Details of current representatives and transfer arrangements
- Relevant licences, distribution arrangements and business priorities
- Existing disputes, watch reports and known market threats
- Reporting preferences, authorised contacts and budget requirements
Records should be transferred through an agreed secure channel. Urgent deadlines should be identified at the start rather than left to emerge during a general portfolio review.
Frequently asked questions
Who is this service for?
Corporate rights holders, FMCG and other brand-led businesses, in-house IP teams and international law firms seeking portfolio support and coordinated instructions.
Can the firm manage work across countries?
We coordinate multi-jurisdiction portfolios within the agreed mandate, using appropriately qualified local counsel and agents for country-specific advice and action.
Can an existing portfolio be transferred?
Yes. A transfer requires an agreed handover, records reconciliation and clear allocation of responsibility, particularly for imminent deadlines and ongoing proceedings.
Does routine maintenance include watching or enforcement?
These activities are included only where agreed. The mandate should specify watch coverage, response responsibilities and how contentious work is authorised.
How are urgent threats handled?
The initial assessment identifies deadlines, relevant rights, evidence and the commercial objective. Proposed action and budget are then escalated to the authorised client contact.
Can operations be combined with a strategic audit?
Yes. A separately scoped audit can examine gaps, unused rights and opportunities while routine operations continue under the agreed responsibility arrangements.