Prashant Sethi

Professional Profile

Prashant Sethi is the Managing Partner of IP Rani and the driving force behind the firm's intellectual property prosecution, commercial litigation, and international filing practice. Enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of India in 2022, he has rapidly distinguished himself as one of the firm's most versatile and technically proficient IP practitioners. As a Registered IP Attorney and Official SIPP Facilitator under the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM), Prashant manages the complete lifecycle of intellectual property assets for the firm's diverse client base — which ranges from early-stage startups and academic institutions to established manufacturing companies and D2C brands. His work begins at the pre-filing stage with comprehensive clearance searches and distinctiveness assessments, and extends through application drafting, filing strategy, examination report responses, and registry hearing representation. He handles prosecution matters across all three major IP categories: trademarks (including wordmarks, device marks, sound marks, and multi-class applications under the Trade Marks Act, 1999), patents (provisional and complete specifications under the Patents Act, 1970), and industrial designs (under the Designs Act, 2000). He has particular strength in complex multi-class trademark filings, contentious registry proceedings involving objections under Sections 9 and 11 of the Trade Marks Act, and opposition proceedings where he has successfully defended and challenged marks before the Trademark Registry. Prashant's practice extends well beyond domestic filings. He leads the firm's international IP operations, guiding clients through Madrid Protocol trademark registrations across 130+ member jurisdictions, Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications for global patent protection, and Hague System registrations for international industrial design coverage. He advises clients on jurisdiction selection, priority date strategy, and the commercial implications of international portfolio expansion. He also counsels businesses on IP licensing agreements, technology transfer arrangements, franchise agreements, and IP assignment transactions — helping companies unlock the commercial value of their intellectual property portfolios. On the contentious side, Prashant represents clients in IP infringement actions, passing-off suits, and commercial disputes before district courts, high courts, and appellate forums, bringing the same precision and thoroughness that defines his prosecution work to the courtroom.