Asia IP Awards 2019: Toasting the winners

14 January 2020

Forty-eight firms from 19 Asia-Pacific jurisdictions took home trophies at the 10th annual Asia IP Awards, held November 8 at the Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel in Taipei.

The awards named top trademarks, patents and copyright practices as determined by in-house counsel from Asia, Europe and the Americas. More than 5,000 in-house counsel were polled by Asia IP magazine throughout the first part of 2019. The event also named international award winners in each of the practice areas. The complete list of winners follows this press release.

“There is a significant amount of high-level intellectual property work being done in Asia,” said Asia IP publisher Darren Barton. “Each year, the competition to win an Asia IP Award becomes more and more competitive.”

This year saw the launch of the China International Awards, honouring international law firms for their work in China. Baker McKenzie took the inaugural trademark award, Bird & Bird the patent award and SIPS – Simone Intellectual Property Services – the copyright award. Leading Chinese law firms will be recognized with the Asia IP China Awards early next year.

Three international law firms won multiple awards at the event, either in multiple practice areas or multiple jurisdictions. Global firm Baker McKenzie-affiliated firms won four awards on the evening, including the regional Asia Pacific award for its trademark work. Bird & Bird won for its regional patent work, its China work and for its trademark work in Singapore as Bird & Bird ATMD. Hogan Lovells was recognized for its regional copyright work, as well as for its copyright work in Vietnam.

“The days of using a far-off law firm to do your work in Asia are mostly in the past,” said Asia IP managing editor Gregory Glass. “In-house counsel increasingly turn to Asia- and Pacific-based law firms because they know that those firms are consistently doing high-quality work.”

Asia IP is a vital source of intelligence for IP-owning companies active in Asia, and international law firms which want to keep ahead of the key issues. The magazine includes a range of in-depth features, news and analysis designed to meet the information needs of in-house counsel, senior business leaders and partners at Asian and international law firms.

The 2020 Asia IP Awards will be held in Gold Coast, Australia, in November 2019.

Australia Copyright - McCullough Robertson

McCullough Robertson is noted for its work in protection, management and commercialization, advising organizations ranging from start-ups, to ASX listed businesses and government and research institutions, across a range of industries including biotechnology and life sciences, information technology, resources and agriculture. The firm also acts for franchisors, providing a full range of services including advice on intellectual property protection, preparation of franchise agreements and disclosure documents, compliance with the Franchising Code of Conduct and disputes.

Australia Patents - Spruson & Ferguson

Le Hong Minh, left, a principal at Spruson & Ferguson in Singapore, receives the 2019 Australia patents award from Johnny Chan of Asia IP.

For over 125 years, Spruson & Ferguson has been offering a wide range of specialist services for the protection, commercialization, enforcement and management of all types of IP in Australia, New Zealand and countries in the South Pacific region, including Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Vanuatu, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga. In the 1990s, the firm opened offices in Singapore and Malaysia; its recent expansion into greater China, Indonesia and Thailand has made it a formidable regional firm. The firm is part of IPH Limited, a company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Australia Trademarks - Davies Collison Cave

David Webber, left, a principal and patent attorney at Davies Collison Cave in Melbourne, receives the 2019 Australia patents award from Johnny Chan of Asia IP.

Davies Collison Cave is the largest patent and trademark attorney firm in Australia, and is one of the country’s leading intellectual property law firms. The firm has been protecting and enforcing IP for more than a century. Its lawyers come from a broad range of science and technology backgrounds and have the technical and legal skills to understand innovations and to protect clients’ interests.

Miriam Zanker, a director in the firm’s litigation group in Sydney, is particularly noted for her intellectual property litigation work, which is predominantly in the areas of patent and trademark litigation. She has assisted in running complex litigation in the Federal Court and High Court of Australia, for Australian and international companies across a broad range of industries. Her experience also includes advising on patent and trademark enforcement strategies, brand protection and protection of confidential information.

Cambodia Intellectual Property - Sok Siphana & Associates

Khieu Mealy, left, a partner at Sok Siphana & Associates in Phnom Penh, receives the 2019 Cambodia intellectual property award from Johnny Chan of Asia IP.

Sok Siphana & Associates, the Cambodia member firm of regional firm ZICO Law, was founded by Sok Siphana, a former who suffered at the hands of the Khmer Rouge and fled to the United States as a refugee. He returned to his native country in 1993, and later held many key positions in the Cambodian government, where he was actively involved in the development of trade promotion and policies and the preparation and passing of various commercial laws that are currently in place in Cambodia. The firm’s IP expertise focuses on helping individuals, companies, and the government in creating, implementing, and enforcing a regulatory framework for intellectual property that spurs competitiveness in domestic industries, enables trade and investment and protects the country’s cultural heritage.

China International Copyright - SIPS

Helen Tang, left, a Hong Kong-based partner at SIPS, receives the 2019 China International copyright award from Johnny Chan of Asia IP.

SIPS – Simone Intellectual Property Services Asia – is known for its top-rated IP counselors who’ve worked in major international law firms known for their expertise in China and the region. SIPS helps clients in managing their IP portfolios, including registration, enforcement and licensing of trademarks, copyrights and patents, as well as assisting clients with investigations management, advice on supply chain integrity, trade secret protection, data privacy, retail and wholesale distribution, ecommerce, distribution and sourcing agreements, and regulatory matters relating to IT and other high-tech sectors. In 2017, the firm opened a fully-licensed trademark agency in China, SIPS (Shanghai) Ltd. That agency operates from offices in Shanghai and Beijing.

China International Patents - Bird & Bird

Victor Tse, left, counsel in Bird & Bird’s Hong Kong office, receives the 2019 China International patents award from Johnny Chan of Asia IP.

The global IP team at Bird & Bird features more than 300 specialist IP lawyers, and is known for providing top contentious and non-contentious work. “We are constantly challenged to deliver effective legal solutions in a dynamically-evolving and innovation-driven marketplace,” the firm said in a statement. “Innovation is relentless, but so is our pursuit of being ahead of the curve. So, this is a challenge that we relish and thrive on as a firm; and one that we are well-placed to meet given our synergies within the Bird & Bird network internationally.”

China International Trademarks - Baker McKenzie

Radeemada Mungkarndee, left, a patent attorney at Baker McKenzie in Bangkok, receives the 2019 China international trademarks award from Johnny Chan of Asia IP.

With offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, Baker McKenzie represents many of the world’s famous brands. “With a long history working with Starbucks’ IP team, the Baker McKenzie team has a deep understanding of Starbucks’ business and products in relevant markets, particularly China, which enables it to provide proactive advice that makes business sense. More importantly, Baker McKenzie’s China team has an outstanding level of execution, which enables it to actually deliver the results that help satisfy the business needs,” says Yihong Ying, director and corporate counsel at Starbucks in Shanghai.

Hong Kong Copyright - Mayer Brown

Amita Kaur Haylock, left, a partner at Mayer Brown in Hong Kong, receives the 2019 Hong Kong copyright award from Hok Yin Yiu of Asia IP.

Mayer Brown’s Hong Kong office is home to one of the largest and longest-established law firms in Hong Kong. The firm has some 200 lawyers based in Hong Kong, providing clients with a full and integrated range of legal services. The firm is known for providing pragmatic and commercial legal advice to Chinese and Asian companies looking to grow locally, regionally and internationally, and for assisting clients in Europe, the Americas and the Middle East to invest in Asia.“We are delighted to receive this recognition for our work in the copyright space,” said Gabriela Kennedy, head of the Mayer Brown Asia IP and TMT practice and co-head of the Mayer Brown global IP practice. “We represent many broadcasters in seminal litigation as well as in transactions involving new modes of delivery of content. We are grateful to them for the work they have entrusted to us over the years. We owe this recognition to the trust they have placed in our practice.”

Hong Kong Patents - Deacons

Daniel Holt, left, a patent attorney at Deacons in Hong Kong, receives the 2019 Hong Kong patents award from Hok Yin Yiu of Asia IP.

Deacons is Hong Kong’s oldest independent full-service law firm. “Our experience with Deacons has been tremendous, right from the very start. The IP team have been able to communicate with us at a level which we can easily understand, and at every step of the way, they have treated us with their full attention and worked efficiently and professionally,” Adrian Tyte, CEO of Dongguan-based Stroller Tech, said. “We are honoured to be awarded patent firm of the year for Hong Kong,” said Annie Tsoi, co-head of the IP department and head of China IP practice group.

Hong Kong Trademarks - Ella Cheong & Alan Chiu

Alan Chiu, left, managing partner at Ella Cheong & Alan Chiu, receives the 2019 Hong Kong trademarks award from Hok Yin Yiu of Asia IP.

Ella Cheong & Alan Chiu was formerly known as Ella Cheong Law Office, which was founded in 2005 by the venerable Ella Cheong, a highly respected IP figure in Hong Kong. Alan Chiu is renowned for his anti-counterfeiting, IP litigation and advisory practices. Following the arrival of Chiu and his team, the firm changed its name in October 2016, and now boasts a staff of more than 20, and also offers legal services in a wider range of practice areas including civil, criminal and commercial litigation, defamation, employment, shareholder disputes landlord and tenant, conveyancing transactions, wills and probate and matrimonial matters. Cheong also founded the Singapore firm of Ella Cheong and a supporting office of Ella Cheong IP Services in Malaysia.

India Copyright - Singh & Singh

Sudeep Chatterjee, left, a partner at Singh & Singh in New Delhi, receives the 2019 India copyright award from Hok Yin Yiu of Asia IP.

Singh & Singh is one of India’s leading law firms in the fields of IP litigation, information technology, TMT and related aspects. “The best part about Singh & Singh is that they are open to trying new things and thinking out of the box while not restricting their thought process to the already settled legal position,” said Harsh Aggarwal, deputy general manager of legal at Havells Sylvania Group. “Working with Sudeep Chatterjee is a delight as he very well understands the expectation of business/in-house counsel from an external counsel.”

India Patents - LexOrbis

Manisha Singh, co-founder and parter at LexOrbis in New Delhi, receive the 2019 India patents award from Hok Yin Yiu of Asia IP.

LexOrbis is a comprehensive intellectual property law firm extending IP and legal services to global corporations, research institutions, technology driven industries and government entities in India and assisting Indian businesses to procure and protect intellectual property Rights across the globe. It offers an exceptional capability in maintaining an acceptable cost to quality matrix in the region. With over 35 IP professionals including lawyers and patent agents, the firm represents a diverse range of clients ranging from multinational corporations, to research institutions and universities, public funded and government entities and small and medium enterprises. Its core practice areas include IP procurement, transactional and commercial matters and IP litigation.

India Trademarks - Anand and Anand

Arpita Kulshretha, left, and Tusha Malhotra, partners at Anand and Anand in Noida, receive the 2019 India trademarks award from Hok Yin Yiu of Asia IP.

Anand and Anand is one of India’s top IP firms, with more than 200 professionals led by managing partner Pravin Anand. “Anand and Anand are the best IP lawyers of India,” Rajendra Misra, executive vice president and general counsel of the Indian Hotels Company, told Asia IP. “They have a formidable team of IP experts who take pains to ensure client-delight. Pravin Anand is the doyen of IP lawyers in India. Safir Anand has also made a name for himself as India’s leading IP lawyer. He is very creative and brimming with new ideas.”

Misra says the firm registered an image mark for the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai under the Trademarks Act. “The hotel was the first building in India to secure a trademark, catapulting it in the league of other famous buildings across the world [such as] the Empire State Building, the Chrysler building and the Sydney Opera House that have been able to secure such an unusual registration.”

Indonesia Copyright - K&K Advocates

Rizka Khairunnisa, left, a junior associate at K&K Advocates in Jakarta, and Fortuna Alvariza, a partner, receive the 2019 Indonesia copyright award from Hok Yin Yiu of Asia IP.

K&K Advocates is a boutique IP firm which provides services across the entire spectrum of IP, including telecommunication and information technology, with particular strengths in the registration and enforcement of copyrights, patents and trademarks. Multinational clients, foreign governments and other international organizations rely on the firm for its knowledge of IP principles in an Indonesian regulatory context. The firm is also involved with, or acts for, bodies responsible for formulating and commenting on cutting edge developments in IP and technology laws and regulations, by having continuous involvement in the formulation of changes to the current IP laws and regulations, in particular in trademark and copyright law.

Indonesia Patents - SKC Law

The intellectual property team at SKC Law in Jakarta is pictured with the trophy for the 2019 Indonesia patents award.

SKC Law is a specialist law firm which advises on all aspects of Indonesian intellectual property law. The firm is consistently well-ranked, and is led by partners Purnomo Suryomurcito and Nidya Kalangie, as well as solicitor and foreign advocate Andrew Conduit. The firm boasts a wide sector experience, including alcoholic beverages, automotive, chemicals, FMCG, IT, luxury goods, pharmaceuticals and tobacco.

Indonesia Trademarks - HHP Law

Anne Leong, left, an IP executive at Baker McKenzie Wong & Loew in Singapore, receives the 2019 Indonesia trademarks award for HHP Law from Hok Yin Yiu of Asia IP. HHP is the Baker McKenzie member firm in Indonesia.

HHP Law, formerly known as Hadiputranto, Hadinoto & Partners,is the Indonesian member of Baker McKenzie. “Daru Lukiantono is our main contact point in Asia, and he, along with his team, does an outstanding job for us,” says Kevin Klapprodt, chief legal counsel at Strider Sports International in the US state of South Dakota. “While delivering a very professional and high-level legal service, they let me know that they truly care. Their attention to detail and responsiveness to some of our most critical needs lets me know that they care as much about Strider’s mission and overall goals as we do!” Klapprodt says that Strider is a global brand, and that Baker McKenzie has engineered a comprehensive global IP enforcement plan that spans from manufacturing to the ultimate consumer. “The Strider brand faces many challenges, and with the development of our global IP enforcement plan, I am confident that we are in a great position to tackle these hurdles.”

Japan Copyright - Yuasa and Hara

Osamu Yamamoto, left, managing partner at Yuasa and Hara in Tokyo, receives the 2019 Japan copyright award from Johnny Chan of Asia IP.

Founded in 1902, Yuasa and Hara is one of the oldest and largest law firms in Japan. The firm is a pioneer in multidisciplinary practice, consisting of a legal division, a patent division, a trademark and design division and an accounting division. The firm boasts 19 lawyers, 61 patent attorneys, four certified public accountants, and one tax accountant.

Japan Patents - TMI Associates

Toshifumi Onuki, partner at TMI Associates in Tokyo, receives the 2019 Japan patents award from Johnny Chan of Asia IP.

TMI Associates was established in 1990 with the aim to provide professional legal services meeting the increasingly complex and international demands of the legal marketplace. Since its establishment, the firm’s IP practice, including patents, utility models, designs, trademarks, and copyright, has been one of its main pillars of expertise. “Access Partnership does public policy and educational work around issues impacting the technology sector,” said Laura Sallstrom, who leads the data policy and trust team at TMI client Access Partnership in Washington. “We focus almost exclusively on technology, so obviously, IP is very important to our clients. It is a fast moving and quickly changing area of industry. As a result, we look for lawyers who can think outside the box and match new technologies to old legal structures. Law firms that can go a step further and think about how a law may need to be changed in order to better support or manage current technology environments are most often our partners.”

Japan Trademarks - Nakamura & Partners

Hiroyuki Itaki, left, a partner at Nakamura & Partners in Tokyo, receives the 2019 Japan trademarks award from Johnny Chan of Asia IP.

Based in Tokyo, Nakamura & Partners is an international patent and law firm which provides IP services inside and outside of Japan. It provides services for patents (including designs) and trademarks, and has a strong legal section and the administration group to support the firm. Outstanding practitioners include Kazuhiko Yoshida, Hiroshi Uesugi and Hiroyuki Itaki for trademark. “Nakamura & Partners give us their opinions in a neutral position, considering [prior] judgments in the court,” says FujiFilm corporate vice president Shoei Imai. “They study Japanese case law on a daily basis, and provide that knowledge to clients openly.”

Macau Intellectual Property - DSL Lawyers

Carlos Simões, left, co-founder and partner at DSL Lawyers in Macau, receives the 2019 Macau intellectual property award from Johnny Chan of Asia IP.

DSL Lawyers is a full-service law firm founded in 2007, which boasts a top intellectual practice, along with strong practices in real estate, construction, aviation, infrastructure, banking, high-end retail, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications and gaming. Co-founder and partner Carlos D. Simões heads the IP and property practices. He has been retained by numerous Hong Kong groups to look after their Macau operations. He is a member of the Portuguese Bar and the Macau Lawyers Association.

Malaysia Copyright - Rahmat Lim & Partners

Pauline Khor, right, a partner at Rahmat Lim & Partners in Kuala Lumpur, receives the 2019 Malaysia copyright award from Johnny Chan of Asia IP.

Rahmat Lim & Partners, one of the fastest growing firms in Malaysia, is a full-service corporate and commercial law firm with a top intellectual property practice. The firm’s Intellectual Property & Technology team offers a full and wide range of contentious and non-contentious IP-related services and advises on a broad spectrum of enforcement, management and transactional issues. The firm is noted for its IP work in civil and criminal enforcement, where it assists clients in making urgent court applications for injunctions and search and seizure orders as well as participating in raid actions. The firm regularly crafts anti-counterfeiting programmes.

Malaysia Patents - Shearn Delamore & Co

Indran Shanmuganathan, right, a partner at Shearn Delamore & Co in Kuala Lumpur, receives the Malaysia patents award from Johnny Chan of Asia IP.

Shearn Delamore & Co founded its patents practice five decades ago, and is now regarded to be one of the leading firms for the filing of patent applications and for patent infringement and invalidation actions in Malaysia. “The IP team, in particular Indran Shanmuganathan, Jyeshta Mahendran and Yap Khai Jian, are lawyers who are accessible to their clients, provide sound and honest advice and are efficient in responding to requests and updating on progress. Their service is professional, timely and friendly,” says Shal Tharumalingam, senior manager, corporate affairs, at Nippon Paint (Malaysia) in Selangor. “They always keep their clients’ interests in the forefront.”

Malaysia Trademarks - Wong Jin Nee & Teo

Eugene Ee, right, an associate at Wong Jin Nee & Teo in Kuala Lumpur, receives the 2019 Malaysia copyright award from Johnny Chan of Asia IP.

Founded in 2005, IP boutique Wong Jin Nee & Teo provides a wide-spectrum of IP and technology services, but is most renowned for its work in trademark application and litigation, as well as in brand protection and enforcement work. Name partners Jin Nee Wong and Bong Kwang Teo are recognized for their expertise in non-contentious matters and litigation, respectively. Despite its relative youth in the market, the firm has quickly moved to forefront of IP practices in Malaysia. The firm acted for Intel Corporation in the trademark infringement and passing-off claims it brought against Intel Ventures.

Myanmar Intellectual Property - U Myint Lwin Law Office

U Myint Lwin, left, founder of U Myint Lwin Law Office in Yangon, receives the 2019 Myanmar intellectual property award from Johnny Chan of Asia IP.

U Myint Lwin Law Office is one of the most reliable firms in Myanmar, with founder Myint Lwin providing consistent, high quality service. The firm, which was founded in 1994, works with domestic and international clients in obtaining and maintaining IP applications and trademark registrations. The firm is also engaged in areas of maritime law, litigation, foreign investment, joint ventures, corporate and commercial law, banking, finance and real estate.

New Zealand Copyright - Baldwins

Wes Jones, left, a partner at Baldwins in Auckland, receives the 2019 New Zealand copyright award from Hok Yin Yiu of Asia IP.

Baldwins Intellectual Property is an intellectual property firm with an associated law firm (Baldwins Law Limited) serving clients in New Zealand, Australia and throughout the world. “As a new company operating in a highly-competitive industry, we work closely with Baldwins to help us protect our biggest asset, our IP interests, for our multiple brands and trademarks in key cosmetic markets such as China,” says Janelle Priest, co-founder of organic and natural skincare products maker Creme Factory. “As a start-up and relatively new company, they work within our tight budget and we are happy with the results we are getting.” Yaniv Gal, director of artificial intelligence at Ohmio, a maker of self-driving vehicles, said: “Baldwins helped us register a large amount of patents within a very short time – days – that were very important to register. Baldwin’s team worked with us day and night (and on the weekend) to meet our goals and make it happen. Their dedication for the job is exceptional.”

New Zealand Patents - Catalyst IP

Greg Lynch, left, a partner at Catalyst Intellectual Property in Wellington, receives the 2019 New Zealand patents award from Hok Yin Yiu of Asia IP.

Catalyst Intellectual Property focuses on protecting and maximizing investment in new ideas, products, services and technologies – technology intellectual property is its specialty. The firm brings extensive experience working in New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and Europe, in private practice, in-house and in senior government roles. Its clients include inventors, start-ups, research institutes, universities, government agencies, small and large businesses and multi-national corporations located in New Zealand and Australia and around the world. It’s our business to understand your business, your commercial drivers and aspirations and to build solid intellectual property strategies based on them. By building a deep understanding of your business we are able to be more responsive, efficient and strategic.

New Zealand Trademarks - AJ Park

Corinne Cole, left, a principal at AJ Park in Wellington, receives the 2019 New Zealand trademarks award from Hok Yin Yiu of Asia IP.

IP specialist AJ Park has one of the best practices in New Zealand for both contentious and non-contentious work. With 15 partners and 67 associates working in offices in Wellington and Auckland, the firm offers expertise in biotechnology, electronics, nanotechnology, chemical, mechanical, IT and business.

“[The firm has lawyers] who have been willing to try and understand our business, what our objectives are, what our risks are, and have been proactive in identifying potential opportunities,” said Doug Hill, managing director of Springfree New Zealand. “They make a fairly complex matrix of IP issues and their administration relatively simple for us.”

Pakistan Copyright - Vellani & Vellani

Khushnum Muncherji, a senior associate at Vellani & Vellani in Karachi, receives the 2019 Pakistan copyright award from Hok Yin Yiu of Asia IP.

Vellani & Vellani was established in 1937 under the name of Wali Mohammad Vellani & Co. It also incorporates the practice formerly carried on in the firm name of Fatehali W. Vellani & Co. The full-service firm provides legal services including consultancy services for corporate and other clients in IP and other areas, including finance, taxation, mergers and acquisitions, divestments, syndicated loans, incorporation of companies and joint ventures.

The firm’s trademarks practice serves clients in every phase of the adoption and protection of trademarks and certification marks, including the carrying out of searches at the Trade Marks Registry for clearance and determining registrability of the mark, the preparation of trademark applications and the representation of the client through every step of the process leading to the grant of registration. It also provides a full range of legal services in trademark infringements, including litigation services.

Pakistan Patents - Ali & Associates

Syed Auqil Ali Shah, senior partner at Ali & Associates in Karachi, receives the 2019 Pakistan patents award from Hok Yin Yiu of Asia IP.

Ali & Associates is an internationally-recognized law firm specializing in IP, media and IT. Led by senior partner Syed Auqil Ali Shah and managing partner Karimullah Adeni, the team is well-known for enforcement and litigation, and has represented domestic and foreign clients in the cosmetic chemical, textile, oil and gas, pharmaceutical, machinery, electronic, automobile and agriculture sectors. The firm has domestic offices in Karachi and Lahore.

Pakistan Trademarks - Sheikh Brothers

Sultan Ahmed Sheik, managing partner at Sheikh Brothers in Karachi, receives the 2019 Pakistan trademarks award from Hok Yin Yiu of Asia IP.

Founded in 1948 in Karachi by the late Sheikh Fazal Ellahi, Sheikh Brothers is an IP boutique providing services covering all aspects of IP including patents, trademarks, trade secrets, copyright, unfair competition, licensing, franchising, technology transfer, litigation and enforcement. Receiving the award, Sheikh Brothers’ managing partner Sultan Ahmad Sheikh said: “I felt immense pride and honour that my firm has been selected as the trademark firm of the year for Pakistan by Asia IP. We have been in business for more than seven decades now. Our firm has always strived to provide quality service to our clients at competitive rates. This award reflects the confidence our clients have in our services as well as the goodwill that we have earned in market. We will continue to protect interests of our clients and will also strive to further the cause of intellectual property rights in Pakistan.”

Philippines Copyright - Hechanova Group

Editha Hechanova, left, president of the Hechanova Group in Manila, Chrissie Ann Barredo, legal manager, and Joy Marie Gabor-Tolentino, senior associate, receive the 2019 Philippines copyright award from Hok Yin Yiu of Asia IP.

The Hechanova Group – Hechanova & Co. and Hechanova Bugay Vilchez & Andaya-Racadio – is based in Manila, where the former firm focuses on prosecution matters and the latter on litigation work. With key IP practitioners including president Editha Hechanova and partner Maria Gladys Vilchez, the firm advises on matters related to trademarks, patents, copyright, domain names, utility models, designs, litigation, licensing and franchising. One of its foremost clients is Alibaba Group Holding Limited for which the firm filed 44 applications covering various technologies in a 12-month period.

Philippines Patents - SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan

Vida M. Panganiban-Alindogan, left, a partner at SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan in Manila, receives the 2019 Philippines patents award from Hok Yin Yiu of Asia IP.

SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan is one of the Philippines’ largest law firms, as is its IP law practice, both in terms of client base and range of services offered. “Our experience working with SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan has been excellent,” said a partner at an Australian law firm. “We value the service provided by SyCip in the Philippines. We enjoy working with Enrique Manuel, Vida Panganiban-Alindogan and their Manila-based team.” Enrique T. Manuel, head of the firm’s intellectual property department, said: “We are honoured to have been chosen. That our work is again being recognized is truly appreciated. Our firm is fully aware of the value of the intellectual property rights of our clients and thus constantly endeavors to continue providing responsive and creative support in the management of our clients’ respective IP portfolio.”

Philippines Trademarks - Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz

Jose Eduardo T. Genilo, right, a partner at Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz in Manila, and Aleli Angela G. Quirino receive the 2019 Philippines trademarks award from Hok Yin Yiu of Asia IP.

The intellectual property department at Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz represents local and international clients in all aspects of IP rights protection. The practice is at the country’s forefront in the fight against counterfeiting, piracy and unfair competition, and in protecting legitimate holders of trademarks, patents and copyrights. It has successfully prosecuted criminal, civil and administrative cases for trademark infringement and unfair competition on behalf of owners of well-known marks. “We have had good experiences with this law firm,” said Vincent Stauffer, an in-house attorney at a European trade group. “They have been working on complex opposition matters for us in the Philippines. I definitively recommend them.”

Singapore Copyright - Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow

Anne Leong, left, an IP executive at Baker McKenzie Wong & Loew in Singapore, receives the 2019 Singapore copyright award from Johnny Chan of Asia IP.

With over 30 years of experience operating in Singapore, Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow provides full IP services including enforcement and litigation, patent transactions as well as portfolio management. Walt Disney and Ralph Lauren are some of its clients. Managing principal Andy Leck has more than 20 years of experience in contentious and non-contentious IP matters and currently heads up the firm’s IP practice. Principal Celeste Ang leads the litigation team.

Singapore Patents - Drew & Napier

Yvonne Tang, left, a director at Drew & Napier in Singapore, receives the 2019 Singapore patents award from Johnny Chan of Asia IP.

Full-service commercial firm Drew & Napier is regarded as one of the “Big Four” law firms in Singapore. Being the largest IP practice in the country, the firm has expertise across the range of contentious and non-contentious IP work, and represents a broad selection of renowned clients from across industries. “Drew & Napier consistently delivers first class work,” says Theresa Low, general counsel at the Sentosa Development Corporation. “They have solid teams who are dedicated and passionate about what they do and are savvy in providing strategic legal advice.” Lim Siau Wen, a director at the firm, said: “We receive a large volume of work from our clients, and the perennial challenge has been to stay on top of the game and to deliver quality with efficiency. We are thrilled to receive validation from our clients and the industry through these awards.”

Singapore Trademarks - Bird & Bird ATMD

Pin-Ping On, left, counsel at Bird & Bird ATMD in Singapore, receives the 2019 Singapore trademarks award from Johnny Chan of Asia IP.

The statement continued: “It has been particularly satisfying this year for us to witness more and more of our local and Asian-based clients internationalizing and establishing their market presence on the global stage. We are privileged to journey alongside them. We are committed to delivering best-in-class services with uncompromising standards, as we too embrace innovation to face new challenges and demands in the digital age.”

South Korea Copyright - Lee International IP & Law

Lee International IP & Law Group won the 2019 South Korea copyright award.

Lee International IP & Law Group is been a leader in Korean IP with one of the largest and most active domestic practices, advising on patent prosecution, trademark registration, and a wide range of IP disputes, including patent litigation, trademark litigation, anti-counterfeiting and infringement matters, domain name disputes, copyright disputes and trade secret enforcement. Top practitioners are Seo-Young Im, Taehong Kim and Young-Hwan Na.

South Korea Patents - Lee & Ko

Keum Nang Park, left, a partner at Lee & Ko in Seoul, receives the 2019 South Korea patents award from Johnny Chan of Asia IP.

The Lee & Ko IP team has turned in strong performances on behalf of its clients in recent years, especially in the pharmaceutical, gaming, and biotechnology sectors by setting new precedents. Its IP trial lawyers achieved preliminary injunctions from both a plaintiff’s and defendant’s perspective at the Seoul District Court. “The IP team at Lee & Ko is very diligent and always passionate for the client,” says Atsuko Fujita, general manager of the technical department, display materials division, JNC Corporation in Tokyo. “The team proposed an effective plan and an aggressive strategy to maintain our advantageous position in the market.”

The IP team believes that the Korean legal community has made great strides in recent years to foster innovation and enhance local enforcement practice, including the most recent changes to damages laws making treble damages available for willful infringement, says Un Ho Kim, a partner at Lee & Ko.

South Korea Trademarks - Kim & Chang

Jong Kyun Woo, right, a senior trademark attorney at Kim & Chang in Seoul, receives the 2019 South Korea patent award from Johnny Chan of Asia IP.

As the largest full-service IP practice in South Korea, Kim & Chang boasts a team of over 250 attorneys, and more than 600 patent engineers, trademark paralegals and support staff. “I have worked with Kim & Chang – specifically, Alex Cho – for more than 10 years and have come to expect the highest level of professionalism from the firm,” says Terry Kiel, senior trademark administrator at Activision in Santa Monica, California. “The extraordinary quality of their research and assessment of our IP challenges in Korea are reflected in their detailed and thoughtful communications, which consistently present the issues, explain the challenges, and lay out all the possible options for action. Their success in achieving positive results on behalf of our company has been unparalleled.” Hideki Sanatake, deputy group executive in the corporate IP and legal headquarters at Canon, told Asia IP that Kim & Chang represented Canon to protect its IP against infringers in the area of printer consumables, which is one of Canon’s major revenue sources. “Canon is always satisfied with Kim & Chang's expertise and communication abilities, as well as their cost sensitiveness.”

Sri Lanka Copyright - Sudath Perera Associates

Sudath Perera Associates won the 2019 Sri Lanka copyright award.

Sudath Perera Associates is a full-service law firm whose clients include local, multinational, Global 1000 and Fortune 500 enterprises as well as emerging companies. Key IP practitioners include managing partner Sudath Perera and partner Himani Perera. A corporate lawyer in Colombo says that Perera “has bolstered the practice of intellectual property law in Sri Lanka.” The firm advises on the protection, enforcement and exploitation of all sorts of intellectual assets.

Sri Lanka Patents - Julius & Creasy

Anomi Wanigasekera, right, a partner at Julius & Creasy in Colombo, receives the 2019 Sri Lanka patents award from Johnny Chan of Asia IP.

Founded a century ago, Julius & Creasy is one of the oldest civil law firms in Sri Lanka. Its IP group advises on a broad range of matters in relation to fields as diverse as biotechnology, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, computers, software, media and entertainment. “Julius & Creasy has the ability to provide expert advice on complex legal matters swiftly,” says Migara Perera, senior manager – security and administration at GSK. “They advised us on the options available for enforcement and by making presentations at workshops organized for the GSK staff, and provided us assistance with an IP infringement issue of an iconic brand.” Anomi Wanigasekera, a partner at the firm, says that the intellectual property business is challenging, where one must create strong client relationships while ensuring profitable growth of the firm. “Our expertise in patent advice and drafting helped us to acquire new local clients,” says Wanigasekera.

Sri Lanka Trademarks - John Wilson Partners

John Wilson, right, managing partner at John Wilson Partners in Colombo, receives the 2019 Sri Lanka trademarks award from Johnny Chan of Asia IP.

John Wilson Partners offers its clients responsive professional and fast turn-around times for all types of IP filings. The firm has invested considerable time and money over the years to develop in-house custom docketing software, which facilitates the efficient handling of the firm’s clients’ large portfolios of trademarks. “The most challenging thing in IP for our firm is the delay in registration of trademarks by the National Intellectual Property Office,” says John Wilson, the firm’s managing partner. “Although the NIPO has become more efficient when compared to the situation in previous years, delays still persist, and this is largely due to the lack of staff and resources.”

Taiwan Copyright - Saint Island International Patent & Law Offices

Saint Island International Patent & Law Offices won the 2019 Taiwan copyright award.

With offices in major cities of Taiwan including Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Chiayi and Kaohsiung, Saint Island International Patent & Law Offices has engaged in assisting domestic clients seeking IP protection not only domestically but also globally. “As a member of the professional IP group in Taiwan, the firm commits to foster the healthy and steady growth of Taiwan’s IP laws,” the firm said in a statement. “For the past four decades, we have spared no opportunity to participate in formulating and implementing government policies, as well as shaping and improving our industrial environment. In the future, we will continue to take our responsibility seriously as a member of the IP circle and work actively alongside with government agencies, academic institutions, IP professional associations, industrial groups and right holders, to provide them with counselling and advice.”

Taiwan Patents - Lee and Li

Benjamin Li, left, a partner at Lee and Li in Taipei, receives the 2019 Taiwan patents award from Jessica Chiang, senior corporate counsel at Delta Electronics in Taipei.

Lee and Li is one of the largest firms in Taiwan and offers a full range of services. Its trademark team offers all services relating to acquisition, maintenance, dispute and exploitation of trademark rights. Based in Taipei with branch offices in Hsinchu, Taichung and southern Taiwan, the firm has formed alliances with Leaven IPR Agency in Beijing to develop the mainland China market. It also has a Japan practice group to deal with Japanese IP matters. “We really appreciated Asia IP’s great efforts in conducting the IP surveys and evaluations for Asia IP awards for all of the jurisdictions, and are pleased to win trademark firm of the year for Taiwan for several years,” said Ruey-Sen Tsai, a partner at the firm in Taipei. “As the IP practice is getting competitive, we should and will do much better than before so as to keep our service more professional.”

Taiwan Trademarks - Tsai, Lee & Chen

Members of the intellectual property team at Tsai, Lee & Chen in Taipei, including partner Crystal Chen, second from right, receive the 2019 Taiwan trademarks award from Jessica Chiang, senior corporate counsel at Delta Electronics in Taipei.

Tsai, Lee & Chen is particularly well-known for its work with high-tech patents. The firm has seen extensive growth in recent years, especially in its domestic patent department. The firm manages more than 30,000 patents and 18,000 trademarks worldwide and has established 1,300 professional networks with global IP law firms and associates. A corporate lawyer told Asia IP that the firm particularly excels in providing excellent customer service. “They are a firm we can trust implicitly,” she said.

Thailand Copyright - Tilleke & Gibbins

Yuwadee Thean-ngarm, left, director of the Tilleke & Gibbins office in Yangon, receives the 2019 Thailand copyright award from Jessica Chiang, senior corporate counsel at Delta Electronics in Taipei.

Tilleke & Gibbins is a regional law firm in Southeast Asia, with headquarters in Bangkok and branches in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Vientiane, Phnom Penh, and Yangon. The firm’s Bangkok office is home to one of the best legal libraries in Thailand, as well as the Museum of Counterfeit Goods and Textile Collection.“Our team at Tilleke & Gibbins is delighted to be recognized for our client service in this important area,” said Darani Vachanavuttivong, co-managing partner and managing director, intellectual property, at Tilleke & Gibbins. “Clients are looking toward outside counsel for assistance with increasingly sophisticated advice on how to manage their IP portfolios across multiple jurisdictions, and our team will strive to meet these needs in the year ahead.”

Thailand Patents - Satyapon & Partners

Satyapon Sachdecha, left, founder of Satyapon & Partners in Bangkok, receives the 2019 Thailand patents award from Jessica Chiang, senior corporate counsel at Delta Electronics in Taipei.

Satyapon and Partners is a full-service intellectual property law firm offering services in all areas of IP law, including application and prosecution of patents, trademarks and designs, as well as IP searches, assignment, licensing, franchising, recordation, renewal, investigation, litigation and enforcement. The firm was founded by Satyapon Sachdecha, a George Washington Law School graduate, in 1995, who clients call “sharp” and “incisive.” The firm has a strong team of patent agents, technical associates and translators in all fields of technology.

Thailand Trademarks - Domnern Somgiat & Boonma

Rutorn Nopakun, left, managing director of Domnern Somgiat & Boonma in Bangkok, receives the 2019 Thailand trademarks award from Jessica Chiang, senior corporate counsel at Delta Electronics in Taipei.

Established in 1947, Domnern Somgiat & Boonma is a specialized intellectual property law firm. which currently handles about 12.5 percent of all trademark applications filed in Thailand and half of the patent applications filed by foreign companies. Partner Rutorn Nopakun, who is noted by a client for providing “clear, concise advice,” says that improvement of the Department of Intellectual Property’s examination of patent and trademark applications would make IP protection immensely easier for IP owners. “Presently, the examination is very much arbitrary, slow and sometimes not in line with the patent and trademark laws,” he says. “IP owners have to spend too much time, money and energy trying to secure patent and trademark protection in Thailand.”

Vietnam Copyright - Hogan Lovells

Andrew Cobden, left, a Hong Kong-based counsel at Hogan Lovells, receives the 2019 Vietnam copyright award from Jessica Chiang, senior corporate counsel at Delta Electronics in Taipei.

Hogan Lovells’ intellectual property group helps drive its clients’ business growth by protecting and leveraging ideas and innovations, brands and creative works. With almost 400 lawyers, specialists, and paralegals worldwide, the firm combines a strategic, global outlook with local knowledge and a keen understanding of the technological and business factors involved in this area of law. It also has one of the strongest networks in Asia, with offices in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo and Ulaanbaatar. A client told Asia IP that the firm is “well-rounded and thorough in its advice.”

Vietnam Patents - Pham & Associates

Hong Thien Pham, left, a lawyer at Pham & Associates in Hanoi, receives the 2019 Vietnam patents award from Jessica Chiang, senior corporate counsel at Delta Electronics in Taipei.

Founded in 1991, IP firm Pham & Associates provides one of the best all-round IP services in the country from offices in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang and Hai Phong. The firm’s respectable work in patent prosecution, licensing and enforcement has attracted international clientele including Honda, BMW and Johnson & Johnson. The firm’s “responsiveness and business savvy” stands out, a corporate lawyer said, who noted that the firm is particularly successful in being able to make the target audience understand the importance of IP protection, in line with Vietnam’s progress as a player on the world stage.

Vietnam Trademarks - Baker McKenzie

Radeemada Mungkarndee, left, a patent attorney at Baker McKenzie in Bangkok, receives the 2019 Vietnam trademarks award from Jessica Chiang, senior corporate counsel at Delta Electronics in Taipei.

The intellectual property team at Baker McKenzie in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City has played an instrumental role in helping both local and multinational clients realize the value of their IP portfolio. It also drafted the country’s first intellectual property law and continues to work towards improving IP protection and enforcement in the Vietnam market. Locally, the international firm is represented before the National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam, courts and authorities by BMVN International, a fully-licensed law firm and IP agent. Partners Quach Minh Tri and Tran Man Hung are optimistic about the future of intellectual property in Vietnam, thanks to the country’s ratification of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in 2018. “This will not only entail positive amendments of Vietnamese IP law, but also encourage local authorities to improve their work quality,” the lawyers said in a joint statement to Asia IP.

Asia Pacific Copyright - Hogan Lovells

Andrew Cobden, left, counsel at Hogan Lovells in Hong Kong, receives the 2019 Asia Pacific copyright award from André Frieden, chief IP and licensing counsel at Wipro in Chicago.

Asia Pacific Patents - Bird & Bird

Victor Tse, left, counsel at Bird & Bird in Hong Kong, receives the 2019 Asia Pacific patents award from André Frieden, chief IP and licensing counsel at Wipro in Chicago.

After establishing its footprint in Asia-Pacific nearly 20 years ago, international commercial firm Bird & Bird’s Asia network comprises offices located in Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore and Sydney, with a team of over 140 lawyers and legal professionals. “Bird and Bird is a great law firm and I'm very happy that they've won this award,” says Emi Zhao, principal counsel at Riot Games. “They are very quickly responsive to all the challenging works and have deep insights into the game industry. The communication is flawless and they've been very helpful to guide us through the Asia market. I wholeheartedly recommend Bird and Bird as a trusted law firm to help clients with their IP strategy in Asia.”

Asia Pacific Trademarks - Baker McKenzie

Anne Leong, left, an IP executive at Baker McKenzie Wong & Loew in Singapore, receives the 2019 Asia Pacific trademarks award from André Frieden, chief IP and licensing counsel at Wipro in Chicago.

Baker McKenzie serves Asia through its offices in Australia, China, Jakarta, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore, Taipei, Bangkok and Vietnam. The firm boasts the largest IP brand management practice in the world, overseeing some of the world’s biggest portfolios for more than 200 multinational companies. “It is extremely gratifying to be named the leading international trademark firm of the year. The spread of the categories in which we won is a testament to the strength of our IP practice across the region,” said Say Sujintaya, head of Baker McKenzie’s Asia Pacific intellectual property practice. “We would like to thank Asia IP for this recognition, and also to our clients for entrusting us with their most complex IP matters. We look forward to continually supporting our clients in all their IP strategies and objectives across the Asia Pacific region.”

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