Cambodia has strengthened its intellectual property framework with a comprehensive Intellectual Property Rights Recordation System (IPRRS). The General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) launched the system on September 1, 2024, in order to better facilitate interception of counterfeit goods at border posts.  

The system was publicly introduced at a mid-September workshop at the National Customs School. Lawyers at Abacus IP, writing on the firm’s website, noted that while the system is in pilot stage, it is also fully functional.  

“The Intellectual Property Rights Recordation System allows rights holders to pro-actively record information and documentation concerning their IP rights with the customs authorities. This should enable more effective and efficient ex-officio actions against suspected infringing goods,” the Abacus lawyers wrote. 

Lawyers at ASL Law Firm reported that the system allows for the recordation of trademarks in Cambodia, geographical indications, and copyrights, but does not yet include patents, utility models, or industrial designs. It remains to be seen whether these forms of IP will be incorporated in the future, they said. 

“Additionally, recordation is valid for the duration of the IP right, such as 10 years from the filing date of a trademark application. A new recordation will be required upon renewal of a trademark registration or exclusive rights agreement, as the system does not automatically carry over previous data upon renewal,” they reported. 

“Finally, there will be no official certificate or confirmation of recordation issued by the system. Instead, users will rely on the ‘accepted’ status of their request in the online portal, with processing typically completed within two business days,” the lawyer said. 

As Cambodia has made great strides in its IP regime in recent years, we’re not surprised that we have also seen an increase in high-level intellectual property lawyers in the country. Asia IP asked a large number of professionals – mostly in-house counsel and corporate legal managers – what they were looking for from their legal service providers. Their answers were used to help us compile our list of Cambodia’s IP Experts, those lawyers who understand just what their clients need and are able to provide them with the best practical advice.  

Abacus IP placed three lawyers named on our list (David Haskel, Thea Peng and Sreypeou Chaing), while BNG Legal and regional powerhouse Tilleke & Gibbins each had two lawyers named to the list. BNG Legal lawyers on the list are Darwin Hem and Keopichchenda Long. David Mol and Sokmean Chea represent Tilleke & Gibbins. 

The remaining lawyers on the list come from the quickly evolving legal market, and include stalwarts such as Ouk Ry at BNO & Paul Law Office, Vichet Ny at VNP Law Office, Ang Pich at Ang IP & Law Office and Keopichchenda Long at ILAW ASIA and new firms such as Sovath Phin at SDS & Partners and Som Veasna at Veasna IP Service Co. 

Most of the lawyers named to our list have multiple practice specialties. Many of them are litigators, while others concentrate on prosecution work or provide strategic advice.  

All of them have something in common: they are experts in their fields and, in one way or another, they provide extra value for their clients. They are Asia IP’s Cambodia’s IP Experts.

– GREGORY GLASS 

Cambodia’s IP Experts is based solely on independent editorial research conducted by Asia IP. As part of this project, we turned to in-house counsel in Cambodia, Southeast Asia and elsewhere around the world, as well as Cambodia-focused partners at international law firms, and asked them to nominate private-practice lawyers including foreign legal consultants, advisers and counsel.  

The final list reflects the nominations received combined with the input of the editorial team at Asia IP, which has more than 50 years of collective experience in researching and understanding Cambodia’s legal market. 

All private-practice intellectual property lawyers in Cambodia were eligible for inclusion in the nominations process; there were no fees or any other requirements for inclusion in the process. 

The names of our 20 IP Experts are published here. Each IP Expert was given the opportunity to include their biography and contact details in print and on our website, for which a fee was charged.