Sixty-three firms from 24 Asia-Pacific jurisdictions took home trophies at the 16th annual Asia IP Awards, held November 6, 2025, at The Godown in Kuala Lumpur. The awards named top trademarks, patents, copyright and, for the first time, portfolio management 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 2025. The complete list of winners follows. 

The historic Godown is located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur in a restored colonial-era warehouse, and is one of the city’s premier arts and entertainment spaces. The Godown was designed to evoke a sense of openness, inclusiveness and interconnectedness between humans and nature, and aims to foster a more inclusive, caring and eco-centric society through its support of the local artist community and advocacy for nature conservation and social equity. 

“Law firms are doing exceptional intellectual property work in Asia,” said Asia IP publisher Darren Barton. “Each year, the competition to win an Asia IP Award becomes more and more competitive. Our winners should be proud of the recognition they’ve received from their peers.” 

Eighteen law firms won multiple awards at the event, in multiple practice areas, in multiple jurisdictions or a combination thereof. Regional powerhouse Tilleke & Gibbins won eight awards, including the regional Asia Pacific award for its patent work, its patent work in Cambodia, its patent prosecution work in Indonesia, its patent work in Laos, its work in Myanmar, its patent prosecution and patent litigation work in Thailand, and its patent prosecution work in Vietnam. Global firm Baker McKenzie-affiliated firms won six awards on the evening, including the regional Asia Pacific award for its trademark work, its trademark work in China, its patent litigation and portfolio management work in Hong Kong, its trademark litigation work in Indonesia (as HHP Law Firm), its copyright work in Malaysia (as Wong & Partners) and its trademark work in Vietnam. Bird & Bird won three awards, including the regional Asia Pacific award for its copyright work, its copyright work in China and its copyright work in Singapore (as Bird & Bird ATMD). 

Other firms winning multiple awards included Allens for work in Australia; S&O IP for work in Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia and Vietnam; Deacons for work in China and Hong Kong; Nakamura & Partners and TMI Associates for work in Japan; Kenfox IP & Law Firm for work in Laos and Vietnam; Wong Jin Nee & Teo for work in Malaysia; AJ Park for work in New Zealand; Ali & Associates for work in Pakistan; Drew & Napier and Allen and Gledhill for work in Singapore; Kim & Chang and Lee & Ko for work in South Korea; and Pham & Associates for work in Vietnam. 

The China awards given at the evening’s ceremony honour international law firms for their work in China. Leading Chinese law firms are recognized annually with the Asia IP China Awards early each year.  

“In-house counsel know that they’ll get the results they’re after by using lawyers and law firms based here in Asia and the Pacific,” said Asia IP managing editor Gregory Glass. “The work done here is of excellent quality.” 

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 2026 Asia IP Awards will be held in Hong Kong in November 2026.  

– Asia IP 

Sydney-based Allens is known for an acclaimed practice with expertise across the full gamut of intellectual property matters. IP practice leader Miriam Stiel is a member of the Enforcement Committee of the International Trademark Association and the AI & New Emerging Technologies and Women In IP Committees of the Intellectual Property Owners’ Association. The firm has acted in Federal Court proceedings on behalf of Wesfarmers in relation to allegations of copyright infringement and misleading and deceptive conduct. The past year has seen the firm acting for the Australian Olympic Committee for trademark, copyright and brand protection issues and Airbnb for trademark enforcement, prosecutions, oppositions and revocation actions and others. 

Davies Collison Cave’s patent attorneys are responsible for among the highest number of originating patent applications across all technical disciplines, and offer expertise in relation to all aspects of IP-related enforcement and litigation matters. The firm’s clients range from multinational corporations to start-ups across a wide range of technology areas, and with differing commercial requirements, so the firm’s team specializes in tailoring IP enforcement and litigation solutions to align with each client’s commercial objectives. DCCL regularly handles complex IP litigation and related matters before the Federal Court of Australia, as well as the state supreme courts, the AAT, and the Australian Patent and Trademark offices. 

Spruson & Ferguson companies are incorporated entities owned by IPH Limited, a publicly listed holding company for a number of IP professional services brands operating across Asia and the Pacific. The team is mostly made up of professionals with solid, real-world experience in science, engineering, legal, defense, telecommunications, ICT, electronics, computing and finance, thus boosting their capabilities of delivering effective, insightful solutions to their clients. Simon Potter is managing director for Australia; he has also overseen the development of the firm’s chemical and life sciences patent team in Australia.  

Sydney-based independent boutique Halfords IP is a full-service IP firm providing trademark, patent and design services to startups, established businesses, universities and research organizations and other entities. Its independence gives it flexibility with how it treats its clients, and the ability to retain high quality staff members. Partner Aparna Watal is the firm’s key trademark contact; she is a highly skilled trademark attorney with extensive experience in advising clients on all aspects of trademark matters, from brand selection, expansion and commercial exploitation to brand enforcement. Watal also advises on domain name disputes in Australia and New Zealand and on the intricate landscape of Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property (ICIP), where she collaborates with fashion houses and indigenous communities alike, offering tailored solutions to address their unique needs and challenges. 

Remfry & Son traces its roots to 1827 in British India; the firm has been advising on matters of law in Bangladesh since the country’s formation in 1971. The firm is noted for its work in trademark, patent, copyright, design and domain name management. Its clientele is made up of small local businesses, FTSE companies and large organizations, including Honda, BMW, KFC, Suzuki, Google, Facebook, Twitter, New Zealand Dairy, LG, Mercedes Benz, BMW and Audi. 

With four partners, four associates and one consultant, CCW Partnership is a full-service commercial law firm in Brunei. The firm was founded in 1980 and used to be known as Choo, Chan & Wong; today, it has a leading reputation in IP and other areas of commercial and civil disputes, including construction, banking, property and insurance. Partner On Hung Zheng is a key IP contact at the firm; he has appeared before the High Court and Court of Appeal of Brunei Darussalam. The firm files more than 100 trademark and patent applications each year, and has acted in trademark infringement proceedings and trademark opposition proceedings. 

The Tilleke & Gibbins office in Phnom Penh provides guidance to clients on all aspects of intellectual property in Cambodia, and advises on licensing and regulatory issues for clients in sectors such as chemicals, food and agribusiness, franchising, life sciences, and technology. Its Cambodia practice offers a team of dedicated Khmer advisors who draw on the international expertise of its Bangkok office to provide advice on IP, licensing, and regulatory issues. Partner and director Jay Cohen leads the IP practice; Sokmean Chea is highly-regarded for her work with clients on a range of IP issues; and David Mol is regularly praised by clients for his responsiveness and practical, business-minded advice. The firm’s IP team in Phnom Penh consists of two partners and nine associates, making it one of the largest in Cambodia.  

S&O IP deals with the full range of IP matters in Cambodia, from registration and commercialization to enforcement, with a strong focus on trademarks and copyrights. The firm works closely with enforcement authorities at all levels and has an in-house investigation team that identifies sightings, conducts in-depth investigations and monitors online counterfeits. Daniel Greif, the firm’s director for Southeast Asia, has consistently been rated as one of the leading trademark lawyers in the Asia-Pacific region; trademark agent Celine Heng is a key contact in Phnom Penh.  

Bird & Bird established its Hong Kong office in 1995, followed by Beijing in 2004 and Shanghai in 2008. The China and Hong Kong team is led by partner Matthew Laight, who has represented some of the world’s leading companies in a broad range of sectors including electronics, pharmaceuticals, communications, information technology, media, broadcasting, and food and beverage. Ted Chwu is head of greater China and co-head of global tech and comms at the firm. 

Deacons combines one of the most established teams in Hong Kong with a solid presence in China. The firm’s patent lawyers have been providing advice to clients in Hong Kong for more than 100 years, and have had an established patent practice in China for more than 20 years, on inventions ranging from baby strollers to mechanics and electronics to genetic sequencing to biotherapeutics to plant variety rights and autonomous vehicles. Key contacts include Catherine Zheng, who heads the firm’s IP department and specializes in cross-border IP protection strategy and contentious matters, and Ian Liu; Liu is qualified to practice in the Greater Bay Area, and previously worked in the hi-tech software industry with a Silicon Valley-based company and was a financial software consultant with Reuters. 

Baker McKenzie has offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, and maintains an impressive team of IP specialists backed by an international network. Senior consultant Loke-Khoon Tan has a well-deserved reputation for his practice on IP law in China, with particular emphasis on the structuring of intellectual property rights and anti-counterfeiting planning. The next generation of the firm’s IP leaders include partners Ruby Chan, Isabella F.C. Liu, Shih Yann Loo, Andrew Sim and Grace Wong. 

Long-time Hong Kong lawyer Ella Cheong practices her craft from Hong Kong-based ELLALAN along with managing partner Alan Chiu. The firm, which until June 2020 had been known as Ella Cheong & Alan Chiu, advises on IP enforcement, transactional and commercial IP and internet-related issues, as well as matters concerning entertainment and media, dispute resolution, commercial law and regulatory law. The firm boosted its entertainment and media capabilities in late 2023 with the arrival of senior consultant Kenny Wong. 

Baker McKenzie has offices in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai, and maintains an impressive team of IP specialists backed by an international network. Senior consultant Loke-Khoon Tan has a well-deserved reputation for his practice on IP law in China, with particular emphasis on the structuring of intellectual property rights and anti-counterfeiting planning. The next generation of the firm’s IP leaders include partners Ruby Chan, Isabella F.C. Liu, Shih Yann Loo, Andrew Sim and Grace Wong.

Deacons combines one of the most established teams in Hong Kong with a solid presence in China. The firm’s patent lawyers have been providing advice to clients in Hong Kong for more than 100 years, and have had an established patent practice in China for more than 20 years, on inventions ranging from baby strollers to mechanics and electronics to genetic sequencing to biotherapeutics to plant variety rights and autonomous vehicles. Catherine Zheng heads the firm’s IP department and specializes in cross-border IP protection strategy and contentious matters. 

East IP was formed through the combination of four well-known practices, including a combination of Hong Kong-based SIPS, Beijing East IP and East IP Law Firm. The new East IP is also being joined by a team of six partners from Zhong Lun led by China trademark veteran Jimmy Huang. The new East IP Group is co-chaired by SIPS founder Joe Simone and the head of the firm’s patent practice, Xiaodong Li, while Huang leads the trademark prosecution team. The firm notes that women comprise half of its partners and 72 percent of its 90-member IP team. East IP partners include Joe Simone, Dan Plane and Helen Tang, who were SIPS founding partners, and Joann Chan, Joshua Miller and Mai Lin.