Cambodia has taken steps to strengthen its innovation ecosystem through the drafting of the National Model of University Intellectual Property Policy in October 2025.  

The policy, developed with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Cambodia’s Department of Intellectual Property and the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation (MISTI), is expected to help universities in Cambodia better manage, protect and commercialize their IP. The policy has a particular focus on facilitating technology transfer and fostering sustainable economic growth throughout the country. 

“This policy exemplifies our collective commitment to unlocking Cambodia’s innovation potential,” said Hul Seingheng, undersecretary of state at MISTI, speaking at a national consultation workshop about the policy. “It sets out a clear framework for protecting university-generated intellectual property and paves the way for future growth driven by the ingenuity of our local talent.”  

The official emphasized that the policy’s focus is on nurturing and securing the intellectual contributions of Cambodian researchers and innovators. 

Sok Narin, UNIDO’s country representative for Cambodia, said a robust intellectual property framework can significantly enhance higher education by facilitating universities to collaborate with national research and development efforts, resulting in improved technology transfer and socio-economic benefits, according to the Khmer Times newspaper. 

At the same event, Ouk Prachea, secretary of state at the Ministry of Commerce, said an effective university IP policy is vital to safeguard scientific and creative achievements and promoting a culture of innovation. 

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, Vicheka Lay at ILAW ASIA, 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.