For the first time since 2019, the Asia IP Awards were held live on November 2, 2023. And what a glorious evening it was seeing old friends again for the first time since before the Covid-19 pandemic, meeting at Singapore’s historic CHIJMES complex. The complex, which began life as a Catholic convent, is now a favorite nightlife destination for Singaporeans and tourists alike. The awards ceremony was held in the former chapel, which was featured as the site of the high-society wedding in the 2018 movie Crazy Rich Asians, a point that was not lost on Mark Lim, director and chief legal counsel of the hearings and mediation department at the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore. Lim, the evening’s keynote speaker, noted the importance of intellectual property to Hollywood studios like the one that released Crazy Rich Asians, and to the lawyers gathered in the room.

As we evaluated the 2023 Asia IP Awards nominations and came up with our shortlist earlier this year, we were reminded how well lawyers in the region have adapted to the pandemic. As recently as 2019, some firms and jurisdictions struggled to fully adapt to lawyering in a digital world. Some, no doubt, still do. But many of the best firms quickly adapted to phenomena such as working from home, holding digital conferences with clients and even appearing in virtual court rooms, in front of what are still very real judges who have made the same adaptations to their work methods. We’ve all become experts in using Zoom and other digital tools, whether we wanted to or not.

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 2023. The event also named Asia-Pacific award winners in each of the practice areas.

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 five awards on the evening, including the regional Asia Pacific award for its patent work, its copyright and patent work in China, its patent work in Indonesia (as HHP Law Firm) and its trademark work in Vietnam. Tilleke & Gibbins was recognized for its copyright work in Indonesia, its trademark work in Laos, its trademark work in Thailand and for its regional trademark work. Bird & Bird won for its regional copyright work, its China patent work and for its patent work in Singapore as Bird & Bird ATMD.

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.

Australia

Australia Copyright Firm of the Year

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 Management Committee of the Copyright Society of Australia, the Editorial Board of the Australian Intellectual Property Law Bulletin and the Anti-Counterfeiting Committee of the International Trademark 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.

Australia Patents Firm of the Year

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. 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. In the 2021/22 financial year, the firm was responsible for filing more than 16% of all patents filed in Australia.

Australia Trademarks Firm of the Year

Davies Collison Cave was acquired by QANTM IP in 2016 and are now part of the Australian Securities Exchange-listed company. Principal Marion Heathcote received INTA’s 2019 President’s Award; she specializes in trademark work, and with her scientific qualifications, she has developed an expertise in geographical indications and agroeconomic and ecology issues. The team provides the full range of trademark services, from prosecution and portfolio management to working with the Australian Border Force, from plant name protection to oppositions and cancellation actions.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh IP Firm of the Year

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.

Brunei

Brunei IP Firm of the Year

With four partners, three 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 Hung Zheng On is a key IP contact at the firm; he has appeared before the High Court and Court of Appeal of Brunei Darussalam. The firm also has a growing information technology and telecommunications practice.

Cambodia

Cambodia Patents Firm of the Year

Sok Siphana & Associates is a premier independent law firm in Cambodia. Founding partner Siphana Sok is currently a senior minister in the Cambodian government, where he previously worked extensively on issues related to commercial and investment legal framework, trade promotion, trade policies, trade development and economic integration. Mealy Khieu is a key IP contact. The firm has assisted Yeo Hiap Seng Limited in filing a complaint letter to the Department of Customs regarding the parallel importation of Yeo’s products into Cambodia by unauthorized local importers.

Cambodia Trademarks Firm of the Year

BNG Legal has a deep understanding of the local business environment and culture, which has led to the firm being recognized as one of the leading IP firms in the country. Services offered include trademark search and registration, due diligence, licensing, franchising, anti-counterfeiting and enforcement. The firm has advised a global car and machinery manufacturer on anticounterfeiting matters and enforcement, and has one of the leading IP prosecution practices in the country, working closely with MNCs and law firms. Principal partner Darwin Hem is a key contact.

China

China International Copyright Firm of the Year

Hogan Lovells operates its China IP practice out of Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong offices. Eugene Low now leads the IP practice from Hong Kong, joined by Beijing partner Helen Xia and Shanghai partner Katie Feng. Feng led the 2016 association with Fujian Fidelity Law Firm in the China (Shanghai) Free Trade Zone that emphasized growing the firm’s IP litigation offering. Fidelity was established in 1989 and is one of the largest law firms in the Fujian province.

China International Patents Firm of the Year

Bird & Bird established its Hong Kong office in 1995, followed by Beijing in 2004 and Shanghai in 2008. In late 2023, it opened a Shenzhen branch, which is led by Hank Leung, co-head of the firm’s greater China intellectual property practice. The international firm entered into an association with local firm Lawjay Partners in 2009 to increase coverage in contentious IP matters in Chinese courts. 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. Ted Chwu is head of greater China and co-head of global tech and comms at the firm.

China International Trademarks Firm of the Year

Baker McKenzie has offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, and maintains an impressive team of IP specialists backed by an international network. Senior partner Loke-Khoon Tan’s practice on IP law in China, with particular emphasis on the structuring of intellectual property rights and anti-counterfeiting planning. He is currently on the firm’s Steering Committee for the Consumer Goods & Retail (including Luxury and Fashion) Industry Practice. He is also the author of various IP publications including the Pirates in the Middle Kingdom: the Art of Trademark War trilogy.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Copyright Firm of the Year

Long-time Hong Kong lawyer Ella Cheong practices her craft from Hong Kong-based ELLALAN along with managing partner Alan Chiu. The firm 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. Chiu has a substantial entertainment practice, working closely with A-list artists, film directors, film production companies, music labels, animation designers as well as music and movie royalty collecting societies. He is uniquely positioned to understand and handle artist and entertainment matters in Hong Kong and Mainland China.

Hong Kong Patents Firm of the Year

Deacons’ IP practice remains one of the best among the city’s firms. It has one of the largest specialist IP teams in Hong Kong, with 11 partners and more than 110 staff in total. The firm filed Hong Kong’s first-ever e-filings of patent and design applications; it has advised on inventions ranging from baby strollers, to mechanics and electronics, to genetic sequencing, to biotherapeutics, to plant variety rights, network communication, AI, robotics and autonomous vehicles. It is advising PCCW in defending a patent infringement action. This is one of the very few patent litigations in Hong Kong, especially in relation to telecoms technology. In particular, the case involves the “innocent infringement defence”, which is a novel issue arising under the Hong Kong Patents Ordinance in light of the peculiar patent re-registration system in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Trademarks Firm of the Year

SIPS, also known as Simone Intellectual Property Services,is headquartered in Hong Kong with offices in Shanghai and Beijing.With the opening of its China trademark agency in mid-2017, the firm now has over 60 members of staff. The bulk of its work relates to trademark portfolio management (particularly clearance, registration and elimination of pirated registrations) and all types of IP enforcement, with an emphasis on anti-counterfeiting, online enforcement, trade secret protection, copyright, and patents. Key contacts include founder Joe Simone and partners Dan Plane, and Helen Tang.

India

India Copyright Firm of the Year

Gurugram-based Rahul Chaudhry & Partners, formerly known asLall Lahiri & Salhotra, is led by managing partner Rahul Chaudhry, who has owned the firm since 2013. The firm offers reliable, business-centric legal counsel to both national and international clients; its copyright practice provides advice on filing and prosecution, cancellation and rectification, and recording registrations with customs. The copyright practice also practices increasingly in the realm of broadcasting and entertainment. The firm has filed copyright applications for leading government institutions in India and other national clients for their software, literary and artistic works, musical compositions, etc. Last year, the firm witnessed an increase in filing of copyright applications by its international clients as well those seeking copyright protection on their device marks and logos. The firm won multiple awards at Asia IP’s 2023 India Awards, including as New Delhi & NCR Firm of the Year runner-up.

India Patents Firm of the Year

Anand and Anand is one of India’s top IP firms, housing more than 200 professionals led by managing partner Pravin Anand, who was the recipient of the International Trademark Association’s (INTA) prestigious 2021 President’s Award. Senior partners Safir Anand and Archana Shanker are excellent lawyers. Shanker is a top patent practitioner; she manages an extensive portfolio of patents and has been involved in many of India’s key patent cases, including Monsanto’s Supreme Court order, the Ferid Allani case, and work for Pioneer Overseas Corporation, Novo Nordisk, Roche, Merck and Sterlite. Her expertise ranges from pharmaceuticals to life sciences, software, ICT, telecom, mechanical, electronics and biodiversity. The firm won multiple awards at Asia IP’s 2023 India Awards, including national firm of the year.

India Trademarks Firm of the Year

IP powerhouse Remfry & Sagar is a go-to firm for multinationals in India. The firm is advising the World Trade Centers Association in ongoing enforcement work in which damages to the tune of Rs5 million (US$75,000) have been claimed. In one matter, relating to use of a company’s trademarks and service marks, the firm traveled to a work site in Nashik, Maharashtra, with local police to remove signage when it was learned that the infringing company was flouting a High Court order to cease using the marks. A main suit is pending with the High Court of Bombay. Led by managing partner Ashwin Julka, the firm also won multiple awards at Asia IP’s 2023 India Awards, including national firm of the year runner-up.

Indonesia

Indonesia Copyright Firm of the Year

Tilleke & Gibbins’ Jakarta office began serving clients in September 2013. Its leading Southeast Asian IP practice has decades of experience in the region and has been instrumental in the development of IP law and practice in a number of jurisdictions. Today, multinational clients such as Bvlgari, Gap, Giorgio Armani, Starbucks, Toyota, Grab, Lazada and Walmart rely on the firm to protect their IPRs. Director Wongrat Ratanaprayul has advised on a portfolio of more than 1,500 industrial designs, copyright and trademarks for a global jewelry designer and manufacturer. Partner Somboon Earterasarun assisted a multinational company with a complex IP transaction involving the intracompany transfer of more than 1,000 IP assets, including 700 copyrights and industrial designs.

Indonesia Patents Firm of the Year

HHP Law Firm, formerly known as Hadiputranto, Hadinoto & Partners, is the Indonesian member firm of Baker McKenzie. Its IP team helps international clients with cease-and-desist campaigns, anti-counterfeiting raids, infringer investigations and other related matters. The IP team is led by partner Daru Lukiantono, who has experience in complex intellectual property due diligence and management cases; he also has a range of experience in patent prosecution, patent portfolio management, commercial patent work and patent litigation. 

Indonesia Trademarks Firm of the Year

Managing partner Justisiari Perdana Kusumah and partner Risti Wulansari lead K&K Advocates, a boutique firm specializing in IP matters with particular strength in trademark, patent and copyright registration and enforcement. In recent ligitation, it has represented the world’s largest fuel and lubricant manufacturer in a civil and criminal action against local dealers on a trademark infringement case; represented a German and U.S. luxury fashion house in a trademark infringement lawsuit against Indonesian fashion brands; and represented the world’s largest pharmaceutical company in a civil action against a local dealer on a trademark infringement case.

Japan

Japan Copyright Firm of the Year

Nakamura & Partners in Tokyo is an international patent law firm which provides IP services inside and outside of the jurisdiction. Shinichiro Tanaka leads the legal section of the firm, and Daisaku Fujikura is head of the trademark section. Yuriko Sagara and Shoichi Satake are part of the firm’s entertainment practice, while Akira Watanabe and Masahiko Matsuno are members in its media practice. Clients include Sony and FujiFilm.

Japan Patents Firm of the Year

Founded in 1902, Yuasa and Hara is one of the oldest and largest law and patent firms in Tokyo. 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. Kazuhiro Nakata, Hiromichi Aoki and Toshiaki Iimura closely cooperate with each other to provide complete and multiple IP services to both domestic and foreign clients.

Japan Trademarks Firm of the Year

Yoshiyuki Inaba and Toyotaka Abe are key practitioners at TMI Associates. The firm’s clients range from venture businesses to well-established high-tech companies. It also liaises with government agencies and has increasingly has had opportunities to advise on policy. Besides copyright services, it also handles patent, utility model, design, trademark, trade secret, unfair competition, action plan, antitrust as well as licensing matters.

Laos

Laos Patents Firm of the Year

Kenfox IP & Law Office is a regional firm which has been recognized for its advice on IP as well as a wide range of legal issues. Many of its lawyers have previously worked at various governmental ministries, including the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) under the Ministry of Science and Technology, giving the firm access when resolving complicated patent and trademark matters. The firm advises on both invention patents and on utility patents, known as petty patents in the country.

Laos Trademarks Firm of the Year

Tilleke & Gibbins provides legal advice for foreign investors and others in Laos through its office in Vientiane. The firm has particular expertise in trademark and other IP law in Laos, but is also positioned to provide advice on a range of corporate and commercial matters. Dino Santaniello heads the firm’s Laos office. The team assisted a multinational technology and hardware company in overcoming a previously rejected international trademark registration to co-exist with another business’s registered mark in Laos. It also assisted a U.S.-based health and fitness company in overcoming partial provisional refusals in Laos for two international trademark registrations filed via the Madrid System.

Macau

Macau Patents Firm of the Year

The team at BN Intellectual Property Services encompasses a wide range of services, in particular, the registration and protection of patents, trademarks, and domain names. The firm offers service in extending invention patents granted from the China National Intellectual Property Administration (or such patent applications) into Macau. The firm also provides legal support in the area of advertising and consumer law, and in the area of consumer law, it provides assistance in regards to food and beverages, in consumption conflicts, and e-commerce. Managing partner Bruno Nunes, who handles IP, gaming and corporate and commercial work, is a key contact. The firm works closely with its sister firm, BN Lawyers.

Macau Trademarks Firm of the Year

Powerhouse law firm MdME Lawyers was only established in 2006, but it has quickly grown to include some of the most experienced and most active IP lawyers in Macau. Its clients encompass key corporations operating in Macau, covering diverse sectors such as banking, insurance, finance, gaming, real estate, energy, construction, infrastructure, retail, pharmaceuticals and telecommunication. In October 2023, DSL Lawyers, another prestigious law office in Macau, became part of MdME. Partner João Encarnação, head of the IP team, has advised and assisted in the prosecution of thousands of applications for trademark, design, patent, and other IP rights in Macau and overseas.

Malaysia

Malaysia Copyright Firm of the Year

Full-service firm Shearn Delamore & Co’s IP practice is led by Karen Abraham, with its IP team providing professional services for more than 40 years and being widely recognized as one of the leading firms for patent filing, patent infringement and invalidation actions in Malaysia. The firm has a strong entertainment, media and gaming practices. Some of its notable clients include Marriott, Hermes, Formula One Management and British American Tobacco. Other top practitioners include Jyeshta Mahendran, Indran Shanmuganathan, Timothy Siaw and Khai Jian Yap.

Malaysia Patents Firm of the Year

Well-established IP specialist Marks & Clerk handles all areas of intellectual property, with particular strengths in life science, information technology and electronics. The firm has a global reputation for delivering quality parent prosecution and its Malaysia office handles patent drafting to UK and European standards. The Kuala Lumpur office is led by directors Gerald Samuel and Chris Hemingway.

Malaysia Trademarks Firm of the Year

IP and technology boutique Wong Jin Nee & Teo provides a wide-spectrum of IP and technology law services and is renowned for its work in trademark application, litigation, as well as brand protection and enforcement work. Partners Jin Nee Wong and Bong Kwang Teo are recognized for their expertise in handling both litigation and non-contentious matters that extend to integrated IP services including portfolio management and exploitation both locally and abroad.

Mongolia

Mongolia IP Firm of the Year

ATS Partners in Ulaanbaatar is a top-rated IP firm. The firm offers a full range of IP services, including consulting, filing, registration, renewal processing, license agreement and management of the annuity system for patents and industrial designs, trademarks, utility models and geographical indications. Tuvshinsaikhan Nanzaidorj and Ganbold Ariunaa are key contacts.

Myanmar

Myanmar IP Firm of the Year

U Myint Lwin Law Office is one of the most reliable firms in the country, 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 trademark registrations.

Nepal

Nepal IP Firm of the Year

Apex Law Chamber is recognized locally and internationally as the leading intellectual property law office in Nepal with more than 20 years of experience. It is a full-service IP firm offering advice on all IP-related matters covering copyright, patent, trademarks, trade secrets, design, domain names, geographical indications, IP contracts and litigation, media and entertainment law, fashion law, sports law, information technology and ecommerce, internet and privacy laws, among others. R.C. Subedi is the founder and the principal contact for IP.

New Zealand

New Zealand Copyright Firm of the Year

General practice law firm Buddle Findlay offers both contentious and non-contentious work with an emphasis on copyright and trademarks matters, including copyright litigation. The firm also handles patent advisory, dispute resolution and litigation work, and carries out anti-counterfeiting actions as well as provides transactional support to IP owners. Consultant John Glengarry, a specialist intellectual property lawyer with extensive experience both in New Zealand and overseas, co-leads the IP practice; he brings significant experience in copyright advisory and dispute work.

New Zealand Patents Firm of the Year

AJ Park houses a leading patent practice for both contentious and non-contentious works. Its patent specialists comprise two broad teams, chembio and engineering/IT, each of which has the technical expertise to protect most any kind of creation. Principal Anton Blijlevens is an expert in providing IP audits and due diligence for mechanical and manufacturing technology companies and is known for his work with organizations to establish policies and procedures to maximize the value of their IP. AJ Park is part of IPH Limited, the intellectual property holding company.

New Zealand Trademarks Firm of the Year

Simpson Grierson has a strong IP practice. The firm’s trademark prosecution work is particularly praised. Sony, Coca-Cola, Google and Novartis, etc. are among its notable clients. The firm has worked on the biggest trademark cases in the country, including Rescue v. RestQ, Perpetual AU v. Perpetual NZ and one involving a Federal Court appeal in Australia regarding the registrability of the A2 Milk mark, among others. In addition, the firm handled brand protection and enforcement strategy for the New Zealand Olympic Committee in connection with the 2020 Olympics, brand protection for Paralympics NZ for the Paralympic Games, brand protection and border protection strategy for Proctor & Gamble, and others. Partner Richard Watts, known for his trademark enforcement and border protection actions, heads the IP group.

Pakistan

Pakistan Copyright Firm of the Year

Pakistan Patents Firm of the Year

Founded in 1972, Ali & Associates is an internationally-recognized full-service law firm specializing in IP, media and IT. The firm is led by senior partner Syed Auqil Ali Shah and managing partner Karimullah Adeni. The team is well-known for enforcement and litigation work, 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, Islamabad and Lahore, and foreign offices in Kabul and the Washington area.

Pakistan Trademarks Firm of the Year

Founded in February 1948 in Karachi by the late Sheikh Fazal Ellahi, Sheikh Brothers is an IP boutique providing services covering all aspects of IP including trademarks, patents, trade secrets, copyright, unfair competition, licensing, franchising, technology transfer, litigation and enforcement. Amongst two partners, four associates and 10 other staff members, Salman Ahmed Sheikh stands out of the crowd and represents well with clients at all forums including the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The Philippines

The Philippines Copyright Firm of the Year

Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz (ACCRALAW) assists clients in both contentious and non-contentious copyright matters, and is well-placed to help copyright owners in the preparation and deposit of their copyrighted works in the Philippines’ National Library. ACCRALAW was the first firm to file a case involving the novel issue of contributory infringement in copyright, which was one of the amendments introduced to the copyright law in 2012. Senior partner Alex Ferdinand Fider has advised foreign and local clients in broadcasting and music industries protect and enforce their copyrights. The firm’s copyright practice is also active in the internet, technology and science realm and in the entertainment industry.

The Philippines Patents Firm of the Year

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 advices on matters related to patents, trademarks, 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. Chrissie Anne Barredo for patent prosecution and litigation, and Grace Carbonell for chemical patents are also key contacts.

The Philippines Trademarks Firm of the Year

Headquartered in Manila with branches in Cebu, Subic and Davao, SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan is one of the country’s largest law firms in terms of client base and range of IP services. Led by partner Vida M. Panaganiban-Alindogan, the IP team includes litigation specialists for inter partes and other administrative proceedings before IPOPHL as well as cases in courts designated to try unfair competition, copyright infringement, etc. Panaganiban-Alindogan has successfully represented intellectual property owners and stakeholders in various negotiations and proceedings, which prevented the registration and, in certain instances use, of infringing third-party trademarks. She counsels clients regarding domain name issues as well as trademark and copyright issues in social media. 

Singapore

Singapore Copyright Firm of the Year

Drew & Napier is a full-service firm with expertise across the range of contentious and non-contentious IP work including litigation, trademarks and service marks, copyright and designs, licensing, distributorship, franchising and confidentiality agreements. Director Meryl Koh has been acting as lead counsel for Riot Games in high-profile litigation against a very well-known Chinese video game developer and publisher concerning copyright infringements and the passing off of Riot’s world-renowned first-person shooter video game Valorant. The competing video games in question are widely played across the globe, with players going into millions and where the client’s game (Valorant) has amassed a very significant following (based on general internet checks, roughly 20+ million players over 30 days, about 2 million active players a day in 2022) and has international professional gamers competing in pro-esports leagues.

Singapore Patents Firm of the Year

Bird & Bird ATMD opened in Singapore in 2009 and has since represented high-profile clients in infringement disputes. The firm has acted for Novartis Singapore in an action for prospective patent infringement action brought in the Singapore High Court by Millennium Pharmaceuticals and Johnson & Johnson. Consultant Alban Kang is well-known for his significant expertise in representing major companies in complex litigation, and in complex patent cancellation cases before the Patent Office in Singapore. Anan Sivananthan has been involved in multiple patent lawsuits involving graphic design, MP3 patents and is particularly noted in the pharmaceutical, life sciences and healthcare sectors.

Singapore Trademarks Firm of the Year

Allen & Gledhill provides advice on both contentious and non-contentious matters including prosecuting, enforcing and defending IPRs worldwide. Partner Stanley Lai heads the IP department with well-known clients such as Turner Broadcasting System, Pfizer, Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and Singapore Telecommunications. In recent trademark litigation work, the firm advised Orchard Turn Developments, operator of the ION Orchard shopping mall in Singapore, in a dispute where the defendant used and sold room fragrance under the name “ION.” Orchard Turn was the first in Singapore to feature fragrance as part of the shopping experience inside ION Orchard. The company developed the fragrance exclusively for the mall.

South Korea

South Korea Copyright Firm of the Year

Lee & Ko is a full-service law firm headquartered in Seoul; its copyright team has been involved in a plethora of copyright cases, including cases involving background music, games, fonts, software code for a semiconductor manufacturing machine, databases, the appearance of an online shopping mall, the offering of cloud services as SaaS and the offering of cloud personal video recorder services in smart TVs. The firm has successfully represented clients in landmark cases, including Samsung SDS v. LSIS, in which it established, and the Supreme Court adopted, a new standard for reviewing copyrightability of functional drawings. King.com v. Avocado, Inc. also set legal precedent of copyright infringement in the context of mobile game industry. It is advising Microsoft, Meta (Facebook), Naver, Kakao, Netflix, Disney, NBC Universal, and Discovery Communications.

South Korea Patents Firm of the Year

Based in Seoul since 1952, Nam & Nam is one of the oldest IP law firms in the jurisdiction. The team comprises patent attorneys as well as Korean and American attorneys-at-law. The clientele includes MNCs, NPOs, universities, SMEs and individual inventors. Ben Yuu, who was previously vice president and patent counsel at Samsung Electronics’ IP Centre, is the managing partner; Hyung-joong Kwon and Sang-ki Park are also partners.

South Korea Trademarks Firm of the Year

Based in Seoul and headed by Jay Yang, Kim & Chang’s IP practice is one of the largest in the jurisdiction, with about 150 partners and 210 associates. In a case involving grapes for a fruit breeding company, the firm successfully overturned KIPO's rejection for lack of distinctiveness by proving that the Black Sapphire and Sweet Sapphire marks were client source identifiers for grapes based on substantial supporting evidence, even though KIPO appealed the Patent Court's decision upholding the marks to the Supreme Court. Due to many unauthorized sales of Black Sapphire and Sweet Sapphire grapes in South Korea, the firm says, it was very important for the client to register these marks in South Korea as its trademarks in order to effectively police their IP rights. KIPO initially rejected the marks as being variety names for the grape products in common use and not trademarks.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Copyright Firm of the Year

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.

Sri Lanka Patents Firm of the Year

Century-old civil law firm Julius & Creasy offers advice on enforcement, management and transactional matters pertaining to IP law. The firm has acted for several Fortune 500 companies and has acted as Sri Lanka correspondent of several trademark and patent attorney firms in Europe, the U.S. and Asia. Anomi Wanigasekera heads the firm’s IP practice; she has extensive experience in the full range of enforcement, management and transactional matters pertaining to IP law. She also overlooks the drafting and reviewing of contracts at the firm, and advises on regulatory compliance matters.

Sri Lanka Trademarks Firm of the Year

John Wilson Partners offers clients responsive, professional and fast turnaround for all types of IP filings. Managing principal John Wilson has invested considerable resources over the years to develop in-house custom docketing software, which facilitates efficient handling of large client portfolios, applications and renewals. The firm advises the media and entertainment industries on corporate issues, production and rights acquisition, exploiting media rights, intellectual property protection and enforcement, and regulatory and administrative issues. It undertakes litigation involving claims in defamation and libel and handles recovery actions for unpaid foreign broadcasters. It advises broadcasters, advertisers, international and national associations, rights holders, agencies and promoters, studios, distributors, event promoters, sponsors and other leading corporations and individuals in the field. It also advises in regard to television programme format issues.

Taiwan

Taiwan Copyright Firm of the Year

Chen & Lin is noted for its general business advice in Taiwan, including its top intellectual property practice, as well as providing advice in corporate, securities, finance and business litigation. For nearly 25 years, the firm has been providing legal services to the music industry; it entered the legal market for movies and performance art shortly thereafter. Today it is widely trusted by clients in those industries. Current clients include international and domestic record labels, music companies, agent companies, movie companies, cultural and creative industries, venture capital providers, famous artists, singers, creators, dancing teachers, actors, directors, producers, agents and others. It provides services in the drafting, review, negotiation and consultation of contracts; copyrights; trademarks; financial planning; joint ventures; protection of artist reputations and privacy; the use of portrait rights; and dispute resolution for the entertainment industry.

Taiwan Patents Firm of the Year

Taipei-based 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. It represented TSH Biopharm as the defendant in an appeal against AstraZeneca, which sells Crester as a patented drug with the active ingredient Rosuvastatin to cure cardiovascular disorders. TSH developed a generic copy called Cretrol and alleged no infringement. As the lawsuit was ongoing, TSH applied for revision of therapeutic indications on the product label. Pharmaceutical laws offer a generic drug a chance to avoid the risks of infringement by way of excluding a certain number of therapeutic indications that are overlapped with those of a patented drug. The case met a turning point as it was pending on appeal during which AstraZeneca’s patent expired. Considering the lapse of patent term, the appellate court dismissed the case. The trial judgment against TSH pharma was vacated.

Taiwan Trademarks Firm of the Year

Lee and Li is a key player in Taiwan. The firm has formed an alliance with Leaven IPR Agency in Beijing to develop the mainland China market, and has a long-standing, collaborative relationship with Taiwan’s Intellectual Property Office and is frequently called upon to provide consultation on the developments of the law and practice. It is also the key firm assisting the TIPO in preparing English translations of trademark-related laws, regulations and guidelines as well as Chinese translations of foreign articles and papers. It has been involved in a number of landmark cases, including the Hisamitsu sound mark and motion trademark cases, the three-dimensional “blue box with white satin ribbon” trademark case for Tiffany and Company and the three-dimensional trademark case for the Taiwan External Trade Development Council.

Thailand

Thailand Copyright Firm of the Year

Founded in 2020, WE Intellectual Property is a Bangkok-based law firm dedicated to IP protection. With more than 20 years’ relevant experience, managing partner Saowaluck Lamlert and partner Tatchaporn Natprasertkul help with copyright, trademarks, trade names, industrial designs, patents and inventions, geographical indications, trade secrets and domain names, on due diligence, prosecution/registration, customs recordal, enforcement and litigation. The firm advises on protection, enforcement and commercialization of copyright, including on award-winning copyright protection work. Its copyright clients range from universally recognized works of animation characters to cutting-edge software products.

Thailand Patents Firm of the Year

Satyapon & Partners was founded by Satyapon Sachdecha in 1995 and practices IP law exclusively. Sachdecha is a skilled lawyer who was president of the Intellectual Property Association of Thailand from 2009 to 2019 and is a lecturer of IP law at both Dhurakij Pundit University and Thammasat University. The firm has patent attorneys with legal expertise and experts with a wide range of technical backgrounds, including biotechnology, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, life sciences, mechanics and information technology. Verasak Maiwatana is former director of the Thai Patent Office; he joined the firm’s patent team to oversee patent prosecution and litigation matters in October 2016.

Thailand Trademarks Firm of the Year

Tilleke & Gibbins is a leading regional full-service law firm with an outstanding IP team led by Darani Vachanavuttivong and Alan Adcock. With one of the largest trademark practices in Thailand, the firm regularly handles trademark searches, registration and prosecution of marks throughout Southeast Asia and in other countries, recordal of changes and assignments, oppositions, cancellations, renewals, registration of trademark and service mark license agreements, watch services, coexistences, due diligence, and customs recordals. The firm’s list of clients includes AmorePacific, Amazon, BASF, Monsanto, Bayer, GAP, Dow Global Technologies, Grab Taxi Holdings, John Deere, Philip Morris, ThaiBev, Walmart and many others.

Vietnam

Vietnam Copyright Firm of the Year

S&O IP covers the full scope of IP services: copyright, trademarks, patents, industrial designs, copyrights, domain names, cybersquatting and online infringements, trade secrets, unfair competition, contractual IP, and provides wide range protection for its clients – from prosecution to enforcement of their rights, negotiation and drafting. Hau Nguyen, deputy director for the firm in Southeast Asia, and Daniel Greif, director for the firm in Southeast Asia, are key contacts.

Vietnam Patents Firm of the Year

Not only is Pham & Associates the oldest (and one of Vietnam’s premier) IP law firms, it is also one of the biggest filers in the country. The firm provides one of the best all-around IP services in the country from offices in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Hai Phong. Its staff of more than 100 works in a broad range of technical areas including pharmaceuticals, chemistry, telecommunication, mechanics, electronics, biotechnology and material science. Its respected work in patent prosecution and enforcement has attracted an international clientele, including Honda, BMW and Johnson & Johnson.

Vietnam Trademarks Firm of the Year

The IP teams at Baker McKenzie in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have played an instrumental role in helping both local and multinational clients realize the value of their IP portfolios. The firm is represented before the NOIP, courts and authorities by BMVN International, a fully-licensed law firm and IP agent. Partner Tran Manh Hung heads the firm’s IP practice in Vietnam. Partner Minh Tri Quach in Hanoi is a key contact.

Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific Copyright Firm of the Year

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, Sydney, Dubai and Abu Dhabi with a team of over 140 lawyers and legal professionals. It also has teams advising on matters throughout ASEAN, Japan, South Korea and India.

Asia-Pacific Patents Firm of the Year

Baker McKenzie serves Asia through its offices in Australia, China, Jakarta, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore, Seoul, Taipei, Bangkok, Yangon, Almaty, Doha, Jeddah, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Dubai 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.

Asia-Pacific Trademarks Firm of the Year

Tilleke & Gibbins is a leading regional full-service law firm with an outstanding IP team led by Darani Vachanavuttivong and Alan Adcock. With one of the largest trademark practices in Thailand, the firm regularly handles trademark searches, registration and prosecution of marks throughout Southeast Asia and in other countries, recordal of changes and assignments, oppositions, cancellations, renewals, registration of trademark and service mark license agreements, watch services, coexistences, due diligence, and customs recordals. The firm’s list of clients includes AmorePacific, Amazon, BASF, Monsanto, Bayer, GAP, Dow Global Technologies, Grab Taxi Holdings, John Deere, Philip Morris, ThaiBev, Walmart and many others.