Asialaw's fourth annual intellectual property (IP) awards ceremony will take place on November 27 2007 in Hong Kong, and IP lawyers around the region are eagerly waiting to find out whether their firms have made it to the final rankings.
After extensive editorial research into the relative strengths of each firm, their major cases and other regional and local developments, 10 firms in 14 key regional jurisdictions and eight firms in the Asia-Pacific region as a whole have reached Asialaw's initial shortlist for the 2007 IP awards. Asialaw is honouring IP practices in New Zealand for the first time this year, in recognition of the growing prominence of IP firms in that jurisdiction.
To whittle down nearly 1,000 firms down to a manageable shortlist, Asialaw employed a variety of methodologies. First, an editorial survey was sent to every law firm with a significant IP practice, as well as to specialist IP firms. The firms were invited to name their key practitioners and to relate their most important cases, deals and events over the preceding 12 months. In addition, each firm was asked to name its main competitors - both local and international - within its jurisdiction.
Most importantly, extensive independent research was conducted by Asialaw's editorial team to objectively assess each firm's relative strengths and weaknesses compared to its competitors. The result is Asialaw's initial shortlist of about 150 firms region-wide, presented here in alphabetical order.
The next step is for an independent panel of in-house counsel to comb through the shortlist. Votes by the panel will determine which firms will become finalists in the 2007 Asialaw IP Awards.
Asia-Pacific shortlist
Eight regional firms have been nominated to Asialaw's shortlist for the 2007 Asia-Pacific IP Award.
Baker & McKenzie, winner of the 2006 regional award, is once again a strong contender, with nearly a dozen offices in the region. It is shortlisted for an award in most of the jurisdictions in which it practices (Australia, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam) or as part of its network of global affiliates (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore).
Bird & Bird has 14 offices in Europe and Asia and is well known for its high-end IP litigation practice. It is currently advising Nokia on the enforcement of its mobile technology patents in many parts of Southeast Asia and is coordinating parallel litigation across Asia-Pacific for pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis.
Deacons, with IP practices in Australia and eight different jurisdictions in Asia, has particular experience in biotechnology, clothing, computers, construction, footwear, franchising, government, insurance, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications and textiles.
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has a broad Asian IP practice, with a focus on Hong Kong and China. The firm also focuses on the tax aspects of transferring existing and future IP technology.
Lovells, which has one of the world's largest IP practices, has expanded its Asian IP practice in recent years. The firm uses Hong Kong as a regional base for handling trademark and brand infringement matters.
Mallesons Stephen Jaques has strong IP practices in China and Australia, where it acted for Telstra Corp in its dispute with Premier Media and News Digital Media. The case was Australia's first concerning the scope of fair dealing in sports footage distributed over the internet and mobile phones.
Rouse & Co International has IP practices around the region, and has earned a spot on Asialaw's shortlist for China, India, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. In 2006, the firm opened an office in the Philippines, the sixth Asian country in which it operates.
International law firm Simmons & Simmons reportedly advises more than half of the world's top pharmaceutical companies and has a strong reputation in the electronics sector for patent work, including border detention.
Australia shortlist
Allens Arthur Robinson has four Asialaw Leading Lawyers in team leader Michael Dowling, Philip Kerr, Jim Dwyer and Tim Golder. AAR represents firms including Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline and Sony BMG.
International law firm Baker & McKenzie won the Australia IP Award in 2006. The firm features Leading Lawyer Ross McLean and regional head of IP Robert Arnold, who represents Billabong, Pfizer and Unilever.
Blake Dawson Waldron returns to the shortlist after a year's absence. The firm, which has a Leading Lawyer in Peter Chalk, represents National Foods, Qantas and Reebok.
At Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Leading Lawyer Stephen Stern is a prominent trademark specialist. Leading Lawyer Matthew Swinn is presently acting on behalf of Pfizer in patent infringement actions against Eli Lilly & Co, defending Pfizer's rights in relation to its Viagra product.
Davies Collison Cave features Leading Lawyer Richard Jarvis, the firm's senior litigation partner. The firm's clients include Monash Commercial, BP and Shell. The firm has also been shortlisted for an Australia IP award for each of the past three years.
Griffith Hack is a specialist IP firm with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. The firm acted for Emperor Sports in a successful appeal against a patent for removable strips of material for touch football.
Mallesons Stephen Jaques has been a finalist in each of the past three years. The firm has been Microsoft's intellectual property adviser for more than a decade. In the past year, it has represented the company in a number of successful cases against infringers.
Phillips Ormonde & Fitzpatrick features Leading Lawyer Cheng Voon and represents clients including ExxonMobil Oil, GM Holden and Assa Abloy Australia.
Shelston IP joins the shortlist for the first time this year. In its 150-year history, the firm has become a leader in the protection, management, commercialization and enforcement of IP rights.
Spruson & Ferguson features Leading Lawyer Annette Freeman. The firm is associated with Spruson & Ferguson Lawyers in Australia and Ella Cheong Spruson & Ferguson in Singapore and Malaysia.
China shortlist
Baker & McKenzie has a strong China IP practice, with key practitioners including Loke-Khoon Tan, Joseph Simone, Anita Leung and Peggy Cheung. Clients include Starbucks, LVMH, Esprit and Calvin Klein Cosmetics.
CCPIT Patent & Trademark Law Office is on the shortlist for the fourth year and features Asialaw Leading Lawyer Lei Wu. The firm has offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong, as well as Tokyo, New York and Munich.
China Patent Agent (HK) represents overseas companies on their IP rights in China, including a global consumer electronics company, a global machinery company and a global chemical products company.
IP firm China Sinda counts Leading Lawyer Lina Xie among its ranks. Its legal practice is primarily concerned with infringement actions and related appeals in front of administrative agencies, people's courts and quasi-judicial tribunals.
Full-service law firm Kangxin Partners has an IP practice led by principals Samson G Yu (an Asialaw Leading Lawyer), Scott S Zhang and Grace W Li. The firm's clients include Samsung, Sony, Ford Motor Co, Siemens and Tsingdao Brewery.
King & Wood, which won Asialaw's China IP Award for two consecutive years, has nine offices. IP practitioners include Dexi Qiao, Leading Lawyer Seagull Song, Yushen Shi, Xiaoli Yang and Wenping Chen. Clients include Nokia, IBM, Alcatel Lucent and Google.
Liu, Shen & Associates boasts two Leading Lawyers, Yang Kai and Yu Jianyang. The Beijing-based firm has a strong reputation for contentious patent work in China.
Lovells has a strong China IP practice which includes Leading Lawyer Doug Clark. The firm has offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
With offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong, Rouse & Co International has a well-respected China practice, which represents clients including GlaxoSmithKline and Beiersdorf.
Shanghai Patent & Trademark Law Office is one of the oldest IP firms in China, having been in business since 1984. The firm has more than 200 employees in Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong and Washington.
Hong Kong shortlist
The first firm in the shortlist for Asialaw's Hong Kong IP Award is Baker & McKenzie, which has won this IP Award for three years running. Asialaw Leading Lawyers Helen Tang, Joseph Simone and Loke-Khoon Tan lead a team of lawyers which represents clients including Starbucks, LVMH Fashion Group and Esprit.
Bird & Bird's Hong Kong practice is led by managing partner Matthew Laight, partner and Leading Lawyer Alison Wong and partner Shirley Kwok. The firm represents clients including Sanofi-Aventis, Techtronic Industries and Walt Disney.
Deacons, which has offices in Australia and throughout Asia, maintains Hong Kong's largest trademarks practice and has more than 30,000 live Hong Kong trademarks under its care. The firm features Leading Lawyer Lindsay Esler, who heads the IP practice.
At Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Leading Lawyer Connie Carnabuci heads the firm's regional IP and information technology practice group and the firm's telecommunications, media and technology sector group in Asia.
Johnson Stokes & Master represents clients including Cathay Pacific, Proctor & Gamble and a variety of celebrities. Leading Lawyer Kenny Wong is part of the firm's Hong Kong IP practice.
Lloyd Wise features Leading Lawyer Mark Irons as part of its Hong Kong IP practice. The firm has announced plans to merge with Marks & Clerk International before the end of 2007.
Lovells handles IP work both within its specialist IP department and within its technology, media and telecommunications practice, which is headed by partner and Leading Lawyer Gabriela Kennedy.
Simmons & Simmons features Leading Lawyer John Slater, who heads the firm's IP practice, and senior associate Angela Li. Clients include Cathay Pacific, AstraZeneca, Burberry, Bacardi, Lacoste and Apple Computer.
Sit Fung Kwong & Shum has two Leading Lawyers in CK Kwong and Alice Chan. Kwong is on the list of neutrals of the World Intellectual Property Organization's Arbitration and Mediation Centre.
Wilkinson & Grist features Leading Lawyers Anne Choi (president of the Hong Kong group of Asian Patent Attorneys Association) and Yvonne Chua. The firm's clients include Philips, Matsushita, Cheung Kong Holdings and Coca-Cola.
India shortlist
Akash Chittranshi & Associates is a boutique firm noted for its anti-piracy work with the American Association of Publishers and the UK-based Publishers Association. The firm has advised JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series of books.
Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff Co, one of India's largest law firms, has developed its IP practice under department head Ranjan Negi and patent head Dev Robinson. The firm represents leading telecommunications companies.
Amarjit & Associates is a Delhi-based IP boutique firm with offices in New York and Zurich. Name partner Amarjit Singh Monga is a member of the International Trademark Association's panel of neutrals.
Anand and Anand, a three-year winner of Asialaw's India IP Award, features Asialaw Leading Lawyer Pravin Anand. The firm has a strong reputation for IP litigation and represents clients including GE, IMB, Mars, Microsoft and Google.
Founded in 1856, DePenning & DePenning is the oldest established IP firm in India. The firm has offices in New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai. Clients include corporations, research institutions, universities and individuals.
Boutique firm DP Ahuja & Co is respected for its patent prosecution work. Founded in 1971, the firm has 30 IP professionals, nine service managers and 70 support personnel. Clients include Calvin Klein, Revlon, Honda, 7-Eleven and Volvic.
Krishna & Saurastri is a specialist IP management firm based in Mumbai. It has earned praise from the US State Department for its aggressive strategy of combating copyright infringement by persistent search-and-seize tactics and recurrent civil and criminal IP litigation.
Lall & Sethi, which retains Leading Lawyer Chander Lall, is known for its anti-piracy efforts in both Hollywood and Bollywood. The firm has offices in New Delhi and Mumbai. Clients include Coca-Cola and AOL Time Warner.
Lall Lahiri & Salhotra has a strong reputation for contentious IP work. Name partner Amar Raj Lall is the life president of the Institute of Intellectual Property Research and Practice.
International IP specialist firm Rouse & Co International has a strong IP enforcement and investigation practice in India, with offices in Chennai, New Delhi and Mumbai. In its 10 years of practice in India, Rouse has managed more than 400 civil and criminal actions.
Indonesia shortlist
Am Badar & Partners is a Jakarta-based, family-owned boutique firm. Clients include the US audio equipment maker Bose Corp and Italian fashion designer Gucci.
Amroos & Partners' founding managing partner Amalia Roosseno is an Asialaw Leading Lawyer who is also the Indonesia group president of the Asian Patent Attorneys Association. Partner Bambang Priyono heads the firm's patent division.
Jakarta-based Biro Oktroi Roosseno is full-service IP firm which grew out of a small patents and trademarks practice. Practitioners include consultants Toeti H Noerhadi-Roosseno and Migni Myriasandra.
Cita Citrawinda Noerhadi & Associates' roots date back to 1987, when name partner and Leading Lawyer Cita Citrawinda started managing the operations of Biro Oktroi Roosseno. In 2004, she opened her current firm, which specializes in the protection of trademarks, patents, copyrights, trade secrets and industrial designs.
Hadiputranto, Hadinoto & Partners, the Indonesia affiliate of Baker & McKenzie, has won Asialaw's Indonesia IP Award for three consecutive years. Leading Lawyer Erna L Kusoy is an integral part of the IP practice, which represents Harman, L'Oréal and the entire Unilever trademark portfolio.
Lubis, Santosa & Maulana is a full-service, ISO 9001-certified law firm based in Jakarta which specializes in technology transfers, licensing and royalty agreements, enforcing IP rights and formulating systems for the maintenance of confidential information.
Rouse & Co International's Jakarta office opened in 1997 and local law firm Suryomurcito & Co forms part of Rouse's Indonesian operations. Leading Lawyer Gunawan Suryomurcito, the Jakarta firm's founder, is president of the Indonesian Intellectual Property Society.
Full-service law firm S Gautama & Associates has developed a reputation for its contentious IP work. Key IP practitioners include Tineke Louise Tuegeh Longdong, Komala Lumanau, James Sudargo and Liz Asnahwati.
Soemadipradja & Taher's Leading Lawyer Justisiari Kusumah Perdana has experience in anti-counterfeiting enforcement actions and working with the investigative team of the Indonesian Trademark Office and National Police. Clients include the Business Software Alliance, Epson and Canon.
Soewito Suhardiman Eddymurthy Kardono's key IP practitioners include name partner Agustina Supriyani Kardono. The firm assists clients in the licensing of their trademarks and other property and advises on the development of strategies to best protect their intellectual property.
Japan shortlist
Leading full-service firm Anderson Mori & Tomotsune's IP practice includes Asialaw Leading Lawyer Yasufumi Shiroyama and partner Satoshi Miyagaki. The firm is acting as counsel for a Japanese subsidiary of a US healthcare company in litigation involving a medical device patent commenced by another US healthcare company.
Kyowa Patent and Law Office has two Leading Lawyers in Makoto Shiotani and Masashi Kurose. The Tokyo-based IP heavyweight has specialized in IP work for over 90 years and advises on the full spectrum of IP issues.
Lovells' Japan IP practice focuses on litigation and is led by partner Lloyd Parker, who is a visiting professor at the Tokyo University of Science's intellectual property course. The firm's clients include Matsushita Electric Industrial Co, Novadaq Technologies and Brother Industries.
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto has become one of Japan's leading IP firms since its 2005 merger with IP boutique Max Law Offices. Key IP lawyers include Wataru Sueyoshi, Yoshio Iteya and Tsunemichi Yokoyama.
Joint venture firm Morrison & Foerster/Ito & Mitomi is well known for its semiconductor work. It also represented Sega Corp in a global dispute over the rights to Sega's IP in a case which involved two actions in a US district court, four appeals to the US court of appeals, and arbitration in both Japan and the US.
One of Japan's largest IP boutiques, Nakamura & Partners, features Leading Lawyer Yoshio Kumakura, a top-rated litigator. The firm has advised the Yomiuri Giants and nine other baseball teams in a suit over the image rights of professional baseball players in Japan.
Seiwa Patent & Law has an excellent reputation for patent and trademark prosecution. Key partners include Akira Aoki and Takashi Ishida, who were both name partners under the firm's former name of A Aoki, Ishida & Associates. Clients include Eastman Kodak, Nippon Steel and Toyota.
Suzuye & Suzuye has two Leading Lawyers, Masatoshi Kurata (who is head of the Suzuye Research Institute of Intellectual Property) and Toshimi Koide. The firm, which has practice IP law since 1910, has offices in Tokyo, Kagawa and Tokushima.
IP is a core practice at TMI Associates, where founding partner Yoshiyuki Inaba is a Leading Lawyer. The firm is known for its brand protection work, its patent litigation and its work in entertainment and sports. Clients include Chanel, Kenzo and Christian Dior.
Yuasa and Hara has won Asialaw's Japan IP Award for the past two years. Toshiaki Makino, Osamu Suzuki and Leading Lawyer Kozo Yabe are among its key IP practitioners. The firm has developed a strong reputation in the protection of biotechnology, mechatronics, computer sciences and other advanced technology patents.
Malaysia shortlist
Henry Goh & Co has a good reputation for its focus on patent and trademark prosecution. Asialaw Leading Lawyer Dave A Wyatt heads the firm's patent and industrial design department. Clients include Hutchison Whampoa, Ferrari and World Wrestling Entertainment.
Key IP practitioners at Patrick Mirandah & Co include name partner Patrick Mirandah, Gladys Mirandah, James Forstner and T David Reed. The firm has offices in Kuala Lumpur and in six other Asian countries.
Raja, Darryl & Loh is a full-service firm which has IP and technology as one of its core practice units. Leading Lawyer Chew Phye Keat is an immediate past president and Malaysia country head of the ASEAN Intellectual Property Association. Clients include Microsoft, Adidas and Prudential.
RamRais & Partners is a leading litigation firm with a strong IP practice. Key practitioners include managing partner Hariram Jayaram and senior partner Caroline Francis.
Shearn Delamore & Co, which won Asialaw's Malaysia IP Award for three consecutive years, is Malaysia's largest law firm. Its IP expertise is reflected in its three Leading Lawyers: Timothy Siaw, Wong Sai Fong and Karen Abraham.
Leading Lawyer Michael Soo is part of Shook Lin & Bok's IP practice. The full-service firm's IP practice is well respected in licensing and franchising. Clients include Goodyear Tire, BMW and Nissan Motor.
Skrine's IP practice has a Leading Lawyer in Khoo Guan Huat. The IP practice, which began as a small trademark department in the 1960s, has several multinational corporations among its clients.
Tay & Partners has two Leading Lawyers in Linda Wang and Su Siew Ling among its ranks. The firm is handling a case for the Recording Industry Association of Malaysia, which seeks to hold landlords responsible for allowing tenants to sell pirated music.
Wong & Partners is part of Baker & McKenzie's global legal network and is a leading player in the Malaysian IP community. Leading Lawyer Chew Kherk Ying is a key practitioner.
Wong Jin Nee & Teo is a boutique IP firm. Formed in 2005, the firm already boasts two Leading Lawyers in partners Jin Nee Wong and Bong Kwang Teo, who formed the firm after practising at Raja, Darryl & Loh. Clients include Levi Strauss & Co and Sony Entertainment.
New Zealand shortlist
AJ Park, with Asialaw Leading Lawyer Damian Broadley, is New Zealand's largest specialist IP firm. The firm has offices in both Wellington and Auckland, and counts among its clients 200 of the companies which comprise the Fortune 500.
With a history dating to 1896, Baldwins is consistently ranked as one of the top IP firms in New Zealand. Wellington-based partner Julie Ballance is the immediate past president of the New Zealand Institute of Patent Attorneys.
Bell Gully, a full-service commercial law firm, is active in both contentious and non-contentious areas of IP law. Clients include TelstraClear and Unilever. Key practitioners include partners Alan Ringwood, Ian Gault and Dean Oppenhuis.
Buddle Findlay has a Leading Lawyer in John Glengarry, whose practice covers the development and establishment of IP rights, and the related tasks of management, exploitation and enforcement of IP rights. The firm's clients include Yahoo! Inc.
Chapman Tripp has 11 partners in its IP practice, and advises on brand development, the protection of inventions, border protection measures and other IP issues. A team of 11 partners is led by Robert Bycroft in Auckland, Jack Hodder in Wellington and Jo Appleyard in Christchurch.
Henry Hughes is a small boutique firm known for its prosecution work. Principals include Margaret Doucas, Mark Eftimov, Frank Callus and Barbara Sullivan.
James & Wells has offices in four New Zealand cities. The firm successfully represented Robert Miller against Fredco Trading in the first high court case to consider shape marks, relating to the shape of a vine tie used to secure kiwi fruit trees.
Kensington Swan is known for its contentious work. The firm's IP practice is led by partners Sheana Wheeldon, Ross Johnston and Patrick Learmouth, and advises Eli Lily, Michael Hill Jewelers, Tourism New Zealand and Red Bull.
Minter Ellison Rudd Watts is noted for its commercial IP work. Its IP practice is led by partners John McCay, Anna Rawlings and Christopher Young and boasts clients including Icebreaker New Zealand, Southern Cross Healthcare and Zambesi Workroom.
Simpson Grierson's IP practice is led by partner Earl Gray. The practice specializes in IP commercialization strategies and student IP policies and counts the University of Otago, Netball New Zealand and Virgin Enterprises among its clients.
The Philippines shortlist
Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz has a robust IP practice led by Aleli Angela G Quirino and Asialaw Leading Lawyer Alex Ferdinand S Fider. The firm's clients include San Miguel Corp and Estée Lauder.
Carag, Caballes, Jamora & Somera has a significant IP practice. Name partner Carlo A Carag is a key IP practitioner at the firm.
Castillo, Laman, Tan, Pantaleon & San Jose advises both domestic and international clients on IP matters within the Philippines. Noel Laman, Paulino Petralba, Dina Lucenario and Ray Anthony Pinoy are key IP practitioners.
Hechanova Bugay & Vilchez boasts Leading Lawyer and managing partner Editha R Hechanova and partners Gladys C Vilchez and Rodinil Bugay among its IP practitioners. Clients include Gymboree, DaimlerChrysler and Asiana Airlines.
Gilbert Raymund T Reyes is a Leading Lawyer at Poblador Bautista & Reyes in Manila. The firm has a strong IP litigation group and represents clients including Intel, GlaxoSmithKline, ABS-CBN Broadcasting and Levi Strauss & Co.
Quiason Makalintal Barot Torres & Ibarra is another law firm with a strong IP practice. The firm represents clients in the consumer, household, apparel, cosmetics, music, entertainment, fast food, telecommunications, computers and pharmaceutical sectors.
Quisumbung & Torres is Baker & McKenzie's affiliate in Manila. Key practitioners at the firm, which is known for its aggressive pursuit of IP infringers, include partners Andre Philippe G Betita, Pericles R Casuela and Christopher L Lim. Clients include Jolibee and Hutchison Whampoa.
Siguion Reyna Montecillo & Ongsiako, among the oldest law firms in the Philippines, counts Leading Lawyer Celso L Cruz among its IP practitioners. Clients include Nestec, Shering Plough and Goodyear.
Legal powerhouse SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan is a three-year winner of Asialaw's IP Award for the Philippines. Key practitioners include Vicente B Amador, who heads the firm's IP practice, Leading Lawyer Llewellyn L Llanillo and partner Enrique T Manuel.
Del Rosario Bagamasbad & Raboca is known for its prosecution of patents and trademarks and border-control protection work. Key practitioners Jennifer Fajelagutan and Bernadette Marie Tocjayao lead a team that represents PepsiCo, Boeing and The Doughnut People.
Singapore shortlist
Alban Tay Mahtani & de Silva features three Asialaw Leading Lawyers in Alban Kang, Cyril Chua and Sheena Jacob. Clients include DaimlerChrysler, Canon, Hewlett-Packard and Nokia.
Allen & Gledhill's IP and technology group advises on IP matters in fields ranging from biotechnology, healthcare and pharmaceuticals to computers, software and media. Partner Elaine Tan is an Asialaw Leading Lawyer.
Amica Law was established in March 2006 by Wilson Wong and Jason Chan, two former Allen & Gledhill partners, and has established itself as firm to watch. The arrival of Jo-Ann See, who was Allen & Gledhill's head of IP, has strengthened the IP practice.
Joint venture firm Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow has a strong IP team including Leading Lawyers Andy Leck and Lorraine Anne Tay. Clients include Bausch & Lomb, Apple Computer and Hasbro.
Drew & Napier won Asialaw's Singapore IP Firm of 2006 award and features four Leading Lawyers: Tony Yeo, Cecelia Girvin, Dedar Singh Gill and Morris John. It successfully defended McDonald's in an appeal by Food Empire Holdings' application to register the 'MacCoffee' mark.
Ella Cheong Spruson & Ferguson, with Leading Lawyer Soh Kar Liang, features specialist groups in chemical and life sciences. It is associated with Spruson & Ferguson's offices in Australia.
Full-service law firm Lee & Lee is known for its work in IP rights enforcement and trademark and patent registrations. Leading Lawyer Tan Tee Jim leads the firm's IP department, which focuses on entertainment and media, life sciences and computer law.
Rajah & Tann has consolidated its IP, technology, entertainment and communications divisions into an 'iTec' practice group. Rajesh Sreenivasan, Daniel Koh, Christopher Woo and Lau Kok Keng are key practitioners in the group.
Rodyk & Davidson is one of the oldest law firms in Singapore and is respected for its IP and technology practices. Leading Lawyers at Rodyk & Davidson include IP head Lee Ai Ming and Woon C Yew.
At Shook Lin & Bok, IP is part of the firm's 'infocommunications' group. Jim Lim is a key practitioner within the IP team, which counts Dextra Asia, Volkswagen and Singapore Airlines among its clients.
South Korea shortlist
Bae, Kim & Lee's IP practice concentrates on litigation, prosecution, licensing and strategy. Key practitioners include Eui In Hwang, Hoo Dong Lee, Boh Young Hwang, Sang Chul Jung and Ji Hyun Kim. The firm also hired Hee Joo Park from the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO).
Cho & Partners is a leading IP boutique firm in Seoul which represents global information technology companies, multinational retailers and luxury brands. The firm retains Asialaw Leading Lawyer Ik-Hyun Seo and Tae-Yon Cho, who is a member of the Domain Name Dispute Resolution Committee in Korea.
Lee & Ko, which operates offices under both the Lee & Ko and First Law Lee & Ko firm names, is known for its IP litigation and enforcement work. Clients include Microsoft, Novartis, Hanmi Pharmacy and ExxonMobil. The IP team is led by partner Jae Hoon Kim.
Kim & Chang is a three-year winner of Asialaw's South Korea IP Award. The firm is an IP powerhouse, with five Leading Lawyers on its staff: Ann NY Kwon, Young Kim, Jay Yan, Monica Leeu and Jay J Kim. Clients include Philips Electronics and Motorola.
Kim Choi & Lim is a full-service firm with a significant IP practice. The firm's key IP practitioners include partner Young-chol Kim.
Lee International IP & Law Group is a specialist IP firm which funds the Institute for Trade and Investment, an economic think tank. Clients include Fujitsu, InterDigital Technology Corp and BASF.
Shin & Kim, one of Korea's 'big four' law firms, handles electronics, mechanics, pharmaceuticals and chemicals in its IP practice and counts Tyco Electronics, Fila, Samsung and POSCO among its clients. Key practitioners include Yongho Moon, Doo-Hyung Do and Gho-Sun Park.
Yoon Yang Kim Shin & Yu advised SK Corp in a patent and trade secret lawsuit against Tonen and Gianni Versace in a trademark action against Alfredo Versace. The firm's IP emphasis is on unfair competition, electronic commerce and entertainment law.
You Me Patent & Law Firm is a leading IP player, with clients including Sony and Hyundai Motor Co. A key practitioner is Joo-Hyun Song, the former chief administrative judge of the Board of Patent and Trademark Appeal at KIPO.
YP Lee, Mock & Partners specializes in healthcare, electronics and mechanics patents. Clients include global electronics companies, global IT companies and a domestic chemical company.
Taiwan shortlist
Baker & McKenzie's Taiwan practice concentrates on patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and litigation in anti-counterfeiting measures. Top practitioners include senior partners Stacey Lee and David Yang and partners Joy Pan and Grace Shao. Clients include Himax Technologies and Osram Opto Semiconductors.
Formosa Transnational is a leading IP player with Asialaw Leading Lawyers Michael Zuck and Arthur S Hsieh among its key practitioners. Clients include IBM and Microsoft
Lee and Li, a three-year winner of Asialaw's Taiwan IP Award, has two Leading Lawyers in Joseph S Yang and Daisy Wang. The IP practice, led by CV Chen, counts Qualcomm, 3M, IBM and BASF among its clients.
Lee, Tsai & Partners treats IP as a core practice area. Leading Lawyer Chung-Teh Lee is one of its key practitioners.
Boutique firm Saint Island International Patent & Law Office, with Leading Lawyers Patrick Yun and Julia YM Hung on its team, handles patent and trademark applications and IP litigation. Clients include Hewlett-Packard, Intel and Fujitsu.
Tai E International Patent & Law Office has two Leading Lawyers on its staff, I-Chu Lin and Fred CT Yen. The IP boutique firm has more than 60 professionals in its patent department, divided into electronics, mechanical, chemistry and biotechnology groups.
Leading Lawyer Johnny Yang is one of Taiwan International Patent & Law Office's key practitioners. Founded in 1965, the firm is one of the largest IP boutiques in Taiwan.
Full-service law firm Tsar & Tsai has a prominent IP practice with experience in anti-counterfeiting measures, prosecuting infringement claims and defending infringement allegations. Clients include CMC Magnetics, Applied Materials and AKT America.
Winkler Partners, which features Leading Lawyer Peter Dernbach on its IP team, focuses on litigation and internet-related issues. The firm's clients include multinational manufacturers and financial services companies.
Wood & Wu was established in 1995 and handles patent and trademark filings for both domestic and foreign clients. Senior partner Justin KS Wu and partners Kevin CL Yang, Jeff CH Lin and Ted JT Su lead the practice.
Thailand shortlist
Anek Group, which practices IP law through Anek & Associates, Anek & Brischon and Anek Darun IP Plus, counts Asialaw Leading Lawyer Ekdarun Nan Srisanit among its IP practitioners. Clients include LVMH, Japan Airlines, Credit Lyonnais and Singapore Airlines.
Apisith & Alliance is a corporate law firm with a strong IP practice. Partners Apisith John Sutham and Kanokporn Soraraksin are key practitioners.
Baker & McKenzie is a key player in Thailand's IP community. Key practitioners include Dhiraphol Suwanprateep, Say Sujintaya, Supparut Allapach, Pravith Mangklatanakul and Yuthana Sivaraks. Clients include Disney, Toyota Motor Co and Disney Enterprises.
Chavalit Law Group is a relative newcomer to Bangkok's IP scene. Managing partner Chavalit Uttasart founded the firm in 2005 and has hooked clients including Intel, Schering-Plough and Sunkist.
Dej-Udom & Associates is led by founder and managing partner Dej-Udom Krairit. The firm's IP practice, especially its work in patents, extends into Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. It has an affiliation with US law firm Kelley Drye & Warren.
Domnern Somgiat & Boonma features Leading Lawyers Chakrapat Mongkolsit, Boonma Tevanija and Rutorn Nopakun. Twenty percent of the trademark applications and 60% of the patent applications made in Thailand are reportedly filed through this firm.
LawPlus, founded by Kowit Somwaiya and his former Herbert Smith colleagues, has a significant IP practice in Thailand. Clients include Sears, Subway Properties, Aeon and Osotspa.
Rouse & Co International Bangkok's office focuses on investigations, enforcement and litigation. It recently registered the first geographical indication for champagne in Thailand. Clients include Oxford University Press and Umbro.
Satyapon & Partners specializes in IP law and is headed by Leading Lawyer and name partner Satyapon Sachdecha.
The three-year winner of Asialaw's Thailand IP Award is Tilleke & Gibbins, which is home to three Leading Lawyers: Edward A Madden, Vipa Chuenjaipanich and Edward J Kelly. Clients include the Business Software Alliance, British Broadcasting Corp and Altria.
Vietnam shortlist
Led by managing partner Fred Burke and partner Tran Manh Hung, Baker & McKenzie's Vietnam IP practice is a three-time winner of Asialaw's Vietnam IP Award. The firm, one of Vietnam's largest, represents clients including Cisco, Triumph International, Warner Bros and Asia Pacific Breweries.
The Hanoi-based D&N International is a specialist boutique whose clients include LG and Samsung. The firm is led by managing partner Dang TH Thuy and partner Nguyen Viet Ha.
Invenco is known, among other things, for handling trademarks in Vietnam, China, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. The firm is based in Hanoi.
InvestConsult Group is one of Vietnam's largest local law firms. The firm is a full-service legal and business consultancy with a significant IP practice group. It has offices in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho in the Mekong Delta.
Established in 1988, Investip is a specialist IP firm led by Le Tu, former deputy director of the National Office of Industrial Property. Clients include Mars, Yamaha and Casio.
Pham & Associates is one of Vietnam's oldest IP law firms. Managing partner Pham Vu Khanh Toan is a leading partner of the firm, which counts Gucci, Sound Storm Laboratories and Yamaha among its clients.
Rouse & Co International undertakes enforcement activities in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. The firm, which represents clients including Coca-Cola and Adidas, has offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Vision & Associates has one Asialaw Leading Lawyer on its staff, Pham Nghiem Xuan Bac. The firm, which has advised Boeing Management Co, Nokia and Yahoo!, is a full-service firm with a strong IP practice.
Winco Vietnam is a leading IP player with offices in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. It has represented Vietnamese clients in trademark infringement actions in the food and garment industries.
2007 Asialaw IP Awards Shortlist*
Asia-Pacific
Baker & McKenzie
Bird & Bird
Deacons
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Lovells
Mallesons Stephen Jaques
Rouse & Co International
Simmons & Simmons
Australia
Allens Arthur Robinson
Baker & McKenzie
Blake Dawson Waldron
Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Davies Collison Cave
Griffith Hack
Mallesons Stephen Jaques
Phillips Ormonde & Fitzpatrick
Shelston IP
Spruson & Ferguson
China
Baker & McKenzie
CCPIT Patent & Trademark Law Office
China Patent Agent (HK)
China Sinda
Kangxin Partners
King & Wood
Liu, Shen & Associates
Lovells
Rouse & Co International
Shanghai Patent & Trademark Law Office
Hong Kong
Baker & McKenzie
Bird & Bird
Deacons
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Johnson Stokes & Master
Lloyd Wise
Lovells
Simmons & Simmons
Sit Fung Kwong & Shum
Wilkinson & Grist
India
Akash Chittranshi & Associates
Amarchand & Mangaldas &
Suresh A Shroff & Co
Amarjit & Associates
Anand and Anand
DePenning & DePenning
DP Ahuja & Co
Krishna & Saurastri
Lall & Sethi
Lall Lahiri & Salhotra
Rouse & Co International
Indonesia
Am Badar & Partners
Amroos & Partners
Biro Oktroi Roosseno
Cita Citrawinda Noerhadi & Associates
Hadiputranto, Hadinoto & Partners
Lubis, Santosa & Maulana
Rouse & Co International/Suryomurcito & Co
S Gautama & Associates
Soemadipradja & Taher
Soewito Suhardiman Eddymurthy Kardono
Japan
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Kyowa Patent and Law Office
Lovells
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Morrison & Foerster/Ito & Mitomi
Nakamura & Partners
Seiwa Patent & Law
Suzuye & Suzuye
TMI Associates
Yuasa and Hara
Malaysia
Henry Goh & Co
Patrick Mirandah & Co
Raja, Darryl & Loh
RamRais & Partners
Shearn Delamore & Co
Shook Lin & Bok
Skrine
Tay & Partners
Wong & Partners
Wong Jin Nee & Teo
New Zealand
AJ Park
Baldwins
Bell Gully
Buddle Findlay
Chapman Tripp
Henry Hughes
James & Wells
Kensington Swan
Minter Ellison Rudd Watts
Simpson Grierson
The Philippines
Angara Abello Concepcion
Regala & Cruz
Carag, Caballes, Jamora & Somera
Castillo Laman Tan Pantaleon & San Jose
Hechanova Bugay & Vilchez
Poblador Bautista & Reyes
Quiason Makalintal Barot Torres & Ibarra
Quisumbing Torres
Siguion Reyna Montecillo & Ongsiako
SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan
Del Rosario Bagamasbad & Raboca
Singapore
Alban Tay Mahtani & de Silva
Allen & Gledhill
Amica Law
Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow
Drew & Napier
Ella Cheong Spruson & Ferguson
Lee & Lee
Rajah & Tann
Rodyk & Davidson
Shook Lin & Bok
South Korea
Bae Kim & Lee
Cho & Partners
Lee & Ko
Kim & Chang
Kim Choi & Lim
Lee International IP & Law Group
Shin & Kim
Yoon Yang Kim Shin & Yu
You Me Patent & Law Firm
YP Lee, Mock & Partners
Taiwan
Baker & McKenzie
Formosa Transnational
Lee and Li
Lee, Tsai and Partners
Saint Island International Patent & Law Offices
Tai E International Patent & Law Office
Taiwan International Patent & Law Office
Tsar & Tsai
Winkler Partners
Wood & Wu
Thailand
Anek Group
Apisith & Alliance
Baker & McKenzie
Chavalit & Associates
Dej-Udom & Associates
Domnern Somgiat & Boonma
LawPlus
Rouse & Co International
Satyapon & Partners
Tilleke & Gibbins
Vietnam
Baker & McKenzie
D&N International
Invenco
InvestConsult Group
Investip
Lovells
Pham & Associates
Rouse & Co International
Vision & Associates
Winco Vietnam
*Firms are listed alphabetically and not in order of preference