PDLegal Enters Formal Law Alliance with Hill Dickinson Singapore

September 2, 2024
PDLegal has joined forces with the Singapore office of international law firm Hill Dickinson in a Formal Law Alliance, which received approval from the Singapore Legal Services Regulatory Authority and became effective from August 1 2024. It will operate under the name Hill Dickinson PDLegal. Pooling the resources of the two firms, the alliance will be able to accept instructions on Singapore law, as well as foreign law matters. Both firms remain entirely separate entities, while being able to advise and assist clients jointly in an efficient and streamlined fashion. PDLegal is a leading full-service regional law firm headquartered in Singapore. The firm’s experienced team of lawyers have been consistently ranked and recognised by legal directories and publications, and are equipped to handle matters on a broad range of practices. Opened in Singapore in 2009, Hill Dickinson has grown to become one of the largest and busiest Marine and Trade teams in the country. The team is particularly well-renowned for its casualty, shipping and trade disputes work. It also has a growing reputation for commercial arbitration and marine-related transactional work, and commercial advisory services. “Hill Dickinson is a global commercial law firm, and we are excited to join forces with them. This demonstrates our commitment to growing our capabilities in this globalised world. Being allied with a larger international law firm allows us to provide our clients with the holistic support needed to navigate the complexities of international law, while ensuring compliance with local regulations. The FLA further adds to our regional capabilities offered though our Thailand office, and our China, India, and Malaysia Desks,” said Peter Doraisamy, Managing Partner of...

Rajah & Tann (Thailand) Names New Co-Managing Partners

September 2, 2024
Rajah & Tann (Thailand) (RT) has added Melisa Uremovic and Supawat Srirungruang as Co-Managing Partners with effect from August 27, 2024, marking a significant milestone in RT’s growth and strategic direction. Melisa and Supawat both succeed Ajarn Surasak Vajasit, who handed over the reins after a decade at the helm. Ajarn Surasak will continue to lend his wealth of experience as the newly appointed Chairman and Senior Partner of RT. Reflecting on his time as the Managing Partner, Ajarn Surasak shared, “It has been my privilege to lead a group of talented and dedicated professionals for the past ten years, and I am proud to have guided the Firm through its formative years. I look forward to my new role and being part of our Firm’s continued success. I am confident that everyone will be fully behind our new Co-Managing Partners, as they take our Firm forward to greater heights.” Stepping into their new role as Co-Managing Partners, Melisa and Supawat bring with them extensive experience and knowledge. They continue to play a critical role in the growth and success of RT, and will continue to prioritise a balanced, inclusive, and people-first work environment, as well as building stronger relationships with valued clients, drive innovations, and lay a solid foundation in building a strong governance and industry expertise. “I’m grateful for Ajarn Surasak’s years of dedicated service and visionary leadership. Having served as the Deputy Managing Partner of RT, I’ve had the pleasure of strategising and fostering RT’s vision and growth alongside Ajarn Surasak. I am excited to build on this strong foundation and lead RT into its next...

Unleash Your Inner Lawyer: New Mini Law Degree Programme for Teens

September 2, 2024
MB KEMP, a Hong Kong-headquartered law firm with offices in London, UAE and Milan, launches its groundbreaking “Mini Law Degree” programme designed to introduce bright young minds aged 12 to 15 to the fascinating world of law. The Little KEMPies initiative offers courses or workshops for children who may be interested to learn more about law or a career in law. This innovative nine-week programme offers a unique opportunity for teens to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills, while exploring the fundamentals of legal principles. Led by experienced practicing lawyers, the programme is structured around core law subjects taught at prestigious UK universities, such as Cambridge, Oxford and LSE. Participants will delve into contract law, tort law and criminal law, culminating in a mock trial experience. “We believe that exposing young people to the legal world can ignite a passion for justice and inspire future legal careers,” said Yeeling Wan, Lead Partner at MB KEMP. “Our Mini Law Degree programme provides a stimulating and engaging environment for teens to develop essential life skills while gaining a valuable understanding of the legal system.” Beyond academic content, the programme emphasises the development of soft skills crucial for success in any field, including public speaking, persuasive reasoning, and...

The Greater China IP Updates – August 2024

September 2, 2024
The Taiwan Intellectual Property Office Proposes Draft Amendments to the Patent Examination Guidelines The Taiwan Intellectual Property Office (TIPO) has recently proposed draft amendments in specific areas such as patent term extension calculations and who qualifies as an interested party in a patent invalidation. The main points are as follows: For patents relating to pharmaceutical inventions, if a regulatory approval shall be obtained in accordance with the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act or the Rare Disease and Orphan Drug Act for the exploitation of the patent, the patentee may apply for a patent term extension for the period in which the inventions cannot be exploited due to the absence of a regulatory approval. According to the Patent Examination Guidelines, the period from the day after the date of receiving the Notice for Collecting the Approval to the day of actually collecting the approval should be deducted from the term to be extended.  Therefore, the patentee should submit a document of proof regarding the date of receiving the Notice for Collecting the Approval. Concerning the topic of an interested party in a patent invalidation, an interested party is now specified as a legally interested party, i.e. a party whose rights or legal benefits are directly impaired due to any controversy surrounding the patent right or the right to apply for a patent. If the invalidation petitioner provides a document of proof to establish such interest, as long as the patentee does not argue against it and the examiner does not foresee any problems, it is unnecessary to investigate the existence of such interest.  However, if the patentee doubts the existence of the...

Vietnam-Australia Strategic Vision for Trade and Investment

August 30, 2024
By, Vaibhav Saxena, Foreign Counsel and Quang Anh Nguyen, Associate Australia and Vietnam have forged a robust and multifaceted relationship over the years, marked by mutual respect, shared interests, and strategic cooperation. On 07 March 2024, this partnership reached a significant milestone with the elevation to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, underscoring the depth and breadth of ties between the two nations. Mutual Partnership Vietnam and Australia have shared strong bilateral relations in terms of history. Ever since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1973, both countries have built a robust and broad relationship with the foundation of trust and deep understanding. During the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canberra emerged as Hanoi’s second-largest foreign donor, generously contributing 26.4 million vaccine doses. Additionally, Australia has extended substantial Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Vietnam, supporting critical areas such as human resource development, infrastructure, public health enhancement, and Vietnam’s participation in UN peacekeeping missions. These tangible examples underscore the robust bilateral ties between the two countries and highlight Australia’s genuine commitment to its relationship with Vietnam. Socially, Vietnamese Australians constitute the sixth-largest migrant community in Australia. Additionally, nearly 17,000 Vietnamese international students are enrolled in Australian educational and training institutions. The Vietnamese alumni, having graduated from Australian universities and subsequently returned to Vietnam for work, have forged a robust and meaningful connection between the two nations and their peoples. Trade and Investment Australia and Vietnam enjoy a dynamic economic partnership characterized by rapid growth in trade and investment. In the financial year 2022/23, bilateral trade surged to $25.7 billion, reflecting a substantial increase of 75% from 2020. Vietnam’s vibrant economy, with...