The Legal 500 > Asia Pacific > Malaysia > Intellectual property

Attracting praise for 'reasonable fees and outstanding service', the intellectual property team at Chooi & Company and Cheang & Ariff is best known for IP litigation, particularly patent and trade mark disputes. The group counts several well-known international brands among its clients, with expertise advising fashion, cosmetic and personal care brands, such as Arcadia Group, Estee Lauder and Mandom Corporation. Cindy Goh Joo Seong focuses on trade mark, copyright, patent and industrial design litigation, but also regularly provides brand protection advice to clients. Senior associate Keong Ming Wai continues to build a reputation for contentious matters.

Christopher & Lee Ong's intellectual property team offers 'prompt replies and competitive fees' and has capabilities across the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious intellectual property matters, but has particular expertise across trade mark, copyright and patent litigation. The group also benefits from being able to leverage the Rajah & Tann Asia network in cross-border instructions. Practice head Sri Sarguna Raj focuses on contentious IP matters, while the 'fast and reliable' Kim Poh Ng and Steven Cheok handle both non-contentious work and disputes.

The intellectual property team at Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill benefits from 'subject matter experts' who provide 'fast responses, customized service and flexible arrangements'. The group handles a full range of IP matters and counts telecoms, tobacco and automotive among its sector specialisms. Eunice Wei Lynn Chan combines IP protection and portfolio management experience with commercial, competition, and regulatory expertise – particularly in the pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food sectors – in advising on non-contentious matters. Bahari Yeow and Zhi Jian Lim left the practice in June 2020 to join Gan Partnership.

The 'reliable and professional' intellectual property practice at Shearn Delamore & Co has the expertise to handle a full range of IP matters for its impressive client roster of local and foreign companies including PETRONAS group, Merck Sharp and Dohme and Dyson Technology. The eight-partner team is led by IP litigator Karen Abraham and benefits from 'a great depth of knowledge and experience'. Timothy Siaw specialises in life science patent litigation, alongside 'skilled patent attorney' Zaraihan Shaari, who attracts praise for her 'well-developed technical skills and knowledge', while the 'highly-experienced' Indran Shanmuganathan handles a range of trade mark, copyright, patent, and industrial design litigation, and the 'extremely efficient' Jyeshta Mahendran focuses on the protection, maintenance and enforcement of rights.

Skrine's practice advises clients on protection, licensing and enforcement of intellectual property rights and assists with a range of trade mark infringement and passing-off claims, as well as patent, design and copyright litigation. Guan Huat Khoo and 'outstanding partner' Charmayne Ong jointly lead the practice and focus on contentious and non-contentious matters respectively. Other names to note include Pei Yee Kuek, who handles a range of IP litigation and recently represented Adidas AG and Adidas (Malaysia) in a trade mark infringement and passing off claim against LOF Fashion, and the 'knowledgeable' Hong Koon Teh, who has particular experience advising on creation, acquisition, prosecution, exploitation, and management of trade marks.

The intellectual property team at Wong & Partners 'provides practical solutions' to a full-range of matter including enforcement and anti-counterfeiting work, portfolio management, litigation and corporate and commercial transactions. The practice counts Malaysia Airlines, Telekom Malaysia and GrabTaxi Holdings among its clients. The team led by Kherk Ying Chew, who has experience in handling a range of contentious and non-contentious matters, including infringement disputes and IP audits.

Intellectual property and technology boutique Wong Jin Nee & Teo handle a full-spectrum of contentious and non-contentious IP matters from creation and protection to portfolio management and enforcement to exploitation and monetisation. The group's client roster spans Malaysia companies as well as multinational and international companies, and well-known brands such as Under Armour, Visa and Intel Corporation. Founding partners Jin Nee Wong and Bong Kwang Teo jointly head the team and focus on transactional and contentious matters respectively.

Rahmat Lim & Partners' full-service intellectual property team 'provides creative solutions' that are 'cost-effective'. The group handles a range of contentious and non-contentious matters and counts Pfizer, The Walt Disney Company and Mars Incorporated among its clients. With 'vast experience' practice head Pauline Khor is 'a great asset as a legal adviser' both in litigation, on advising on anti-counterfeiting and anti-piracy programmes and management of portfolios.

The intellectual property team at Raja, Darryl & Loh has experience across protection, enforcement, commercialization and management of rights, and has recently been particularly active in contentious trademark matters. Chew Phye Keat handles corporate and commercial intellectual property matters, while Yvonne Ong focuses on prosecution and enforcement. Dispute resolution partner Hon Leng Choon has IP litigation experience.

Shook Lin & Bok's intellectual property team is known predominantly for its expertise in contentious matters and also has the capabilities to advise on filing and prosecution and enforcement of rights, as well as on licensing and franchising. Managing partner Michael Soo heads the team and focuses on  enforcement and civil litigation, while Wendy Lee Wan Chien handles advisory and prosecution of trade marks, patents and industrial designs and trade mark opposition proceedings.

Tay & Partners intellectual property practice advises its clients across a full range of issues, including registration, enforcement, litigation and transactional matters. Lin Li Lee focuses on contentious matters and heads up the IP practice, along with the data protection and technology, multimedia and telecoms practice groups. Bee Yi Lim handles a range of commercial and contentious matters, and assists several clients with trade mark portfolio management.

The intellectual property team at Gan Partnership is particularly strong for trade mark litigation and recently defended Apollo Food Industries in an infringement claim brought by Mondelez Europe relating to its Toblerone trade mark. Foong Lam Tai heads up the practice and counts Genting Group, UMW Holdings and Maxis Berhad among his clients. The team has been greatly boosted by Bahari Yeow and Zhi Jian Lim  who joined in July 2020 from Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill.

Boutique firm Josephine, L K Chow & Co is 'an outstanding law firm that thinks outside of the box'. It is highlighted for its expertise in advising on enforcement and litigation of intellectual property rights. The group's experience spans advising on enforcement of copyright, industrial design, trade marks and patents, as well as software license compliance. Key names of note include 'knowledgeable and trustworthy' Khaik Kew Peh and experienced litigator Cyndi L K Chow.