Bird & Bird ATMD LLP

Bird & Bird ATMD LLP is a leading Singapore law firm associated with Bird & Bird, an international legal practice. The firm advises on both domestic and international cross-border transactions, including projects with a regional or global focus.

The team of over 50 lawyers are recognised as leaders in their respective fields and for their high-quality advice and deep sector knowledge, providing clients with the full range of legal services including advice on commercial, corporate, intellectual property, dispute resolution and arbitration, employment law, competition law, finance, data protection and real estate matters.

The firm has developed a deep industry understanding of key sectors, and its focus on industries being transformed by intellectual property, technology and the knowledge economy, together with its understanding of the diverse local cultures, has given it deep insight into the complex multi-jurisdictional issues clients face when doing business in the region.

With Bird & Bird’s 32 offices across Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East, the firm is strategically well placed to offer local expertise within a global context. Its considerable international reach enables it to deal with multinational projects and issues, as well as to provide advice which allows for local and international laws, policies and business practices. The firm uses its world-leading expertise in relevant legal and business areas to provide a practical and value-added service to its international clients.

The firm also works with a network of cooperation firms in Malaysia, Indonesia and Korea and other countries in Europe and the Middle East. The firm has trusted partners in the ASEAN region, including Japan, India and also the US, as well as other locations where the firm does not have offices.

Areas of practice: The Singapore practice is sector-focused and it provides clients with the full range of commercial services. It is renowned for its expertise in intellectual property and employment law. It also has market-leading practices in corporate, mergers and acquisitions, environmental, projects and energy, real estate and construction, capital markets, technology, media and telecommunications, and dispute resolution and international arbitration. Its lawyers also have extensive experience in aviation, banking and finance, competition, data protection, life sciences, regulatory and sports.

Announcements: Follow Bird & Bird ATMD’s LinkedIn page or join our mailing list for the latest developments within Bird & Bird ATMD, and updates on matters of topical interest. We share some of these updates below.

Indonesia recently enacted the long-awaited Personal Data Protection Law (PDP Law), the country's first comprehensive law specifically dealing with the issue of data protection. Under the new PDP Law, local businesses and international companies will be liable for the way they use and manage the data of Indonesian consumers.

In Singapore, the maximum financial penalty cap has increased to 10% of annual turnover with effect from 1 October 2022.

What does that mean for your business?

Join us in this joint event on 29 November 2022 with K&K Advocates - Indonesia on Personal Data Protection Law Developments in Singapore and Indonesia. K&K’s Danny Kobrata take you through Indonesia’s new PDP Law while our partner Lijun Chui will discuss how you can reduce your data breach risks with reference to the latest decisions by the Personal Data Protection Commission in Singapore.

Read more: here.

Love, scorn or dismiss them but Web 3.0 and the Metaverse represents a maturing industry affecting even the oldest brick and mortar brands. But what is new is also old — do they herald a radical change or just more of the same? Join our Dispute Resolution partner Shaun Lee, FCIArb in-person on 17 November 2022 as he looks to demystify Web 3.0, cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and the Metaverse through the lens of Amatino Manucci, the Cold War, the Dotcom Boom-and-Bust and case law.

Read more: here.

Recent developments in technology, in particular, the rise of digital assets and the metaverse, hold the promise to change the way we live, work and play. Unsurprisingly, these developments have brought along with them novel issues which challenge the way we understand and apply existing legal concepts and statutory frameworks. Fundamental questions such as whether digital assets may be considered as property and the category of property which such assets fall into, remain nascent or unsettled issues.

In this article, our partner Lijun Chui and senior associate Allen Lye share five predictions based on emerging trends on the types of technology disputes which we will see in future.

Read more: here.

We are pleased that our Alban Kang and Lorraine Tay have been named as global leaders in the private practice in the recently released WTR Global Leaders: Private Practice 2022 by World Trademark Review. Congratulations both!

Read more: here.

Big congratulations to our winners of the Rising Star Awards Asia Pacific 2022 by IFLR - Jolie Giouw for Mergers and Acquisitions, and Elaina Foo for Technology!

Read more: here.

In Reed, Michael v Bellingham, Alex (Attorney-General, intervener) [2022] SGCA 60, it was held that emotional distress directly suffered as a result of a contravention of the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (PDPA) may constitute “loss or damage” for which a private action could be commenced. The decision was made in relation to Section 32 of the version of the PDPA in force as of 2018 but remains relevant as the substance of the former Section 32 is now set out in Section 48O of the current version of the PDPA.

In this latest Data Privacy update, our lawyers Lijun Chui, Jeremy Tan, John Kuah and Joseph Lim examine key aspects of the case and shared their thoughts on the matter.

Read more: here.

A big congratulations to Pin-Ping Oh, Audrey Lim and Bridget Goh for their recent recognition as #RisingStars in the Managing IP's Rising Stars list, 2022 edition!

Read more: here.

The recently introduced Approved Code of Practice (“ACOP”) clarifies what is expected of companies’ Chief Executives (“CEO”) and Board of Directors (“BOD”) in relation to ensuring employees’ workplace safety and health. By way of background, the ACOP provides guidance for companies to attain the outcome stated in a regulation.

In this latest update, our employment lawyers Seow Hui Goh, Natasha Cheng and Sharmaine Chan examine key aspects of the upcoming ACOP and the workplace safety and health implications it has on the duties of CEOs and Board Directors.

Read more: here.

Our corporate lawyers Marcus Chow, Luke Oon and Sally Kim, recently acted for East Ventures as the lead investor in the US$26 million Series A fundraising round of Gokomodo, an Indonesian agriculture supply chain platform, one of the largest Series A investment amounts in Indonesia to date.

Read more: here.