Southeast Asia - Singapore

Dentons Rodyk

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Dentons Rodyk's well-established team is noted for its expertise in IP disputes and patent litigation, acting for clients across the technology, AI, robotics, utilities, manufacturing, and pharmaceutical sectors. Boasting a robust contentious practice, the firm also assists on acquisitions, commercialisation and the exploitation of IP assets. The 'super responsive' team is jointly led by experienced IP litigator Gilbert Leong and Catherine Lee, who is noted for her advisory work on trade marks and portfolio management and exploitation. Other key contacts in the group include senior consultant Ai Ming Lee, has experience in handling patent infringement cases, Maw Jiun Foo and Desmond Chew.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The team is super responsive and listens to the issues, deeply looking at clients' concerns without displaying.’

  • 'A very approachable team.'

Work highlights

  • Acting for Towa Corporation in a patent infringement suit and succeeded on both the claim for infringement and defence against the counterclaim for revocation.
  • Acting for Lundbeck in a patent infringement dispute against Zyfas to restrain the act for which Zyfas’ registration of the product is sought.
  • Acting for Swinkels Family Brewers in its opposition to the Singapore trade mark application for “BAVARIAN BEER”.

Lawyers

Leading individuals

Ai Ming Lee

Ai Ming Lee

Dentons

Lee Ai Ming is a Band 1 Leading Lawyer in Chambers Asia Pacific for Intellectual Property. She was appointed as a Justice of the Peace by the President of the Republic of Singapore in 2016. Prior to her present appointment as Senior Consultant, she was Deputy Managing Partner and Head of the Intellectual Property & Technology Group at Rodyk & Davidson. She has practised law for more than 30 years in the areas of commercial litigation, real estate, financial instruments and now specialises in intellectual property and cybersecurity. She regularly represents both foreign multinational corporations and local SMEs in patent disputes involving cutting edge technologies in the fields of semiconductors, telecommunications, pharmaceutical preparations and biotechnology. In the field of semiconductors, she has represented one of the world’s largest semiconductor chip manufacturers in several patent infringement actions against leading Taiwanese semiconductor foundries, involving microprocessor and chipset patents. She also acted for a leading manufacturer of mobile phones in patent infringement disputes with Qualcomm Inc involving patents covering wireless technologies in the telecommunications field, telecommunication standards and chipsets for mobile phones. Ai Ming led a team that successfully defended a local SME, Aurigin Pte Ltd, against a patent infringement action brought on by ASM Assembly Automation Ltd, the world's largest assembly and packaging equipment supplier for the semiconductor and LED industries in what is believed to be the first successful revocation action in the High Court of Singapore and later affirmed by the Court of Appeal. In the pharmaceutical and biotechnology space, Ai Ming is well versed with the patent linkage system introduced in Singapore as a result of the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, having represented pharmaceutical multinationals in patent infringement actions involving the freedom to operate, Bolar exemptions and compulsory licensing. Besides patents, she also acts for companies involved in disputes over Trade Secrets and breach of Confidential Information. She led the team that successfully defended local SME, JCS Automation Pte Ltd against a Breach of Confidence and Copyright action mounted by the Malaysian Invenpro Group in which his honourable Justice George Wei delivered a 126 page judgement. Ai Ming has also acted in trademark infringement and Passing-Off actions. Significant cases handled include defending ICI against Nippon Paints in a trademark infringement and passing off action over the use of the descriptor "3-in-1". She has also handled trademark disputes over proprietorship, non-use and well known mark status. Ai Ming is active in various forums that help to promote innovation among SMES in Singapore. She helps SME clients build IP portfolios, enforce their IP rights in Singapore as well as in the ASEAN region. She is also a member of the Copyright Tribunal.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Catherine Lee, Gilbert Leong

Other key lawyers

Ai Ming Lee, Maw Jiun Foo, Desmond Chew