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Baker McKenzie names New Global India Practice Chair

November 13, 2024

Baker McKenzie has appointed Mini Menon vandePol as the new Chair of the Firm’s Global India Practice. She succeeds Singapore-based principal Ashok Lalwani, who served in the role for 12 years, and will continue to serve as a member of the India practice’s Steering Committee. Ashok will be relocating to the Firm’s Dallas office next year, where he will be focused on supporting the Firm’s clients with their US-India opportunities and building out the US-India practice. Born in India and raised in Australia, Mini joined Baker McKenzie’s Melbourne office in 1998 and relocated to the Hong Kong office in 2014. She is the Asia Pacific Head of Baker McKenzie’s Investigations, Compliance & Ethics Group, and has served on the Firm’s India Practice Group Steering Committee since 2018. Mini has played a key role in driving the India strategy, advising both multinational and Indian clients on their inbound and outbound expansion activities. As Chair, she will continue to drive this work, while spearheading the Firm’s efforts to prepare for the liberalization of India’s legal market. Mini is widely recognized as a leading investigations lawyer with a career that spans 30 years. “I am very excited to take on the leadership of our Global India Practice and feel privileged to contribute to India’s dynamic and exciting economic vision. India’s fast-growing economy, expansive and young workforce, aspirational consumer base, and increasing relevance in global supply chains have accelerated India’s economic development and foreign direct investment. Bringing global best practices and experience will be integral in supporting our international and domestic clients to leverage these trends and grow their businesses,” Mini commented. Peerapan Tungsuwan, Global Executive Committee Member...

The Greater China IP Updates – September 2024

November 2, 2024

AMD Unveils Locations for Research and Development Centers in Taiwan In a vote of confidence in Taiwan’s role as a tech ecosystem, Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) has chosen to locate its new R & D centers in Tainan and Kaohsiung. The new facilities are part of a NT 8.64 billion dollar project to advance its development of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and silicon photonics. AMD is the latest in a series of global semiconductor companies seeking to build their R & D centers in Taiwan under the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ A+ global R & D and innovation partnership program. The US chip company was granted a subsidy of NT 3.31 billion dollars in July, which accounts for about 38% of the company’s costs for this investment. AMD’s decision came as Taiwan has formed an extensive supply chain to provide components for the world’s AI devices, from AI chips made by TSMC to AI servers assembled by Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. and Wiwynn Corp., amongst others. AI chip giant Nvidia Corp. has set up its first AI R & D center in Taipei’s Neihu District and is scouting sites for a second, likely in Kaohsiung. Semiconductor equipment makers ASML Holding NV, Lam Research Corp. and Applied Materials Inc. previously also received grants to set up local R & D sites through the same program. Another developing trend is that, in order to expand the local tech talent, Kaohsiung has been working with the nation’s prestigious schools. At the beginning of this year, National Tsing Hua University signed a memorandum of understanding with the Kaohsiung...

Confirming Solidarity for a Green World – Acts impact louder than words at COP29

October 30, 2024

Valuing life with a climate change countering motto ‘save our planet’ ambitions remain on top priority for the world, enabling action at COP29 hosted by Baku for 2024. COP29 President-Designate letter describes the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference in Azerbaijan as “a litmus test” for the Paris Agreement, global climate action, and cooperation, with a new collective quantified goal (NCQG) on climate finance as its “centerpiece” with an active engagement of global, regional, national, and subnational groups by adopting an advanced “holistic view” of sustainable development with an exclusive process that delivers inclusive outcomes. At COP29, the participating countries will be further reporting on their respective actions post COP28 and reaffirming their commitments towards climate change objectives while exploring opportunities. Diversified Partnering Options Vietnam signed the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) on 14 December 2022 with G7 countries and as it maintains momentum, there are challenges pertaining to mobilization stream when it gets elevated considering economic instability posed to due fluctuating global economic and security dynamics. On one hand, Vietnam focusses on integrating the local industry as a trend towards its Industrial Revolution 4.0, while modernising and digitalising the power systems and networks by embracing smart technologies. In its green journey the country acknowledges and emphasize on the importance of integrating renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydropower when in parallel it promotes its energy security with other sources of electricity generation. On the other hand, financing remains a riddle that is yet to be solved. Although, international commitments, green funds, bonds, and credit sources are in abundance to ensure a sustainable energy transition, but bankability consistently...

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...

Who’s Afraid of AI? – Tech Tales with Paul Haswell

August 9, 2024

Join Paul Haswell, a partner at K&L Gates in Hong Kong, as he explores the transformative impact of technology on the legal profession in his new column for IHC Magazine. Paul offers insights into the challenges and opportunities for in-house and external counsel, providing thought-provoking perspectives on the future of law in the digital age. In his first article, he asks "Who's afraid of AI?"

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