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The last quarter has seen a flurry of activities both in Hong Kong and overseas to promote our practices of intellectual property (IP) and alternate dispute resolution (ADR) with Hong Kong as the international hub in Asia
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During the 2-Day Mediation Conference (jointly organized by the Department of Justice and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council) held in Hong Kong on 20th and 21st March 2014, Senior Partner C. K. Kwong spoke at the breakout session of the Conference entitled “Advantages of using mediation to resolve complex financial and commercial disputes” with some distinguished panelists (including the Honorable Madam Justice Bergin, Chief Judge in Equity, Supreme Court of NSW, Australia, Ms. Teresa Cheng, Chairman of the HKIAC and Mr. Karl Mackie, CE of CEDR, UK). CK’s presentation was dedicated to how mediation could be utilized to resolve IP disputes which was well received by over 300 participants [see PowerPoint]. Our consultant, Sylvia Siu, also took part as a Moderator of the breakout session on “Mediation in the Business sector: Commercial/Insurance/Finance”. Following case studies, the audience was offered practical tips in mediation.

The 33rd Plenary Session of the Hong Kong/Japan Business Cooperation Committees (HK-JBCC) Meeting was held in Tokyo on 25th March 2014 when C. K. was invited as a special advisor to accompany the Hong Kong team. The delegation also met with the Governor of Tokyo. C.K. advocated Hong Kong’s role as an IP trading hub and ADR hub as well as the use of a Hong Kong company as special purpose vehicle by Japanese companies for their business ventures and licensing activities in Asia. The JBCC is a high level business to business forum between business leaders of the two territories.

In April, the CEO of the International Trademark Association (INTA) visited our office to meet with C. K. Kwong (in his capacity as President of the Asian Patent Attorneys Association “APAA”) to discuss matters of mutual interests towards the common goal of furthering the objects of the two associations. [see photo] The meeting took place as a pre-meeting in anticipation of the mega meeting to be held by INTA in Hong Kong in the following month (being the first INTA Conference held in Asia).

In May, C. K. Kwong attended the INTA Annual Meeting in Hong Kong from 10th to 14th May upon the invitation of INTA and met with their President, Mei-lan Stark. The Conference was attended by over 8,500 IP owners and IP practitioners from 140 countries. At the Hong Kong Reception hosted by HKTDC, CK was interviewed by the camera crew of HKTDC when he advocated Hong Kong’s role as an international premium IP hub at the heart of Asia and the use of Hong Kong limited company for holding and managing IP rights [the event was covered extensively in the CHINA DAILY ASIA WEEKLY MAY 23 - 29, 2014 issue].

[see the link: http://epaper.chinadailyasia.com/asia-weekly/issue-2014-05-23.html?id=1]

SFKS was honoured to host the annual ILN (International Lawyers Network) IP (Intellectual Property) Luncheon at the Hong Kong Jockey Club on 13th May 2014 when fellow ILN IP colleagues from the US (Howard & Howard, Detroit and Cooper Dunham, New York), Australia (Gadens), Thailand (Dej-Udom & Associates Ltd.), Oslo (Bryn Aarflot), London (Fladgate LLP), Warsaw (Kochanski Zieba Rapala and Partners) and Canada (Fogler Rubinoff LLP) attended. It was a cozy luncheon when everyone shared their professional experiences in a cozy atmosphere over a delightful meal. [see photos]

A dinner reception was hosted by our firm at the Hong Kong Bankers Club on 13th May when over 50 guests comprising important officers of the APAA and close associates of the firm were invited. In addition to enjoying a wonderful evening, each guest was given a USB (housed in blue China porcelain casing) containing information on our firm and on (1) what makes Hong Kong it is today, (2) Hong Kong as an ADR/IP hub, (3) Hong Kong IP system and (4) the advantages of using a Hong Kong company as special purpose vehicle to complement their pleasant memories of Hong Kong. The members of the SFKS IP team demonstrated their hospitality to our guests and their teamwork in organizing this successful event [see photos].

On the invitation of the Licensing Executive Society International (LESI), C. K. attended their International Conference in Moscow from 18th to 21st May 2014. The theme of the conference was “Make the world better through licensing”. The firm’s associates in Moscow were visited to reassure our relationship in addition to development of new contacts with members of the LESI.

On 29th May 2014, CK spoke in Beijing at the 中國香港服務貿易洽談會主題論壇 on “企業 [走出去] 常見的知識產權爭議和策略” when over 300 participants from the industry and profession in China attended with enthusiasm [see PowerPoint].
 


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Mediation Conference 2014

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Beijing Programme (29-5-2014)

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