AABANY Hosts Meeting with Singapore IP Delegation and Attends Roundtable on IP Disputes

In February and March 2025, AABANY had the honor of participating in two events with a delegation of IP officials from Singapore.

Meeting with the Singapore IP Delegation (February 26, 2025):
On February 26, 2025, AABANY’s Intellectual Property Committee hosted a meeting with a distinguished IP delegation from Singapore at Wilson Sonsini in New York. This exclusive event brought together key leaders in the IP community from both the United States and Singapore, fostering discussions about collaboration and innovation in global IP practices.

The delegation from Singapore included some of the foremost leaders in the fields of IP law, arbitration, and mediation, who shared invaluable insights into Singaporean law and practices in these areas. Attendees had the unique opportunity to engage with:

  • Dr. Stanley Lai, Senior Counsel, Chairperson of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS)
  • Chuan Wee Meng, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC)
  • Adriana Uson, Director & Head (Americas), Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC)
  • Sandy Widjaja, Senior Legal Counsel, IPOS

These experts provided an in-depth view of Singapore’s robust legal infrastructure and its innovative approaches to resolving IP disputes through mediation and arbitration. The conversations focused on opportunities for cross-border collaboration, especially in areas where U.S. and Singaporean practices align in the IP field.

Jeffrey Mok (AABANY’s VP of Programs & Operations, and Co-Chair of the IP Committee) delivered a presentation on AABANY’s mission, history, and role as a nationally recognized leader among diverse bar associations.  Ben Hsing, AABANY’s President-Elect and Ada Wang, Co-Chair of the IP Committee, also guided discussions and ensured meaningful dialogue between the two communities.

Roundtable Discussion: Trends in the Resolution of IP and Technology Disputes (March 4, 2025):
On March 4, 2025, AABANY was honored to be invited to, and participate in, a Roundtable Discussion on the Resolution of IP and Technology Disputes, organized by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP at their office in Manhattan West. The event provided a platform for legal professionals from across the globe to discuss key trends and challenges in IP dispute resolution, especially within the context of technology and innovation.

The roundtable was moderated by Dr. Stanley Lai, Senior Counsel and Chairman of IPOS, and featured thought-provoking discussions on critical issues such as:

  • Litigation vs. Arbitration: The advantages and challenges of resolving IP disputes through litigation versus arbitration.
  • Mediation: The increasing role of mediation as a method of resolving disputes without resorting to litigation or arbitration.
  • Arbitration Considerations: Topics like the seat of arbitration, governing law, selection of arbitral institutions, and arbitrator choice.
  • Practical Challenges: Issues related to discovery, expert witnesses, and other pain points commonly faced during IP and technology disputes.

Greg Pan and Ada Wang, Co-Chairs of AABANY’s Intellectual Property Committee contributed to the roundtable discussion alongside other prominent figures from the IP and dispute resolution sectors. Among the attendees were:

  • David Kappos, Partner at Cravath
  • Chuan Wee Meng, CEO, Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC)
  • Adriana Uson, Director & Head (Americas), Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC)
  • Sharon Goswami, Partner at Cravath
  • Keith Hummel, Partner at Cravath
  • Mia Levi, Vice President, CPR Dispute Resolution
  • Sandy Widjaja, Senior Legal Counsel, IPOS

The IP Committee looks forward to continuing to foster discussions about intellectual property at a global level. 

To learn more about the IP Committee and how you can get more involved, go here.

AABANY Student Outreach & IP Committees Host Panel: “What Do IP Lawyers Do?”

On May 31, 2023, AABANY’s Student Outreach and IP Committee hosted a virtual panel titled “What Do IP Lawyers Do?” The event, held on Zoom from 6:30-7:30 pm EDT, featured insightful discussions and valuable insights from industry professionals. Opening remarks were delivered by William Lee, SOC Vice Chair, setting the stage for an engaging conversation.

The panel was moderated by Chenyun Ma (Columbia Law School) and Kristen Liu (Seton Hall Law School), coordinated by Monica Shin (Fordham Law School), and featured the following distinguished panelists:

  • Gloria Tsui-Yip: Partner at Gottlieb, Rackman & Reisman
  • Vivian Cheng: Principal at Fish & Richardson
  • Keala Chan: IP Counsel at Population Council

Throughout the event, a variety of topics were explored, shedding light on the nature of IP law and the responsibilities faced by IP lawyers. The panelists delved into questions such as the key tasks performed by IP lawyers, the different types of IP, and the significance of a science background in the field. They also shared their experiences handling complex cases, debunked common misconceptions about IP law, and discussed the unique aspects of practicing IP law across industries.

In addition to addressing the core aspects of the profession, the panelists also delved into career-related inquiries. They provided valuable insights into the skills and qualities necessary for success as an IP lawyer, recommended relevant courses for aspiring professionals, and examined the nuances between working at a law firm and an in-house legal department.

The virtual panel concluded with a lively Q&A session, allowing attendees to further engage with the panelists and gain additional insights. The event proved to be an invaluable opportunity for students to gain a deeper understanding of the field and gather practical advice for their future endeavors.

AABANY extends its gratitude to the Student Outreach Committee, IP Committee, and SOC Vice Chair William Lee (Associate, Mayer Brown LLP) for their efforts in organizing this enlightening event.

To learn more about the IP Committee, click here. To learn more about the SOC,  click here. To learn more about upcoming AABANY events, click here.

AABANY Holds its 2023 Annual Meeting of Members at Paul, Weiss on February 15

On Wednesday, February 15, 2023, AABANY held its Annual Meeting of Members at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison.  President William Ng called the meeting to order and established quorum. The main order of business was conducting the election for the 2024 Board of Directors and Officers.

President William Ng presented the Annual Report of the Board and thanked the Board members for their service during the past year. Treasurer Evelyn Gong and Membership Director Christopher Bae presented the reports for their respective offices.

Executive Director Yang Chen presented highlights of Committee activities. Following the reports, awards were presented to honor AABANY leaders and committees for their dedication to AABANY over the past year. While these presentations were occurring, Immediate Past President Terrence Shen and President-Elect Karen Kim tallied the votes.

The following awards were presented:

Committee of the Year: Intellectual Property Committee

The Intellectual Property Committee received the Committee of the Year Award for its outstanding contributions in promoting AABANY’s membership engagement and creating a vibrant community for IP law practitioners. The Committee successfully hosted several committee dinners and social events including their first concert event to see the ARKAI Duo.  At the start of 2023, the IP Committee started a new program called “Dumplings & Discussion,” the inaugural event featuring Andy Yoo, SVP & General Counsel of Savvas Learning Company.  The discussion covered topics including Andy’s role as general counsel, diversity, equity and inclusion, and his career path and trajectory.

Program of the Year: Inter-Bar Association Summer Family Day 

The Program of the Year Award was given to Christopher Bae, AABANY’s Membership Director.  On June 4, 2022, AABANY’s Membership Committee hosted an Inter-Bar Association Summer Family Day with the Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York (KALAGNY) and the South Asian Bar Association of New York (SABANY). Over fifty members and their friends and families gathered at the Major R. Owens Health & Wellness Community Center in Brooklyn to participate in spirited sports games and enjoy snacks and refreshments.

Member of the Year: Jennifer H. Wu

The Member of the Year Award was presented to Jennifer H. Wu, for her outstanding leadership inside and outside of AABANY. Within AABANY, she co-chaired the Women’s Committee and helped to put on some excellent events. She was also active in AABANY’s Anti-Asian Violence Task Force, in addition to the pro bono work she had been doing to advise and assist survivors and victims of anti-Asian violence in New York over the past couple of years. On top of all that, she co-founded her own patent litigation law firm Groombridge Wu Baughman & Stone

Congratulations to all the honorees for the recognition of their achievements and hard work during the 2023 fiscal year.

After the presentation of awards, William announced the election results. The following officers were elected and will begin their term one-year terms on April 1, 2023:

Joseph Eng, Jr.

President-Elect

Beatrice Leong

Vice President, Programs and Operations

Jeffrey Mok

Vice President, Programs and Operations

Jasmine Ball

Treasurer

Shirley Bi

Secretary

Christopher Bae

Membership Director

Varuna Bhattacharyya

Development Director

The following candidates were elected as Directors to serve two-year terms starting on April 1, 2023:

Katherine Loanzon
P. Bartlett Wu

After the election results were announced, attendees stayed to network at Paul, Weiss.  We thank everyone who came and participated in the Annual Meeting and the election. Congratulations to all the Officers and Directors who were elected to the Board to serve in the 2024 fiscal year that begins on April 1, 2023. 

Special thank you to AABANY Director Larry Wee and the Paul, Weiss team for hosting AABANY’s 2023 Annual Meeting.