Edward is a partner (foreign legal consultant) in DLA Piper's intellectual Property & technology team, based in our Hong Kong office.
WHAT ARE YOUR KEY AREAS OF PRACTICE?
I advise on the full range of intellectual property (IP) issues, including the ownership, maintenance, protection and exploitation of IP rights, clearance work and advice and dispute resolution.
WHAT INSPIRED YOUR MOVE FROM THE UK TO HONG KONG?
There were three things that inspired my move to Hong Kong. The first is that, since I qualified as a lawyer in 1999, I have witnessed how IP has become an ever more international discipline. While I have gained a huge amount of experience in coordinating and executing work across the world, I also wanted to experience that international work first-hand by practising in another jurisdiction. Second, ever since I qualified, I have seen the incredible rise of the Chinese economy and the crucial importance of China to all IP owners – advising clients on IP issues in China is IP at the sharp end and I wanted to be part of that. Third, very simply, I was offered the chance to move out and it was too good an opportunity to turn down!
WHAT ARE THE MOST NOTABLE CASES/MATTERS YOU HAVE WORKED ON SINCE ARRIVING IN HONG KONG?
Relocating to the Asia Pacific region has allowed me to work on a variety of multijurisdictional matters, which has been great! Interesting matters that come to mind include:
- Advising Avon on a range of IP issues, ranging from brand clearance to anticounterfeiting work.
- Working for HSBC on a range of IP issues in Hong Kong and China. Recently, we were successful in obtaining well-known trademark status for the HSBC Chinese language mark, which was a real highlight!
- Working for Vodafone on trademarkrelated matters in China – an interesting and challenging client with great plans for growth in China.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE THING TO DO OUTSIDE OF WORK?
Not many people outside of Hong Kong know that around 80% of Hong Kong is national park so I like to get out and explore when I have time. Within an hour's drive, it's possible to be in entirely unspoiled wilderness, which certainly makes a change from the hectic pace of life in central Hong Kong! Further afield, my biggest interest is skiing – I try to go at least once a year and am looking forward to skiing in Japan this winter.
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