Asia IP

Eversheds Sutherland and Harry Elias Partnership (HEP) have merged to become Eversheds Harry Elias in Singapore and Brunei, with effect from June 1, 2017. The two firms have enjoyed a strong working relationship in recent years and this has provided a foundation on which to develop a new, vibrant business.

Following approval from the Singapore Ministry of Law, the merged firm will operate as Eversheds Harry Elias (EHE). EHE has 29 partners, over 80 fee-earners and more than 170 people in offices in Singapore and Brunei.

Brian Law, pictured, is head of the firm’s Asia IP practice; he splits his time between Singapore and Brunei offices, and also maintains an extensive Malaysia practice via the firm’s relationship with Koh Dipendra Jeremiah Law (KDJLaw), co-led by by Suaran Singh Sidhu. Law and Sidhu have secured several landmark decisions involving trademark dispute cases in Malaysia and is responsible for the success of several high profile and complex IP raids across the region.

Registered foreign lawyer and IP counsel Esther Wee also advises from the firm’s Singapore office.

Eversheds Sutherland now has robust IP capability in the US, the UK, across most of continental Europe, the Middle East, South Africa, and Asia.

EHE is a full-service international firm providing clients with access to the resources of the global Eversheds Sutherland network, together with the local expertise and legal capability of one of Singapore’s largest domestic firms.

“Growth in Asia is a key part of Eversheds Sutherland’s global strategy, and this merger creates opportunities to target work in Southeast Asia, particularly India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam,” said Stephen Kitts, Eversheds Sutherland managing partner, Asia. “We have developed a robust, positive relationship with HEP over many years and the merger has very clear partner endorsement from both firms.”

Philip Fong, managing partner at Eversheds Harry Elias, said: “EHE will be a significant new competitor in the Singapore legal landscape. As a regional hub, Singapore has long been a major trading base and an active centre for capital markets, M&A and dispute resolution work. Following the merger, EHE has an even stronger platform from which to serve our regional and international clients.”

Pete Pappas, global co-leader of Eversheds Sutherland IP along with Simon Crossley added: “The addition of Brian Law and Harry Elias adds a key component to the Eversheds Sutherland global IP capability that now includes Asia in addition to the US, UK, most of continental Europe, the Middle East, and South Africa.”

Fong noted that Eversheds Harry Elias will be one of the ten largest law firms in Singapore and is the only international law firm to have an associated office in Brunei. “Through this merger, Eversheds Harry Elias will become a significant player in the ASEAN region.”