Jin Nee Wong

Work Highlights

• Guiding a major distributor in its global acquisition of a large trademark portfolio involving complex chains of ownership and assisting with the recordal process in numerous jurisdictions, ranging from the Americas (from Canada, USA to Latin America) and Europe, to Asia and Africa.

• Assisting a German multinational to reclaim a domain name containing its famous mark which was hijacked by a local entity who registered the domain on behalf of an Iranian.

• Representing a master franchisee of a popular F&B chain in a high-stake dispute with its foreign franchisor; advising it on the handling of regulatory and compliance issues; and engaging with the regulator to manage operational risks and post-termination restrictions.

• Successfully implementing brand protection enforcement outcomes for various Fortune 500 brand owners across diverse industries, including oil & gas, fashion, technology and FMCG by obtaining significant compensation, disclosure of sources of supply, delivery up of counterfeit stock and in certain instances, publication of apology notices in local newspapers and social media platforms by infringers.

• Representing a Japanese multinational in negotiating for a complex global co-existence arrangement with a global conglomerate.

• Rendering decisions on domain name disputes as a panellist of the Asian International Arbitration Center (AIAC) and Asian Domain Name Dispute Resolution Centre (ADNDRC).

Practice Areas

• Trademarks

• Copyright

• Confidential Information & Trade Secrets

• Brand Protection & Enforcement

• Monetisation of IPR including Licensing & Franchising

• Trade Practices & Consumer Protection Law

• Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT)

• Competition

• Regulatory Compliance

• Environmental, Social & Corporate Governance (ESG)

• Public Policy, Government Relations & Engagements

• IP Counselling & Strategy

Career

Jin Nee is one of the founding partners of the Firm. With 30 years of experience practising exclusively in the IP field, Jin Nee is passionate about IP. Her practice predominantly focuses on non-contentious, commercial and transactional matters. She advises clients on various aspects of IP portfolio development and assists them in navigating the different forms of IPRs to achieve optimal protection and to develop holistic strategies in managing, leveraging and capitalising on the commercial value of their IP portfolios while adopting a pragmatic approach.

Jin Nee also regularly advises clients on franchise matters and guides them on the applicability of the franchise regime to their business models while structuring agreements to suit their specific needs. She has assisted various local clients with the regional and international expansion of their franchise operations by customising master franchise and area development agreements to comply with local laws, working closely with local counsel.

Jin Nee has guided clients on cross-border and transactional collaborations throughout the world and has assisted many start-ups, SMEs and PLCs in identifying and protecting their key IP assets including advising on filing strategies, and building and managing their IP portfolios. Jin Nee has also successfully implemented brand protection and enforcement programs for various Fortune 500 corporations in diverse industries.

Recognitions:

Jin Nee has consistently been named a leading individual in various IP publications including Who’s Who Legal (Trademark and Franchise Practices), Practical Law Company, Legal 500, Chambers and Partners, World Trademark Review 1000 and many others. Jin Nee has also been recognised as Malaysia’s Top 100 Lawyers for multiple years, most recently in 2024, based on research conducted by Asia Business Law Journal.

Public Engagements:

Jin Nee is regularly engaged by official organisations and industry bodies to provide her feedback and views on issues impacting the IP landscape as well as on the development of franchise laws in Malaysia. She has also been invited by MFA, MyIPO and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) to speak, conduct workshops and provide training on various IP subject matters. Jin Nee was one of the Project Team members for INTA’s Asia Conference In 2019 and the session organizer and moderator for one of the sessions entitled “ASEAN Community: The Economic and Social Opportunities in the Region and Beyond”.

Professional Memberships

• Member, Copyright Tribunal (2020-2023)

• Member, Board of Examiner for Patent Agents (2020-2023)

• Domain Name Dispute Panellist, Asian International Arbitration Center (AIAC)

• Certified Mediator, Malaysian Mediation Centre (MMC)

• Member of the IP Committee, Malaysian Bar Council

• Member of the Enforcement Committee, International Trademark Association (INTA)

• Past President, Licensing Executives Society Malaysia (2000)

• Past Chair of the IP Committee, Malaysian Bar Council

• Former Head of the IPR Committee, EU-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce (now known as EUROCHAM)

• Former EXCO Member, Malaysian Franchise Association (MFA)

• Former Member of the Franchise Advisory Board under the Franchise Act 1998 (2007/2009)

Publications

Jin Nee is a regular contributor of the Franchise Practice Guide published by Lexology Getting the Deal Through. She is also a past contributor for the Malaysia chapter of INTA's International Opposition Guide.