Alvin Lim
Special counsel | Singapore
Secretary Claudine Tan
Operating as Withers KhattarWong LLP in Singapore.
Track record
TMRG Pte Ltd and Luke's Tavern Holdings Pte Ltd
Acted for TMRG Pte Ltd and Luke's Tavern Holdings Pte Ltd as lead counsel against Luke's Seafood LLC and its Singapore franchisee in a trademark infringement and passing off trial in the Singapore High Court. Clients operated a fine dining establishment called "LUKE'S" and had to take action against the American F&B giant Luke's Seafood LLC who started a "Luke's Lobster" franchise in Singapore to avoid confusion and damage to client's brand and goodwill.
Patent linkage dispute
Acted for F.Hoffmann - La Roche AG against Drug Houses of Australia Pte Ltd in a patent linkage dispute relating to a drug used to treat lung cancer and pancreatic cancer. The action resulted in a favourable outcome for client as the Defendant eventually withdrew its product license application.
Bristol Myers Squib
Acted for Bristol-Myers Squib Pharma Co in patent linkage proceedings against Novartis (Singapore) Pte Ltd. This case resulted in a Judgment reported as Novartis (Jiangsu) Pte Ltd v Bristol-Myers Squib Pharma Co [2018] 3 SLR 1194, a high profile decision in relation to whether corrections may be made to the Registrar of Patents in correct errors in the Patents Register that captured the attention of the Singapore Patent Attorney profession.
Nokia Corporation
Member of team advising Nokia Corporation in a complex and multi-jurisdictional patent and licensing dispute in the telecommunications field involving complex issues such as standard essential patents and FRAND licensing. This was a major project involving extensive investigation field work around mobile chipsets and providing validity and infringement opinions in respect of assertable patents in Singapore covering a wide range of technologies.
AstraZeneca
Member of team acting for AstraZeneca in patent linkage proceedings commenced against Sanofi-Aventis Singapore Pte Ltd for infringement of patents covering a cholesterol drug. Although the matter was eventually settled, this case involved the previously novel issues of whether section 12A of the (old) Medicines Act contemplated an independent cause of action from a patent infringement action under the Patents Act (reported at Astra Zeneca AB (SE) v Sanofi-Aventis Singapore Pte Ltd [2012] SGHC 16), and the extent to which the Plaintiff must provide further and better particulars of the Defendant's alleged infringement (reported as Astra Zeneca AB (SE) v Sanofi-Aventis Singapore [2013] SGHCR 7).
IP audit project
One of the team leaders in team appointed by a global pulp and paper manufacturing giant to carry out a major IP audit project for tax restructuring purposes. This was a two year project requiring team leaders to travel to the client's various international offices, manufacturing plants, plantations, power plants and various business units to interview the client's business leaders, engineers, R&D personnel and other employees for the purpose of the IP audit and recommending follow up action required.
Global travel technology company
Member of team structuring and executing a global trade secret audit and protection program for a global travel technology company across its various international offices. This project included reviewing trade secrets laws across multiple jurisdictions including UK, USA, Australia, China, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, India, France, Germany, Russia, Spain, and Brazil.
Founder
Acted for the founder of the local soya bean dessert brand "Lao Ban Dou Hua" in trademark infringement and passing off proceedings filed in the Singapore High Court which resulted in a positive settlement for client.
Talks
Moderator and speaker at "Valuation of Technology Companies" presented on 19 May 2021, organized by the Singapore Academy of Law
Speaker at "NSW Going Global Program - Commercial Law and IP Legal Issues Relating to Market Entry and Global expansion", presented on 1 Apr 2021.