Timothy Siaw

Intellectual Property
Timothy has a distinguished record of filing and prosecuting thousands of patent applications across diverse industries, with a particular focus on pharmaceuticals and life sciences since 1992. He had litigated Standard Essential Patent(s) and advised pharmaceutical patent owners on the issuance of compulsory government use licences of their patents. Timothy was a past lecturer for the Malaysian Patent Agent Examination Board and his areas of practice include:

Patent Litigation & Strategy

• Acting as lead counsel in patent infringement/invalidation and declaration of non-infringement court proceedings up to the appellate courts.
• Rendering freedom-to-operate and infringement opinions.
• Developing non-infringement or invalidity positions and legal challenges.
• Conducting patentability searches, drafting and filing patent applications for universities and research centres.

Trademark & Brand Protection

• Managing global trademark portfolios for Fortune 500 companies spanning 120+ jurisdictions.
• Implementing cohesive IP strategies to streamline operations, reduce costs and mitigate risks in global markets.
• Offering strategic advice on brand development, licensing, and enforcement.
• Litigating trademark infringement, trademark cancellation and passing-off cases.
• Tackling online/offline infringement and combatting counterfeiting through coordinated actions, including raids and customs interventions.

Copyright & Industrial Design

• Enforcing copyright in design drawings up to Malaysia’s Federal Court.
• Advising on the interplay of copyright and other IP protection, particularly in technology, gaming, media, and entertainment.
• Advising on industrial designs and copyright protection and securing international registrations via the Hague Agreement.

Trade Secrets & Breach of Confidence

• Drafting confidentiality agreements and representing clients in misappropriation and breach of confidence cases.
• Assisting businesses safeguard their proprietary information.

Corporate IP & Due Diligence

• Collaborating with R&D teams to align IP strategies with business goals.
• Advising on and conducted detailed IP due diligence for M&A transactions, investment opportunities, and licensing deals.
• Structuring and negotiating IP licensing agreements that align with business goals.Advising on and drafting franchise agreements.

Technology, Media, and Telecommunications
Timothy is a trusted advisor on legal and regulatory issues concerning emerging technologies -including artificial intelligence, data privacy, and cybersecurity.

Technology and IT Agreements

• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating IT service agreements, software development and licensing, cloud computing contracts, and technology transfer and outsourcing arrangements.
• Advising, negotiating and drafting managed services agreements including master service agreements (MSAs) and service-level agreements (SLAs) to align with business objectives.
• Advising on intellectual property rights, indemnities, and liability clauses in technology transactions.

Data Protection and Security

• Providing strategic guidance on compliance with Malaysian and global and regional privacy laws and frameworks.
• Assisting organisations in developing privacy policies, data-sharing agreements, and governance frameworks.
• Advising on cybersecurity risk management, incident response protocols, and regulatory reporting obligations.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• Advising on the legal implications of developing, deploying, and using AI systems, including algorithmic accountability and transparency.
• Assisting clients on AI-related intellectual property issues, data ethics, and regulatory compliance.
• Advising on emerging AI laws, regulations and standards, offering proactive advice to mitigate risks.

Healthcare and Life Sciences
With a technical background in biochemistry, Timothy has a deep understanding of the complex regulatory landscape and unique challenges faced by life sciences companies. He provides strategic legal counsel to clients operating in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and healthcare sectors. His areas of practice include:

Clinical Trials
Advising on legal and regulatory aspects of clinical trial design, management, and compliance, ensuring adherence to Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards and ethical guidelines.

Data Exclusivity
Advising on laws and policies related to data protection for innovative drugs, helping clients navigate exclusivity periods to safeguard intellectual property.

Regulatory Compliance
Guiding clients through complex regulations governing the importation, manufacturing, labelling, marketing and sale of foods, drugs, pesticides and medical devices.

Agreements
Advising and drafting of contract manufacturing, technical quality, equipment supply and related agreements.

Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific
Intellectual Property – Litigation Star 2025

Chambers Asia-Pacific
Intellectual Property – Band 3 (2023 –2025)                                                                 
Intellectual Property – Ranked Lawyer (2009 – 2014, 2017 – 2022)

• A client stated that “We have been very pleased with Timothy's service and he has been a very valuable partner for our business.” – Chambers Asia Pacific
• "We are very happy with our continued commercial relationship with Tim. He offers excellent, practical legal advice." - Chambers Asia-Pacific
• A client observes that "he is very strong in the IP field because of his vast experience and deep knowledge." - Chambers Asia-Pacific
• A client describes Timothy Siaw as "very responsive" and "very knowledgeable about trade mark law in Malaysia." - Chambers Asia-Pacific
• He impresses clients, who note that "he's very intelligent, can give you full appraisal of the situation, knows what he's doing and is very good at what he does." - Chambers Asia-Pacific
• “Quite but very effective, Timothy Siaw specializes in patent litigation.’ - Chambers Asia-Pacific
• “Timothy Siaw wins praise for his rich expertise, which allows him to tackle highly complex and unprecedented matters.” - Chambers Asia-Pacific
• “Timothy Siaw has a broad practice with particular emphasis on patents and technology, corporate IP matters, licensing and life sciences. He also handles anti-competition work.” - Chambers Asia-Pacific

The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific
Intellectual Property – Leading Partner (2014 – 2019)
Intellectual Property – Leading Individual (2020 – 2025)
TMT– Recommended Lawyer (2016 – 2022)

• “Timothy is well-known to be very strong in the IP field because of his vast experience and deep knowledge. He is always ready to provide a very thorough and clear explanation to the queries that we have. Recently he has also provided commercialisation advice regarding licensing issues. I appreciate Timothy who provides free consultation when we need professional opinion and advice in licensing of the IP for patents which were filed. The advice provided is detailed and considers the risks and concerns involved for the organization.” - The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific
• ‘Timothy is the go-to expert for intellectual property law – his self-effacing demeanor makes him approachable and high contactable, where he counsels in a frank and honest manner.’ - The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific
• Timothy Siaw and … are ‘very skilled and provide a personalised service’. - The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific

Intellectual Property

• International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys (FICPI) – Country Delegate (Alt), International Patent Matters Committee
• International Trademark Association (INTA) – Right of Publicity, Digital Asia, Parallel Import, Internet, Emerging Issues and many other past Committees
• Asian Patent Attorneys Association – Member
• International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI) - Member

TMT

• International Technology Law Association (ITechLaw) – Cybercrime, Data Protection and Interactive Entertainment Committee
• Licensing Executives Society Malaysia – Member

• Trademark Country Guide – Malaysia (INTA, 2014–2024)
• Atkin’s Court Forms Malaysia – Patents, Trademarks, Copyright, Industrial Designs
• LexisNexis Annotations to Malaysian IP Laws
• Malaysian Precedents & Forms for Patents, Trademark, Copyright and Industrial Designs
• Chambers Global Guide – Life Sciences
• Thomson Reuters Practical Law Global - IP Protection for Pharmaceuticals (Malaysia)
• International Comparative Legal Guide - Cybersecurity 2025
• Asia Video Industry Association Policies in Asia (2015–2025)
• Chambers Life Sciences Guide (2020)
• Chambers Patent Litigation Guide (2018)
• The International Comparative Legal Guide to Fintech (2017 to 2025)
• The International Comparative Legal Guide to Telecoms, Media & Internet Laws & Regulations (2017)
• CASBAA – Pay TV and OTT Policies in Malaysia now known as the Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) – (2015, 2017 and 2020)
• International Trade Mark Association (INTA) Country Guide for Malaysia (2017 to 2020)
• Atkin’s Court Forms Malaysia for Patents, Trade Marks, Copyright and Industrial Designs
• LexisNexis Malaysian Forms and Precedents for Patent, Trade Mark, Copyright and Industrial Designs
• LexisNexis Annotations to the Statutes of Malaysia: Patents Act 1983, Copyright Act 1987 and Industrial Designs Act 1996
• Doing Business in Asia, Malaysia chapter published by Thomson Reuters (2016)
• Patent Litigation: The European Lawyer Reference (2012)