The Patent 1000 focuses exclusively on patent practice and has firmly established itself as the definitive 'go-to' resource for those seeking world-class legal patent expertise.
Highly recommended - Individuals: prosecution
As the most prolific Malaysian agency, Henry Goh handles a huge volume of applications while maintaining top quality. With more than 45 years on the IP scene – and a close-knit team of 24 long-serving professionals to boot – the outfit remains a trailblazer when it comes to patent drafting, prosecution and contentious advice. Blending rich linguistic, technical and commercial capabilities, it achieves excellent results not only in Malaysia, but also in Singapore and Brunei. Internationally experienced Dave A Wyatt has worked in intellectual property for more than 25 years and has built a reputation as one of the country’s most proficient IP strategists. Aside from protecting his patrons’ IP rights, he is also a frequent expert witness at the Malaysia High Court. Cosmopolitan head of patent practice Yen Yen Oon has a sharp instinct for identifying patentable inventions and is in high demand for her astute advice on non-contentious matters and contentious proceedings. She leverages her microbiology background to draft and prosecute inventions, especially in the field of biotechnology and chemistry. Electronic and electrical engineering maven Jason Cheah specialises in drafting and prosecuting internet-related inventions, not only in Malaysia but also in Japan, the United States and Australia. Overseeing the domestic patent prosecution practice, he ensures that the work hits the highest standard. With a keen business sense and mechanical engineering background, Alvin Boey seamlessly drafts complex inventions across diverse fields, such as medical and electromechanical devices, water treatment and agricultural machinery. Newly appointed as a patent department manager, he is now the pillar of the agency’s overseas prosecution practice. Debuting in the IAM Patent 1000 this year, Pei Chun Yan is computational physics and electronics expert with more than 15 years’ experience. Frequently sought out by multinationals and universities, she provides patent services in Malaysia and Brunei.
Yen Yen Oon is head of patent and industrial design at Henry Goh Malaysia. She joined the firm in 2002 and qualified as a registered Malaysian patent, industrial design and trademark agent in 2004. She was appointed business development manager in 2008 and since 2013 has also served as patent manager – overseeing daily operations for patents, including staff training and education on Malaysian and foreign patent law and practice. She was appointed as head of patent and industrial design in January 2021.
Ms Oon holds a LLM (with merit) from the University of London and an honours degree in microbiology from University Malaya.
She specialises in the fields of biotechnology and chemistry patenting. Her advice on identification of patentable inventions, drafting of patent specifications and prosecution of Malaysian and overseas patent applications is much sought-after by clients and colleagues alike. Her opinions on patentability, infringement, freedom-to-operate and validity have played a key role in clients’ decision-making process for the launch of their products.
She has conducted workshops and regularly speaks at seminars on the subject of Malaysian and foreign patent practice and prosecution, interpretation of patent claim scope, patent searching and plant variety protection.
Over the course of her patent career, she has gained considerable depth of experience in patent drafting, prosecution and contentious matters in a wide variety of technical fields, both locally and internationally.
Ms Oon is a recommended professional for patent prosecution in IAM Patent 1000 – The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners. In addition to patent prosecution, she has been recognised as a Malaysian IP Star by Managing Intellectual Property’s IP Handbook for her expertise in the areas of patent strategy and counselling, opinion, licensing, protection and litigation, and opposition.
She is a member of the Malaysian Intellectual Property Association and has served as a co-opted member of its Executive Committee. She is also a member of the Asian Patent Attorneys Association and the International Trademark Association.
With 45 years of legacy and excellence since 1977, Henry Goh & Co Sdn Bhd is often recognised as a pioneer, trailblazer and market leader in IP protection in Malaysia. Their expertise spans the complete range of IP solutions with regard to patent, trademark, industrial design and copyright matters in various jurisdictions, especially in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.
The firm’s stable team of IP professionals with diverse backgrounds in law, engineering, biotechnology, information technology, sciences and other fields have successfully steered a wide spectrum of clients, from small-medium businesses to multinationals, through various complex IP issues.
The potent combination of multilingual, legal, technical and business experience coupled with in-depth knowledge of relevant local, regional and international laws governing IP practice provide the Henry Goh team with a unique platform in Malaysia to advise clients from inception through to registration and towards the commercialisation of IP. Their IP professionals have also received global recognition as IP powerhouses and thought-leaders in their respective areas of speciality.
Henry Goh practises in all main areas of intellectual property but focus especially on patent, trademark and industrial design protection.
Henry Goh’s patent practice is the IP foundation and cornerstone of the firm since its inception more than four decades ago. Although the world’s patent systems were designed for the industrial age, they have evolved and the patenting of high technology inventions have become the norm rather than the exception. Effective drafting, prosecution and exploitation of patents call for a sound aptitude for technology, in-depth knowledge of the applicable law and practice, and excellent communication skills.
The firm is home to the largest and most experienced team of legally and technically qualified patent professionals in Malaysia. Henry Goh’s patent agents have considerable depth of experience in patent drafting, prosecution, and contentious matters, in a wide variety of technical fields, both locally and internationally. Their local knowledge, expertise and resources make the firm the natural choice for patent prosecution in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. They provide honest, sound, accurate and timely advice on identification of patentable inventions, drafting of patent specifications, and prosecution of Malaysian, Singapore, Brunei and overseas patent applications. Their opinions on patentability, infringement, freedom-to-operate and validity have also proved invaluable to local and foreign clients.
With foresight and preparation, Henry Goh put in place early on the relevant operation procedures for their patent department and guidance for clients to embrace the new Patents (Amendment) Act 2022 and the many exciting changes that came into force on 18 March 2022. The firm will once again spearhead the industry in terms of Malaysian patent practice under this new law.
In addition to law and practice, the firm’s patent professionals place great emphasis on keeping abreast of the rapid evolution of technology in their three technology groups: high technology, electrical and electronics; mechanical engineering, manufacturing and products; and chemistry and life sciences. The senior patent agents heading each group are technology specialists in their own right, and, often serve as a reference point for colleagues and clients alike.
At Henry Goh, they uniquely handle industrial design matters under the patent department as all their patent agents are also qualified and registered design agents in Malaysia. Industrial design in this modern era of technology is a unique 21st century alliance between entrepreneurship, creative thinking and innovation. The beauty in a well-designed form can often be the decisive factor for consumers. Henry Goh routinely assists clients in securing industrial design registrations both at home and abroad. Such a practice demands a sound understanding of both international and local laws covering industrial designs. The firm can assist clients with the necessary actions in the event that their registered industrial designs are infringed by third parties.
Henry Goh’s Malaysian office handles directly the filing, prosecution, registration and maintenance of Brunei patents, trademarks and industrial design applications before the Brunei Intellectual Property Office (BruIPO). The specialist patent agents heading their Brunei patents and designs practice group are well versed with the legal and practice requirements unique to Brunei law and work closely with BruIPO officers to enable efficient prosecution of Brunei patent and design cases.