Applications are now being accepted for Scholars to attend the Annual Meeting and Conference in Chicago, 2025.
Click the images below for detailed information on the program, and the application form.
IPBA Scholarship Program Description | IPBA Scholarship Program Application (Word) | IPBA Scholarship Program Application (PDF) |
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The IPBA Scholarship Programme was originally established in honour of the memory of M. S. Lin of Taipei, who was one of the founders and a Past President of the IPBA. Today it operates to bring to the IPBA Annual Meeting and Conference lawyers who would not otherwise be able to attend and who would both contribute to, and benefit from, attending. The Scholarship Programme is also intended to endorse the IPBA’s mission to develop the law and its practice in the Asia-Pacific region. Currently, the scholarships are principally funded by The Japan Fund, established and supported by lawyers in Japan to honour IPBA’s accomplishments since its founding; the Host Committee of the Annual Meeting and Conference in Vancouver, Canada, 2014; and a generous donation by the family of M.S. Lin, a Past President of the IPBA.
During the conference, the Scholars will enjoy the opportunity to meet key members of the legal community of the Asia-Pacific region through a series of unique and prestigious receptions, lectures, workshops, and social events. Each selected Scholar will be responsible to attend the Conference in its entirety, and to provide a report of his/her experience to the IPBA after the conference. The program aims to provide the Scholars with substantial tools and cross-border knowledge to assist them in building their careers in their home country. Following the conference, the Scholars will enjoy three years of IPBA membership and will be invited to join a dedicated social networking forum to remain in contact with each other while developing a network with other past and future Scholars.
Who is eligible to be an IPBA Scholar?
There are two categories of lawyers, as listed below,: eligible to become an IPBA Scholar:
Lawyers from Developing Countries
To be eligible, the applicants must:
Young Lawyers
To be eligible, the applicants must:
Since 1996, the IPBA Scholarship Program has welcomed 200 lawyers from around the world to our Annual Meeting and Conference. Contact the IPBA Secretariat if you have any questions regarding the IPBA Scholarship Program.
Mongolia
Usukhbayar is an associate with Melville Erdenedalai LLP. Prior to joining the firm, she worked as a legal consultant for the Ulaanbaatar office of an international audit company and obtained legal experience with the Frankfurt office of a major international law firm.
Usukhbayar holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the National University of Mongolia and a Master of Laws degree in International Dispute Resolution from Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany.
Myanmar
Khin Yadanar is an associate in Tilleke & Gibbins’ Myanmar office. Her practice primarily focuses on intellectual property, franchising, data privacy and regulatory affairs in Myanmar. As a versatile, cross-practice attorney, she handles intellectual property inquiries and advises on export and import matters, FDA procedures, and legal updates in Myanmar. With her strong interest in legal research and writing, she also regularly produces articles and client alerts to explain and clarify legal developments relating to intellectual property and regulatory affairs in Myanmar.
Khin Yadanar received her LLB from the University of Mandalay and holds an LLM in Intellectual Property and Technology Law from the National University of Singapore. She has practical experience with intellectual property law in both Myanmar and Singapore and is admitted to the Myanmar Bar.
Vietnam
Lan Nguyen is a Senior Associate at PLF Law Firm based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Lan focuses on investment, mergers and acquisitions, finance, corporate restructuring, intellectual property, corporate, contracts, and compliance. By having been in charge of businesses for many years and worked with many foreign investors, Lan understands the core issues of businesses in investment, business, operation, and cooperation.
Lan Nguyen holds law degrees from Ho Chi Minh City University of Law (LL.B), University of Economics and Law – Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (LL.M). She completed the Patent Law and Global Public Health co-organized by the Havard Law School and the WIPO Academy.
Currently, she is listed as the Expert of the South-East Asia IPR SME Helpdesk – European Business Association in Vietnam (EuroCham), the Mentor of Schoolab Vietnam – Schoolab Global Innovation Organization (France). Furthermore, she is a member of the Inter Pacific Bar Association (IPBA) and the Law Association for Asia and the Pacific (LAWASIA).
Singapore
Tian Kai is an Associate Director with Drew & Napier LLC in Singapore. His practice includes both Singapore court litigation and international arbitration, spanning a wide range of areas from construction and engineering, projects and infrastructure, to insolvency, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and other corporate and financial disputes.
Effectively bilingual in business English and Mandarin, Tian Kai has acted for and against Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs), as well as in relation to projects in Taiwan and Hong Kong. He also represents clients from Korea, Japan, India, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas, in respect of cross-border disputes or offshore projects and transactions with little to no connection to Singapore. Tian Kai accepts instructions from foreign law firms to provide Singapore law advice, and to co-counsel on Singapore-seated or Singapore law arbitrations.
Having obtained his law degree from the National University of Singapore, Tian Kai continues to hold teaching positions at the university. In his personal time, Tian Kai provides pro bono criminal representation and serves as a legislative assistant in the Parliament of the Republic of Singapore.
Malaysia
Sarah Yong Li Hsien practices both civil and criminal litigation. She also provides legal advisory on data protection and compliance. In 2022, she founded her own law practice Sarah Yong & Co. in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Sarah was the most junior lawyer to be elected nationally as a Member of the Bar Council of Malaysia in 2021, and has been re-elected yearly since. Sarah is the Chairperson of the Technology, Cyber & Privacy Laws Committee of the Bar Council. She was formerly Co-Chairperson of the Bar Council’s IT, Innovation and Future in Technology Committee, as well as the National Young Lawyers and Pupils Committee, and Co-Deputy Chairperson of the Cyberlaws Committee.
She is regularly invited as a speaker on topics concerning the legal profession and technology, cyberlaws and cybercrimes, digital privacy, data protection laws and governance. Sarah also provides pro bono legal representation through the National Legal Aid Foundation programme.
Sarah holds an LLB from the University of Sheffield, UK, and a Certificate in Legal Practice (CLP) from the Legal Profession Qualifying Board, Malaysia. Sarah speaks English, Malay, Mandarin and Cantonese.
Nepal
Agya Shrestha is an in-house counsel working at an e-commerce company (Daraz.com.np) in Nepal as a Junior Legal Manager. She has been with Daraz for over four years, starting as a Legal Intern. Agya specializes in contractual matters, negotiation, legal compliance, intellectual property, policy drafting and analysis, data protection compliances, foreign investment requirements under Nepalese jurisdiction, and cross-border transactions. Recently, she has been working closely with the stakeholders to discuss and formulate e-commerce-related laws in Nepal. Agya holds a B.A.LLB from Tribhuwan University and is a licensed advocate from the Bar Association in Nepal.
Ukraine
Svitlana specializes in Energy & Natural Resources, Real Estate & Construction, Environment and Sustainable Development practices in one of the TOP law firms in Ukraine - ARZINGER Law Firm. Svitlana provides comprehensive support to clients on various legal issues and provides general day-to-day business support. She is well-versed in the process of obtaining licenses, including assisting clients during state control and inspections. Svitlana is able to navigate complex legal landscapes, advising clients in renewable energy projects.
In addition, she actively participated in the creation of the book "Power Purchase Agreements. Legal Issues, Investment Risks and Investment Protection", a book dedicated to power purchase agreements.
Svitlana has extensive experience in developing sustainable development programs for companies, as well as in preparing reports and passing ESG audits. Her competencies include determining the level of compliance with ESG requirements, developing and improving strategies for each aspect - environmental, social and governance. This includes the development of action plans, implementation of policies, creation of specialized committees within companies and other strategic initiatives.
Fiji
Wen Fi Chen is a solicitor at Fiji’s largest law firm, Munro Leys, where she works in the litigation team. She advises and represents local and international clients in general civil and commercial matters involving, among other things, constitutional redress, banking, construction, insurance, passing off, trademark infringement, breach of confidence, professional negligence, personal injury, ship arrest and commercial arbitration.
Wen is an active member of the Fiji Law Society (FLS) and the Fiji Women Lawyers’ Association (FWLA). She is also part of the Young International Arbitration Group of the London Court of International Arbitration and the Young ICCA of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration.
Wen holds an LLB from the University of the South Pacific. She is a recipient of the 2020/21 Chevening Scholarship and is currently pursuing an LLM in International Dispute Resolution at King’s College London.
She is passionate about mentoring young lawyers and has spoken about her experience as a young solicitor as part of FWLA’s “Inspire Me” mentoring programme.
She is fluent in Cantonese Chinese and Mandarin Chinese.
Mongolia
Naranbulag (Nara) Khukhuu is a Partner at “Anderson and Anderson LLP” boutique international law firm (UB office). Her practice area includes projects, foreign investment, PPP, cross-border corporate and commercial matters and international arbitration for international and domestic clients.
Nara earned an LLM degree from University of Illinois at Chicago, USA and an LLM degree from Queen Mary University of London, England after completing her BA(Hons) and LLB degrees from University of Delhi, India and National University of Mongolia.
Nara is a recipient of Fulbright (USA), Chevening (UK), ICCR (India) scholarships and a grantee of International Bar Association’s Young Lawyer Program (dev. bar).
Nara is an Ambassador of Arbitrator Intelligence for Asia region and sits as a Panel Arbitrator at MIAC.
She is passionate about education of vulnerable children and empowerment of girls/women and enjoys swim, basketball, dance, travel and socializing with people.
Cambodia
Nitikar Nith is an attorney-at-law at Nith & Associate law office duly registered with the Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia and a legal adviser in Tilleke & Gibbins’ Cambodia office.
Nitikar is practicing in the corporate and commercial group and IP department. She assists local and international clients with all aspects of doing business in Cambodia, with a particular focus on market entry, corporate setup, a corporate affairs and licensing, commercial transactions, commercial contracts and litigations, banking and finance, employment, aviation, real estate including the prosecution, enforcement and commercialization of trademarks and patents in Cambodia across a broad range of industries. She has particular experience with anti-counterfeiting strategies and the prosecution and enforcement of trademarks for some of the world’s largest corporations.
Nitikar is an executive committee and a program director of Sala Traju, a Cambodian association promoting legal research, legal education, and the dissemination of legal knowledge in Cambodia. She is also an elected delegate to France Alumni Cambodge, a network of former Cambodian students /alumni who studied in France or in a French-Speaking Field.
Nitikar holds a master’s degree in commercial law and taxation from the University of Paris 8 Vincennes in Saint-Denis, supplementing her undergraduate law degree from the Royal University of Law and Economics in Phnom Penh. She is fluent in Khmer, English, and French.
Russia
Elena Burova (MCIArb, LL.M) is a Senior Associate with the International Arbitration practice group of a law firm Ivanyan & Partners, based in Moscow.
Elena focuses on international disputes resolution and advises clients primarily in disputes between foreign investors and states in investment arbitration. Elena joined Ivanyan & Partners in 2019. Prior to that, she was a Legal Counsel with the Russian Arbitration Center at the Russian Institute of Modern Arbitration (RAC at RIMA), where she, inter alia, administered arbitral proceedings and acted as a tribunal secretary in numerous arbitrations.
Elena holds a LL.M. in Investment Treaty Arbitration from Uppsala University, Sweden (2016), as well as Master’s (2015) and Bachelor’s (2013) degrees with honors from Moscow State University of International Relations under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (MGIMO), specializing in private international law and international commercial arbitration.
Together with fellow female colleagues, Elena co-founded the Russian Women Arbitration (RWA) - professional community of women practicing arbitration in Russia. She is also a Co-Chair of Young IMA, a professional community of young arbitration practitioners under the auspices of the Russian Institute of Modern Arbitration.
Elena has been a member of IPBA since 2019.
Argentina
Nahila A. Cortes is a senior associate at Allende & Brea and a member of the Energy and Natural Resources and Corporate Law Department. She is admitted to practice in New York and in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Nahila advises clients in the energy, mining, and infrastructure sectors, and international investments. She works in matters related to project expansion, including corporate structure, permitting plans, contractual matters, CSR and trust funds, IPO processes before NYSE and ASX, and design of strategic plans for their external affairs. She also conducts domestic and international arbitration cases, under ICC rules and others, and complex commercial litigation cases.
Nahila graduated from Austral University Law School and she obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M) Degree from the American University Washington College of Law in Washington D.C., with specialization in International Business Law and International Arbitration. She also obtained a Superior Diploma in Public Policy from FLACSO Argentina and she is currently pursuing a Master in Corporate Law at the Austral University.
Nahila is an active member of the CEMA Youth Executive Committee (Argentinean Arbitral Center) and conducts research and writes papers on topics related to regulatory frameworks for investments, international arbitration, and natural resources.
She is fluent in English, Spanish, and French.
United Kingdom
Joe-han Ho is a barrister at 39 Essex Chambers (London, U.K.) where he has a busy commercial practice. He accepts instructions in both litigation and arbitration matters, and focuses on contractual, insolvency, construction, civil fraud, and financial services disputes. He is regularly instructed by international law firms to provide English law advice.
Previously, Joe-han practised as a solicitor at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP where he focused on high-value international arbitration and commercial litigation. He also held teaching positions at King’s College London (trusts law) and Durham University (contract law), and he continues regularly to publish articles and book chapters addressing commercial law issues.
Joe-han holds law degrees from Durham University (LL.B.; ranked 1st in year), Harvard Law School (LL.M.), and the University of Oxford (B.C.L.). He is also a Jarman Scholar of the Inner Temple (ranked 1st in year in advocacy). He grew up in the Far East and speaks Mandarin Chinese.
India
Gibran Naushad is a corporate and commercial lawyer based in India presently working as a Senior Associate at The Guild – Advocates and Associate Counsel. Gibran graduated with a degree in Bachelors of Arts and Law (Hons.) from National Law University, Delhi and thereafter worked with top-tier law firms in New Delhi in their corporate and dispute resolution practices.
Through the course of his professional career, Gibran has advised clients on a wide range of complex disputes, including bilateral investment treaty arbitrations, international taxation, insolvency law, energy law and contractual issues relating to cross-border transactions. Gibran also takes a keen interest in academic writing and has multiple national and international publications to his credit. Additionally, Gibran has regularly participated in international conferences and seminars, including exchange programs and has undertaken multiple international courses by reputed experts of the field.
Being qualified to practice law in India, Gibran is presently enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi and is a member of the Delhi High Court Bar Association. He is a fluent speaker of English and Urdu in addition to limited writing and speaking competence in French.
Philippines
Ricky Aringo Sabornay is a Registered Foreign Attorney at Uryu and Itoga Law Firm (“UI”) based in Tokyo, Japan, a Trained Arbitrator of the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc. (“PDRCI”), and an attorney at law admitted to practice in the Philippines. He is a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the Tokyo Bar Association, and the Philippine Institute of Arbitrators.
Before joining UI, he was a Senior Law Associate at one of the major law firms in the Philippines, Castillo Laman Tan Pantaleon & San Jose, where he focused on negotiations, real estate, labor, civil and commercial litigation, commercial arbitration, mergers and acquisitions, finance, and securities and investments.
Mr. Sabornay was part of the inaugural batch of trainees of the ASEAN Law Academy organized by the Center for International Law of the National University of Singapore in 2018 and, in 2019, he was an intern of Shimuta International Law Firm, Kitahama Partners, and Meilin International Law Firm in Fukuoka, and Oh-Ebashi LPC & Partners in Tokyo, where he assisted in various cross-border transactions and international disputes, involving mainly Japanese companies.
He obtained his Juris Doctor and Master of Arts in Philosophy from the University of the Philippines, and his European Union Graduate Diploma and Master of Laws in International Economic and Business Law from Kyushu University, Japan as a Young Leaders Program Scholar of the Japanese Government. He also holds a Professional Certificate in FinTech from The University of Hong Kong.
Canada
Sean Stephenson is a senior associate at Dentons Canada LLP, where he focuses on international trade, investment, international arbitration, procurement and public international law.
Throughout his practice, Sean has gained extensive experience in investment treaty arbitrations, including acting in multiple cases under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules with respect to all phases of proceedings in complex disputes in the Americas and Europe. He has acted in and advised on cases under the NAFTA, CAFTA-DR, CPTPP and bilateral investment treaties in a large number of sectors. He has also acted commercial arbitrations under the ICDR Arbitration Rules.
In international trade matters, Sean maintains a significant practice, including WTO law, free trade agreements, antidumping and countervailing duties, procurement, import and export controls, sanctions, and customs. He regularly advises and acts for private parties and governments on the full panoply of international and domestic trade law and policy. He has served as counsel in trade and investment matters before federal boards, departments, and ministries, the Federal Court of Canada and Federal Court of Appeal. In all matters, he is known to use the full range of legal tools to create leverage for clients in disputes, investigations, and enforcement.
Sean is a Vice Chair of the American Bar Association’s International Arbitration Committee and the Judicial Affairs and International Courts Committee. He is the former Co-Chair of the ABA’s Investment Treaty Working Group, and presently serves as Treaties Editor for the Canadian Bar Association’s Canadian International Lawyer Law Journal. Since 2010, he has been an associate fellow with the Center for International Sustainable Development Law, where he has engaged in research relating to international environmental, trade and investment and sustainable development law. He frequently publishes articles and commentary on a range of international and domestic law topics, and has presented throughout North America, Europe and Asia.
Sean’s experience builds on his training in common law, civil law and international law. He holds an LLM from University College London, and holds common law and civil law degrees from the University of Ottawa. He is currently pursuing a PhD in International Investment Law at the University of Amsterdam. Prior to joining Dentons, Sean’s practice focused on international arbitration and litigation of trade and investment disputes.
China
Yingjie Yang is a lawyer at China and New York, USA; meanwhile, she is member for Asset Management Association of China, member for Chinese Law Society.
As a practice lawyer, Yingjie Yang is specialized in compliance laws and regulations such as global anti-corruption; antitrust; data protection law, including Chinese data protection laws and regulations such as Chinese Data Security Law, Chinese National Security Law, Chinese Cyber Security Law, GDPR, PDPA etc. She is involved in lot of international companies’ compliance projects.
Yingjie Yang has LLM degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law, Master degree of Economic Law from Shanghai University of Finance & Economic, Bachelor of Law from Shanghai University.
Yingjie is a fluent speaker of EnglishMandarin, and Shanghainese.
Young Lawyers Category
Aaron is an integral member of the TMT, IP and International Commercial Law Practice Group at the multi- skilled, research based international law firm Nishith Desai Associates.
Aaron advises clients on complex cross-border transactions including technology deals, mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, regulatory matters & commercial transactions across various sectors, with special focus on IT, e-commerce, retail and fin-tech.
He advises a number of multi-national corporations on various legal and regulatory aspects including privacy-related compliances and documentation; IP structuring, strategy and prosecution.
He has also done extensive research and assisted clients in relation to cutting areas of technology such as AI, IoT, cloud computing, fin-tech, med-tech and ed-tech.
Aaron has played a key role in the firm’s regulatory and policy initiatives, and representations to the Indian Government.
He has been invited for numerous speaking engagements, workshops and seminars. He regularly writes thought leadership and research articles and papers for internationally acclaimed publications and has also been quoted by both internationally and domestically renowned publications.
Aaron is qualified to practice law in India and is enrolled as an Advocate with the Karnataka State Bar Council.
Young Lawyers Category
Anna is a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand and a Legal Practitioner of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Australia.
As a solicitor in the dispute resolution team at Hesketh Henry, Anna is involved in a range of contentious matters including construction, insurance, insolvency and cross-border disputes. She has appeared as a junior counsel in the District Court and the High Court proceedings.
Anna graduated from the University of Auckland with a conjoint degree in Law and International Trade, and spent part of her law degree in the United States.
Anna is a committee member of the New Zealand Law Society Auckland Young Lawyers. She is also an active member of the Young Insurance Professionals, the Society of Construction Law, and Young International Arbitration Group of the London Court of International Arbitration.
Anna is a fluent speaker of English and Korean.
Young Lawyers Category
Ksenia Tarkhova is an associate of Competition/Antitrust and White Collar Crime, Compliance and Internal Investigaitons Practices in ALRUD Law Firm.
Ksenia advises clients on matters concerning compliance with the requirements of the Russian antitrust legislation, participates in development of internal documents, regulating business activity of clients.
She participates in the projects related to obtaining merger control, foreign and strategic investments clearances for the transactions on purchase / transfer of assets / shares (stocks) of companies doing business in Russia.
Ksenia also takes part in projects concerning cartel investigations and conducts trainings on compliance of current performance with the competition and antibribery law requirements adapted to clients’ business sectors.
Ksenia joined ALRUD law firm in 2013. Customers appreciate Ksenia for very quick and efficient advice.
Ksenia graduated from the National Research University - Higher School of Economics, specializing in civil law.
Ksenia is a Member of International Bar Association, Inter-Pacific Bar Association, Competition Support Association in the CIS countries and also a Member of the Competition Experts Association within which she is actively involved in development and improvement of the existing competition legislation.
Young Lawyers Category
Developing Countries Category
Amarjargal Batchuluun is an associate in MinterEllison's Ulaanbaatar office. Her principal areas of practice include general corporate and commercial, energy and resources law as well as environmental compliance.
Amarjargal has been educated in both Mongolia and the United States (having obtained her LLM from the University of Hawaii) and prior to joining MinterEllison's Ulaanbaatar office in 2013, she worked for a local mining supplier company and the Association of Mongolian Advocates.
Amarjargal has significant corporate, mining and environment experience and advises clients on Mongolian legislation as well as other regulatory and compliance matters. She has been involved in a number of cross - border transactions as well as advising on general corporate and commercial matters including Mongolian licencing and permit. She also has experience running complex legal due diligence exercises on domestic and cross-border transactions involving minerals licences.
She is admitted in Mongolia and is fluent in English and Mongolian.
Developing Countries Category
Baigalmaa has a wide range of experience in M&A, joint ventures, licensing, project finance and regulatory matters, with special focus on energy and mining, banking and finance, and international arbitration.
As an associate at Melville Erdenedalai LLP, and previously a paralegal in the corporate team at Hogan Lovells, she advised a number of international major solar power developers, international commercial and multilateral development banks and multi-national corporations with respect to renewable energy projects, restructuring of facility and security agreements, equity to debt conversions, settlement during arbitration proceedings, reorganisation, M&A and tax issues, and capital marketissues in Mongolia.
Baigalmaa received her LL.B from the University of Tokyo. Baigalmaa is a member of the Mongolian Bar Association and is qualified to practice law in Mongolia. Baigalmaa is fluent in Mongolian, English, and Japanese,and is conversant in Korean.
Developing Countries Category
Ms. Khurshid Jahan is the Deputy Head of Chamber of the Investment & Development-Consultancy/Litigation/Arbitration (IDCLA) and specialized in International Development Law and public international law.
She is also a Director & CEO of Dhaka International Arbitration Centre (DIAC)
Ms. Khurshid Jahan has worked on cases representing both government and private clients in litigation and arbitration matters. She also advises clients on investment structuring for treaty protection, as well as on the development issues.
Before developing the firm, work as a Course Director of Bangladesh and British Law School, and she was the editor of the legal division of “Counsel”, a monthly Law Report.
Ms. Khurshid Jahan has been working on a research paper titled “The Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on the Economic Development of Bangladesh” at this moment. She is also supervising another research titled “Third Party Funding in International Investment Arbitration”.
Ms. Khurshid Jahan has attended a number of International Congress and conference. Recently Ms. Jahan attended UNCITRAL - UM Joint Conference,
2017 on "Modernization of National Commercial Laws and the Role of Legal Harmonization in International Commerce" held in Macau SAR, China on 11 - 12 December, 2017 and made a presentation on "The Impact of OBOR Initiative in Asia Pacific Region".
Young Lawyers Category
Welcome to the IPBA Scholars for 2018!
Out of dozens of applications, seven Scholars have been chosen to attend the Annual Meeting and Conference in Manila. We look forward to their participation in this and other upcoming IPBA events!
MS Lin Scholar
Thit Thit has experience advising clients on Intellectual Property matters including trademark infringement and trademark registration process in Myanmar and local Myanmar laws in a range of corporate and commercial matters such as company law, investment law, telecommunication issues, construction, competition issues, land issues and the service sector. She also regulatory advises on employment matters particularly for compliance with Myanmar labor laws. Her experience includes contract drafting and providing legal advisory on relating to foreign direct investment into Myanmar.
Practice Areas
Qualifications
She qualified for the degrees of Bachelor of Laws from Yangon University of Myanmar in 2005 (L.L.B), Diploma in Business Law from Yangon University in 2008, and Master of Business Law from also Yangon University in 2010. She got a High Grade Pleader License in 2012.
Languages
Young Lawyers Category
Akira Nishimura is a lawyer of Hideaki Kinomura Law Office. Based in Hokkaido Akira has represented variety of leading local businesses. Akira practices all level of litigation, M&A, trademark infringements, bankruptcy and restructure, labor law, criminal charges, private practices, and cross-border issues.
In addition to representing business entities, Akira acts for juvenile law cases as probono. Akira defended many juvenile clients against criminal charges including various landmark cases and had a critical role for those cases.
With Akira’s role for the fields of Juvenile law cases, he was nominated a member of Juvenile Law committee of Japanese Federation of Bar Association (JFBA).
Young Lawyers Category
Amardeep earned a Bachelor of Laws (Hons.) from the National University of Singapore in 2010. He then enrolled in New York University where he specialised in criminal justice and graduated with a Master of Laws in 2015. He subsequently obtained his Master of Science (Criminology and Criminal Justice) from the University of Oxford in 2017. In addition to these qualifications, Amardeep was admitted to the Singapore Bar as an Advocate and Solicitor in 2014.
Amardeep possesses significant experience in criminal law, global anti-corruption laws, international anti-money laundering laws and regulatory compliance. He started his career as a Deputy Public Prosecutor / State Counsel in Singapore’s Attorney-General’s Chambers (“AGC”) in 2010. At AGC, Amardeep became adept at processing all aspects of criminal litigation such as negotiating plea bargains, conducting courtroom trials as well as handling appeals at the appellate courts. During his career at the AGC, Amardeep acquired advanced abilities for prosecuting commercial and corruption cases. His entry into private practice started at Trident Law Corporation where he pursued criminal defence, specialising in white-collar crime. In addition to this, his current professional interests have broadened to include crypto-currency regulation, cyber-crime and sentencing issues.
Young Lawyers Category
Bridget is a Senior Associate 1 at ZICOlaw (Thailand) Limited. She has been in private practice since 2010. Her practice focuses on corporate & commercial, mergers and acquisitions, and foreign investment area. She has extensive experience in advising international and local clients regarding business incorporation and foreign investment in Thailand and CLMV region. She has been involved in a number of cross-border mergers and acquisitions for the companies operating in telecommunication, manufacture, property and other service sectors. Bridget drafts and reviews various types of agreements including general commercial and industry-specific agreements. She also advises international and local clients on a number of labour compliance issues under Thai labour laws.
Bridget holds European Master in Law & Economics (LL.M.) from Erasmus University Rotterdam, European Master in Law & Economics (LL.M.) from University of Hamburg and Master of Arts in Law and Economics from Warsaw School of Economics. For her undergraduate study, she attended Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand and obtained Bachelor of Laws (2nd Class Honors).
Young Lawyers Category
Elham was admitted to the Iranian Central Bar Association in 2014. She managed to get qualified with the most competitive provincial bar association, Central Bar in the capital - Tehran. She obtained an LL.B from University of Tehran in 2013 where she graduated as a distinguished student. In 2014, she was awarded the prestigious Dutch Wim Deetman scholarship (WDS) from the former mayor of The Hague to pursue an LL.M. in Public International Law at Leiden University in the Netherlands.
Being an enthusiastic and young professional, Elham is specialized in Iranian Law as much as international law. She has been widely exposed to litigation before Iranian courts, arbitration, and international dispute settlements. She has been active in advising multinational companies on corporate issues and foreign investments. She has also been involved in performing due diligences and setting up joint ventures in Iran.
With a track record of working for international organizations, arbitral institutions, and international tribunals in The Hague such as the International Criminal Court (ICC), Elham has proved her top level intellectual capacity, solid judgement, and an ability to work in fast-paced international environments and practices.
Language proficiency listed in the order of fluency: Farsi, English and French.
Young Lawyers Category
Monika Singh is a first generation lawyer and is currently associated with August Legal, a law firm based in New Delhi, India. Her principal area of practice involves dispute resolution with specific focus on arbitrations arising out of EPC contracts. She has the experience of handling high stake arbitrations involving multinational corporations and public sector undertakings. Her interest to practice alternate disputes resolution draws its roots from sessions with the internationally acclaimed Professor (Emeritus) Martin Hunter. She has also rendered multiple corporate and commercial advisories to both international and domestic entities on various aspects of the Indian law.
Monika has authored numerous articles in acclaimed journals on wide ranging aspects of corporate laws. Since her enrolment with IPBA in 2016, she has been a regular contributor to the 'Eye on IPBA' which is the monthly newsletter of IPBA.
Apart from her professional sphere, she is passionate about contributing towards the upliftment of her community and is presently engaged with the Teach for India Foundation that works towards imparting education to the underprivileged section of the society. Every weekend, she dedicates a few hours to take on the role of a teacher for the underprivileged children.
Young Lawyers Category
Usha works in the area of Corporate, Commercial, Intellectual Property, Labor and Employment, Work Permits, Visas and Immigration, etc., at Pradhan, Ghimire and Associates, a top-tier full-service commercial law firm in Nepal. The scope of her work includes conducting legal research, drafting corporate and commercial documents such as legal memo, legal opinions, contracts, reports, etc.
MOOT COURT EXPERIENCE
SUMMER SCHOOL
Participated in 10 days 16th Human Rights Summer School (HRSS) on “Human Rights and Terrorism”, 2015 held in Manikganj, Bangladesh
OTHERS
Seven Scholars were chosen to attend the IPBA Annual Meeting and Conference in Auckland.
Vietnam
Ms Phuong joined Russin & Vecchi in 2008. Phuong’s practice principally involves corporate, foreign investment, commercial contracts and M&A. She has particular experience in licensing and dissolutions, and has handled complex corporate tasks including the conversion of joint stock companies to limited liability companies, dealing with the structure of offshore loans and registering offshore loans with the State Bank. She is the editor of “Insurance Law & Regulation in Vietnam”, a book published by Russin & Vecchi.
Educational and Professional Background
Phuong holds degrees from Ho Chi Minh City University of Law (LLB in Commercial Law, 2007; LLM in Commercial Law, 2013), Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities (LLB in English philology, 2008). Her master thesis is Legal Aspects of the Investment Form of Public - Private Partnership in Vietnam. She graduated from an advanced program sponsored by Lund University of Sweden.
Affiliations and Activities
Member, AmCham, Information & Communications Technology Committee.
Bar Admission
Ho Chi Minh City
Languages
English
Vietnamese
Myanmar
Cambodia
Sri Lanka
Shamil Mueen is a corporate lawyer in a Tier 1 law firm in Sri Lanka specialising in Banking and Finance, Islamic Finance, M&A and Projects, with additional experience in advising on tax, intellectual property and employment law aspects.
He qualified for the degree of Bachelor of Laws at the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo in year 2012. He is a life member of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka and an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), United Kingdom. Further, he has completed Islamic Finance Qualification (IFQ) of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment, United Kingdom.
In his professional capacity, he has acted for many multinational clients and law firms as well as leading corporates in Sri Lanka. He is actively involved in many cross-border transactions of the Firm. Shamil has published articles in local and international publications. He is currently a columnist of Daily FT and lectures at Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka (IBSL).
Russia
Hong Kong
India
Raghav is a lawyer in the direct tax practice of law firm M/s Khaitan & Co in India. In addition to being a lawyer, he is also a qualified Chartered Accountant. His academic background has been sound and is a multi-time merit holder in his professional examinations. In his 6 years of professional experience, Raghav has worked on various aspects of tax laws - transactions, advisory, private client work as well as dispute resolution. His experience involves matters relating to Permanent Establishment (PE) risk assessment, income characterisation, cross-border treaty related disputes, succession planning, corporate law issues etc. He is also a regular contributor of articles, write-ups in professional journals of national and international repute, and takes initiatives in making presentations on contemporary topics related to tax laws. Outside of work, Raghav likes to travel, play Golf (he is a 12-handicap player), badminton, read about history and economy in general. His brother and wife are also Chartered Accountants and associated with the global firm Ernst & Young.
Get to know the scholars who were selected to attend the IPBA's 26th Annual Meeting and Conference in Kuala Lumpur in 2016!
Pratyush Nath Upreti is a lawyer at Upreti & Associates, a law firm based in Kathmandu. His practice focuses on general corporate matters and specializes in the field of Intellectual Property Law. He holds BSc.LLB (Hons) Degree from India. He was admitted to Nepal Bar Council in 2013. He has earned LL.M. (2015) Degree from Maastricht University, Netherlands as UM High Potential Scholar. He was part of a team that contributed in Amicus Curiae Brief in Eli Lilly & Company v. Government of Canada (ICSID Case No. UNCT/14/12). He is also leading “New IP Lawyers Network”, a wing of school of law and its research centre SCule (Science, Culture and the Law) under University of Exeter, United Kingdom, as an Executive Committee member. He also teaches Intellectual Property Law at Chakrabarti Habi Education Academy, College of Law. He has published articles in peer reviewed International Journals such as The Journal of World Intellectual Property, among others.
Email: upretipratyush@gmail.com
Dr. Maria A. Pozza gained her PhD in Law and Politics at the University of Otago, specialising in space law and international relations, in 2013, and accordingly graduated in May 2014. In 2013, she was awarded a visiting Lauterpacht Fellowship from the Lauterpacht Centre for International Law at University of Cambridge UK, and also awarded a visiting research fellowship at the London institute of Space Law and Policy. She has been recipient of the Inter-Pacific bar Association Award (2016) and has been noted by AI Global Lawyer Magazine as the Women in law to Watch 2016. Her expertise has been called upon by a number of institutions, and she has been the recipient of the Peace and Disarmament Education Trust of New Zealand Award, the Claude McCarthy Fellowship, an Otago Postgraduate Scholarship, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Historical Research Grant, the Kennedy Grant (University of Otago), the New Zealand Political Studies Association Projects Grant, and a number of travel awards to present as a guest speaker at various public lectures, academic lectures, and international conferences. Dr. Pozza is a member of the following committees:
Dr. Maria A. Pozza works at Helmore Ayers Lawyers as a Consultant Lawyer. She deals with the Laws of New Zealand ranging from public law, commercial and company law, construction law, tort law, contract law, foreign direct investment into New Zealand, establishment and registration of foreign companies in New Zealand, international space law, cyber law, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and aviation law. She is presently working on book publications relating to: Space Governance, International Law Pertaining to Arms Control in Outer Space, and New Zealand and Space Law. . Other areas of law and project topics of which Dr Pozza is presently involved in include: construction law in New Zealand, insurance law in New Zealand and public law.
Dr. Maria A Pozza is often referred to by Media outlets as one of Australasia’s foremost experts in Space Law. She is at present the only lawyer in New Zealand offering dedicated space law regulated legal services. As a practitioner and an academic, Dr Pozza’s areas of legal enquiry have expanded to include the laws of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s), Cyber Law, Aviation and general international law. She is focused on developing her career within the fields of New Zealand aviation and space law, UAVs, cyber law, public law, foreign direct investment into New Zealand, international tax law, and overseas compliance.
Other interesting projects that Dr Pozza has been involved with include working as an intern with Attorneys in Huntsville, Texas (USA) on death row cases. In this context she interviewed clients and witnesses, and drafted appeal applications. Dr. Pozza has also worked in Kenya on a voluntary service basis with an Italian mission, has worked within a number of Community projects, and is involved with the Faculty of Law at the University of Victoria, Wellington through the New Zealand Feminist Judgements project as a judgement reviewer. Dr Pozza has been both an external and sitting Moot Court Judge for 4 years on the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Competitions with the International Institute of Space Law, and was also a Moot Court Judge whilst reading for her PhD at the University of Otago Faculty of Law. Dr Pozza has gained valuable experience over five years whilst tutoring in all core fields of the Laws of New Zealand, Politics, History and Media Film and Communications whilst at the University of Otago. She has a keen interest in social justice, the feminist critique of liberalism, New Zealand Art, and global technological development of space and UAV assets. Dr Pozza enjoys hiking, swimming, travelling, watching sports especially cricket and rugby, and touring on her motorbike.
I graduated from the University of Colombo with Second Class Honours (Upper Division). I was enrolled to the Bar in 2012 by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. I completed my Master of Laws in Global Business Law at La Trobe University, Australia. Currently I am practicing in the civil litigation area in Kandy, Sri Lanka. I am also a member of the Visiting Lecturers panel of University of Peradeniya and Open University of Sri Lanka.
I am in my 7th year as a commercial litigator, and have had the privilege of acting as Counsel and junior in a variety of commercial, securities, construction, Islamic finance, admiralty and constitutional matters. I am available to accept instructions as Counsel.
I have acted as Counsel and as junior in a variety of civil enforcement proceedings undertaken for the Securities Commission of Malaysia, to seek disgorgement of profits and/or punitive damages arising from breaches of securities legislation, such as Ponzi schemes, insider trading, market manipulation, perpetrating fraudulent/misleading investment schemes, making false representations to the investing public, issuing fraudulent accounts for public listed companies and a multi-stage “pump and dump” share manipulation scheme. I have been involved in 6 such matters and keenly anticipate many more.
I have also acted as junior for Malaysia’s national asset management company in several proceedings concerning non-performing loans acquired during financial crises, for Malaysia's leading Islamic bank in a USD56 million commercial recovery action and for a consortium of financial institutions in a bond dispute brought against the issuer, underwriter and trustee to recover RM156 million in outstanding principal sums. Most recently, I acted as Counsel for the first Malaysian company to be listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Open Market), in a suit arising from allegations of misrepresentation and fraud brought by the dissatisfied vendors of certain subsidiaries acquired by the company prior to its listing by way of reverse takeover.
I have just returned to the firm after completing an LLM in Securities and Financial Regulation at Georgetown University, Washington DC in June 2015, where I was awarded a Distinction and entered on the Dean’s Honours List for academic achievement.
The primary focus of my LLM was on US laws and the SEC/CFTC’s regulation of the securities and futures industries, including the development and nature of regulations governing funds and options products, commodities and derivatives trading and exchanges. I was also privileged to take courses on the identification and management of systemic risk in the international financial architecture and the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act from Professors Chris Brummer (current nominee for Commissioner of the SEC), Elizabeth Ritter (Chief Counsel to the CFTC for more than 20 years, until 2005) and Barry Barbash/Ken Berman (former Directors of the SEC’s Division of Investment Management). I also took courses in mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and forensic accounting, and Islamic finance.
Nominchimeg is an associate at the Ulaanbaatar Office of Hogan Lovells International LLP, a global law firm. She focuses her practice on projects, government regulatory, and international arbitration. She advises both international and domestic clients across a broad spectrum of industries including energy, construction, financial services and mining. Having received her first law degree from the University of Tokyo, Nominchimeg obtained her LLM degree from Columbia Law School where she was a Harlan Fiske Stone scholar. Nominchimeg is qualified to practice in Mongolia and the State of New York (from June 2016).
Arush Khanna is an Advocate & Legal Consultant enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi. He is the fifth generation lawyer in a family of highly respected lawyers. His grandfather, Dr. Lalit Bhasin is one of India’s most revered lawyers of international acclaim with a career spanning over 53 years. His mother has been actively practicing corporate law over past 15 years with one of the most renowned law firms of the country.
After having worked in the chambers of legal luminaries like Mr. Raian Karanjawala and Mr. Sanjeev Anand, Arush started his independent practice in the capital. His principal areas of practice are Civil and Property Litigation and Commercial Arbitration. Arush has been providing dispute resolution and consultancy services to number of private and public sector undertakings in India. He has extensive experience of representing his clients before the Courts and other Quasi-Judicial forums in Delhi.
Arush was selected to be a part of an esteemed delegation that represented India at the BRICS Legal Forum held in Shanghai in October 2015. The delegation was instrumental in negotiating the Shanghai Declaration and in the establishment of the BRICS Centre for Dispute Resolution in Shanghai.
Arush is a member of the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA), Indo American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) and the BRICS (India Chapter). He has also authored several articles that have been published in various reputed law journals.
I am a qualified lawyer currently working for KPMG Legal Limited, an international law firm located in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Prior to that, I worked at Phuoc & Partners Law Co., Ltd., a local law firm for a period of around 5 years. I earned a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Ho Chi Minh City University of Laws in Vietnam.
My practicing area focuses on providing legal advices (regarding corporation, foreign investment, labour, real estate and dispute settlement), advising on M&A deals and contracts. I also represent and advise the clients on the civil matters and support them working with the State authorities in Vietnam (e.g., courts, arbitration centers, administrative agencies, etc.).
Being proficient in English, I usually work together with the professional lawyers from Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong and UK on cross-border deals of the international clients.
Md. Imam Hossain is a CEO of the Investment & Development-Consultancy/Litigation/Arbitration (IDCLA) and specialized in International Development Law and public international law.
Mr. Hossain has worked on cases representing both government and private clients in litigation and arbitration matters. He also advises clients on investment structuring for treaty protection, as well as on the development issues.
Before developing the firm, Mr. Hossain was an Assistant Attorney General of Bangladesh Attorney General Office. Furthermore, Mr. Hossain was the former Course Director of Bangladesh and British Law School, and he was also the former Chief Editor of Counsel, A monthly Law Report.
Mr. Hossain has a publication on: "Pursuing Sustainable Economic Development through "Right to Development," Chevening Journal Volume 1 2012, Bangladesh.
He also hosted and anchored two Talk Shows, "Law and Development" and "With guest" On Baishakhi T.V. Bangladesh.
Mr. Hossain has attended numerous International Congress and conference as a speaker & received many awards.
You can view Mr. Hossain's CV by clicking here,
From a large number of candidates, the following ten Scholars were selected to attend the IPBA 25th Annual Meeting and Conference in Hong Kong. Individual reports of their experience at the conference can be found just underneath their names.
ZHENG HUI NG (Charlie) (MALAYSIA)
Charlie's report on the 25th Annual Meeting and Conference in Hong Kong
Charlie graduated from the National University of Malaysia (known as Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia) with Bachelor of Laws (Hons). Charlie completed few university programmes abroad in Charles University, Czech Republic (2011), Peking University, China (2012) and Southwest University of Political Science and Law, China (2014) respectively. His areas of expertise include foreign direct investment, joint ventures, mergers and acquisition, corporate commercial matters and real estate-related transactions.
Charlie is actively involved in the Trade in Legal Services Committee as well as in the Shipping and Admiralty Law Committee under the Malaysian Bar. Charlie has been recently appointed as a Visiting Research Fellow for China-ASEAN Legal Research Centre. Charlie is currently leading the International Corporate Department in the Firm.
Charlie has been selected as the MS Lin Scholar for 2015.
PHO SOTHEAPHAL (PHAL) (CAMBODIA)
Phal's report on the 25th Annual Meeting and Conference in Hong Kong
Phal is the Managing Partner and a Founder of SP & Partners. He has been admitted to Cambodia’s Bar Association in 2012, but his legal career dates back to year 2000 starting from being a legal assistant to a parliamentary legal researcher and key person for legal and international affairs and to a senior legal advisor at an international investment and legal advisory firm before joining SP & Partners in March 2015.
Phal has also been appointed as a (Civil Law) Notary Public and is the Managing Partner of Nitei Niron Notary Public, with the following roles in particular: composing/authenticating contracts, agreements, and legal instruments; providing professional legal advice; making certified copies of documents; and composing/authenticating wills/testaments and other authentic deeds.
Firmly adhering to international standards and possessing strong local insight and experience, Phal has been advising investors and other clients for more than seven years actively. His focused practice covers banking and finance, merger and acquisition, real estate, telecommunications, intellectual property, and labour.
Phal holds a Master’s Degree (LL.M) from the National University of Singapore (2004) and a Bachelor of Laws from local Norton University of Cambodia (2000).
He has written textbooks on property and labour laws and has commenced writing a glossary of legal terms in Khmer and English.
Phal has been selected as a Scholar in the Lawyers from Developing Countries category.
KHAMPHAENG PHOCHANTHILATH (LAO PDR)
Kamphaeng's report on the 25th Annual Meeting and Conference
Kamphaeng has more than 8 years of legal experience working on foreign direct investment, corporate and commercial with the following responsibilities: liaised with the Government of Lao PDR to conduct legal research regarding policies, laws and regulations; assisted on notarization and registration of legal documents; assisted with company establishment, representative office licensing, and other regulatory and licensing requirements for foreign investments; assisted in trademark registrations; coordinated projects between investors and government authorities; assisted in the conduct of legal due diligence and land due diligence. On the other hand, she also maintains office services by organizing office operations and procedures, preparing payroll, controlling correspondence, designing filing systems, designs and implements office policies by establishing standards and procedures, measuring results against standards, making necessary adjustments, assigning and monitoring clerical functions,maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks, participating in professional societies and establish and maintain human resources reflecting salary increases, deductions and other benefits.
National University of Laos – Faculty of Law and Political Science, Lao PDR; Bachelor of Laws
Pakpasack Technical School – Business Administration, Lao PDR; Diploma
Khamphaeng has been selected as a Scholar in the Lawyers from Developing Countries category.
BUI TIEN LONG (VIETNAM)
Bui Tien Long's report on the 25th Annual Meeting and Conference
Bui Tien Long is a qualified lawyer with more than 6 year of practicing law in foreign and local law firms in Vietnam. Mr. Bui started his legal career at Vision & Associate, the top-tier law firm in the country, and then Fidal Franceskinj and Chazard, a French law firm after the two year master program in Korea. Prior to joining ZICOlaw Vietnam, Mr. Bui pursued his career as an associate in Phuoc and Partners Law Firm for nearly two years.
Mr. Bui has extensive experience in handling foreign direct investment, corporate and commercial issues, construction, real estate business, and litigation. Mr. Bui had two years working for the world’s second largest and well-known advertising agency (Ogilvy & Mather) and fast-moving consumer goods(Unilever) as in-house counsel, dealing with all kinds of advertising contracts, advertising matters, intellectual property, and commercial disputes with clients and suppliers.
Earning him a Master of Law (LL.M) at Transnational Law and Business University in Seoul, Korea (TLBU), Mr. Bui has extended knowledge of international law and cross-border law practitioner networking in the ASEAN region and China. In addition to the law practice, Mr. Bui wrote about International Public Procurement – Vietnam Chapter published in 2014 by Thomson Reuters. He has been actively participated in PhD project with an Australia tax lecturer in RMIT Vietnam. Mr. Bui can speak English, French, and Vietnamese.
Bui Tien has been selected as a Scholar in the Lawyers from Developing Countries category.
DISKET ANGMO (INDIA)
Disket is a corporate lawyer and her main focus area is commercial laws involving acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity, intellectual property law, employment laws and general corporate advisory matters. She has advised clients on diverse matters involving foreign investment in various sectors like defence, healthcare, retail, telecommunication, information technology and other service industries.
Her experience also includes advising clients on various intellectual property law issues and has represented clients in arbitration and various general civil and intellectual property litigation at the Bombay High Court. She has been involved in various legal diligences. She has also been involved in drafting various legal documents, applications for approvals and reporting with the Reserve Bank of India, the Foreign Investment Promotion Board and the Company Court.
Before joining her present place of work, she worked at Khaitan & Co, Mumbai, one of India’s leading law firms. After a stint of about two years at Khaitan & Co, Disket moved out with Vaishali Sharma who was a Partner at Khaitan & Co, to join Agram Legal Consultants, which is a start-up law firm, founded by Vaishali Sharma.
Disket co-authored a chapter for the book titled “Patent Transactions in the Life Sciences: A Global Guide to Agreements in the Sector”, published by Globe Law and Business in 2014.
She presented a paper titled, “Airports in the 21st Century: Legal Issues and Concerns” at the National Aero-Space Conference held on 28 March 2009.
Disket has been selected as a Scholar in the Young Lawyers category.
KHIN SOE HTAIK (MYANMAR)
I am Ms. Khin Soe Htaik from Yangon, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Regarding with my academic outstanding, I’ve got Bachelor of Laws Degree (LL.B) in 2007, Master of Laws (LL.M) in 2010 and Master of Research (M.Res) in 2011 from Dagon University of Myanmar. In addition, I’m still doing my doctoral research specialized on Public International Law at Yangon University.
For my career life, before I got my Master Degree, I worked in Yatanarpon Teleport, one of the biggest communication companies in Myanmar, as an executive staff. Then I served as a tutor at Department of Law, Dagon University under the authority of Ministry of Education. At the beginning of 2013, I’ve worked as a Junior Lawyer at TMI Associates of Japan (Myanmar Office). In TMI Associates, I’ve learned a lot about commercial matters, such as incorporation. I’ve resigned from TMI in December 2014 so that my Doctoral Research to be focused than before. Apart from this, now I’m doing as a freelance legal consultant and practicing the litigation cases before the Court to be an Advocate.
There are very rare litigation lawyers who can speak fluently English in our legal society. So my ambition is very simple, I’d like to be a lawyer who can communicate international legal societies and disseminate the knowledge to our legal society. I believe that my experiences as IPBA scholar can persuade other Myanmar young lawyers to participate or try to get such a great opportunity.
Khin Soe Htaik has been selected as a Scholar in the Lawyers from Developing Countries category.
PATRICIA CRISTINA TAN NGOCHUA (PHILIPPINES)
Patricia's report on the 25th Annual Meeting and Conference
Patricia is a senior associate at Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & De los Angeles (Romulo), a top ranking Philippine law firm. Her practice focuses on general corporate matters as well as the more specialized fields of corporate law. She has been involved in securities, capital markets, corporate restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, foreign investments, energy and infrastructure projects, mining, and telecommunications related transactions over the course of her practice. She has advised and represented several publicly listed companies, multinational firms, financial institutions, domestic and foreign investors in the aforementioned practice areas.
Patricia received her Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the Ateneo De Manila University School of Law in 2007 where she graduated class valedictorian. She was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2008. In 2012, she received her Masters of Law (LL.M.) in Corporation Law from the New York University School of Law (NYU). Thereafter, she was granted a fellowship by NYU and placed with the International Institute for Sustainable Development in Geneva, Switzerland, as an International Finance and Development Fellow. She then trained with Mori Hamada & Matsumoto LLP, a Japanerse Big Four firm. She was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2014.
Patricia has been selected as a Scholar in the Young Lawyers category.
PAVITHRA NAVARATHNE (SRI LANKA)
Pavithra's report on the 25th Annual Meeting and Conference
Pavithra Navarathne is an Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. She obtained her Bachelor of Laws from the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
She started her career as a legal assistant in F.J. & G. de Saram, Attorneys-at-Law, a leading law firm in Sri Lanka which is also the oldest law firm in the country. Pavithra is presently a Senior Associate of the firm.
She is attached to the corporate law division of the firm and she handles wide variety of corporate and commercial work with a particular emphasis on taxation and transfer pricing, capital markets, construction, investment, mergers and acquisitions, project financing, banking and employment law.
Pavithra has advised many multinational clients and law firms as well as leading corporates in Sri Lanka. She has been part of legal teams acting for several international investors including a recent large-scale investment in the banking sector in Sri Lanka. She has also advised on several major infrastructure development projects undertaken by the private sector and is actively involved in many cross-border transactions of the firm. Pavithra has published articles in local and international publications including the IPBA Law journal. She is currently a member of the editorial committee of the ‘Junior Bar Law Journal 2015’ to be published by the Junior Bar Committee of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka.
Pavithra has been selected as a Scholar in the Young Lawyers category.
MARIA ABE (RUSSIA)
Maria's report on the 25th Annual Meeting and Conference
Maria Abe graduated from the Moscow State University, Law Faculty in 2006 and in 2011 became Ph.D. in Law. In 2010-2011 she studied in Waseda University (Law Faculty) of Tokyo, Japan as a researcher student.
Maria started legal career working as in-house lawyer and worked in Russian trade company and in one of the largest and well-known retail French company where participated in numerous projects related to the support of the company’s business activity in Russia.
In 2013 Maria joined ALRUD Law Firm where now she provides legal services in commercial, contract, intellectual property, pharmaceutical, regulatory and other branches of law. During her career in ALRUD she was involved in legal consulting of foreign clients, including projects of Japanese and other Eastern enterprises. Maria has experience in legal support of foreign start-up projects, adaptation of the global policy to the requirements of Russian legislation and advising on various type of commercial transactions.
In September 2013 she took part in two-week internship in well-known Japanese law firm in Tokyo.
Maria speaks Russian (native), Japanese and English.
Maria has been selected as a Scholar in the Young Lawyer category.
KAROLINA SCHIFFTER (POLAND)
Karolina's report on the 25th Annual Meeting and Conference
Advocate. Senior associate, head of the firm's immigration practice. She also advises in other areas of HR law. Graduate of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań and European University Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder). Karolina holds the Master of German and Polish law degree. She took part in European and French law workshop and lectures at Université de Nice - Sophia Antipolis in Nice. Before joining the firm, for five years Karolina had been a member of the Employment Law Department of Sołtysiński Kawecki & Szlęzak. She also had internships in law firms in Germany. Karolina publishes articles in the most prominent daily newspapers such as "Rzeczpospolita", "Gazeta Prawna", as well as in legal magazines such as “Monitor Prawa Pracy” (“Labour Law Digest”). She is also regularly invited to television programmes as an employment law expert.
Karolina has been selected as a Scholar in the Young Lawyer category.
Six Scholars were chosen from among dozens of applicants to attend the 24th Annual General Meeting & Conference in Vancouver, Canada, held May 8-11, 2014. In addition to a visit to a courthouse and law firm, the Scholars were able to participate in a committee session, where they spoke about gift-giving in their home jurisdictions. They were also seen enjoying the Gala Dinner, Telus World of Science, and other social events. In addition to conference attendance, the Scholars received a 3-Year Term membership in the IPBA, so we hope to see much more of them in the years to come
The IPBA Scholarship Program welcomed ten Scholars to the 23rd Annual Meeting and Conference in Seoul, Korea. These Scholars stood out from a large group of applicants and will be able to attend the conference due to the generous financial support of a contingent of IPBA members from Japan (The Japan Fund) and the Seoul Host Committee. See more photos of the conference and Scholars on the Seoul 2013 page of this web site.
Samoa (currently Queensland, Australia)
Lalotoa is in the final stages of a PhD in Law at the University of Queensland under an Australian Leadership Award (ALA). Before this she was Parliamentary Counsel for the Government of Samoa, and intends to return to "drafting laws" for Samoa and the Pacific Region after completing her PhD.
Moscow, Russia
Darya graduated from Moscow State University with honors from the faculty of Law in 2006, and in 2011 took a degree of PhD in Law to research the "Constitutional Basis of Economic System of China". Currently Darya is a practicing lawyer in various fields of law including commercial and corporate law, M&A, real estate, intellectual property, compliance, etc. and works for one of the leading Russian law firms, ALRUD. Darya performs in musical theater and enjoys horseback riding.
Manila, Philippines (currently Tokyo, Japan)
Gmeleen worked for three years in Manila as a corporate lawyer specializing in M&A, business process outsourcing, and mining. After taking her LLM at Harvard and passing the New York Bar, she moved to Tokyo, where she is now involved in giving legal advice to Japanese clients in their acquisitions around Asia.
Tel Aviv, Israel
Ido is a member of Shibolet & Co., one of Israel's leading and most recognized commercial & corporate law firms, in the high-tech and venture capital practice (ranked Top Tier by Legal500). He practices corporate law, M&A transactions, technology, venture capital and commercial law, with a strong emphasis on multi-national cross border transactions. He is a graduate (LL.B Cum Laude) of the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliyah Law School.
Auckland, New Zealand
James earned his BA, LLB, MA (Hons), and LLM (Hons) degrees from the University of Auckland. He is currently a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand and a Legal Practitioner of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Australia. As a Solicitor at the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) in New Zealand, he is involved in regulatory oversight and monitoring of trustees, financial qualifying entities, brokers, financial service providers, auditors, superannuation, fund managers, futures dealers, secondary markets, clearing houses, and registered exchanges. Other areas of interest and specialization include anti-money laundering supervision, regulation of low-ball offers and investors' education.
Beijing, China
Meph is an Of-Counsel at Global Law Office, and specializes in intellectual property law. He is admitted to practice in China and the State of California, USA. He is an arbitrator of the Arbitration and Mediation Center of the World Intellectual Property Organization.
Kathmandu, Nepal
Rojina is currently working as an associate lawyer at S.S. Legal Private Limited and also teaching Business Law at Nova International College, International American University, Nepal.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Kien has a PhD in Law from France and currently is an associate of BROSS & PARTNERS, one of the leading Vietnamese law firms. Kien has over nine years of experience in legal practice in the areas of civil and commercial contracts, real estate, construction, finance, insurance and dispute resolution and litigation. he is pleased to attend the activities of the Conference!
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Srinna completed an LL.M at Pannasastra University in international law, criminal law, and business law. She was admitted to the Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia in 2007, and has since been working at Asia Pacific International Law Firm, Pana Asean Law Office, Legal Aid of Cambodia, Kelvin Chia Partnership - Phnom Penh Office (Singapore-owned law firm) and Khmer Law Office. Since 2009, she has also represented Civil Parties before the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, the courts of which are backed by the United Nations. She likes traveling both domestically and internationally, and socializing with others. As a Cambodian lawyer, Srinna speaks Khmer as her mother tongue and English as a second language.
Yangon, Myanmar
Specializing in Intellectual Property, Tin Thiri Aung has been practicing in the field of IP for over 5 years. She credits her mother, who has three decades of experience in the legal field, as having given her an advantage when she decided to take up Intellectual Property as her main practice. As an avid sailor, she likes to take her dinghy out on Inya Lake in Yangon for leisurely sails on weekends.
Eight scholars from various nations were invited to participate in the IPBA Scholarship Programme at the New Delhi Annual Meeting and Conference.
Varya Simpson, Chair of the IPBA Scholarship Committee, addressing the delegates at the Welcome Reception for Scholars and Women Business Lawyers.
The 21st Annual Meeting and Conference in Kyoto/Osaka welcomed eight Scholars from different jurisdictions. Scholarships are divided into two categories, with special designation of one MS Lin Scholar
The IPBA Scholarship Program was established in 1998 to honor the memory of MS Lin of Taipei, Taiwan, founding member and Past President of IPBA. This year, six Scholars joined the IPBA at the 20th Annual Meeting and Conference in Singapore, May 2-5. Categories of Scholarship are: Lawyers in Developing Countries; Young Lawyers; and MS Lin Scholar.
The IPBA thanks the Singapore Ministry of Justice for sponsoring the Scholarship Programme at this Conference.
Scholars attended conference sessions of their choosing, as well as special sessions. Profiles and reports from the Scholars about their experience in Singapore can be found below
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Nguyen Ngoc Ha graduated from Ho Chi Minh City University of Law in April 2005 and worked a year each at two well respected Vietnamese law firms. There, her practice focused mainly on commercial law, corporate transactions, employment issues, foreign investment and regulatory issues for foreign companies in Vietnam. In 2007 Ha became a scholarship student at the Transnational Law and Business University (TLBU), Graduate School of Law, Korea. She completed her studies and successfully obtained a LLM in international law in July 2009. During her graduate studies she also spent time on field studies in Paris, Geneva, The Hague, Brussels, and China. Currently Ha is working at Indochine Counsel, one of Vietnam's leading business law firms. She has extensive experience advising foreign clients in international and cross-border transactions, private equity, corporate, and commerce.
Suva, Fiji Islands
Captain Sharma is currently employed as a Staff Legal Officer with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and his key primary role is to act as a civil defender for his institution. Captain Sharma spent his formative years in Fiji before embarking on Understaduate and Graduate Studies in New Zealand. He is admitted to both the Bars in New Zealand and Fiji. Upon returning to Fiji, Captain Sharma worked for a large commercial law firm in its Capital city before embarking on a career with Fiji's Armed Forces. Post-Conference: he continues with his role as a Staff Legal Officer and will shortly be embarking on United Nation's Peacekeeping duties in Iraq and progressing with a further degree in International Relations.
One IPBA Scholar (Memorial of M.S. Lin Scholarship Fund), two Lawyers from Developing Countries, and two Young Lawyers were selected as Scholars for the 19th Annual Meeting and Conference, held April 29 to May 2, 2009 in Manila, Philippines.
The Scholars toured court facilities in Makati City, and visited the law office of Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz, as well as attended the Annual General Meeting and the session of their choice.
The Scholars just received their certificates from Gerold Libby, Immediate Past President of the IPBA.
Scholars:
IPBA Scholars William Varias and Rethy Seng with IPBA delegates from the Philippines, Japan, and India after the IPBA General Meeting on 2 May, 2009.
Makati RTC Branch 63 Presiding Judge Selma Alaraz gives a brief lecture on Philippine court procedures. Looking on are IPBA Scholars Nadia Ishaq, Rethy Seng, and Win Naing.