Malaysian law firm Christopher & Lee Ong, a member firm of Rajah & Tann Asia, has bolstered its recently rebranded IP & Intangible Assets practice with the hire of partners Celia Cheah Chiew Lan (L) and Sri Richgopinath from LAW Partnership and Joel & Mei, respectively.

Previously known as the IP practice, CLO’s IP & Intangible Assets practice will cover areas like digital assets, online content, big data, cybersecurity, and AI, coupled with a new specialist disputes practice focusing solely on IP, data privacy, TMT, and fintech.

Cheah, who will head the practice, specialises in IP prosecution and commercial matters, focusing on registration and transactional work such as licensing. She joined LAW Partnership in 2019 after having been a partner at firms such as Shearn Delamore & Co, Tay & Partners, Zaid Ibrahim & Co, and KDJLaw.

Meanwhile, Richgopinath was a partner at the IP-focused Joel & Mei for around seven years. Prior to that, he spent more than six years at Skrine, specialising in IP litigation/dispute resolution, corporate, prosecution and enforcement.

“Together, their combined expertise and innovative mindsets will not only enhance CLO’s existing IP capabilities but achieve new milestones in extending the ambit of a traditional IP practice to encompass Intangible Assets, as well as IP and TMT disputes,” CLO said in a statement.

The additions of Cheah and Richgopinath come a few months after CLO poached a five-partner corporate team from local rival Adnan Sundra & Low in January. The five partners are Adrian Chee, Jennifer Lee, Justin Chua, Jacyn Phuah, and Adrian Yap.