IT Law Series: Maintaining the Integrity of Your Online Presence

Mr David Low is a Deputy Senior State Counsel in the Civil Division of the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC), where he specialises in advising the Singapore Government on technology, media, and telecommunications law, Singapore’s Smart Nation and digital government initiatives, and issues relating to data protection, data sharing and privacy. He also serves as one of the Vice-Chairpersons of the Singapore Legal Service’s Technology Law Cluster, a community of public sector lawyers who are developing expertise in technology law in order to bridge law, technology, and policy, so as to help the Singapore Government address its fast-evolving technology needs and chart Singapore’s digital future.

Ms Joyce A. Tan PBM is Managing Director of the eponymous law firm she established, a business-centric law practice with particular strengths in intellectual property and TMT. 

Joyce’s intellectual property prowess, renowned both in the local and international arenas, is often manifested in complex matters involving the analysis and strategic deployment of IP. Her particular strengths lie in developing action plans, transactions and corporate and organisational structures that both leverage the opportunities, as well as avert the hazards, posed by IP as a business tool. Her breadth of involvement in IP on a routine basis, straddle the macro management of IP registration portfolios, pre-emptive protection of business positions vis-à-vis IP, and the acquisition, disposal, relocation and exploitation of IP and intangible assets.

This strong IP dimension is palpable in Joyce’s work as a transactional lawyer in corporate and commercial matters, including cross-border M&A deals, private equity investments, collaborative ventures and financing transactions. She is also widely recognised for her strong suit in TMT transactions, having pioneered many cutting-edge deals of its time, including complex technical procurement and supply transactions, the use of cashless payment systems, fintech innovations and other innovative technology and telecommunications networks.

Joyce has been consistently recognized as a leading lawyer over the long years of her practice by numerous legal publications including Legal 500, Chambers, Practical Law Company, AsiaLaw, Who’s Who Legal, World Trademark Review, International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers, International Who’s Who of Regulatory Communications Lawyers, International Who’s Who of Internet, E-Commerce & Data Protection Lawyers, Data Privacy & Protection, Data - Information Technology, Southeast Asia – Data, Global Communications, Guide to the World’s Leading Technology, Media & Telecommunications Lawyers, Global Counsel 3000, Guide to the World’s Leading Women in Business Law, Global Law Experts and The Best Lawyers. She is also recognised in A-List of Singapore’s Top 100 Lawyers, Asia Business Law Journal World IP Review Leaders, Asian Legal Business and Asia IP Magazine.

To quote from the reports on some of these publications based on independent research, “Joyce Tan has an excellent reputation”, “is a very well reputed lawyer”, “very focused”, “really knows her stuff”, “is admired for the quality and longevity of her practice”, “is recognized as one of the finest commercial IP lawyers in Singapore” “a seasoned stalwart in the industry” and “maven at generating commercial value from IP assets”.

Joyce A. Tan’s expert opinion was relied upon and heavily quoted in the 2020 judgment in the Singapore High Court case of 3 Corporate Services Pte Ltd v. Grabtaxi Holding Pte Ltd (Suit No. 682 of 2018). This was the first fully litigated case in Singapore on cybersquatting, which attracted unsolicited media attention. This included The Straits Times which quoted Joyce for her concluded opinion on the existence of cybersquatting on the facts of the case, in the absence of any specific legal definition of the expression under prevailing Singapore laws.

Mr Benjamin Wong is a lecturer with the NUS Faculty of Law, and an Advocate & Solicitor in Singapore. His research interests include data protection law and the law of confidence. Prior to his current appointment, Benjamin was a Research Assistant with the EW Barker Centre for Law & Business, where he conducted research on intellectual property law. During his stint in Drew & Napier LLC, he worked in the fields of competition law and data protection law, among other areas of regulatory practice.

Mr Paul McClelland specialises in intellectual property law and commercial dispute resolution. Before joining IPOS International Pte Ltd, Paul was sole corporate counsel for a well-known Singaporean brand, where he was responsible for a broad range of commercial matters, including worldwide trademark registrations and oppositions, management of external counsel, contract review, and training.

He has experience working in private practice for both Singapore and Scottish law firms. His practice focused on intellectual property and commercial arbitration.

He also taught commercial law, intellectual property and real estate law at a Scottish university.