Read Article - Samuel Seow Law Corporation
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Read Article - Samuel Seow Law Corporation
The SSLC Newsletter August 2008 Volume 3, Issue 4 Samuel Seow Law Corporation is a law corporation incorporated with limited liability in the Republic of Singapore From the desk of Trina Ha Special Interest Article: Welcome to the August 2008 edition of the SSLC newsletter! Introduction of Regulatory Framework for Liposuction 5 I have taken over this month‟s message from Samuel for a change. I am writing to you from New York, where as most of you already know, I will be stationed for the next few months, accompanying my husband as he pursues his graduate studies. Watching the change of seasons here as the people celebrate the last few days of Summer and prepare for Fall, I cannot help but reflect on how this has been a period of change and growth for our law corporation and for each of us individually. In this Issue Director’s Message 1 Updates on IP 2 Special Interest Article 5 Office Happenings 7 Speaking Engagements 8 Events & Happenings 10 Office Details 14 The last couple of weeks settling into New York have been a hectic whirlwind of dealing with many issues ranging from securing lease approval to clean water supply and I‟m thankful for the many clients who have been understanding in allowing me time to respond to their emails and queries. I will be continuing to work with the law corporation and handle files, albeit remotely, and can still be contacted at my email, [email protected] or you can always MSN me at [email protected]. Our law corporation continues to grow in size and strength. We welcome on board, Mr Jonathan Yuen, Associate Director in our Corporate and Litigation Practice Groups, and Ms Esther Seow, our Foreign Legal Advisor from Malaysia. You may read more about them on page 7. Esther is also the Principal of our newly established associated Malaysian law firm - Seow & Associates - based in Kuala Lumpur. Yes, our law corporation is expanding its reach beyond Singapore and Australia and will be able to actively advise on and handle legal issues and transactions in Malaysia as well. So as we look to the last quarter of 2008 and forge ahead, Samuel and I are deeply appreciative of the constant support and patronage of all our friends, colleagues, clients and associates. Rest assured that even amidst all these changes, we will continue with our commitment to provide personalised and effective services to all our valued clients and associates. Page 1 of 16 UPDATES ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SINGAPORE EXPIRY OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD (EDB) PATENT APPLICATION FUND PLUS (PAF PLUS) 31 July 2008 saw the last batch of applications submitted to the EDB under the Patent Application Fund Plus (PAF Plus). With effect from this date, the PAF Plus scheme was retired by the EDB. The PAF Plus scheme was first introduced in 1992 by the National Science and Technology Board. Its aim was to develop awareness amongst inventors and researchers alike of the need for obtaining protection for their inventions, thereby generating greater patenting output from Singapore. It sought to achieve this aim by providing financial assistance to defray the costs of patent applications. The EDB thereafter took over and re-launched the scheme on 1 October 2002, enhancing flexibility and eligibility of applicants. To date, close to 600 individuals and small & medium sized enterprise have benefited from the PAF Plus scheme and there has been a significant increase in the number of patent applications to the United States and Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) from Singapore-based applicants. As EDB is of the view that the PAF Plus scheme has achieved its objective of promoting greater awareness of the need for patent protection and encouraged and supported individuals and SMEs in protecting their inventions, it has decided to retire the PAF Plus scheme. For those who might have missed the deadline do not fret! Moving forward, local SMEs may benefit from SPRING Singapore‟s Technology Innovation Program (TIP) that aims to accelerate technology adoption and development which includes support for patenting costs. Entrepreneurs who wish to apply for patents as part of a business plan may henceforth approach SPRING Singapore to discuss possible TIP grant support or visit their website at: http://www.spring.gov.sg. As always, our lawyers are also at hand to assist you in any regard. Please do not hesitate to contact our Ms. Esther Seow at [email protected] and our Ms. Junaidah Arifin at [email protected] for more information. USA In the matter of TIFFANY (NJ) INC. and TIFFANY AND COMPANY vs. eBAY INC. On 14 July 2008, the Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York issued a ruling in favour of eBay for the case named above. The Court refused Tiffany‟s claim that eBay‟s use of Tiffany‟s marks on its site for advertising constituted as an act of infringement and held that eBay‟s acts also did not constitute contributory infringement, concluding that eBay‟s use of Tiffany‟s marks was fair. eBay‟s use of Tiffany‟s marks did not suggest or amount to any form of sponsorship or endorsement, any were simply descriptive of the goods that were being offered for sale on its website. The Court also noted that many of the products involved were authentic and eBay promptly removed any infringing merchandise following a complaint and held that use in these circumstances was nominative and descriptive. Page 2 of 16 Another important issue considered by the court, was whether eBay continued to provide its website to sellers when eBay knew or had reason to know that the goods offered for sale by those sellers were counterfeit. The court found that eBay had in place sufficient measures to combat the sale of counterfeit goods on its website by virtue of its Verified Rights Owner programme, under which eBay requires rights holders to notify it of fake products for eBay to promptly take appropriate action. While this latest decision has been described by some critics as “good news for large auction websites, and bad news for brand owners, particularly those whose marks are often counterfeited”, it comes hot on the heels of eBay‟s equally decisive €40 million loss in France, where the Paris Commercial Court ruled on three cases involving eBay and companies within the LVMH group, and ordered eBay to pay damages of approximately €40 million. Two of the actions were related to eBay‟s liability for the sale of counterfeit Louis Vuitton and Dior products by third parties on its auction platform. Tiffany is expected to appeal this decision. MONTENEGRO Rules for obtaining certificates of registration amended The Montenegro Intellectual Property Office has declared that photocopies of Serbian trade mark filings or validity certificates will no longer be accepted in order to obtain a certificate of registration in Montenegro. Trade mark owners must also make a formal request for a Montenegrin certificate of registration. Serbian national rights registered before 28 May 2008 were automatically recognised in Montenegro. Up till 17 June 2008, a photocopy of the trade mark filing or validity certificate was sufficient to obtain a certificate of registration in Montenegro pursuant to the Montenegrin Decree on the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights. However, now, an original or a certified copy of the Serbian filing or validity certificate must be submitted to the Montenegro Intellectual Property Office within 30 days from the filing of the formal request for a certificate of registration. IP rights holders that have already submitted copies of the Serbian filing or validity certificate must now re-submit the original or a certified copy of the filing or validity certificate by 17 July 2008. CHINA Implementation of new IP standards The State Intellectual Property Office and the State Quality and Quarantine Supervision and the Standardization Administration Committee of China have prepared and implemented two new standards on IP documentation and information. The IP Documentation and Information - Essential Vocabulary Standard (GB/T 21374-2008) confirms, in non-legal language, terms frequently used in intellectual property, which aims to resolve problems arising from inconsistencies in use of IP terms. The essential vocabulary sets out a standardized expression for 105 terms, including „domain name‟, „priority‟, „geographical indication‟, „prior art‟ and „embodiment‟ in both English and Chinese, each followed with a standard Chinese explanation.. The second new standard is the Intellectual Property Documentation and Information Classification and Codes Standard (GB/T 21373-2008). Each piece of IP documentation has been assigned a six-digit code (e.g. AB CD EF). AB is a number from 01 to 05 representing the five main IP categories, namely: Page 3 of 16 general; patent; trademark; copyright; and others. Each main category is sub-divided into different groups (represented by CD), which are further divided into sub-divisions (EF). For example, documentation on patent administrative litigation is represented by 02 04 05 (i.e. 02 for patents and 02 04 for patent examination and approval), whereas documentation on trade mark applications is represented by 03 04 01 (i.e. 03 for trademarks and 03 04 for trademark registration). This standard aims to build up an effective IP database, thus facilitating the process use of IP documentation and information to facilitate the rapid development of the Chinese IP industry. The relevant authorities have taken six years to compile these standards, which are at present only recommended, rather than compulsory. At present, no penalties apply for failure to comply with the standards. VENEZUELA 'Ebel Paris' advertising campaign held to be misleading The National Antitrust and Unfair Competition Agency (Procompetencia) held that wellknown cosmetics company, Grupo Transbel had engaged in unfair competition by promoting an advertising campaign that misled consumers into believing that all goods bearing the mark “EBEL” were associated with the city of Paris, thereby enabling Transbel to unfairly benefit from the prestige of the French cosmetics and perfume industry. One of Transbel's competitors filed an action before Procompetencia, arguing that Transbel's use of images of Paris in its advertising material was unlawful and that Transbel had no real presence or connection with the French market as only some of Transbel's goods were produced in France. Procompetencia ruled that the 'Ebel Paris' campaign be cancelled on the grounds that it constituted misleading and deceiving advertising and ordered Transbel to pay a fine of approximately $2.7 million. Procompetencia held that, “The advertising campaign 'Ebel Paris' creates confusion among consumers by inducing them to believe that all goods sold by the company originate from the city of Paris. The advertisements fail to clarify that only the product being advertised originates from that city, and not all goods bearing the mark EBEL.” Transbel has filed an administrative appeal, which is currently pending. Page 4 of 16 SPECIAL INTEREST ARTICLE Singapore Introduction of Regulatory Framework for Liposuction With effect from 1 November 2008, medical clinics will need to obtain approval from the Ministry of Health and comply with special licensing conditions before offering any liposuction services. Doctors will also have to obtain accreditation from the newly formed Accreditation Committee on Liposuction before they may perform any liposuction on patients. The Ministry of Health (“MOH”) announced the introduction of a new liposuction regulatory regime which will take effect from 1 November 2008. Liposuction will now form a special care service under the Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Regulations. Licensing of Medical Clinics Under this regime, medical clinics will need to obtain approval from the MOH and comply with special licensing conditions before offering any liposuction services. This new requirement affects clinics that currently offer liposuction services and that intend to do after the effective date. Some of the licensing conditions to be met are: There must be a cooling off period of at least 7 days for patients to consider before the procedure is carried out. Clinics are exempted from imposing this cooling off period for foreigners who come to Singapore specifically for liposuction. No financial transactions, contracts or any inappropriate constraints on the patient related to liposuction may be carried out or effected during this cooling off period. The written consent of the patient must be obtained before any liposuction is carried out. Liposuction is allowed to be performed in medical clinics only if it removes less than 1litre of supernatant fat per session, does not involve any general anesthesia and is performed on healthy patients. Liposuction will be prohibited in medical clinics for patients with Body Mass Index of more than 28. Patients with a higher Body Mass Index must undergo liposuction in a hospital where they can be closely monitored for any intra- and post-operative complications. All staff involved in liposuction must be trained in basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation procedures. All licensed medical clinics must keep proper and complete documentation of all liposuction cases, which may be audited by MOH. Doctors must report to MOH of any complications or unsatisfactory outcomes of liposuction procedures performed by himself / herself or other practitioners whom they are aware of. Accreditation Committee on Liposuction In addition the licensing of medical clinics, all doctors that wish to perform liposuction must first be accredited by the newly formed Accreditation Committee on Liposuction (“ACL”). These doctors will be subject to a mandatory quality assurance framework. This means that the doctor must keep proper patient medical records and document his patients‟ outcomes and satisfaction, and report any adverse events arising from liposuction to the ACL. He would also be required to participate regularly in peer review and practise improvement programmes. Doctors who perform liposuction in hospitals or ambulatory surgery centres will be accredited by these hospitals or centres, as the case may be. Page 5 of 16 The ACL comprises three plastic surgeons, a dermatologist and a general practitioner. The ACL will assess and accredit medical practitioners to practise liposuction, to recommend training standards for the procedure and enable a peer review process to maintain medical standards. You may visit the MOH website to view the composition of the ACL. MOH has explained that this new regulatory framework aims to protect patients and safeguard the public‟s interest by ensuring that there are common standards of practice and that clinics and doctors have the necessary competence to carry out such services. According to the MOH‟s press release, this regulatory framework has received broad support from the medical professional bodies and clinicians. To view the MOH press release, you may visit the MOH website at http://www.moh.gov.sg/mohcorp/pressreleases.aspx?id=19550 Page 6 of 16 OFFICE HAPPENINGS New Additions to SSLC! Welcome! Mr Jonathan Yuen joins us as Associate Director of our Corporate and Litigation Practice Groups. Trained in negotiation at Harvard Law School and certified as an Associate Mediator by the Singapore Mediation Centre, Jonathan‟s practice is divided between advising clients on and creating negotiation strategies for corporate deal-making, joint ventures, relationship management and alignment, and representing clients in contentious situations. Jonathan also teaches negotiation for the Singapore Board of Legal Education's Bar Review Course and for the executive program of the Sasin Graduate School of Business Administration (a partner with the Kellogg School of Management). He is currently pursuing his Executive MBA at the University of Chicago’s Graduate School of Business so that he may continue to effectively identify, address and bridge business-legal issues for our clients‟ corporate gain. Jonathan may be contacted at [email protected]. Ms Esther Seow joins us as a Foreign Legal Advisor in our Intellectual Property Law Practice Group. Esther‟s practice centres on the filing, prosecution, exploitation and enforcement of intellectual property rights (including trade marks, designs patents) around the world. Through her years of practice, Esther has established a strong network of international clients and associates whom she services. She is presently admitted to practice in Malaysia and the United Kingdom and is a registered trade mark and patent agent in Malaysia. She may be contacted at [email protected]. In The News! Our Mr Samuel Seow, was recently interviewed by both Hello! magazine and 8 Days magazine in relation to his work and successes in the entertainment industry. You may read his interviews in the August issue of these magazines where he shares about his personal life and is touted as “A Celebrity Lawyer You Should Know” in 8 Days. Page 7 of 16 SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS CGOverdrive2008 Business Forum On 19 and 20 June 2008, the CGOverdrive2008 Business Forum was held at the Singapore Expo. The first day of the Business Forum was dedicated to television series and feature films while the second day focused on games. Our Mr Samuel Seow was invited to speak on the first day on the topic, “Sources of Media Funding in Singapore”. Well attended by more than 40 industry players and representatives from production companies around the world, the short and sharp 30-minute presentation was delivered with Samuel‟s signature flair, and was informative, interesting and entertaining all at once, delving into topics such as government funding and support, effects of co-production treaties, private funding, and imparted to the attentive audience invaluable tips on securing funding and support. Following the well-received presentation, Samuel, accompanied by our Mr Benjamin Mak, visited the various booths at the CGOverdrive2008 and neighbouring BroadcastAsia2008 exhibitions showcasing the very latest in media and communication technology. With several of our clients operating booths at the exhibitions, Samuel and Benjamin were honoured to have the opportunity to view and experience first-hand the impressive products and services being developed and offered by our clients. Publishing Workshop for CCH Asia On 13 July 2008, our Ms Trina Ha, at the request of the National Book Development Council of Singapore, conducted a half-day workshop for CCH Asia on intellectual property law issues in the publishing industry. The workshop covered a wide range of topics ranging from obtaining clearances to the scope of grant of rights clauses in publishing contracts to the exploitation of ancillary rights. It was well-received by employees of the company from its Singapore and Malaysia offices. The Media Manager’s Kit: Protect, Finance and Exploit Your IP On 5 – 7 August 2008, the Singapore IP Academy organised the third run of this modular structured training programme, The Media Manager‟s Kit: Protect, Finance and Exploit Your IP, which is targeted at producers, content creators and users of content in the creative industry particularly in the fields of film, TV, animation and digital media. Our Ms Trina Ha once again conducted the modules on intellectual property issues in media production and financing designed to assist participants gain a better understanding and insight into intellectual property issues affecting creative content, from production to licensing and distribution. Participants from Singapore and the region have been attending this programme since its inception in January this year, and have benefitted form its coverage of a full range of topics from the fundamentals of intellectual property to practical issues in the production process, negotiation and contractual matters, the exploration of issues from a practitioner's perspective and sharing of practical tips and real-life scenarios. Page 8 of 16 Creative Entrepreneur Programme 2008 Our Mr Samuel Seow was once again invited to conduct the modules on “Understanding Intellectual Property Rights” and “Exploiting Intellectual Property” on 7 and 12 August 2008 for the Creative Entrepreneur Programme (CEP). This programme is jointly developed by Creative Community Singapore (CCS) and Workforce Development Agency (WDA) based on the Creative Industries Workforce Skills Qualification (CI WSQ) framework in partnership with the UK Creative Industries Development Agency (CIDA) and NUS Extensions (NEX). With enthusiastic participants from a wide range of businesses in the creative sectors, the sessions were lively affairs with the participants keen to learn from Samuel's knowledge of law and industry. Page 9 of 16 EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS A Night of Glitz & Glamour with LFI On 14 June 2008, our client LFI held its 2nd Anniversary Gala Dinner cum Beauty Pageant at The Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel. The party kicked off with a majestic drum performance presented by a professional troupe imported from Malaysia. Soon after, 35 contestants took the stage to vie for the top honours of being crowned either Ms or Mrs LFI 2008. The party was hosted by radio deejays from Mediacorp with more than 500 attendees. Among the local celebrities present were LFI Singapore ambassadors and our friends Vincent Ng and Marcus Chin. The panel of judges included Vincent Ng, Dr Larry Wu, an aesthetic doctor from Raffles Aesthetics; Mrs Sharel Ho who was Mrs LFI 2007 and Mrs South East Asia 2007; and our own Mr Samuel Seow. The two deserving ladies who took home the crowns were Melissa Faith (Miss LFI Singapore) and Farah Hood (Mrs LFI Singapore), who had dazzled the crowd all night with their electrifying smiles and beaming confidence! Photo Courtesy of LFI (Singapore) Pte Ltd Europe Asia Patent and Patent Information Conference 2008 On 26 and 27 June 2008, the European Patent Office and the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore jointly organised the Europe Asia Patent and Patent Information Conference 2008, consisting of a full day conference followed by a day of intensive hands-on workshops at the Engineering Auditorium of the National University of Singapore. The theme for this year‟s conference was “Putting Intellectual Property and Information Assets to Work”, and served to educate participants on the strategic application of patents and patent intelligence to effectively protect and leverage on their intellectual property rights. Our Mr Benjamin Mak attended the conference. Tanya Chua Samuel Seow Law Corporation heartily congratulates our client and friend, the talented Ms th Tanya Chua, for her double victory at the 19 Taiwan Golden Melody Awards held on 5 July 2008 at the Taipei Arena. It was a proud and emotional moment for the singer-songwriter as she picked up the award for Best Album Producer for her album Goodbye & Hello released last year and Best Mandarin Female Singer. Well done, Tanya – we are so proud of you and your triumphant achievement! Page 10 of 16 Invitation to the Party of Musical Theatre Limited On 18 July, on behalf of the firm, our Mr Jonathan Yuen attended a party hosted by our clients and friends at Musical Theatre Limited (“MTL”). It was an intimate gathering of friends, supporters and partners of MTL and guests were not just treated to fine food and wine, but also to the singing talents of performing sensations like the brother and sister duo of Matthew and Dorcas Quek (on piano) who, amongst others, performed the crowd-pleasing classical Broadway favourite “I dream a dream” from Les Miserables. The event allowed our firm to demonstrate our continuing support of MTL and maintain its presence as the friend of the arts. Grand Opening of Jayson Brunsdon Boutique On 18 July 2008, our Mr Benjamin Mak accompanied our client and friend, local model and actress Andrea Fonseka to the grand opening of the Australian designer Jayson Brunsdon‟s new boutique at Wisma Atria and were treated to a feast for the eyes in the elegant and glamorous clothing designs showcased. The designs of the Australian Designer of the Year 2007 are donned by several notable public figures, including Helena Christensen, Kylie Minogue and Eva Longoria, and Andrea, who looked stunning in one of Brunsdon‟s designer gowns which she personally selected to wear to the event. Invitation to The 27th Millionaire's Summit th Our Mr Samuel Seow and Mr Jonathan Yuen jointly attended the 27 Millionaire‟s Summit held at The Regent Singapore on 30 July. This event was organised by MillionaireAsia and featured presentations by property developers, an aesthetic surgeon and a wine investment company – all pitched to the small exclusive crowd of specially invited high net worth individuals (or couples as the case may be). Even as the various presenters all trotted out the very latest offerings of the trappings of wealth and luxury, the runaway favourite of the night for the guests must have been the ability to test-drive the new Audi R8 as the waiting list to drive the car extended past midnight. Amidst all the symbols of conspicuous consumption, it was heartening and comforting for Sam and Jon to spend time with and to catch up with our dear friend Felicia Oh from Habitat for Humanity who, interestingly, had a booth at the event to appeal to the better nature of the guests of the event. Good food, fast cars, luxury living, images of various body parts before and after plastic surgery and Habitat for Humanity all came together for a truly memorable evening. Page 11 of 16 Invitation to iJAM Networking Session Our Mr Jonathan Yuen and Ms Laura Liew attended the i.JAM Networking sessions held on 30 July 2008 at the Swissotel Merchant Court Hotel. The guest of honour, RADM (NS) Lui Tuck Yew, Senior Minister of State for Education And Information, Communications And The Arts, announced the launch of i.MATCH, a matching program to bridge companies ready for investments and potential investors. Other highlights of the event included announcements of new projects by industry players such as HP and Friendster as well as a panel session entitled "What are the next investment opportunites in new media?". Panellists included Mr Pierre Hennes of Upstream Ventures, Ms Lauren Liang from GE Commercial Finance and Ms Ong Siu Leng of Imprimatur Capital. Many of the attendees of the panel session were from start-up companies and they were eager to find out more about the search for funding. Several were seen queuing up after the session to speak with the panellists personally. There were also exhibitors showcasing their companies‟ products and hoping to meet potential investors in the quest to be the next big thing. Overall, it was a well attended event with a lot of buzz. Money No Enough 2 Gala Premiere Tens years since the immensely success of the breakthrough Singapore movie hit “Money No Enough”, local celebrity auteur Jack Neo brings its sequel to the big screen, drawing attention once more to the life of the common man in Singapore where the pursuit of money is a neverending passion. Our Mr Samuel Seow attended the gala premiere of the movie. The David Ives Project On 25 July 2008, Pulp Productions, an entirely youth-run amateur theatre company established in 2007 staged The David Ives Project at the Drama Centre, Black Box at the National Library. The David Ives Project brought together 6 of the popular American playwright‟s one-act comedy plays. Our Mr Samuel Seow was invited to attend the event. Page 12 of 16 The Great Singapore Sing-Along Our Mr Samuel Seow attended The Great Singapore Sing-Along fund-raiser on 2 August 2008 at the Creative Resource Amphitheatre, where he was treated to a night of nostalgia as he was invited to sing along with the entire audience, old and new songs familiar to everyone. The night also featured stellar performances by many local artistes and friends of Samuel‟s, including Wu Jiahui, Hong Shaoxuan, and George Chan. The show reached an unexpected climax when the audience realised in the middle of the show that, in their midst was popular local singer, Mavis Hee, who had bought a ticket to the event, and was not expected to perform. When her classic song “Cheng Li De Yue Guang” (“Moonlight in the City”) was about to be sung, the portion of the audience closest to where she was seated prevailed upon the host to convince her to take the stage to lead the audience in the singing of what could be best described as her song. The sincere and rapturous applause that greeted Mavis at the end of her song brought tears to the eyes of many in the crowd. Mavis has spent many months now resting and recovering. That night proved, once and for all, that she was not forgotten. The show was also elevated by the presence of local music luminaries including special guests Liang Wen Fu and the genius lyricist Xiao Han. It was truly a night to remember. Photos courtesy of The Theatre Practice Page 13 of 16 Singfest 08 Our Mr Samuel Seow was invited to attend the highly anticipated and successful outdoor music festival presented by our clients, Midas Productions on 2 and 3 August 2008 at Fort Canning. With stunning performances by top international artistes such as Alicia Keys, One Republic, Travis, Simple Plan, Panic At The Disco and The Pussycat Dolls, Samuel was treated to a sheer spectacle of high energy entertainment at the musical extravaganza. Photos courtesy of SINGFEST 2008 Page 14 of 16 Unshakeable China – One People, One Spirit Through its patron, international pop singer and our friend Sun Ho, CityCare, a non-profit organisation that believes in helping people to help others, partnered the Sichuan Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, which is overseeing the relief work at the Sichuan disaster site, to hold a charity art auction, „Unshakeable China – One People, One Spirit‟ on 2 August 2008 at The Luxe Art Museum to raise funds for the victims of the devastating earthquake. Our Mr Samuel Seow attended the event with our friends Mr Paul Foster, a Dark Horse Entertainment Artiste who hosted the event; and Ms Maggie Tan, a popular local model. 80 specially selected art pieces created by artists from the affected areas were offered for sale to the public. Proceeds would go to the relief efforts in Sichuan. Photos Courtesy of CityCare 12 Lotus Gala Premiere @ GV VivoCity Our Mr Samuel Seow and our Ms Trina Ha were invited to attend the gala premier of the new movie by our client Studio 10Twentyeight, “12 Lotus” on 10 August 2008. 12 Lotus is directed by Royston Tan, one of Singapore‟s best-selling directors. Already hailed by some as “probably the best local movie yet, "12 Lotus" tells the story of the ill-fated singer Lian Hua and the heartless men in her life who use and abuse her. Ambitiously spanning over 3 decades, from the 1980s, 1990s till the present day, the script plays out against the backdrop of poignant Hokkien songs. The movie stars Qi Yi Wu, Liu Ling Ling and Mindee Ong; who each became huge household names following the success of Royston‟s previous film "881". Page 15 of 16 Areas of Practice We are a full-service law corporation providing legal and advisory services in Singapore as well as internationally. Our areas of practice include: 541 Orchard Road #18-01 Liat Towers Singapore 238881 PHONE: (65) 6887 3393 FAX: (65) 6887 3303 E-MAIL: Managing Director: [email protected] (Personal Assistant: [email protected]) Office Accountant: [email protected] TV/Film/ Corporate: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] benjaminmak @sslawcorp.com [email protected] [email protected] Music/ IP: [email protected] [email protected] Litigation: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Arts/ Theatre: [email protected] [email protected] Marketing Communications: [email protected] [email protected] We’d love to hear from you. Write us at [email protected] We’d love to hear from you. Write to us at [email protected] Page 16 of 16 Art Law; Media and Entertainment Law; Corporate and Commercial Law; Incorporation of local and offshore entities and provision of Corporate Secretarial Services; Intellectual Property Law, including copyrights, trade and service marks, designs and patents; Litigation, Arbitration, Mediation and Dispute Resolution; and Wills, Probate, Estates and Trusts. In addition to the above, we have entered into association with a few strategic legal partners to ensure that we offer to our clients a comprehensive range of essential legal services. Within Singapore, we are associated with Balkenende Chew & Chia. With their support, our practice areas in Singapore now extend to and include Conveyancing and Property Law. In Malaysia we are in association with Seow & Associates, a full service law firm based in Kuala Lumpur. In Australia, we are in association with Feinauer Commercial Lawyers, which provides a full range of legal services for clients from around Europe and the Asia Pacific. Its principal, Mr. Dirk Feinauer, is also Special Counsel to SSLC. Internationally, we have forged strong alliances and a wellconnected network with foreign legal counterparts in territories like the People‟s Republic of China; the Hong Kong SAR; Malaysia; Indonesia; Thailand; Australia; the United States of America; Taiwan; and the European Union. Accordingly, we are well-poised to offer our clients compelling and cost-effective legal solutions and services around the globe, in a manner only we know how.