Alicia Ma

I am an intellectual property lawyer based in Dubai with extensive experience in both contentious and non-contentious IP matters across the Middle East region.

My practice ranges from managing trademark portfolios, devising rebranding and filing strategies, handling disputes over trademarks, domain names, copyrights, and designs, to advising on anti-counterfeiting and enforcement strategies, both regionally and internationally. I also assist clients with IP due diligence and complex IP transactions in M&A deals, R&D activities, technology development, collaboration, transfer and licensing projects.

Before moving to Dubai, I worked in China for another international law firm, where I gained years of experience in a full spectrum of soft IP matters. I also worked in-house at one of the largest e-commerce and technology company groups in China, where I supported the group's tech division on a wide range of legal matters, including IP, commercial, corporate, product compliance reviews and regulatory matters.

• Managing regional trade mark portfolio for one of the largest US hotel chains. Assisting the client with trade mark opposition matters in the UAE and received favourable decisions. Handling enforcement matters with positive results in stopping infringers from using similar marks in Saudi Arabia before escalating to formal legal actions.
• Assisting a UAE homegrown confectionary business with building up local and international trade mark portfolio as it went viral via social media platform overnight. Devising cross-border enforcement strategies and handling infringements in the UAE and worldwide while registrations of marks were in process.
• Assisting a major international banking and financial service provider with trade mark clearance searches and filing strategies for new ventures it incubated in the UAE and elsewhere in the world.
• Advising on IP transactions in M&A deals, including technology and know-how development, collaboration and transfer projects and IP due diligence.