About Me

I have worked in Asia for over 25 years, 22 of which have been with Bird & Bird. I head our Intellectual Property practice in Asia-Pacific. My practice covers contentious and non-contentious intellectual property and I have extensive experience across the Asia-Pacific region.

I advise clients across a range of sectors including electronics, pharma, communications, IT, media and food & beverage. Working on major IP litigation, I manage complex, multi-jurisdictional disputes, working closely with our network of partner firms. I also develop case strategies across the different legal and regulatory environments in Asia-Pacific. I have represented some of the world's leading companies in life sciences and electronics.

In life sciences, my experience includes contentious matters such as patent, trade mark and unfair competition litigation and commercial work such as clinical trials agreements, joint promotion and joint marketing agreements, collaboration and development agreements.

In the tech & comms sector, I have developed significant expertise in standards issues and the interplay between standards and patents, and I have been involved in some of the leading cases relating to standard essential patents.

You can find out more about my reputation and track record in the major legal directories including Chambers Asia-Pacific, Legal 500 Asia-Pacific, Asialaw, Asia IP Profiles, IAM Patent 1000, IAM Life Sciences 250, and The International Who's Who Legal directories for Patent Lawyers, Life Sciences Lawyers and Trademarks Lawyers.
Education

Studied

  • The London School of Economics and Political Science

Admissions

  • Law Society of England & Wales in 1991
  • Law Society of Hong Kong in 1993
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Testimonials

Receives plaudits for his cross-border IP litigation expertise. He attracts instructions from entities in the electronics, pharmaceuticals and TMT sectors, with one impressed client reporting: 'He sees the big picture in a way that very few people do and gets straight to the point in understanding the client's objectives. What I really like about him is that he brings multi-dimensional strategic thinking into the team and asks the most probing of questions to get to the key issues quickly.'

Chambers Asia-Pacific 2021

Matthew Laight is an established name in the life sciences market report sources, with over 25 years of experience with contentious patent proceedings.

Who's Who Legal Life Sciences 2021

Sources confirm that the 'very talented' Matthew Laight is a 'strategist' and an 'excellent lawyer.' He utilises his long-standing experience in the China IP market to advise high-profile clients

Chambers Asia-Pacific 2021

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