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Sri Sarguna Raj

Head, Intellectual Property, Sports and Gaming
Christopher & Lee Ong

Practice Area:

Intellectual Property, Sports, Gaming

LLB, King’s College London, United Kingdom
Certificate in Legal Practice
Advocate & Solicitor, High Court of Malaya
Registered Trade Mark Agent
Registered Industrial Design Agent

T +603 2273 1919 / +601 6263 9727
E sri.sarguna.raj@christopherleeong.com

Sri heads the Intellectual Property Practice Group in Christopher & Lee Ong  and focuses on intellectual property ("IP") law in relation to both contentious and non-contentious work. 

He represents and assists clients in relation to disputes relating to patents, copyright, privacy and trade secrets, trade mark, passing off, industrial designs, advertising and domain name and also in relation to various aspects of enforcement of intellectual property rights. Over the years, he has represented many multinational companies from diverse range of sectors in litigation and in managing and implementing anti-piracy and anti-counterfeiting programmes for them.

His non-litigation work includes registration of IP rights and in relation to drafting and advising on IP issues in corporate and commercial transactions, particularly in relation to licensing, franchising, regulatory advice, entertainment, sponsorship and merchandising.

Sri holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) Degree from King’s College London, United Kingdom. He was awarded the Malaysian Law Scholarship 1999, which is a full scholarship awarded by University of London to the student with the best results in Malaysia for the 1st year of LLB, to read law at King’s College London for the 2nd and 3rd year of the degree.

Sri continues to be named in leading legal directories, namely ranked as a Tier 1 Intellectual Property lawyer by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, highly ranked in Chambers Asia-Pacific and recognised as an IP Star by Managing IP. Clients of the firm describe Sri as a "brilliant, dedicated" IP lawyer, adding that the practice is "very knowledgeable" and "highly trusted".

Sri is also recognised as a Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation. He also received the accolade of Top 40 Under 40 legal professionals in Asia in 2017 by Asian Legal Business.

Experience

Sri has acted and succeeded in the first contested adjudication before the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum ("CMCF") in respect of a broadcast advertisement for a leading global oil company.

The following are some of the cases that he has been involved in:

  • Patent infringement and invalidation action wherein he acted for a renowned multinational medical device company in their action against another renowned multinational medical device company in respect of the patent of a medical device.
  • Patent invalidation actions where we assisted the owner of a patent on an invention used in the oil palm industry to defend the validity of the patent against invalidation actions instituted by several different parties.
  • Patent infringement and invalidation action wherein he acted for a renowned glove manufacturer in defending an action brought by a competitor in relation to a glove manufacturing system.
  • Patent infringement and invalidation action wherein he acted for a company offering imaging technology and innovative security solutions in an action instituted by a competitor.
  • Acted and succeeded in a patent infringement suit for a well-known Muslim fashion brand in Malaysia.
  • Industrial design infringement and revocation action wherein he acted for a well-known soft drinks and beverage maker against its competitor in respect of the industrial design of a beverage bottle.
  • Industrial design infringement action wherein he acted for the owner of technology communication devices in enforcing its registered industrial design against a competitor which used similar devices.
  • Copyright infringement action wherein he acted for a motorcycle manufacturer in relation to an action filed by a renowned multinational motorcycle manufacturer.
  • Represented a Malaysian coffee chain in an action for trademark infringement, passing off and unlawful interference with trade.
  • Represented a leading Malaysia-based distributor, supplier and global exporter of motorcycle spare parts in an action for trademark infringement, passing off and unlawful interference with trade.
  • Represented a renowned foreign real estate developer against a local entity regarding domain name dispute proceedings.
  • Represented a leading motorcycle accessories manufacturer in matters involving trade mark infringement and counterfeit products that are sold on online shopping platforms.
  • Assisted Tenaga Nasional Berhad in trademark litigation matters against infringer which involved trade mark infringement in relation to their IP assets.
  • Advised and assisted one of the biggest budget airlines in the world, to handle trade mark audit,  clearance searches and prosecution of trade mark applications for their trade marks for various businesses and to assist them with the filing strategies of the trade marks overseas in ASEAN and in 27 countries worldwide.
  • Represented an international training company in an action for breach of employment contract and duty of fidelity / fiduciary, copyright infringement, breach of confidence and unlawful interference with trade.
  • Represented a leading clinical-stage biotechnology company in litigation against a research assistant in a collaboration project.
  • Assisted Japan’s largest bookstore chain with the registration of relevant trademarks in relation to the franchise application with the Malaysian Franchise Registry.
  • Acted for a manufacturer of wastewater treatment machine in a copyright infringement action against ex-employees who misappropriated company trade secrets and set up a competing business.
  • Represented operators of karaoke outlets in dispute against copyright licensing bodies.
  • Acted for local companies defending a suit for breach of confidence, breach of fiduciary duty, etc.
  • Acted and succeeded in a trade mark infringement and passing off action for a renowned international hotel chain against a local hotel.
  • Acted and succeeded in a trade mark cancellation action for a multinational consumer care products company against a former distributor in Malaysia.
  • Trade mark infringement and passing off action wherein he assisted an exhibition organizer in resisting an action filed by its competitor.
  • Trade mark cancellation action wherein he assisted a Middle Eastern fast food chain in cancelling the trade mark registration of its competitor.
  • Trade mark cancellation action wherein he assisted a multinational learning and educational tools company in cancelling the trade mark filed by a local company.
  • Acted for a local leading car windshield repair shop in settling a trade mark dispute.
  • Represented a regulatory body registered under Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission and designated by the Communication and Multimedia Act 1998 in trademark clearance searches, filing strategy, and prosecution of trademarks.
  • Assisted and advised many multinational companies (including luxury goods manufacturers, fashion brands, major sports manufacturers, automotive parts manufacturers, consumer goods, etc.) on enforcement strategy against counterfeits; coordinated and executed criminal raids with law enforcement officers.
  • Acted and succeeded in a contested adjudication action before the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum ("CMCF") and Advertising Standards Authority Malaysia ("ASA") in respect of broadcast and published advertisements for a renowned multinational consumer product company.
  • Assisted a renowned foreign tea manufacturer in negotiating the assignment of a trade mark filed by a local company in Malaysia.
Sports & Gaming
  • Advised on legal issues in respect of the business of sport including the preparation and oversight of strategic, transactional and compliance documentation for the setting up, launch and ongoing operations of sports channels and events, the negotiation and drafting of all related agreements and documents for the broadcast and license of local and international sports content including collaborations with local and international sports associations and the provision of broadcast and production services for local and international sports events such as the Asian Games and the SEA Games, and brand ambassador and talent engagement agreements for sports personalities and newsreaders.
  • Assisted and advised a Malaysian professional racing driver on issues such as sponsorship agreements, setting up of business entities and issues relating to e-sports in relation to the setting up of his sports related company ventures, a full-service consultancy company functioning as specialists and representatives within professional sports and virtual racing grand prix.
  • Assisted a former national football player in the setting up of a youth football academy, drafting of agreements between the new setup, the sponsors and the relevant parties.
Memberships / Directorships
  • Member, Malaysian Bar
  • Member, Kuala Lumpur Bar
  • Member, Intellectual Property Committee, Bar Council, Malaysia
  • Committee, Licensing Executives Society of Malaysia ("LESM")
  • Member of the International Trade Mark Association ("INTA")
  • Member, Malaysian Intellectual Property Association ("MIPA")
  • Member, Asian Patent Attorneys’ Association ("APAA")
  • Member, Sports Committee, Bar Council, Malaysia
Publications
  • Contributor, "Chapter on Intellectual Property", Malaysian Precedents of Pleadings, published by Bullen & Leake & Jacob
  • Contributor, "Chapter on Entertainment Law ", Malaysian Precedents of Pleadings, published by Bullen & Leake & Jacob
  • Contributor, "The Trademarks Act 2019 and the Madrid Protocol", Legally Speaking, published by The Sun (Mar 2020)
  • Co-Author, "Malaysia: tax, licence and duty hikes add to operator pressure", published by G3 Magazine (Oct 2020)
  • Contributor, "Trade Description Orders: Handle with care – Managing Intellectual Property", Malaysia IP Focus 2007 2nd Edition (2007)