Editorial: Intellectual Property in the UAE
01 August 2008
The intellectual property bar in the UAE is small and its lawyers' practices are often broad in scope. The lawyers selected for inclusion in this chapter have experience dealing with a variety of IP issues, ranging from the registration, maintenance and enforcement of trademarks and patents to dealing with intellectual property rights on the internet. This chapter identifies five individuals from the Dubai offices of three established firms.
Al Tamimi & Company boasts one of the oldest IP departments in the UAE, and has grown from just one lawyer in 1995 to a total of 11 - two partners from this department feature on the following pages. Managing partner and head of the intellectual property and information technology department Hoda Taysir Barakat performed extremely well in our research and was described as "a true expert" by one source. Barakat was the subcommittee chair for the International Trademark Association's Middle East and South Asia anti-counterfeiting and enforcement committee from 2006-2007 and is a qualified trademark attorney. The firm was involved in the landmark decision by the Trade Mark Office in the UAE to accept the registration of a single colour mark used by Mars in connection with its "Uncle Ben's" range of products. Barakat is joined by Omar Obeidat, a well-known name in IP across the region, working in the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt and Iraq, to name but a few. He has represented clients in industries including tobacco, pharmaceuticals and foodstuffs and is a frequent speaker on IP and WTO subjects.
International firm Clyde & Co LLP also put in a very strong performance with two entries in this section. The firm is well established, with over 20 years in the region and offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. "IP specialist" Rob Deans was highly praised during the research for his impressive experience and client list. Deans and his team have managed the registration and maintenance of trademarks and patents for a range of high-profile local and international clients across a variety of industries. Their enforcement work was also noted and they have covered products such as clothing, toys, cigarettes, luxury goods, watches and software protected under trademark, unfair competition, copyright and patent laws. Deans's broad practice is complemented by David Moore's focus on trademarks. Moore has managed and provided strategic advice on trademark portfolios for a range of local and international corporations with a specific interest in property development, hotel, health spa and restaurant management. He also conducts due diligence reviews of the intellectual property of target corporations and is a "certainty for inclusion on anyone's list".
The final name in this chapter comes from IP boutique Rouse & Co. The firm has had an office in Dubai since 1997 and it is from this office that they manage their clients' trademark portfolios throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Rajiv Suri is a "notable practitioner" in the field with a broad IP practice.