Ngo Thu Huong is a partner in our intellectual property, commercial and IT practice. Prior to joining the firm in 2011, HUONG worked for several years in the IP practice of one of Vietnam’s major law firms. She has over 20 years’ experience of advising on intellectual property law, particularly such as trademarks and copyright. She also advises on commercial contracts including agency, distribution and supply agreements, as well as advertising and sponsorship agreements.

Huong has worked hand-in-hand with some of the world’s most recognizable brands to develop strategies for brand development, clearance, protection, monetization, expansion, and enforcement. She partners with clients that range in size from start-ups to leading global franchises, in a wide array of industries, including fashion, jewelry, luxury, and consumer goods; alcohol; casinos and hospitality; franchise restaurants; medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and life sciences, including in the cannabis space; universities; and defense products. She is a trusted advisor and partner to larger clients’ in-house legal teams and regularly called upon to step into an in-house counsel role for smaller and start-up clients.

Huong represents a range of clients including manufacturers, brand owners and publishers, and has a special focus on the technology and education sectors.

Huong is recognized by various clients for her commercial, information technology and intellectual property work, which describes her as “very experienced, totally pragmatic, and highly efficient”, and says that the lawyers in her team ”actively advise, rather than just process, and have real international capacity”.

• Counseled to one of the world’s most recognizable quick service restaurant brands in (i) managing global brand prosecution and enforcement portfolio, (ii) supporting client franchising activities, and (iii) working with client to migrate and monetize IP assets through assignments, licenses, and franchise agreements.

• Served as counsel to one of the world’s preeminent casino resort hotel brands in (i) managing global brand prosecution and enforcement portfolio by providing big-picture strategic advice including enforcement of the brands, (ii) developing licenses and licensing structure to individual resorts and operators, and (iii) giving advice on cybersquatting disputes.

• Advised clients’ luxury swim, apparel, and accessories brands in (i) guiding them through formation and selection, clearance, and adoption of a brand and expansion of that brand globally and (ii) managing global brand prosecution and enforcement portfolio.

• Counseled to one of the world’s leading medical device and biologics companies in managing global brand portfolio, including enforcement of the brand before the courts and ASEAN intellectual property offices.

• Rendered advice to a world leading defense contractor, and advised on prosecution, expansion, and enforcement of global brand portfolio in developing and implementing successful campaign to rescue the client’s mark from threatened genericide.

• Counseled to clients on selection, clearance, adoption and protection of brands.

• Coordinated with clients to develop brand enforcement programs, including enforcement against unauthorized use of brands on social media.

• Advise clients as to national rules and regulations relative to trademark protection, licensing, packaging, advertising, and marketing in various industries.