Career series: Jo-Ann See, Amica Law
After I completed my studies at law school, I was undecided about whether to practise law. I joined the Singapore Legal Service, which posted me to the Trademarks and Patents Registry, which later became the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore.
I was appointed the deputy registrar of trademarks and patents, but my office was situated in an old building far away from the business district where my friends were, as they were working in law firms. I recall feeling alone and regretting my decision
However, working there introduced me to the world of IP and since then, I have never looked back and very much enjoy this field of practice.
After that stint, I worked for several years in a general law firm, Allen & Gledhill, focusing on IP, until I founded Amica Law with three colleagues in 2006.
Outline a typical day in your role.
IP work is very fast-paced and international, so one of the first things I do in the morning is check my emails, as messages come in from other parts of the world throughout the night.
I receive a lot of emails every morning and during the course of the day. Some can be urgent with priority deadlines for filing a trademark or patent, or for oppositions that could be due on the day itself, so checking my inbox constantly is a must.
Apart from responding and advising clients, either through emails, meetings, or phone calls (or, nowadays, Zoom meetings), I have many discussions with colleagues and staff.
There is never a dull working day for me.
What are the best parts about your job?
There are many “best” parts. IP is not specific to one type of business as almost all businesses should have IP in their portfolio of assets. My job therefore gives me the opportunity to work with clients in diverse fields such as food and beverage, e-commerce, cosmetics, and gaming, to name a few. It is a great opportunity to see how each industry works and develops its IP.
As I work with many clients on their global IP portfolios, one of the best parts of this job is how international my work is. I get to learn about the laws in different countries and regions and see how they may vary in obvious and subtle ways. In addition, IP laws are always evolving to catch up with developments and advances in science and technology.
