Shilpa Shrivastava is a qualified trade mark attorney with a decade of experience in trade mark and design matters in India. She has been in active practice since 2015, advising and representing clients in trade mark prosecution, oppositions, enforcement, and design registrations.
She holds LL.B. and LL.M. degrees from Nagpur University (RTMNU) and secured second position at the university level, reflecting strong academic excellence. She is also a TM Facilitator (IP Mitra), assisting clients with effective brand protection solutions. With a focused practice in intellectual property law, she provides strategic, practical, and client-oriented solutions for brand protection, catering to both domestic and international clients.
M. Sijabat is a registered Patent, Design, and Trademark Agent in Indonesia. He advises clients on a broad spectrum of IP matters, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and industrial designs, across multiple industries.
He provides strategic guidance on IP filing, protection, and portfolio management, ensuring compliance with Indonesia’s intellectual property laws. M. Sijabat is experienced in coordinating with local authorities and handling cross-border IP filings for international clients seeking protection in Indonesia.
Peter is an Australian & New Zealand Patent and Trademark Attorney with experience in drafting and prosecution of software, electronics, electrical, and mechanical inventions.
Peter has industry experience in engineering where he designed grain processors. Peter has also worked on advanced implementation of Machine Learning concepts to agricultural spraying equipment and designed a system for improved solar panel efficiency. He is a member of the IEEE Computer Society, the Australian Computer Society, Engineers Australia, and the International Society of Automation.
Rachel is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in human resources, administration, and office management across diverse industries, including information technology, education, freight services, business consulting, and F&B.
She is recognised for her ability to establish efficient organisational systems, lead teams with clarity and purpose, and enhance overall operational effectiveness. Rachel’s leadership style combines structure, adaptability, and a people-focused approach, enabling her to build cohesive, high-performing work environments that align with business objectives.
Driven by professionalism, integrity, and a commitment to continuous improvement, Rachel consistently delivers strategic and practical solutions that strengthen organisational growth and performance.
Alan Nathaniel has been in the finance industry for over 25 years. A finance and economics graduate from an Australian university in Sydney, he has extensive experience across different industries over the span of his career.
He began his career in the banking industry before joining a property development firm. Thereafter, his experience in the finance division of the construction industry spanned over a period of 14 years. From the construction industry, he embarked on a new challenge in an MNC manufacturing environment, where he gained exposure to the international finance industry. He has also held the role of Financial Controller for a group of companies, including a public company.
To further expand his horizons, Alan moved into the F&B industry within a local boutique hotel and later into the education sector. He gained experience working in a foundation established under the Ministry of Higher Education and subsequently headed the finance department of a local college. His experience and accomplishments include managing overall finance functions for local, multinational, and public companies.
Within these organisations, his portfolios included project financing, treasury, CAPEX functions, budgetary functions, analysis and interpretation of financial statements, the development of standard operating procedures, and establishing finance departments within organisations. In addition to his finance portfolio, he has also played lead roles in obtaining accreditation to international standards for local companies.
Techapaitoon is a registered Patent, Design and Trademark Agent in Thailand with comprehensive expertise in intellectual property laws and practices. He has extensive experience handling patent and trademark registrations, oppositions, and renewals, as well as advising on IP enforcement.
Techapaitoon works closely with clients from diverse sectors, providing practical and effective IP solutions that align with both Thai regulations and international standards. His in-depth understanding of regional IP frameworks enables him to assist foreign clients in securing and maintaining their intellectual property rights in Thailand.
Kyaw is a registered Patent, Design and Trademark Agent in Myanmar He has been actively involved in advising clients on patent, trademark, copyright, and industrial design matters across a wide range of industries.
He provides strategic counsel on IP filing, protection, and portfolio management, ensuring compliance with Myanmar’s evolving intellectual property framework. Kyaw is also well-versed in liaising with local authorities and managing cross-border IP filings for international clients seeking protection in Myanmar.
Academician Emeritus Professor Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Syed Jalaludin bin Syed Salim holds a Bachelor of Veterinary Science from the University of Punjab, a Master of Philosophy, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from the University of London, United Kingdom. Throughout his distinguished career, he has been conferred with seven honorary doctorates from renowned local and international universities in recognition of his exceptional contributions to academia, science, and leadership.
He has held numerous prominent positions in the education and corporate sectors, including Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Pro-Chancellor of UPM, Chancellor of Taylor’s University, Chairman of Asia e University (AeU), and Chairman of the Board of Governors of University College Fairview. His corporate experience includes chairmanships at Bank Rakyat, Bioalpha Holdings Berhad, and the Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC), among others.
In addition, Tan Sri Syed contributes his expertise in innovation and commercialization as an Advisor to Adastra IP. Drawing upon his extensive experience in academia, research, and corporate governance, he plays a pivotal role in shaping Adastra’s strategic direction in innovation-led value creation.
He actively advocates the integration of research outcomes with industry applications, promoting stronger collaboration between universities, innovators, and the business community. Through his leadership and vision, Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Syed Jalaludin continues to inspire the advancement of Malaysia’s innovation ecosystem and contribute to the growth of a sustainable, knowledge-based economy.
Nor Aisha serves as the Commercialisation Manager at Adastra IP, where she leads initiatives to accelerate the translation of innovations into commercially viable products and scalable ventures. She plays a key role in developing commercialisation strategies, building strategic partnerships, and supporting venture building across multiple technology domains.
With prior experience as an investment analyst at Cradle Fund and PlaTCOM Ventures, Nor Aisha has evaluated and managed over RM15 million in innovation funding, supporting startups and SMEs from concept to commercialization. Her core expertise includes technology transfer, commercialization strategy, ecosystem engagement, venture building, and innovation funding.
Asher brings a foundational understanding of financial integrity and compliance from his experience in external audit at KPMG, where he worked across diverse sectors including property development, construction, and capital market funds. His exposure to these industries has equipped him with a broad perspective on financial structures, reporting requirements, and industry-specific regulatory standards. He holds a degree in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University, is an ACCA Affiliate with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), and has obtained the International Certified Valuation Specialist (ICVS) designation, reflecting his expertise in business and intangible asset valuation
Having completed graduation from University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh, Md Abdur Rahim joined Advocate, Attorneys and Barrister Law Firm based in Dhaka as an inhouse lawyer. Apart from mastering the art of marshalling of facts and receiving briefs, he developed his skills in conveyancing and drafting of pleadings and petitions in civil, criminal and writ jurisdictions. Rahim was entrusted to handle some trademark and patent related matters and he acquired fast hand knowledge of IP laws of Bangladesh in the firm. With the theorical knowledge from a reputed law school and practical knowledge from a renowned law firm, he started his new career as a lecturer at the Department of Law and Human Right, University of Asia Pacific and subsequently promoted to the post of Assistant Professor. His areas of expertise include constitutional laws, family laws, intellectual property laws and civil litigation.
At present, Rahim is pursuing a PhD degree at the Universiti Malaya, Malaysia.
Sugania handles patent portfolio mainly for life sciences from pre-filing up to grant.
She graduated from University Technology Malaysia, with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and further pursued a PhD in Medicines from Department of Surgery, University of Malaya. She has been on the Dean list for 7 semesters and was awarded as the Best Presenter in International Postgraduate Symposium in Biotechnology (IPSB) of bio-product development in University Technology Malaysia and the Best Presenter in Final Year Project in the Faculty of Bioscience and Medical Engineering of University Technology Malaysia.
She had published scientific journal articles on Anticancer effects of retinoic acid in cervical cancer cells and potential value of visfatin, omentin-1, Nesfatin-1 and Apelin in Renal Cell Carcinoma for Department of Bioscience University Technology Malaysia and Department of Surgery of University Malaya (DOI: 10.11113/jt.v81.12397; 2022 Dec 6;12(12):3069. DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12123069. PMID: 36553076; PMCID: PMC9776786).
Prior to joining Adastra, Sugania was a Research Associate at the Department of Surgery at University of Malaya. She has conducted standard molecular biology methods (PCR, RT-PCR, DNA sequences analysis) and performing DNA/RNA extraction, primer and probe designing.
Suraya holds a PhD in Biochemistry from Universiti Putra Malaysia, where she specialised in animal cell biology, carbohydrate metabolism, cell signalling, gutderived metabolites, and diabetes research. Her doctoral research, completed in 2025, focused on elucidating the mechanism of action of short-chain fatty acids in regulating glucose uptake in rat muscle cells. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry with First Class Honours from the same university and was awarded best student of her graduating class.
Suraya brings deep technical expertise to her role as a Patent Executive, supported by hands-on experience in essential laboratory techniques including cell culture, protein extraction, gel electrophoresis, western blotting, and ELISA. During her academic years, she was also involved in a plant tissue culture project, as well as a few natural product research aimed at developing bioactive compounds for therapeutic use. She has published scientific articles in both local and international journals and has presented her work at various scientific conferences.
These experiences allow her to navigate complex scientific disclosures with precision and clarity, which are essential in supporting the protection of biotechnology and life sciences-related inventions.
Faizin is a Senior Executive at Adastra IP, with over 13 years of experience in the intellectual property field. She specialises in trademark prosecution and also manages industrial design and copyright matters across multiple jurisdictions.
Faizin has extensive experience in trademark registration, overcoming refusals, attending ex parte hearings, and handling oppositions. She provides strategic counsel on brand protection, helping clients secure and enforce their IP rights in multiple markets.
She is highly skilled in resolving trademark registrability issues with MyIPO and in developing strategies to overcome prior conflicting trademarks, ensuring clients receive the broadest possible protection.
She also handles matters related to coexistence agreements, advising clients on strategic approaches to resolving conflicts between companies while safeguarding their trademark rights.
With deep expertise in trademark prosecution and brand protection, she has played a key role in guiding clients through the creation, development, and registration of strong, enforceable trademarks. She assists clients in building distinctive brand identities, ensuring that their trademarks align with business objectives and provide a competitive edge in the market.
Beyond trademarks, Faizin is actively involved in industrial design and copyright protection, assisting clients in safeguarding their intellectual assets.
With a strong understanding of IP laws across different regions, she manages local and global IP portfolios, ensuring her clients’ rights are well protected and effectively enforced.
Vijay Kumar is a Marketing Executive at Adastra IP with over 15 years of experience in the intellectual property (IP) industry. Based in Kuala Lumpur, he is responsible for marketing, client engagement, and business development within Malaysia. Vijay actively connects local businesses and SMEs with Adastra IP’s professional services, promoting IP awareness and assisting clients in protecting their brands and innovations. His strong industry background and dedication to client service reflect Adastra IP’s commitment to delivering trusted and effective IP solutions in Malaysia.
Domain Specialization: Life Sciences, Pharmaceuticals, Chemistry, Biotechnology, AI-driven Drug Discovery, Digital Therapeutics, Next-generation Biologics, HealthTech, MedTech, and other Emerging Technologies
Sangeeta Singh has more than a decade of experience in intellectual property and patent practice. She has previously worked with senior IP litigators and large IP prosecution and litigation firms, and has managed patent departments, overseeing full patent lifecycle operations. She has also established in-house IP counsel functions and IP teams for clients, providing strategic guidance and operational leadership.
She advises Indian and international clients across a broad range of matters, including supporting Southeast countries’ patent strategies, covering the entire patent lifecycle, including drafting and filing patent applications, prosecution, oppositions, appeals, revocation and invalidation proceedings, enforcement planning, licensing, freedom-to-operate, and strategic portfolio management. Sangeeta has represented clients in complex patent hearings, opposition matters, and strategic enforcement proceedings, delivering high-quality advice aligned with both technical and business objectives.
At Adastra India, Sangeeta established and leads the India office, building high-performing teams, implementing robust workflows, and ensuring that clients receive technically sound and commercially aligned patent advice.
As a member of the International Patent Matters Committee of FICPI, she participates in discussions on global patent law developments, harmonization, and best practices. She also attends international IP conferences and forums, sharing knowledge and engaging with peers on emerging trends in patent strategy. She is additionally a member of INTA and APAA, reinforcing her engagement with the global IP community.
In her free time, Sangeeta is dedicated to animal welfare and enjoys spiritual reading, reflecting her personal commitment to compassion and lifelong learning.
Edrea began her career as a data analyst, working with Malaysia’s national utility company and later with an international bank, where she developed strong analytical and problem-solving skills. These experiences sharpened her attention to detail and strategic thinking—qualities that now serve her well in navigating the complex world of intellectual property.
At Adastra IP, Edrea leads the firm’s business development efforts, with a particular focus on the Greater China region. As Head of the Chinese Desk, she acts as a key bridge between Adastra
and its Chinese clients, facilitating smooth communication and cross-border collaboration. Her fluency in Mandarin and English enables her to connect with clients from diverse backgrounds and helps them understand the nuances of ASEAN and international IP systems.
Beyond her business role, Edrea is passionate about building long-term professional relationships, understanding client needs, and promoting Adastra’s integrated IP services across trademark, patent, and design protection.
Larry has over seven years of experience in business and intangible valuation, financial due diligence, financial modeling, M&A advisory, financial analysis and reporting engagements, and external audits. His engagements covered various industries such as financial services, power & utilities, real estate, manufacturing, infrastructure, agriculture, mining, retail & consumer, and he has worked with international teams from Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, and Singapore. He spent most of his career with Ernst & Young and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Larry graduated from UP Diliman with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accountancy. He scored 91.43% in the Philippines’ Certified Public Accountant licensure examinations, making it close to the Top 10. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter, a globally recognized credential in the investment management profession.
Martin Brassell is an expert in the use of intellectual property in business finance, and the identification, scoring and valuation processes needed to facilitate this emerging market. He has worked extensively with banks, investors, insurers and policy makers across the UK, Europe and Asia to develop new approaches that recognise the importance of intangible assets for business competitiveness and growth.
Martin is an RSA Fellow and a member of CIPA’s IP Commercialisation Committee. He is recognised by IAM Magazine as one of the top 300 IP strategists worldwide.
Martin has written and co-authored a number of influential publications on IP identification and financing. His international publications include Fostering the use of intangibles to strengthen SME access to finance for OECD (2019), the 2013 Banking on IP report and 2017 Hidden Value report for the UK Intellectual Property Office, and two reports on intangibles identification for the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). He has also co-authored a book for Oxford University Press, Economic Approaches to Intellectual Property, with Dr Nicola Searle.
Piyush is an experienced patent professional with extensive experience in patent prosecution cases, patent drafting and patent searches. His technical expertise covers a range of sectors including Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Processing, Electric Vehicles, Drone Technology, Bioinformatics, Electrical and Electronics, Polymer Engineering, and Nanotechnology.
Piyush’s role involves responding to office actions from various patent offices (USPTO, EPO, IPO, UKIPO), patent drafting, and patent portfolio management. He is also skilled in prior art searching using databases such as Questel-Orbit, Derwent Innovation, Google Patents, USPTO, WIPO, and Espacenet.
Key achievements include maintaining a grant rate of over 90% in patent prosecution in the US and India, effectively handling USPTO examiner calls to secure patent grants, and collaborating with over 30 startups in various technological domains to protect their intellectual property.
Syamil was born in Selangor and currently resides in Kuala Lumpur. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Arau, Perlis.
Upon graduating, Syamil began his career in the field of intellectual property (IP). Over the years, he has gained valuable experience working with several IP firms as well as within the government sector, which has provided him with a strong foundation of knowledge and practical insights into the industry.
At Adastra IP, Syamil is actively involved in promoting and advertising the firm’s range of services. His work includes reaching out to local clients, particularly from public and private universities, government agencies, established companies, SMEs, and individuals, and assisting with both local and international IP services such as IP filing, IP valuation, and commercialisation. He also plays a key role in developing and organising IP-related programmes, such as webinars and IP training sessions, aimed at increasing awareness and understanding of intellectual property.
Susan Christy is an Intellectual Property Administrator with 7 years’ experience in handling various trademark matters including Malaysian and foreign trademark, copyright and Industrial Design applications, providing pre-filing advice for trademark matters.
Hieu is a registered IP attorney with more than 10 years of experience in the IP field.
He has a double degree in Law from the Hanoi Law University, Vietnam and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the National Economics University, Vietnam.
He is well verse in IP laws and prosecution of IP rights in Vietnam and have assisted both local and international clients with their IP portfolio.
Jayavaruman graduated with an honours degree in law from the University of London. He has experience in managing the IP portfolio of various multinational companies and SMEs. He is currently handling various trade mark matters including Malaysian and foreign trademark prosecution, trademark oppositions, trademark clearance and trademark cancellations. He has also been actively participating in numerous conferences relating to IP.
Gurpreet Kaur Sidhu graduated with an honours degree in law from the University of Northumbria. She is a Trademark Executive with experience in handling various trademark matters including Malaysian, Indian and foreign trademark prosecution, trademark oppositions, trademark clearance for multinational companies, small entities and individuals. She has also been actively participating in IP talks and workshops organized by various organizations.
He is an experienced venture capitalist and had evaluated over two hundred ventures since 1996. He was a CEO of PNB Equity Resources Sdn Berhad and Malaysian Technology Development Corporation. Over the years, he had developed an expertise in the valuation of firms, ventures, technologies and intellectual properties in a number of industries and sectors in Malaysia and Silicon Valley, USA.
He is a Professor in Business Strategy at International Business School, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
He is an accomplished author with two books, and his articles have been printed in international journals.
Eric Tong Yih, Lee is a highly experienced Patent Attorney with extensive expertise in intellectual property law across multiple jurisdictions, including Singapore, Malaysia, the US, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
Before embarking on his career in Intellectual Property, Eric spent over two years in academic research, holding postdoctoral positions at Kyoto University and University College London, where he specialised in optoelectronics, nanotechnology, and material sciences.
Transitioning into intellectual property, Eric has accumulated over 15 years of experience in the field with a strong technical background in electronics engineering, photonics, and material sciences. He has successfully managed large patent portfolios for multinational corporations, research institutions, and innovative startups. Eric has a proven track record in patent drafting, patent prosecution, preparing Patentability Opinions and Freedom-to-Operate Opinions and have worked with some of the top patent filers and leading technology firms globally. His career spans roles in prominent IP firms and in-house counsel positions, showcasing his ability to navigate complex intellectual property landscapes.
A Ph.D. holder in Optoelectronics from the University of Southampton and a First-Class Honours graduate from University College London, Eric combines technical acumen with legal expertise to deliver strategic IP solutions. He is also actively involved in business development and mentorship within the industry, further solidifying his reputation as a trusted advisor in intellectual property protection. Recognized for his contributions to the field, he has been listed in IAM Patents 1000 (2020, 2022).
Eric’s dedication to the field and broad industry engagement makes him a highly regarded expert in Intellectual Property law and innovation strategy as a Senior Patent Specialist with Adastra IP, Malaysia.
He is a qualified accountant and his financial expertise is applied in the valuation of intellectual property and intellectual property audit. He provides an independent view on the value and commercial viability of an intellectual property to help technology owners make informed decisions.
En. Adzli Shamsuddin has a BSC degree in accounting from the University of Hull, England. He is obtained his ACCA qualification in 1996 and FCCA in 2003. His work experiences include a six-year stint as an accountant under the management attachment programme with a large company, Sime Darby Berhad. He later obtained a Dealers Representative license and pursued a career as a securities dealer, first with Mohaiyani Securities, and then at Kenanga Investment Bank.
He is certified as an IP Valuer by the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO).
Suriyia has currently served the Intellectual Property (IP) industry for fifteen years. Prior to embarking a career in IP, Suriyia was attached to the Research and Development Department of Motorola Technology (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. as an Electronics Engineer for four years gaining substantial experience in the field of information and communications technology.
Suriyia began her IP career with a reputable IP firm in Malaysia in which she heads and leads the Patent Department with her practice area extending across all realms of patent and design prosecution.
At Adastra IP, as the Director of Patents, Suriyia provides the necessary provisions and supervision for the department to excel and progress by maintaining an efficient workflow and high productivity across the board while keeping abreast of changes in Patent laws and regulations, both local (Malaysia) and International, and ensure compliance with the relevant laws and guidelines. Coupled with both an engineering and legal qualification, Suriyia devises the most suitable Patent strategy with the best interest for protection of clients’ invention across multiple ASEAN jurisdictions and across other international jurisdictions.
Suriyia has extensive experience in patent drafting and preparing patentability opinions in a variety of diverse technical fields including telecommunication, mechanical, electronics, computer systems, nanotechnology and drone technology related inventions. She also has extensive experience in providing freedom-to-operate opinions, validity opinions and infringement opinions for clients along with providing
patent litigation support for patent disputes in a variety of technical fields. She has also been actively engaging in providing IP talks to promote IP awareness. Over the years of her experience, Suriyia has develop a good relationship with the Malaysian Patent Office with regards to patent prosecution.
Suriyia has been recognized as “Highly recommended ‐ Individuals: patent prosecution” for the year 2023; she falls under “Gold Tier – Individuals: patent prosecution” for the year 2024 by IAM Patent 1000; and recognized IAM Global Leaders 2025 – individuals for patent prosecution.
Prithipal Singh is the Singapore Patent and Trademark Attorney at Adastra IP Singapore. He specialises in Intellectual Property (IP) Law. With more than 35 years of legal practice experience, he is a prominent expert in Singapore trade mark and patent law and a highly renowned and respected figure at the Bar.
Prithipal graduated with a Law Degree from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and was a member of the NUS Jessup Team in 1985 that won the Jessup Cup. After a stint as a Deputy Public Prosecutor with the Attorney General’s Chambers, he moved into the private sector to specialise in IP Law and has been doing so ever since.
Prithipal has served on several IP Committees, including the Enforcement Committee of the International Trademark Association (INTA), the Anti-Counterfeiting Committee of the INTA and the Law Society’s IP Committee. He is also an active member of the Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA) and has previously held the position of Treasurer for the APAA (Singapore) and Editor of the APAA IP Digest.
Prithipal has been featured by Asia Law as a Leading Lawyer in Singapore in the field of IP Law. He has also been recognised as one of the best lawyers Singapore in the 2022 and 2023 editions of Best Lawyers.
Christine is an intellectual property (IP) professional with over 20 years of experience in IP management and valuation. Her work in IP valuation has been acknowledged in IAM’s Strategy 300 Global Leaders (2024–2026). As Head of IP Valuation at Adastra IP—a full-service IP firm with offices across Southeast Asia and India—she contributes to regional and international IP initiatives, including her appointment to the Technology Expert Committee at the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) and her role as an external expert to the European Commission’s IPR Helpdesk for Southeast Asia. She has also participated as a panel expert in WIPO’s IP Management Clinics, supporting efforts to strengthen IP frameworks in ASEAN.
In addition to her professional roles, Christine serves as Secretary General of the Business Valuers Association of Malaysia (BVAM), where she supports the development of valuation practices and the enhancement of the valuation profession. She is currently serving as Treasurer of the Licensing Executive Society Malaysia (LESM). She is a Certified Valuation Analyst with the International Association of Certified Valuation Specialists (IACVS), a certified IP valuer with the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO), and an accredited trainer with Malaysia’s Human Resource Development Corp, focusing on strategic IP education.
Sathia Sathivel has over twenty (20) years of experience in the intellectual property field, with extensive exposure to trademark, industrial design, and copyright matters across Malaysia and the ASEAN region. He currently heads the Trademarks & Industrial Design practice across multiple jurisdictions, including Malaysia, Singapore, India, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Myanmar, supporting clients with regional coordination and portfolio management.
His work focuses on trademark and design prosecution, portfolio management, and advisory services, assisting clients in establishing, maintaining, and strengthening their brand and design protection across diverse markets. Sathia regularly advises on registrability, filing strategies, renewal planning, and portfolio structuring, ensuring that clients’ IP assets are managed efficiently and aligned with their commercial objectives. His regional experience allows him to provide practical guidance on navigating procedural differences, timelines, and requirements across ASEAN countries.
As Director, Sathia provides strategic oversight and leadership to regional teams, working closely with clients to deliver consistent, commercially focused IP support for both local and international portfolios.
Mohan K. has accumulated more than 28 years of solid experience in the intellectual property field and has gained extensive expertise in the preparation and prosecution of trademark and patent applications, as well as in providing advisory and consulting services across a wide range of strategic intellectual property-related matters, including IP monetization, commercialization, innovation, and technology transfer.
Upon graduating from Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom, in 1996, Mohan started his career with Shearn Delamore, a reputed legal firm. He went on to head the patent department in another leading organization, Ella Cheong Mirandah & Spruson (M) Sdn. Bhd.
In 2004, together with a team of legal and technical professionals, he established an IP firm, Adastra Intellectual Property Sdn. Bhd., which continues to serve clients in Malaysia as well as regionally. Adastra has expanded its reach and operations to other countries and has offices in India and ASEAN countries. Mohan is a registered patent, trademark, and industrial design agent and won the Best Patent Agent Award from the Malaysian Intellectual Property Corporation in 2013. He is listed as a Global Top 1000 Patent and Trade Mark expert by IAM, an international IP journal, and is acknowledged by Asia IP as one of the Top 50 IP experts in Malaysia.
Mohan K. continues to play a key role in the development of intellectual property locally and globally and has been an active speaker at various talks and seminars organized by government and commercial organizations in Malaysia, as well as a judge for several invention competitions. He also sits on several industry advisory panels, including the SME Corp Panel for Entrepreneurship and the Scientific and Economic Council for the Malaysia Rubber Board. In addition, he has been invited as an expert speaker for one of the annual National Budget Consultation sessions organized by the Ministry of Finance (MoF).
He is also the Vice President of the Malaysian Association for Creativity and Innovation (MACRI), a Council Member of the ASEAN–India Business Council (AIBC), a Council Member of the ASEAN Retail and Franchise Federation (ARFF), a Pioneer Mentor under the ASEAN Entrepreneurship Mentor Programme, and a recipient for the Perdana Young Indian Entrepreneur Award (YIEA) 2017, as well as ASEAN Young Entrepreneur Award for Technology and Innovation 2025.
