Ranked 36th in the global innovation index among 132 countries in 2022, Malaysia is deemed one of the fastest-growing economies. Along with the influx of business innovations, the country is also witnessing a significant increase in awareness about intellectual property (IP) rights, especially in terms of foraying into international markets. The recent regulations introduced by the government are also offering an added advantage in pushing IP to be a driving engine for companies and the country alike. However, in a market fraught with cut-throat competition, the process of protecting intangible assets can seem like a herculean task for businesses.
Hence, it becomes imperative for them to partner with a professional guide who handholds them throughout the journey of safeguarding their endeavors. This is how Esther Ong Tengku Saiful & Sree (ETS) - a Malaysian legal service enabler - is set head and shoulders above the rest. Renowned for leveraging excellence in dispute resolution in IP litigations, ETS is considered a one-stop legal center, catalyzing its clients’ long-term revenue and business growth with its array of complete IP services since its inception in 1999.
Registered with the Bar Council of Malaysia, ETS is the vision of Esther Ong Hui Chuen - an industry veteran who exemplifies experience, commitment, and enthusiasm. Under the headship of such an aficionado, the multi-disciplinary, award-winning team dons diverse caps, navigating through both the legal and technical complexities of IP, including being an advisor, an advocate, a consultant, a trademark, industrial design and patent agent, a solicitor, and an arbitrator to protect the creative identity of its clients.
“We, at ETS, provide very comprehensive consolidation through our services and consulting, which helps the clients understand the differences between intricate categories like trade secrets, copyrights, and registration", states Esther Ong, the founding and senior partner of the company.
The services reflect accurate and high-quality standards and are aimed at providing end-to-end franchising, joint venture agreements, securities and company law, ICT law, corporate restructuring and disputes, drafting of agreements and succession support. The firm also offers periodic educational training to its clients through its consulting arm, ETS Consultancy. This consultancy company is already certified by the Human Resource
Development Corporation (HDRc) in Malaysia, which, would empower ETS to continue to render continuous education and learning to the entrepreneurs.
Apart from the IP services, ETS also specializes in offering other legal solutions in alternative dispute resolution management, conveyancing and estate planning, taxation and debt recovery. According to Esther Ong, the most notable milestone of the organization lies in the launch of a company called International Entrepreneur Network (IEN), which acts as a platform to nurture, guide, and handhold the legal process of and to protect the IP for entrepreneurs through talks and forums from inception of sole proprietorship, partnership and moving on to private limited companies, building branches, setting up of franchises and expanding globally. Owing to such efficiency, the firm has been successful in fulfilling its vision of being a first-choice legal service provider and partner for more than 5000 satisfied clients.
The Success Module
Deploying a meticulous and client-centric approach, the adept personnel of ETS work collectively to treat the client’s legal issues as their own, which is a philosophy that remains at the core of its operations. This also enables the team to customize solutions according to the client's needs. “We start the process by understanding the nature of the client’s business deeply through various sessions. Moving onto analyzing their IP portfolio, we strive to assess the local market dynamics to help the clients make informed decisions like international trademark, industrial designs, and patent registration, thereby mitigating the risks of counterfeits”, adds Esther Ong.
The said trademark, industrial designs, and patent applications are then sent to the IP corporation in Malaysia, named MyIPO, which undertakes extensive compliance-oriented scrutiny of the documents. “This phase is quite time-consuming, as MyIPO not only performs substantive analysis of the application documents but also checks for opposition, which is proceeded with counter-statements", explains Esther Ong. There is a team dedicated to every phase of the process, including that which sets them apart is the effective litigation consultation according to the expectations of the court.
Deploying a meticulous & client-centric approach, the adept personnel of ETS work collectively to treat the clients’ legal issues as their own, which is a philosophy that remains at the core of its operations
Onto the Journey Towards the Future
Esther Ong perceives a lawyer as a legal doctor who takes preventive actions. Continuing such a legacy, she envisions propelling ETS into the international realm, primarily through collaborations and its current plan is to partner with legal firms abroad to serve as an ideal platform for local and global clients. Comprehending the significance of digital automation, in building a bridge between entrepreneurs and secure IP platforms, the firm also seeks to invest more in emerging technologies and is in the process of working together with a software design and development company in New Zealand, which will not only expedite the expansion goals of ETS but also help the entrepreneurial community.
Esther Ong, Founding & Senior Partner
Over her impressive career of more than two decades as a legal consultant and managing partner, Esther Ong has built a track record of handling high-risk legal cases. Apart from ETS, Esther Ong has also incorporated the Foundation of the Wholistic Family Association (WFA) for the poor and needy and the International Entrepreneur Network (IEN). She is also highly acknowledged for her significant role in restructuring the human resources of multiple companies during COVID-19. She has spoken at various seminars organized by councils and academies both locally and internationally, and she is also the legal counsel for the ASEAN Retailers & Franchise Federation (ARFF) as well as the Federation of Malaysian Business Associations (FMBA).
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