Asialaw Profiles
The Guide to the legal markets of the Asia-Pacific

Formosan Brothers has built a strong base of foreign clients, for whom it regularly counsels on term and syndicate loans, project finance and international financial planning.

The firm’s M&A practice continues to prosper on cross border transactions, while its “work with international law firms has been highly recognised”, says a rival partner.

The firm assisted a US private equity firm in acquiring children’s musical schools in Taiwan and China. The team provided comprehensive services including advice on capital restructuring, corporate reorganisation and tax planning.

Formosan Brothers has unmatched success in handling a wide range of administrative disputes, general corporate matters and infrastructure developments in Taiwan. Partner Sophia Lelong is highly regarded for her advice on “rights, fraud, and intellectual property infringement”, says one rival partner.

The firm defended a Japanese construction company in a tunnel construction by Taiwan High Speed Railway. In another dispute, the team acted for an international turnkey contractor in mediation held by the Public Construction Commission against a petroleum corporation.

The year ended with representation of a client in an arbitration case with respect to construction payments arising from a project in Southern Taiwan Science Park.

Chen & Lin

Led by Che-Hung Chen and Vanessa Weng, the Chen & Lin practice concentrates on the protection of patents, trade marks and copyrights. The firm acted for a US-based chemical products producer when it sued a Taiwan-based producer for patent infringement. Another notable transaction saw the firm represent a Taiwan-listed electronics company against a suit by Bluestone Innovations Texas for patent infringement.

Formosan Brothers

The firm’s intellectual property practice excels in providing general legal consultation, licensing negotiations and patent infringement advice. The firm represented a leading corporation in the semiconductor and nano-manufacturing technology sector in a patent infringement action against a Korean manufacturer of TFT-LCD panels. Another dispute saw the firm defend a Taiwanese biotechnology and pharmaceutical developer in a patent infringement action brought by a leading international pharmaceutical manufacturer.

Lee Tsai & Partners

Lee Tsai & Partners contains high quality practitioners that specialise in technology and have experience dealing with technology procurement and licensing. The team assisted InterServ International in negotiating various game publishing licence agreements with major operators in China, Korea, Southeast Asia and the US. The team also represented Taipei Fubon Bank in a trade mark infringement case against a local bank in Taiwan.

Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner

Finnegan’s extensive knowledge in fields ranging from molecular biology to chemical, mechanical and electrical engineering allow it to tackle day-to-day issues surrounding IP protection. Last year’s deal highlight was representing HTC and its US subsidiary in an investigation seeking to exclude Apple’s iPhone, iTunes and iPad products from importation into the US.

Formosa Transnational

Formosa Transnational’s technology law department consists of an elite team of highly experienced attorneys that have worked on some of the most important domestic telecommunication transactions. The firm advised a leading semiconductor company in patent litigation involving specialised technology issues. Another transaction involved advising a telecom operator on the Compliance and Personal Data Protection Law.

Formosan Brothers

Formosan Brothers’ practice in IT, Telco & Media has been kept busy this past year. A notable transaction was defending a client that is active in the TV and online shopping services and e-commerce sector in Taiwan on various actions concerning patents, copyright and trade marks.

Formosan Brothers’ comprehensive employment law practice represents many prestigious domestic and international companies on employment law matters. The two stars of the practice, Chih-Poung Liu and Sophia Lelong, are recognised for their presence on the Council of Labour Affairs and their work on labour law related litigation.

The firm acted on one of the most notable workplace disputes last year when an employee of a client committed suicide. The employee’s family argued that the suicide was attributable to long term abuse and harassment and sought tort damages.

Formosa Transnational

Formosa Transnational is experienced in providing expertise on all stages of administrative relief proceedings related to taxation matters. In a high profile case, the firm provided legal opinions to a global software company on obligations to maintain secrecy by customs officials. Another transaction saw the firm advising a US wireless telecoms company on tax issues in relation to a Taiwanese subsidiary.

Formosan Brothers

Formosan Brothers’ strong team for tax remedy and planning includes Certified Public Accountant members and experienced tax officers. Recently, the team has focused on corporate tax planning and provide advice relating to exit strategies. Last year saw the firm advising a Taiwanese electric wire and cable company in dealing with process layered land value increment tax.