Samantha Yung

Principal Associate

Dubai

Qualified, Solicitor of Hong Kong SAR (2013)

samantha.yung@gowlingwlg.com

+971 (0)55 125 7838

Areas of focus

Bio

Samantha is a qualified lawyer specialising in Intellectual Property, based in Gowling WLG's Dubai Office.

Samantha's practice focuses on assisting clients in the capture and commercialisation of their IP rights, including the review and negotiation of complex licensing agreements, R&D and collaboration agreements, NDAs, assignments, and franchising arrangements. She regularly advises on IP aspects and due diligence for high-profile acquisitions and deals. Samantha supports a diverse client base, including large local companies, semi-government entities in the UAE, multinational corporations, international businesses, and start-ups, guiding them in the protection of their IP rights—spanning across trademarks, copyright, confidential information, trade secrets, and domain names. She also manages comprehensive IP portfolios, advises on online and offline anti-counterfeiting strategies, oversees clearance searches and prosecution, and has successfully assisted clients in negotiating various co-existence agreements, as well as achieving favourable outcomes in oppositions, cancellations, and enforcement actions.

Samantha's sector focus includes technology, fintech, telecom, e-commerce, retail, and education. Samantha has been appointed as a member of the Technology Transformation Committee of INTA for 2025-2027, recognized in WTR 1000 as a bronze-tier practitioner in the UAE, and named a Rising Star 2025 by Managing IP. She also chairs the AIPPI Young Members Committee of the UAE chapter and previously served as vice-chair of the International AIPPI Young Members Committee from 2020 to 2024.

Samantha regularly speaks at client seminars and international association conferences, including AIPPI World Congress, on the topics revolving IP and latest trends including Generative AI and IP issues and Greenwashing and sustainability claims.

Before joining Gowling WLG, Samantha worked in a top-tier law firm, representing leading companies in the fashion and luxury, retail, real estate and investment, pharmaceutical, FMCG, toy and lifestyle products, and electronic sectors.

In addition to her extensive experience in IP matters, Samantha is fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese and English.

Bio

Samantha is a qualified lawyer specialising in Intellectual Property, based in Gowling WLG's Dubai Office.

In addition to her extensive experience in IP matters, Samantha is fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese and English.

Experience

Advising a world leading pipe and industrial tools, machinery company on the UAE IP-related due diligence aspects of a global acquisition deal, including the reviewing and advising on the disclosure documents, IP portfolio and assets, including trademarks, patents, trade secrets, various agreements and preparing a DD report highlighting any critical IP issues that may affect the deal.
Advising a Middle East-based technology company on an IP licensing matter, in relation to the potential investment into a civilian drone technology company for further development of an existing product, which in turn is to be manufactured in the UAE. The client's in-house team is handling the corporate M&A aspects, but we are assisting in the licensing and manufacturing agreements to allow for manufacturing in the UAE, which largely relate to the design and copyright of the equipment.
Advising a UAE telecoms and technology company on expanding their trademark portfolio and management, including multi-jurisdictional clearance searches, filings, office actions, refusals, appeals, oppositions, settlement negotiations, co-existence agreements, name changes, assignment recordals, and renewals. Supported M&A and acquisitions in the Middle East and Europe with trademark clearance and protection strategies and reviewing and negotiation of R&D Collaboration Agreements, Licensing agreements. In 2024, Jon Parker and Samantha Yung provided tailored in-house training on trademark searches, portfolio management, and IP commercialization to the client's Legal, Compliance, Group Brand & Communications teams, and relevant stakeholders.
Advising a UAE government entity in relation to protecting and managing the international trademark portfolio for a key asset, being an iconic structure and important part of the skyline of Dubai, including numerous jurisdictions handling and overcoming office actions, refusals. The client's asset is protected as 2D and 3D trademarks. In view of the various issues with manufacturing and exporting of potential counterfeiting merchandise bearing the client's trademarks, we have advised and assisted with the copyright and customs recordals of the client's rights in China.
Advising an international fintech company based in the UAE on their data privacy policy, global IP portfolio covering over 40 jurisdictions.
Selected as one of Hong Kong's independent law firm's go to firms for MENA region. Advising them on trademark prosecution work and trademark portfolio management for their various clients including HK conglomerates, large clothing retail manufacturer and retailer, charitable organisations having or looking to have their presence in the Middle East.
Acted for leading international brands and local Hong Kong SAR, China conglomerates (including their various business units) on their data privacy legal compliance projects including preparing and reviewing privacy policies, consent requests, cross-border transfer agreements, personal protection agreements, and advising on data localisation issues.
Acted for a top luxury brand (estimated annual revenue of over 5 billion USD). Designated to handle most of their IP work, including devising tailored brand protection monitoring programs, including regular reporting on infringing company names, problematic infringing entities, infringing domain names and websites, online shops and sellers on e-commerce platforms and devising strategies on how to intervene against unauthorised use of their trademarks and counterfeit products and regularly meet with the management to discuss on enforcement strategies. Also advised on the various advertising, labelling, pricing issues and other customer programs.
Represented a leading local retailer, which carries over 12 retail brands with over 160 retail outlets in Asia. Provided comprehensive IP-related services, trademark portfolio management, advice on brand licensing issues, regular meetings with the management team, and provided necessary IP training to their marketing team.

Samantha Yung

Principal Associate

Bio

Bio

Experience

Experience

Qualifications

Qualifications

Career

Education

Languages Spoken

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Samantha Yung

Principal Associate

Bio

Bio

Experience

Experience

Qualifications

Qualifications

Career

Education

Languages Spoken

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Stay connected