Connie Carnabuci is a partner and head of the intellectual property/information technology (IP/IT) practice group and telecommunications, media and technology (TMT) sector group in Asia. Her practice covers standalone IP/IT work, including IT outsourcing, systems acquisition and development agreements, and telecoms agreements. Her IP practice includes copyright, trade mark and patent protection, enforcement and commercialisation advice, with particular expertise in internet and other new media issues. She also advises on the IP/IT aspects of acquisitions, spin-offs, joint ventures, and initial public offerings.

Her recent experience includes advising:

  • Alibaba.com Limited on the IP and technology aspects of its US$1.7bn IPO (including complex third party licensing aspects) and related regulatory issues under PRC law realting to the provisions of information services by ICPs;
  • Alibaba.com Corporation on its successful joint vernture with softbank to extend its world leading B2B e-commerce platform into the Japan market through the formation of Alibaba.com Japan;
  • Bally AG on the reorganisation of its franchise arrangements in China and Hong Kong;
  • Morgan Stanley on its investment in Atlantis Resources Corporation Pte. Limited, a company developing and deploying marine renewable energy technology including advising on complex patent and other intellectual property aspects of the transaction;
  • GE Capital on its joint offer to be made with CITIC Group for the privatisation of Asia Satellite Telecommunications for US$282m, including clearing merger controls with the key Hong Kong telecoms regulator;
  • Sasol Synfuels International on a range of IP advice in relation to technology transfer, patent protection and enforcement and invalidation, and trade secret misappropriation in the PRC;
  • Tom Online on the joint venture agreement with eBay EachNet, eBay’s China-based subsidiary. The deal involved complex licensing of development technology related to the platform, as well as trade mark and domain name issues; and
  • VF Corporation on its acquisition of the The North Face® branded business in China from its licensee, Korea-based Youngone Corporation.

Connie is chair of the International Trademark Association (INTA) Law & Practice Asia/Pacific subcommittee and a regular contributor to Patent World and Managing Intellectual Property. She is also on the editorial board of Patent World and the editorial committee of the INTA Bulletin and the Hong Kong correspondent for the Communications and Technology Law Review.

Connie was named as one of the most highly acclaimed legal experts in the Asia-Pacific region in the areas of IP, IT, media and telecoms in the Asialaw Leading Lawyers survey 2007 and cited by Chambers Global 2006 as a leading practitioner in IP who is ‘responsive, careful and always gets results’.

Contact details

connie.carnabuci
@freshfields.com

  • Hong Kong office
  • 11th Floor
    Two Exchange Square
    Hong Kong
  • Telephone
  • +852 2846 3300
  • Fax
  • +852 2810 6192