Donaldson & Burkinshaw, established since 6 November 1874, is one of the oldest law partnerships in Singapore. The firm carries on the practice of Advocates and Solicitors, Notaries Public, Commissioners for Oaths and Agents for Trade Marks, Patents & Designs. The firm and its partners have been regularly profiled in industry periodicals including Legal 500, Asia-Pacific Legal 500, Chambers Asia, Asia Law Profile, Who’s Who Legal, and Managing Intellectual Property Magazine. Our clientele ranges from multinational corporations, international airlines, the world’s largest medical indemnifier, financial institutions, statutory boards, large and medium enterprises, to high net worth individuals. The firm is on the list of legal contacts of the Australian High Commission, the British High Commission, the Canadian High Commission, the New Zealand Embassy, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and the United States Embassy.
The firm has one of the longest established and leading practices in Singapore in the field of Intellectual Property ("IP"). The firm’s experience in IP extends over more than 7 decades. It handled Singapore’s earliest trademark applications when the Trademark Registry (as it then was) was first set up in the late 1930s. The firm has extensive experience in providing a full range of IP services to multinational corporations and businesses and handles trade and service marks, patents and designs protection and enforcement litigation as well as complete management of IP portfolios, commercialisation and licensing of IP and technology rights. The firm also has a team of in-house technical experts who specialise in the drafting of patent specifications, searches and related advisory work.
The firm has a well-established Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice committed to serving clients’ best interests and assisting clients in achieving the desired outcome in a timely and cost effective manner. A full range of civil litigation services is offered, including banking and insurance claims, building and construction disputes, commercial disputes, contractual disputes, employment law and disputes, professional negligence, medico-legal work, disputes concerning intellectual property rights, insolvency, land acquisitions, corporate and shareholders’ disputes, matrimonial disputes, contentious trust and probate, landlord and tenant disputes. The firm also advises on substantive administrative law, criminal law, and military law; criminal procedure and evidence, and matters involving professional disciplinary or administrative tribunals. The firm undertakes private prosecution and prosecution under written laws as instructed by statutory boards and government entities, and also defends individuals and corporations in a wide spectrum of offences ranging from serious crimes to regulatory or departmental summonses. The firm has, over the years, earned a sterling reputation and is well sought after in the niche area of medico-legal practice.
The firm’s Corporate, Conveyancing and Real Estate Practice is managed by a dynamic team of senior lawyers and support staff with considerable experience and expertise across a broad spectrum of real commercial, contractual , corporate and estate transactions. A wide array of clients is represented, including local and foreign individuals and corporations, property developers, public listed companies, various statutory boards, recreation clubs, banks and financial institutions in transactions, including high value, complex and innovative transactions, involving land parcels, residential properties, commercial properties and industrial properties. Highlights include advising two local statutory boards on Singapore’s first Integrated Resort developments at Marina Bay and Sentosa.
Currently about 100-strong, Donaldson & Burkinshaw’s office is at Clifford Centre, which is situated in Raffles Place, Singapore’s Central Business District. The firm also operates Donaldson & Burkinshaw (I.P.) Sdn. Bhd. in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which handles Malaysia intellectual property matters. Apart from the MULTILAW legal affiliate, the firm has memberships with leading global, regional and local professional organisations such as the International Trademark Association (INTA), the Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA), the Pharmaceutical Trade Marks Group (PTMG), the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI), ASEAN Intellectual Property Association (ASEAN IPA) and the Association of Singapore Patent Agents (ASPA). The firm is also a member of the Singapore Trustees Association (STA).