Profile Overview
Karen Abraham is the Head of the Intellectual Property department of Messrs Shearn Delamore & Co. Her practice covers all areas of Intellectual Property, Technology, Media & Telecommunications, Data Protection and Competition Law. She has more than 30 years of litigation experience in Intellectual Property matters, appearing in the Apex Courts in Malaysia. She focusses her practice on enforcement of Intellectual Property in the courts and in the public domain, including crafting anti-piracy and anti- counterfeiting programmes for leading companies in the global market, as well as crafting innovative strategies for global and local IP brands. She has been a partner at the firm since 2001 and has represented clients across a broad spectrum of industries. Abraham is the first woman in Malaysia to hold a position as Board Member of the International Trademark Association (INTA) and is the first Malaysian to sit on the Bureau if the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI). As of June 2020, Abraham has been appointed as an Accredited Member and Representative Neutral of the Federation of Integrated Conflict Management. She also sits as Council Member of ASEAN IP Association (AIPA) and in 2021, she was appointed the Asia Pacific Regional Forum Liaison Officer, IBA Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law Committee. Abraham is currently one of the heads for the AIPPI Traditional Knowledge/Traditional Cultural Expression subcommittee to engage and overcome the issue cultural appropriation occurring around the globe.
Abraham is a member of the INTA Trademark mediators Network (TMA), formerly known as the Panel of Neutrals, an international roster of pre-screened, INTA-affiliated mediators. Abraham was involvedin the AIAC’s establishment in recent years of the Domain Name Dispute Resolution (DNDR) process and has presided on the AIAC DNDR and where she frequently assists parties in resolving disputes regarding internet domain names. She is also qualified under the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)’s mediation in Geneva, Switzerland and is an Associate Member of the UK Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a panel member of the Malaysian Mediation Centre. Abraham is the co-contributor on Intellectual Property and Domain Name Dispute Resolution for “Arbitration in Malaysia: A Practical Guide” published by Sweet & Maxwell, a comprehensive local guide for practitioners.
Positions Held
Co Chair of the Emerging IP Rights committee of the Asian Patents Attorneys Association Of Malaysia (APAA)
INTA Asia-Pacific Moot Competition Project Team (INTA)
INTA Asia Pacific Global Advisory Council Member (GAC)
ASEAN Intellectual Property Association (ASEAN IPA), Council Member
Domain Name Dispute Resolution Panelist of Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC)
Panel of Accredited Mediators
International Trademark Association Panel of Neutrals (INTA)
Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law Committee (IBA)
Technology Law Committee (IBA)
American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), Far East Committee Member
Past Assistant Secretary General of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI)
Past Board Member of the International Trademark Association (INTA)
Past President of the Malaysian Chapter of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI)