Valentina Salmoiraghi, in Singapore Protecting Intellectual Property

THE BOCCONI ALUMNA TALKS ABOUT A COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT, ONE THAT LACKS THE HISTORICAL LEGAL CULTURE FOUND IN EUROPE. BUT IT IS AT THE CENTER OF THE MOST DYNAMIC REGION IN THE WORLD


She's always traveling across Asia defending the intellectual property rights of European companies. Valentina Salmoiraghi, who earned her Bocconi Law Degree in 2006, is Chapter Leader of the BAA (Bocconi Alumni Association) in Singapore, and works as IP Business Advisor to the South-East Asia IPR SME Helpdesk Project, a complex name to describe an EU-funded project that supports SMEs of European member states in protecting their legal rights related to trademarks, patents and know-how. She has been doing this job in Singapore since 2014, after nine years spent in Beijing.
 
➜ What is an IP Business Advisor?
It's the in-house lawyer of the project. In particular, I provide companies with information and advice, and put in place training programs for companies and for diplomatic representatives of EU countries. In addition, I manage relations between Chambers of Commerce and Development Agencies: it's a legal activity that supports the internationalization of European companies in South-East Asia.
 
➜ The protection of intellectual property rights is a complex issue. How is it so in Asia?
Companies dealing with Asia often lack information about local legislation, and this is reflected by the fact that intellectual property rights are not integrated into their business strategy. The project, therefore, is important because it helps firms protect themselves before they enter these countries' markets, or as they seek to maximize investment in innovation.
 
➜ How's it working as a lawyer in Singapore?
Here the profession has different standards than ours, but Singapore has always been exposed to international investment and therefore the legal profession also reflects this multiplicity of aspects. In Europe, we probably have a different and more pervasive sense the profession, so that we are perhaps more able to think out of the box. We have a historical tradition of jurisprudence that they do not have. The years in Asia have taught me, that in addition to patience, you need to have the ability to look at things from various perspectives.
 
âžœIs the city-state a very competitive environment?
Definitely. Also because Singapore is a hub for the whole of South-East Asia and all the big companies have their regional headquarters here, including their legal departments.
 
➜ And regarding the activity of your chapter?
Our alumni work in various industries, but particularly as investment bankers or as managers of Italian or foreign transnationals. The need is primarily to consolidate the critical mass of initiatives of interest to our diverse members. We want to create more informal networking appointments and at least a dinner discussion every four months on topics of interest to our community, inviting representatives of the local and international business community.
 

by Andrea Celauro
Translated by Alex Foti