Curiosity & Passion in the World of IP & Tech

On 15 October 2025, the Centre for Technology, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & the Law (TRAIL) partnered with the Centre for Future-ready Graduates@Law (CFG) to host alumni of NUS Law at a careers talk for over fifty students on legal practice in the areas of intellectual property (IP) and technology, media and telecommunications (TMT).

The lively session, moderated by Professor David Tan, Co-Director of TRAIL, was filled with cheerful banter and memorable anecdotes, as the graduates spanning the 1980s to the 2000s candidly shared their career journeys and interview tips.

Sheena Jacob (Class of 1988) is presently the Head of the regional Southeast Asian Intellectual Property practice at CMS Holborn Asia, and is qualified in Singapore, New York and England. Sheena manages a team that handles trademark and patent prosecution in Southeast Asia, IP litigation and commercial IP transactions such as licensing and commercialisation deals in the tech, media and life science sectors in Asia Pacific. Tony Yeo (Class of 1991) is the Managing Director of Drew & Napier’s IP department, and a Director in the Dispute Resolution department, as well as the head of the Healthcare & Life Sciences Practice. Unlike the other panelists, Tony confesses that his one and only job was at Drew & Napier, and it is the range of work there – including litigation – that keeps him curious and excited about the practice.

Steve Tan (Class of 1998) is the Deputy Head of the TMT practice at Rajah & Tann Singapore, and has garnered numerous accolades over the years as one of the leading lawyers for TMT, information technology law and data privacy law. Steve jokingly shared that he sleeps only about four hours each night, but that is because he is so passionate about his work. He also advised students that project management skills are critical to have in order to succeed whether as a student or as a lawyer.

Cheah Yew Kuin (Class of 2002) is currently the Assistant Chief Counsel at The Walt Disney Company, and is responsible for all antipiracy matters arising from the company’s various business units based in the Asia Pacific Region. Yew Kuin was at Baker McKenzie.Wong & Leow for almost ten years. Joyce Ang (Class of 2004) is the Senior Lead of Global IP Enforcement at the Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group. She has nearly 20 years’ of experience in the field of IP law, and her experience spans private practice, in-house positions at multinational companies and responsibilities outside conventional legal functions. Both Yew Kuin and Joyce shared their experiences in private practice, the types of expertise one could acquire, and when would be a good time to make the transition into in-house corporate counsel positions. Joyce was also previously Yew Kuin’s colleague at Disney … perhaps it is indeed a small world after all.

L-R: Prof David Tan, Genevieve Chia, Joyce Ang, Penny Leng, Cheah Yew Kuin, Steve Tan, Sheena Jacob, Tony Yeo

Over fifty students at the careers talk on Bukit Timah Campus

Sheena Jacob ’88 (CMS Holborn Asia)

Tony Yeo ’91 (Drew & Napier)

Steve Tan ’88 (Rajah & Tann Singapore)

Prof David Tan keeping the mood light and anecdotes flowing

Cheah Yew Kuin ’02 (Disney)

Joyce Ang ’04 (Alibaba)