Legal news in brief

New Balance TM win

Lusheng Law Firm advised New Balance on an intellectual property dispute that won a rare legal victory in China when a civil court in a first instance judgement ordered infringers to pay about US$1.5 million for using the American shoemaker’s signature slanting logo.

The recent judgment from Suzhou Intermediate People’s Court upheld almost all New Balance claims, including an order that the defendants pay damages and legal costs. “Although this sort of decision is still rare, it sends a strong and powerful message that should make it that little bit easier for foreign brands doing business here,” said Carol Wang, the head of Lusheng’s Shanghai litigation team.

Yum, ThaiBev in franchise

Yum Restaurants International Thailand has announced the signing of an asset purchase agreement with the QSR of Asia (QSA), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Thai Beverage (ThaiBev). The initial amount of consideration for the existing KFC stores was about 11.3 billion baht (US$340.5 million), consisting of more than 240 KFC restaurants across Thailand.

The KFC deal team was led by KFC global chief legal officer and general counsel Vinod V Mahboobani. Baker McKenzie in Bangkok led by Sivapong Viriyabusaya and Elisa Lai, acted as legal adviser to Yum Thailand. ThaiBev’s deal team was led by Pornthep Srisa-an of the Quant Group and its legal adviser, Weerawong Chinnavat and Partners, was led by Weerawong Chittmittrapap and Sunyaluck Chaikajornwat.

Partners join Ashurst board

Ashurst partners Karen Davies, James Marshall and Barbara Phair were recently elected to the firm’s board for a term of three years. Marshall is a restructuring, insolvency and special situations partner in Sydney, while Phair is a tax partner in the firm’s Sydney office with expertise in stamp duty, payroll, land tax and GST. Davies is a corporate partner in London advising both corporate clients and investment banks on domestic and cross-border corporate finance transactions.