Hari Subramaniam To Take Over As The First Indian President Of Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA)

The meeting was attended by 1370 members from 22 recognised groups of Asia, and observers from 65 countries outside Asia.

The Busan Council meeting was particularly significant for India when a top tier Patent Attorney from India, and twice past President of India Group, Hari Subramaniam was elected as its President Elect. Hari Subramaniam won the election with nearly 78% votes in his favour – the largest in the history of APAA - against Pablo Gancayco of the Philippines. Hari Subramaniam will take over as the first ever President from India in the 74^th Council meeting and General Assembly to be held in Singapore in October 2023.

The venue for the Council Meetings and General Assemblies are chosen after a carefully scrutinized bid process. India hosted its first Council Meeting in 2005 and General Assembly in 2018 under the leadership of Jyoti Sagar, a top corporate and IP Lawyer, and Hari Subramaniam. They were presided over by then Chief Justice of India, Late Mr. Y. K. Sabharwal and Vice President of India Mr. Venkaiah Naidu respectively.

APAA was founded in 1969 by Japan, Korea and Taiwan. India was inducted as the 14^th recognised group in 1994 through the efforts of Pravin Anand, a leading IPR lawyer.

The first President of APAA (Indian Group) was Senior Advocate K.T.S. Tulsi (1994 to 1999) followed by Pravin Anand (1999 to 2003), Jyoti Sagar (2003 to 2006), Amarjit Singh (2006 to 2010), Hari Subramaniam (2010 to 2013; 2016 to 2020), Hon'ble Ms. Justice Prathiba Singh (2013 to 2016), and Sudeep Chatterjee, Partner - Singh & Singh (2020-Ongoing).

APAA India Chapter is the largest IP organisation in India whose members are all IPR lawyers. With 381 active members and under the leadership of the current President of India Group Sudeep Chatterjee, it is the third largest recognised group in Asia after Japan (630) and Korea (400). With its first ever International President from India, the India Group is expected to regain its second position before the next Council meeting in Singapore.