CMS continues to grow Asia-Pacific IP and TMT offering with senior hires in Hong Kong and Singapore

CMS is pleased to announce that Gabriela Kennedy is due to join the firm's Hong Kong office as a partner continuing the firm’s impressive growth in its Intellectual Property (IP) and Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) capabilities across Greater China and Asia-Pacific. Gabriela joins from Mayer Brown, where she previously co-led the firm’s global IP practice and led its Asia IP & TMT practice.

Gabriela is one of Greater China’s leading IP and TMT lawyers, with Hall of Fame recognition for both areas in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific. Her wide-ranging practice spans IP litigation and commercial matters, technology transactions and telecommunications regulation, as well as cybersecurity and data privacy. Gabriela advises multinational businesses and leading brands on the protection, enforcement and commercialisation of IP rights, including complex cross-border disputes and licensing arrangements. Her TMT practice encompasses major technology projects and transactions, telecommunications regulation, data protection and cybersecurity. 

Gabriela is consistently recognised as a market leader for complex technology and telecommunications regulatory and intellectual property issues for global and multi-national clients. She has acted on leading copyright cases in the Hong Kong courts leading to legislative changes and has also led industry engagement on copyright reform in Hong Kong.

In addition to Gabriela’s appointment, CMS is also pleased to announce the appointment of Justin Lee as of counsel from 1 November 2026. Justin joins from Rajah & Tann, where he was a partner in the Technology, Media and Telecommunications practice. Justin brings significant experience advising on complex technology transactions, emerging technologies and multi-jurisdictional data protection matters.

Gabriela’s and Justin’s appointments follow the recent promotions of Candy Tong and Mengyi Chen to partner in Hong Kong. Together, the three partner and one of counsel appointments significantly strengthen CMS’s IP and TMT capabilities across Greater China and the APAC region, creating one of the region’s most comprehensive offerings and reinforcing the firm’s position as a leading technology and IP practice. 

Ilan Freiman, Regional Managing Partner for CMS APAC, comments: “Gabriela’s appointment is a marquee hire for CMS and takes our Greater China IP and technology offering to the next level. Together, Gabriela and Justin represent a significant expansion in a key growth area for our business across Asia-Pacific. Their impressive profiles, market reputations and deep expertise in IP, technology, data and related regulatory matters further strengthen the support we can offer clients on increasingly complex, cross-border matters. We are delighted to welcome them both to CMS as part of our continued growth trajectory in the region and the sector.”

Dóra Petrányi, CMS Partner and Global Technology, Media, IP and Competition (TMIC) Practice Group Leader, adds: “Technology, IP, data and regulation are becoming ever more closely connected, creating increasingly complex challenges for businesses operating across borders. Gabriela and Justin bring significant and complementary experience in areas that are strategically important to our clients. Their appointments deepen our capabilities in key Asia-Pacific markets, strengthen the links between our regional and international teams, and reinforce our ambition to build a market-leading technology and IP practice across Asia-Pacific.”

Gabriela Kennedy said: “I’m delighted to be joining CMS at such an exciting time for the firm in Asia-Pacific. CMS has built an impressive international technology and IP platform and has a clear strategic commitment to growth. The region presents tremendous opportunities for businesses, and I look forward to working with colleagues across the network to help clients navigate change and unlock growth.”

CMS has more than 700 IP and Technology specialists worldwide. In Asia, the firm's Greater China IP and Technology team spans Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, working closely with the IP and Technology team based in Singapore and across its international network to deliver seamless cross-border support. The team is recognised in leading legal directories, including The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2026 and Chambers Greater China Region 2026.