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Sheena Jacob is a Partner at CMS Singapore and a Director of Holborn Law LLC, a member of the CMS Holborn Asia Formal Law Alliance. She heads the firm's Southeast Asia Intellectual Property practice and is widely recognised as one of Asia's leading technology and intellectual property lawyers.
Qualified in Singapore, New York, and England & Wales, Sheena has over 30 years of experience advising multinational corporations, technology companies, financial institutions, life sciences businesses, media organisations and emerging growth companies across Asia Pacific. Her practice spans intellectual property, technology, cybersecurity, data protection, artificial intelligence, digital regulation and commercial transactions, with extensive experience in the protection, commercialisation and enforcement of intellectual property rights throughout the region.
Sheena leads a regional team handling trademark and patent prosecution across Southeast Asia, complex IP disputes, commercial IP transactions, technology licensing arrangements, research and development collaborations, and strategic innovation and commercialisation projects. She is particularly known for advising on the legal implications of emerging technologies, including AI, quantum technologies, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity and space and satellite-related activities.
A recognised thought leader in the technology and IP space, Sheena is a frequent speaker, author and commentator on intellectual property, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, cybersecurity and digital regulation. She regularly advises clients on navigating novel legal and regulatory challenges arising from technological innovation and cross-border business operations.
In addition to being a Singapore Registered Patent Agent, Sheena is a Commissioner for Oaths and a Notary Public. She also holds leadership roles within key industry organisations, including the Licensing Executives Society Singapore and the Singapore chapter of AIPPI.
Sheena is consistently recognised by leading international legal directories and ranking publications. She has been ranked and recommended by publications including Chambers Asia-Pacific, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, IAM Patent 1000, World Trademark Review 1000, Lexology Index (previously Who’s Who Legal), Asia IP, Asialaw, and Women in Business Law, where she has been recognised for her expertise in intellectual property, patents, trademarks, life sciences, technology and innovation-related matters.
*CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang (Singapore) LLP and Holborn Law LLC are registered as a Formal Law Alliance in Singapore under the name CMS Holborn Asia. The Formal Law Alliance allows the two firms to provide the broadest range of Singapore and international law services from one platform, with Singapore litigation representation provided by Holborn Law LLC.
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Sheena Jacob is a leading technology, media and telecommunications lawyer in Asia, with 30 years’ experience advising global technology, media, communications and digital infrastructure companies across the region. Based in CMS Singapore, she advises clients on complex regulatory, commercial and risk issues at the intersection of technology, cybersecurity, data, media, telecoms and emerging digital infrastructure. She is qualified in Singapore, England & Wales and the United States, and holds two international privacy certifications from the IAPP.
Sheena has particular experience in highly regulated and fast-evolving areas of technology law, including cybersecurity, data protection, artificial intelligence, quantum-safe networks, digital infrastructure and space-related technologies. She advises multinational technology companies, leading streaming platforms and other major industry participants on pan-Asian regulatory issues, helping clients navigate legal, operational and reputational risks in markets across the region.
Sheena is especially known for her work in cybersecurity and incident response. She has advised on high-profile cyber incidents and ransomware attacks, working closely with clients to manage regulatory engagement, customer-facing issues and broader crisis response. Her practice combines deep technical understanding with practical, commercial advice, particularly for clients operating in sectors where data, connectivity, resilience and regulatory scrutiny are business-critical.
Her emerging technology practice includes legal issues relating to AI governance, quantum-safe networks, digital infrastructure and the evolving space and satellite economy. She is one of the few women lawyers in Asia active across cybersecurity, space and AI, and brings a distinctive regional perspective to clients developing or deploying next-generation technologies, including technologies that depend on secure communications, satellite connectivity, data flows and advanced digital networks.
Sheena works closely with CMS’s international technology lawyers to support clients on cross-border mandates involving telecoms, media, privacy, technology regulation, cyber resilience and emerging technologies. Her clients value her ability to translate complex regulatory and technical issues into clear, strategic and business-focused advice.
Sheena has held senior roles in leading international and industry organisations. She has served on the Global Board of iTechLaw, as the first Singaporean to hold that role, as well as on the IAPP Asia Advisory Board and the Board of AmCham Singapore. She also sits on industry committees including BritCham Singapore and AIPPI Singapore.
Sheena is consistently recognised as a leading TMT lawyer in Asia. She has been ranked among the Top 50 TMT Lawyers in Asia, named among the Top 100 Lawyers in Singapore by Asia Business Law Journal, and listed as a leading lawyer for IT, telecoms and media by Asialaw. She was also the only lawyer in Singapore listed as one of the Top Women in Cybersecurity.
