SAWASpring16

SAWA
SPRING 2016 | ISSUE #005
marcom@sabaip.com
“EACH YEAR THE PRACTICE GREW WITHIN THE
FRAMEWORK OF TRUE PROFESSIONAL PRINCIPLES,
INDEPENDENCE, PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE, AND
INTEGRITY.”
- Fuad Saba, 1971
SAWA… 75 years in IP and counting!
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SAWA
SPRING 2016 | ISSUE #005
marcom@sabaip.com
THE WORKS:
SABA IP – MIDDLE EAST FIRM OF
THE YEAR
We are proud to announce that we reinforced
our reputation as the leading IP firm by being
named the Middle East Firm of the Year at the
prestigious Managing Intellectual Property
awards held in London, United Kingdom on
March 10, 2016. Our relentless strive for
improvement and development would not
have been possible without your hard work
and support. Thank you for your dedication
and loyalty to the Firm.
MIP is the leading IP publication across the globe.
The annual MIP awards showcase and celebrate
the best in our industry. Candidates and winners
are chosen based on MIP’s “World IP Survey,” an
extensive research of market developments and
interviews with clients.
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SAWA
SPRING 2016 | ISSUE #005
marcom@sabaip.com
THE WORKS:
OMAN OFFICE: IP FOR STARTUPS
Our colleague Sami Nusair attended a symposium
in Sultan Qaboos University and gave a presentation
about the importance of intellectual property rights for
startups.
The symposium was organized by Sultan Qaboos
University, The Academic Innovation Assistance
Program, and was under the patronage of His Highness
Dr. Fahad Al Said, assistant secretary general for
innovation development at the Research Council. The
symposium was attended by state and Shura Council
members, academics from various university, students,
entrepreneur and companies from private sector.
QATAR OFFICE: LECTURE FOR CUSTOMS OFFICIALS
Our colleague Malik Al Kammaz held a lecture for customs inspectors to help improve their skills to
detect counterfeit products, fight commercial fraud, and protect intellectual property rights.
The lecture was organized to mark Arab Customs Day that falls on March 3 every year.
On a related note, our firm received a certificate of appreciation from the Ministry of Economy and
Trade for assisting in arranging the Gulf Consumer Protection Week during March 1-7, 2016.
Saba IP was the only IP firm honored on this occasion.
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SAWA
SPRING 2016 | ISSUE #005
marcom@sabaip.com
THE WORKS:
UAE OFFICE: ADVANCING PATENTING IN THE UAE
UAE OFFICE: KEYNOTE ADDRESS
AT ME-IPG MEETING
Our colleague Hady Khawand delivered the
keynote address at the Middle East Intellectual
Property Group (ME-IPG) Meeting on February
24 at the Shangri-La Hotel. Hady’s talk outlined
IP protection in Middle East and highlighted our
role as the leading IP firm in the region.
JORDAN OFFICE: PREPARING FOR
INDIA’S EMERGENCE AS A GLOB-
AL ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE
Our colleague Ghaida’ Ala’ Eddein spoke about
trademark law and practice in the Middle East
and North Africa at INTA’s Mumbai Corporate
Workshop on March 2, 2016. She highlighted
the dichotomy between import and trademark
filings from India into the UAE. Ghaida’ also
provided information on the trademark law and
infrastructure in place in our region, including
a robust customs recordal and enforcement
system in Jordan, and encouraged Indian
companies to consider Jordan as a potentially
rewarding market.
As part of Saba’s constant efforts to improve and advance IP protection in the region, Hady Khawand,
Nader Mahmoud, and Tariq Al Alami met with delegations from the UAE Patent office, Korean Patent
office, Honesty & JR Partners- intellectual Property Law Group, Siriussoft e-Government System
Solution, and the Korean Institute of Patent information. During that meeting, our colleagues assisted
the UAE Patent Office and the parties concerned to create an online system for submitting patents and
industrial designs.
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SAWA
SPRING 2016 | ISSUE #005
marcom@sabaip.com
THE TEAM: MEET THE PATENTS DEPARTMENT AT THE
HEAD OFFICE
By: Yahia Hamade, Head Office
OMAR NASREDDINE
joined Saba IP on May 18, 2015 and works at the patents
department at the Head Office in Beirut.
NAMIR SIOUFI
joined Saba IP on October 15, 2012 and heads the patents
department at the Head Office in Beirut.
“I love to smile and to see others smile,” he says gleefully. “I’m
a serious person, but I like to make jokes sometimes.” Omar
explains that he is a practical person and would like to leave a
positive impact on others by making them smile.
When he’s not spreading cheer around the office and at home
with his two sons, Omar makes time to meditate.
“I like to meditate whenever possible,” he says. “I enjoy
introspecting and reflecting on life. This is what we are all doing
in life, looking for a sense of purpose.”
Omar holds an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering
from the American University in Beirut and a graduate degree in
Mechanical Engineering from Queen’s University, Canada.
“In my opinion, patents have a lot of potential in the region due
to their global reach,” Namir says. “They provide us with the
opportunity to learn about what is happening in many fields,
including the medical and energy sectors.”
Outside the office, when he’s not tending to his son and daughter,
Namir enjoys reading. However, Namir’s true calling is behind the
counter.
“I love to cook, gourmet style, especially that I lived alone for many
years while in San Diego,” he boasts. “I even taught my wife a few
tricks.” Namir’s pasta is a household popular dish, especially with
his kids who wait for him to cook it for days in advance.
Namir holds an undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from the
University of California, Los Angeles and a graduate degree in
Chemistry from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an
Executive MBA from the American University of Beirut. He also
worked for 15 years in the pharmaceuticals industry while in the
United States.
“I have no regrets having moved back to Lebanon after so many
years living in the US” he says with a smile. “But my mother keeps
wondering what made me leave paradise.”
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SAWA
SPRING 2016 | ISSUE #005
marcom@sabaip.com
CYNTHIA KARAM
joined Saba IP on September 09, 2013 and works at the patents
department at the Head Office in Beirut.
“I like to learn new things,” Cynthia says. “Working here at the
patents department has enabled me to keep up with all the
innovations that are happening in real time.” She believes that
a life without knowledge is a life not worth living. “We are not
robots,” she claims. “We are constantly in flux and learning
new things, so we should make it a habit to read new things to
increase our knowledge.”
Cynthia is currently reading a few books by Sigmund Freud, the
father of psychoanalysis. “His books offer an interesting insight
into the human psyche,” she explains. “It is always a good
conversation starter to bring up Freud, if you ask me.”
On a more whimsical note, Cynthia sings alongside Claude
Barzotti when commuting on the highway to work. “No public
performances though,” winks as she holds a highlighter like a
microphone.
Cynthia holds an undergraduate degree in Life and Earth
Sciences and a graduate degree in Human Reproduction and
Procreation from the Lebanese University.
CARELLE BOU KANJ
joined Saba IP on September 1, 2015 and works at the patents
department at the Head Office in Beirut.
“Birds are nice and innocent creatures,” Carelle says while
pointing at her tattoo. “They also symbolize freedom and the
ability to face any adversities.”
Carelle, like the birds she much admires, enjoys maintaining an
active lifestyle. “We work all week, so the weekend is our time
to unwind,” she says with a gleam. “I go hiking and make it a
point to try the food of every restaurant in Lebanon and every
country I visit.”
She isn’t joking about that: Carelle has climbed Qurnat as
Sawdā’, the highest point in Lebanon and the region, at 3,088
meters above sea level. She aspires to reach even higher peaks
in the near future.
Carelle holds a degree in Law from the Lebanese University and
plans to enroll in an MBA program soon.
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SAWA
SPRING 2016 | ISSUE #005
marcom@sabaip.com
THE MOTHERS: HAPPY MOTHERS’ DAY TO OUR
BEAUTIFUL SABA MOTHERS
By: Elias Nader, Head Office
JOANNA MATAR
The few hours I spend with her
everyday pump oxygen into my
life.
RANIA FAZAA
I am very proud to be a mother of 3
wonderful children and at the same
time to be responsible for managing
Gaza office. This gives me the
strength and energy to keep life going
on and to achieve my goal in life
LINA TARAZI
When I started working for
Saba IP I already had two
daughters; Samia (1 year old)
and Nicole (3 months). This
was the time when I realized
how hard it is to organize
life between work and home.
Now, five years later, my
two daughters depend on
themselves most of the time
and that made life easier. I
am very happy to be working
at Saba IP because it led
me to find my true self and
discover new abilities in me to
overcome any obstacle in life.
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SAWA
SPRING 2016 | ISSUE #005
marcom@sabaip.com
DANIELLA DOUEIRY
Our kids are our reason to seek out
a better life
TINA DIMPLE
Work multiplied by love is equal to
good experience , better learning
and best living. I am blessed to
have wonderful colleagues around
me and very fortunate to be a part
of the entire Saba family.
NAGWAN WISHAHI
I am always fully present
wherever I am, at work or at
home and loving my job doesn’t
make me any less of a mom.
PERPET FERNANDES
Working with Saba
keeps me always joyful,
dynamic,committed, positive
attitude, self confidence, time
management and providing me
sufficient money to spend it
freely.
RIMA YAMOUT
Being a full time working mom
can lead to feelings of guilt
and stress because of decided
attention between work and
children, but working in a company
like Saba with such a flexible
and comfortable aura is the best
decision I have taken in my life
JIHAN OTHMAN
“All mothers are working mothers”.
Though it’s hard to manage between
family and work.. hope I’m giving both my
son and my job the time and effort they
demand..
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SAWA
SPRING 2016 | ISSUE #005
marcom@sabaip.com
DANA ZAWAIDEH
I can proudly say that my greatest masterpiece is my daughter
Xia. Her unconditional pure love is my motivation, seeing her
after a long hard working day is the best prize I could ever ask for.
Happy mother’s day to my Mom and all the wonderful moms
MARIA RODRIGUES
Being a working mother, I have discovered a
new person in myself who can juggle work
and family, pretty well.
DIALA KAMMOUNI
When it comes to spending
time with my kids, I
value quality as much as
quantity.
RASHA OUSSEILLI
“Remember what a great
example you are setting
for your daughter being
a hardworking and
loving mother.” —Aspen
D’Angelo
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SAWA
SPRING 2016 | ISSUE #005
marcom@sabaip.com
MIRA AL ASHMAR
All working moms are
super moms, we just work
non-stop.
NERMEEN QOKONDOKA
Being a successful mother for three children
is not an easy thing. Being a successful
working woman for 29 years is hard too.
Being both at the same time can be achieved
only with love, determination and faith.
MONA ABLA
They are the reason why a
grandma keep overcoming
difficult challenges.
ROUWAIDA KORKOMAZ
Besides pushing to give my best performance at work, I’ve got
the added challenge of finding the balance between the need to
continue to grow in my career and be a good and present mother
at home.
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SAWA
SPRING 2016 | ISSUE #005
marcom@sabaip.com
THE STAR: JAD ABDALLAH
By: Kloe Angelopoulou, Head Office
Recognized as a semi-professional football player, Jad’s athletic career has spanned over 19 years.
His unwavering passion towards football stems from his ability to exercise his liberty unrestrainedly
on the field. “I am a big partisan of liberty rights, and football provides me with an unprecedented
sense of freedom that I cannot acquire anywhere else in the world,” he admits.
Jad’s dedication to football has earned him several titles over the years. Back when he lived in Paris,
he won a trophy for best player in a championship held across the French department, Ile de France.
Among countless other achievements, Jad’s proudest ones include winning a Futsal Competition in
Barcelona against European teams and coming first in the schools’ championships while playing with
his university’s football team back in college.
Today, Jad is part of the first National Futsal League. He trains every day for two hours in preparation
for the upcoming semi-finals of the Lebanese Futsal Championship. “We are training very hard
each day and the team’s level keeps increasing. I believe that we have good chances of winning the
championship this year,” Jad says enthusiastically.
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SAWA
SPRING 2016 | ISSUE #005
marcom@sabaip.com
What draws Jad the most to football are the values it stands for. Jad believes that he could not
have achieved his current status without determination, passion and perseverance. He learnt that
if talent is needed to excel in in football, it only gets him halfway to his end goal. Hard work and
sacrifice are the most important elements that made him go the extra mile. Also, beyond serving
as just a hobby, Jad regards football as a perpetual source of learning. “Generally, the moment
I realize that my learning curve has come to a halt, I immediately focus my efforts to a new
endeavor that can contribute to my personal development,” he confesses.
To date, Jad admits that the person he has come to be is owed to football. Looking forward, Jad’s
end goal is to become a football coach who can inculcate the ethics of football to potential star
athletes. “Make the best out of the situation you’re in,” Jad smiles.
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SAWA
SPRING 2016 | ISSUE #005
marcom@sabaip.com
THE CULTURE: THE GUIDE TO THE ULTIMATE ZARB COOKOUT
By: Dana Zawaideh, Jordan Office
Zarb is a traditional Bedouin dish that is cooked in an underground pit.
In order to prepare this delicious dish, you need to have a steel barrel with led cover buried in the
ground, and a steel base with multiple layers to carry the food. Start the fire inside the barrel using
firewood, and watch it until turns into burning coals, this usually takes between 45 minutes to one hour,
in the meantime prepare the ingredients (meat, chicken, rice, vegetables) of your own choice and only
use salt and pepper for the seasoning of the meat and vegetables, as for the rice there are many choices
for seasoning such as kabseh or mendi. Stack the ingredients on the steel base plate, putting the rice
pot on the lower layer. Place the steel base inside the barrel on top of the burning coals, and seal the led
cover, then cover the led with sand and light up coals on top, keep the fire on top alive. After about two
hours, remove the coals and carefully clean the led with a brush before opening it. Pull the base out of
the barrel, and your smoked meal should be ready for you to enjoy it.
Gather your loved ones around and bon appétit
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SAWA
SPRING 2016 | ISSUE #005
marcom@sabaip.com
THE FUN: HEAD OFFICE: GALA DINNER
Our colleagues at the Head Office and Lebanon Office held a gala dinner on February 6, 2016 at Grand
Hills to celebrate 75 years of our pioneering efforts in the IP field. We look forward to even more grand
successes!
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SAWA
SPRING 2016 | ISSUE #005
marcom@sabaip.com
THE FUN: HEAD OFFICE: SECRET SANTA
Our colleagues at the Head Office and Lebanon Office celebrated the holidays and spread the
Christmas cheer through a game of Secret Santa that ended with a gift exchange on December 24,
2015.
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SAWA
SPRING 2016 | ISSUE #005
marcom@sabaip.com
THE NEWEST: HEAD OFFICE
CELINE ABI NAKHOUL
joined the Legal department in
December 2015
JEFFRY KESHISHIAN
joined the Operations department
in October 2015
JESSICA HAGE OBEID
joined the Invoicing department in
September 2015
PATRICK KOURIE
joined the Legal department in
October 2015
SARI ZAITER
joined the Business Information
Unit in September 2015
VARTAN VARJABEDIAN
joined as a Messenger in November
2015
MOHAMAD ALI ZALLAYA
joined the Business Information
Unit in September 2015
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SAWA
SPRING 2016 | ISSUE #005
marcom@sabaip.com
THE NEWEST: JORDAN OFFICE
AMAL ALQMOOL
joined the Support Services Unit in
November 2015
HASAN KHALED HASAN
joined the Support Services Unit in
December 2015
MOHAMMAD AL-HARITH
ELAYYAN
joined as an Accountant in October
2015
NASSER MOHAMAD
joined the Support Services Unit in
November 2015
SALLY AL-QUBTI
joined the Support Services Unit in
October 2015
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SAWA
SPRING 2016 | ISSUE #005
marcom@sabaip.com
THE HEARTS & FEET: NEWBORNS
BAHRAIN OFFICE
JORDAN OFFICE
YEMEN OFFICE
Santhosh Nair, our colleague in
Bahrain office, welcomed his baby
girl Anagha on January 21, 2016
Hani Bata, our colleague in Jordan
office, welcomed his baby boy Maher
on December 12, 2015
Our colleague Farah Al Baghdadi
gave birth to Jury, a beautiful baby
girl, on February 9, 2016
KAMASHTAK!
Yara Badr caught Elias Nader dreaming of chocolate. Keep a lookout and send in your candid shots to
marcom@sabaip.com for a chance to be featured in the next issue!
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