Vannary is a Consultant in our newly opened Cambodia office, focusing on prosecution and enforcement of trade marks. 

When Vannary reflects on her early life, she says her teenage years were spent getting herself to where she wanted to be in life.  It’s certainly not something she regrets: she worked hard at school, did well and now has a good job. Because she grew up in Cambodia at the end of the 20^th century, things could very easily have been different.  For many of her friends, they were.

Vannary’s family moved to Phnom Penh when the civil war ended, and she grew up hearing stories about the war years and how difficult life had been.  Her grandmother had taken over the family’s motorcycle spare parts business when her husband died, and then had to bring up five children alone.  She must have been an extraordinary woman in many ways - intelligent, capable and disciplined.  The business flourished and so did her children: one of her sons ultimately becoming a pilot, one a professor of engineering and one a successful businessman.   She remained, for most of her life, the most powerful member of the extended family, loved and respected in equal measure by all.  Her relationship with Vannary was particularly close and her influence profound.

Because both parents were busy making a living and had very little spare time, Vannary virtually grew up with her grandmother – and she was determined that her favourite granddaughter should have a good education.  At the time, that was certainly not something that could be taken for granted: small children were often required to support the family outside school hours and had virtually no spare time, not even at weekends. Vannary’s grandmother, however, thought differently.  She took a close interest in her granddaughter’s studies and would spend time talking to her every day when she came home from school, encouraging her to study hard so that she could have a good future.  Her grandmother’s influence was certainly strong, but Vannary enjoyed studying, and always aimed to be near the top of the class. 

She was also influenced by the example of her cousins; in particular, one who had been a prize student, winning travelling scholarships at an early age. Vannary set out to follow in his footsteps.  While still an undergraduate at university in Cambodia, she was part of the winning team in a national Moot competition and runner up in a Client Counselling competition – and she obtained scholarships to attend a range of international workshops in summer schools in the United States, Poland, Italy, Malaysia and the Philippines.  Sadly, during one of these workshops she received news that her dearly loved grandmother had died.  To this day, Vannary’s greatest regret is that she could not have been with her in her last days.

After graduating from university in Cambodia, obtaining both an LLB and a degree in Economic Development, Vannary applied for and obtained a scholarship to study for a Masters degree in South Korea.  She did well, obtained her Masters degree, and then travelled to the US to sit for the U.S. bar exam in Washington D.C

She worked hard and passed the exam, but decided to return to Cambodia to join a local law firm in Phnom Penh, focusing on commercial and corporate law, which was her main area of interest.  It proved to be a valuable and enjoyable experience, but when she had been there for some time she heard about IP and, was immediately intrigued.  She quickly saw that it was a developing field with great possibility and that it would enable her to develop a particular focus and specialisation within the commercial field.  She took a rather bold decision to leave the firm and undertake a full-time Trade Mark Agents course.  She was confident she would then be able to find work in the field of IP.   

Her confidence proved to be well-founded because not long after finishing the course she received a call from a recruitment agency with a potentially interesting prospect.  Its client, Rouse, was looking for an IP agent to undertake training in its Vietnam office in preparation for the opening of an office in Cambodia.  After learning more about Rouse, and being interviewed by Chris Vale and Hai Anh, Vannary decided it was more than a potentially interesting prospect. It looked like the perfect opportunity, and she accepted the subsequent job offer with enthusiasm. 

It’s still early days, but it’s exciting and Vannary is optimistic about the future.   She’s happy to be with Rouse and speaks enthusiastically about Chris Vale’s leadership and guidance.  He’s someone she respects enormously.  

While in many ways it might be have been possible for her to have had a better quality of life in countries like America, she is committed to Cambodia and to helping improve the general quality of life there.  She believes that if people want the country to change, they have to be prepared to work to make that happen.