KASS International Earns Gold and Regional Recognition in IAM Patent 1000 2026

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By Alvin Boey

Four countries. Multiple tiers. One clear signal, KASS International is building one of Southeast Asia’s most respected patent practices, country by country.

Every year, IAM Media publishes the IAM Patent 1000, widely regarded as the definitive guide to the world’s leading patent professionals. Rankings are earned, not bought. They are the result of hundreds of interviews with patent attorneys and in-house counsel, combined with written submissions and client feedback, all assessed on depth of experience, market presence, and the sophistication of work handled. A Gold ranking is the highest recognition a firm or individual can receive. It means something.

So, when the 2026 edition of the IAM Patent 1000 confirmed Gold for KASS International in Malaysia alongside a breadth of individual and firm recognitions spanning Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand, it landed not just as an honour, but as validation of years of deliberate, ground-level work across Southeast Asia.

"Rankings are earned through hundreds of interviews with attorneys and in-house counsel, assessing expertise, market presence, and the sophistication of work handled."

The Full Picture

Here is the complete breakdown of KASS International’s 2026 IAM Patent 1000 recognitions:

Gold Is Not Given. It Is Earned.

For our Malaysian headquarters, the Gold ranking at firm level is the culmination of decades of rigorous, hands-on patent prosecution work, complex cases, exacting standards, and a team that has committed to raising the bar year after year. That the firm ranking is accompanied by two individual Gold recognitions (CEO, Geetha Kandiah and COO, Alvin Boey), a Luminary nod for Founder, P Kandiah, and a Bronze for Assistant Patent Manager Aaina Kamillia is a testament to how deeply that commitment runs through the team, not just at the top. Happy to also share that, Geetha, Alvin and P Kandiah are also recognized in the list of top illustrious leaders in patent practice in Malaysian in IAM Global Leader 2026 edition.

For a firm headquartered in Kuala Lumpur and built around the complexities of Southeast Asian IP law, a Gold at firm level alongside individual Gold rankings is a signal that the quality runs deep, not concentrated in one or two names, but woven into how the practice operates. That consistency across a team is what clients notice, and what independent researchers confirm.

"Gold at the firm level means the practice holds up. Gold at the individual level means the people behind it do too. Both together is what a mature practice looks like."

A Regional Story, Not Just a Malaysian One

What makes this year’s recognition particularly meaningful is its geography. KASS now carries IAM-recognised patent practices across Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand, four distinct markets, four different regulatory landscapes, and one consistent standard of work. For clients operating across ASEAN who need a single, trusted partner to navigate patent prosecution across the region, this breadth of recognition speaks directly to what KASS has spent years building.

Indonesia’s Silver ranking for Carola Monintja is a standout. As Country Manager of PT. KASS Indonesia, she leads a practice that has grown into one of the most respected in the market. Vietnam’s dual Bronze recognitions for Country Manager, Linh Nguyen and Senior Patent Executive, Minh Vu reflect a team that is on a clear upward trajectory. Thailand’s firm Bronze adds another pin on the regional map.

What This Means Going Forward

Rankings like this are gratifying, but more importantly, they are instructive. They tell us what we are doing right, where our foundations are solid, and where the next level of growth awaits. Malaysia’s Gold sets the benchmark. Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand are building toward it. The ambition within each of those offices is the same: To grow into the kind of mature, deeply trusted practice that the Malaysian team has spent two decades cultivating.

We are proud of every individual named here and of the broader team behind them, whose work makes these recognitions possible in the first place. Patent prosecution at a high level is exacting, detail-intensive work. It demands professionals who take pride not just in getting the right answer, but in getting there the right way, every time.

To our clients: Thank you for the trust you place in us. Recognition of this kind is ultimately a reflection of the work we do together.

To our team: Thank you for the dedication in building an excellent practice. This is fuel.

We are just getting started.