Biography of Dr. Paul V. Sjiem Fat (1924-2007)
PAUL VALENTIJN SJIEM FAT was born on October 26, 1924, in Paramaribo, Suriname, and grew up in Paramaribo and Curaçao. He obtained his law degree in Curaçao in 1950, an LL.M. in Dutch law from the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands in 1959.
In 1986, he obtained an Ph.D. in Dutch Law for his thesis “Biba Willem Sassen” from the Catholic University of Brabant in the Netherlands.
Law practice in Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles
Paul V. Sjiem Fat has practiced law in Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles since November 1, 1950 and was the founder of Sjiem Fat & Co. Law Offices in Aruba.
Sjiem Fat & Co. Law Offices is currently managed by Dr. Paul V. Sjiem Fat's son, Johan Paul Sjiem Fat (LL.M. M.C.L.).
Paul Sjiem Fat practiced law in Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles for over forty years. He is the author of numerous scholarly articles and publications and was the founder and editor in chief of the Netherlands Antilles law review Justicia, which later became known as TAR Justicia and is currently published as Caribisch Juristenblad. Dr. Sjiem Fat was the President of the Bar Association of the Netherlands Antilles and of the Aruba Bar Association.
Dr. Sjiem Fat also served as national president for the World Jurist Association, representing the Netherlands Antilles.
Dr. Sjiem Fat was lecturer at the University of Aruba and The Netherlands Antilles.
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Sjiem Fat & Co. Law Offices in Aruba. |
Intellectual Property in Suriname
In 1992, Dr. Sjiem Fat moved to Suriname and founded the firm Dr. Paul V. Sjiem Fat Law Offices. This firm specialized in intellectual property law matters, rapidly becoming the largest IP firm in Suriname, due to the portfolio already composed in Aruba and the other islands of the Dutch Antilles.
Dr. Paul V. Sjiem Fat Law Offices handled many cases against infringement of trademarks. The firm relayed on the experience acquired during the many years of practice in Aruba.
Dr. Paul V. Sjiem Fat Law Offices was by far the pioneer of many IP regulations in Suriname. Dr. Sjiem Fat introduced standards for the Suriname Trademarks Office, which later were adopted by the Bureau.
He also advised on matters in respect of updating the IP laws of the country.
Besides his work in intellectual property, Dr. Sjiem Fat also gave lectures on law at the University of Suriname.
Retirement
Dr. Paul V. Sjiem Fat retired on August 1, 1999, after forty years of law practice in Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles and seven years of intellectual property law practice in Suriname. In his last official letter, Dr. Sjiem Fat informed all his clients that the services of Dr. Paul V. Sjiem Fat Law Offices will be continued by Sjiem Fat & Mahabir Trademark Consultants N.V.
Order of Oranje Nassau
Towards the end of his carreer Dr. Paul V. Sjiem Fat was knighted by the Queen of the Netherlands, who made him an Officer in the Order of Oranje Nassau.
Dr. Sjiem Fat spent the last years of his life in Aruba where he passed away on January 2, 2007. Paul Valentijn Sjiem Fat was 82 years old.
