Sean Shih

Sean J.C. Shih

Partner
Baker & McKenzie

Biography

Sean is a partner in Baker McKenzie's Taipei office. He has extensive experience advising clients on data privacy, cyber security, emerging technologies (such as AI), intellectual property rights (e.g., trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets), e-commerce, consumer protection, antitrust, and litigation/dispute resolution matters. His comprehensive knowledge and expertise across these diverse practice areas enable him to provide clients with strategic and holistic legal counsel on complex and cutting-edge business issues.

Sean holds several certifications and memberships, including Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe (CIPP/E), CPMP and CPIA (TPIPAS), Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb), and arbitrator of the Chinese Arbitration Association, Taipei. He currently serves as the Chair of the Digital Services and Data Protection Committee of the Taipei Bar Association, and previously worked at Baker McKenzie's Chicago office (2019–2020).

Practice Focus

Sean's practice focuses on data privacy, cyber security, and information technology. He also regularly advises clients on contentious and non-contentious intellectual property and cross-border dispute resolution.

Representative Legal Matters

Data Privacy and Cyber Security

  • Advised companies in responding to data breach incidents, including assessing global data breach reporting and notification obligations, and assisted in administrative investigations.
  • Advised companies on conducting data privacy and cyber security compliance reviews.
  • Advised companies across industries including technology, telecommunications, software, e-commerce, entertainment, beauty and fashion, automotive, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, biotechnology, finance, food and beverage, gaming, and optics on drafting and reviewing various privacy policies.
  • Advised companies on cross-border data transfer issues, as well as data processing, sharing, and transfer agreements.
  • Advised companies on drafting personal data files security maintenance plans.
  • Advised companies to conduct privacy impact assessment on new products and services.
  • Advised companies on various data privacy issues, including direct marketing and processing of sensitive personal data .
  • Advised companies on personal data sharing and transfer issues in organizational change and M&A.
  • Advised companies on providing comments on draft laws and regulations, including amendment to Personal Data Protection Act.
  • Advised company on issues regarding use of personal data in AI training and products.

Information Technology

  • Advised companies in mapping AI-related regulations and guidelines across APAC jurisdictions.
  • Advised a leading U.S. Internet company on AI, data protection, content moderation, consumer protection, anti-competition and IP issues.
  • Advised companies on a wide range of products, services and marketing compliance review
  • Advised e-commerce platforms on consumer protection, anti-competition, unfair advertising issues and platform liability for prohibited or restricted products.
  • Advised a U.S. medical device and healthcare company on data privacy, consumer protection, antitrust, unfair advertising, IP, and anti-bribery issues.

Professional Honors

  • Named Recognized Practitioner by Chambers Greater China (2026)
  • Named Next Generation Partner in Data Protection by Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2026)
  • Named Recommended Individual by World Trademark Review 1000 (WTR) (2025)

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Taipei Bar Association – Chair, Digital Service and Data Protection Committee
  • Taiwan Bar Association – Member, Mediation and ADR Committee and Intellectual Property Committee
  • International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)
  • Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb)
  • Arbitrator of the Chinese Arbitration Association

Admissions

  • Keelung~Taiwan (2020)
  • New York~United States (2014)
  • Hsinchu~Taiwan (2014)
  • Taipei~Taiwan (2012)

Education

  • University of California, Berkeley School of Law (LL.M.) (2012)
  • National Taiwan University (LL.M.) (2009)
  • National Taiwan University (LL.B.) (2006)

Languages

  • English
  • Japanese
  • Mandarin
  • Taiwanese
  • "Exploring the possibility of using arbitration to resolve SEP infringement disputes " - Commercial Times (2021)
  • "Observing the latest developments of EU regulation on international data transfer" - Commercial Times (2021)
  • "AI and Trademark Law" - Commercial Times (2020)
  • "The IP Strategy of Animal Crossing: New Horizons" - Commercial Times (2020)
  • "Following the development of EU's New Copyright Directive" - TIPA Intellectual Property Review (2020)
  • "Fighting COVID-19 while Protecting Personal Data" - Commercial Times (2020)