Intellectual Property (International Firms) | Greater China Region

Bird & Bird has a substantial practice with well-established IP credentials, especially accomplished in managing complex cross-border patent litigation. The team also handles a range of copyright and trade mark transactions and disputes as well as data protection and regulatory advice. It handles licensing and franchising agreements, in addition to technology transfers. The firm brings together practitioners with a range of specialist backgrounds, including engineering and life sciences. Its clients benefit from its formal association with PRC law firm Lawjay Partners and its separate trade mark agency staffed by PRC-qualified staff, which enables the team to deal directly with Mainland government agencies. The International Olympic Committee (IOC), Merck and Anker Innovations are examples of the firm's clients.

Deacons combines one of Hong Kong's largest and most established teams with a solid presence in the PRC. It offers a high degree of expertise across the full range of IP, and is especially noted for its trade mark enforcement capabilities. The firm also has extensive experience advising on patent infringement and enforcement cases, with a number of practitioners having a science or technology background. The team acts for many of the world's best-known brands, and maintains a strong base of clients across sectors such as luxury and consumer goods, insurance, life sciences and TMT, such as Ping An Group, PCCW and Alibaba Group. It benefits from an in-house patent team that is qualified to prosecute patents across Europe, the USA and the wider Asia region. In addition, the team is equipped to advise on data privacy and protection matters.

DLA Piper houses well-regarded IP practitioners with on-the-ground presence in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai. It demonstrates skill in the full range of trade mark work, including opposition and infringement matters, as well as the enforcement of patent rights. Life sciences, pharmaceutical and technology constitute its core sectors of expertise, while the firm is also known for advising food and beverage, financial services, hospitality and consumer products companies, such as HSBC, Hillhouse Group and Corinthia Hotels.

Hogan Lovells is a noted group with offices in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai. The law firm serves a high-calibre international clientele by working with its global network, and in association with Fujian Fidelity, in order to better service PRC clients on domestic matters. It has notable experience across anti-counterfeiting, trade mark prosecution, enforcement action and infringement as well as portfolio management. Its client roster includes companies in the luxury goods, consumer products, entertainment and TMT sectors. The firm counts Caterpillar, MGM and Spray Moret among its clientele.

Mayer Brown is a respected practice that provides a wide range of IP services to a high-end client base, including many well-known Chinese and overseas brand owners. The law firm is known for its expertise in trade mark and patent litigation cases. The team also enjoys a strong reputation for its commercial IP work, particularly in the field of copyright licensing. It is well equipped to advise on IP portfolio management and brand protection. Mayer Brown is instructed by blue-chip clients in the fashion, consumer goods, telecommunications, technology and education sectors. The team is also active on IP matters involving South-East Asian countries and the USA. Nvidia & Mellanox and South China Morning Post are part of the firm's clientele.

Clifford Chance is noted for its deft handling of both contentious and non-contentious patent and trade mark work, including experience in significant IP litigation and licensing issues. It is also well placed to advise clients on IP issues stemming from acquisitions, joint ventures, investments and business expansion. The team offers advice to clients in a range of sectors, including media, healthcare, technology, retail and financial services. The firm is especially known for its comprehensive cross-border offering, thanks to its international network. Carrefour, Prenetics Global and Henkel are among the firm's key clients.

Norton Rose Fulbright houses an established Hong Kong-based team, well versed in managing large trade mark portfolios for blue-chip clients. It is additionally active in a broad range of IP disputes, patent infringement and enforcement, software development agreements and domain name disputes, and also works on licensing issues. The firm has a robust client portfolio, including companies from the technology, logistics, life sciences and financial services sectors, such as ASTRI, Global Future & Options and BNP Paribas. It represents clients in both inbound and outbound work, and has a solid track record for advice on the IP aspects of cross-border M&A. The team is also well placed to handle patent prosecution mandates.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is a well-respected practice that includes lawyers with a background in science and engineering. The firm is especially noted for its work on patent infringements and anti-counterfeiting mandates, including cross-border work involving US and Chinese clients. It is also experienced in trade secrets and unfair competition litigation. The team acts for a range of key international players in the technology and manufacturing sectors, working closely with the firm's US offices. Its key clients include Baidu, Anker Innovations and OnePlus Technology (Shenzhen).

Dorsey & Whitney specialises in trade mark matters, handling infringement, prosecution and cancellation cases, as well as portfolio management. The firm has offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, and the practice also leverages its network of offices and resources across North America. Its clientele includes Chow Tai Fook Jewellery, LKK Health Products Group and Lee Kum Kee.

Ropes & Gray houses a compact team with experience in a wide range of IP work and a notable focus on significant cross-border transactional matters, especially licensing agreements. It has a distinguished client following in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, including companies such as LianBio and Everest Medicines. The team is notably active on US-China matters and well versed in data privacy and technology transfer matters.

Vivien Chan & Co is a well-established boutique that works with international companies to enforce IP rights across Greater China, with offices in Hong Kong and Beijing. The firm handles IP portfolio management as well as transactional IP mandates. In addition to its extensive trade mark prosecution practice, the team is also active on enforcement matters. Its clientele includes a number of consumer goods, luxury retail and cosmetics brands.