Advance China IP Law Office has its main offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen. The firm also runs a US representative office from Silicon Valley, as well as eight further branch offices in key Chinese cities. The ‘extremely proactive‘, sizeable IP practice covers IP portfolio management, technology protection, brands, copyright, and domain names; and its representative expertise covers filings, patent and trade mark applications, post-grant proceedings, enforcement issues, and litigation. Chong He, whose career includes working for a foreign high-tech company as an engineer, manages the firm’s international patent department; and Lucy Zheng leads the trade mark department.

Delivering ‘one-stop IP solutions and high-quality work‘, AFD China Intellectual Property Law Office‘s full-service practice covers patents, trade marks, trade secrets, copyright, and domain names. Jointly leading the IP practice, patent and trade mark expert Xia Zheng, who ‘cannot be recommended enough‘, plays an active industry role as director of the All-China Patent Attorneys Association; and Hong Long leads two groups within the firm’s domestic patent prosecution team. The group also features the practice’s trade mark and legal department management officer, Jingjing Wu; and Mingzhao Yang, who provides patent portfolio advice to the firm’s foreign clients.

AllBright Law Offices‘ IP team comprises specialists in patents, trade marks, copyright, new plant varieties, and anti unfair competition. Gehui Gao heads the group, which features IP department founder Minxuan Liu, an expert in the litigation and arbitration of technology patents; Lily Zhou, whose track record includes successfully handling approximately 1000 IP litigation cases; longstanding IP protection specialist Xiaoning Jia; and Hua Ding, who regularly acts for well-known domestic and foreign companies in the Supreme People’s Court and domestic courts, in relation to patent, trade mark and copyright matters. Baoxin Qi is another active team member.

‘One of the leading specialist IP law firms‘, An, Tian, Zhang & Partners handles a plethora of trade mark filings, oppositions, invalidations, and cancellations each year. The practice is also active in patent work, along with copyright, trade secrets, customs actions, domain names, and enforcement matters. The firm additionally maintains robust IP-related administrative and civil litigation practices. Experienced litigator David Tian leads the group, which includes Young Guo, who acts in life sciences and chemistry-related patent prosecution, enforcement and IP litigation matters; and patent and trade mark practitioner Ruifeng Li, who advises on Chinese IP laws, court practices and government policy.

AnJie Broad Law Firm‘s ‘responsive and excellent practice’ comprises litigation lawyers, former senior judges, senior patent agents, and former senior patent examiners, who routinely act for major high-tech and internet companies, as well as famous brands and other innovative businesses. The IP team further benefits from the ability to leverage the expertise of the firm’s insurance, reinsurance, antitrust, private equity, M&A, capital markets, and banking and finance specialisms (among others). The principal advisers are former Beijing High People’s Court judge, Nick Liu; IP and dispute resolution expert Yufeng Han; David Wang, a former senior partner at Jincheng Tongda & Neal; China and New York-qualified Wency Yu; Albert Tsui, who has notable interests in blockchains, AI issues, robotics, autonomous vehicles, and drones; and Zhixing Chen, a specialist in patents, trade marks, copyright, and trade secrets.

Regularly acting for technology, financial, TMT, and life sciences clients, Beijing DaHui Lawyers‘ IP practice handles patent prosecutions and domain name disputes, along with the IP due diligence for M&A, private equity and venture capital deals. Joy Wang‘s experience includes patent and trade mark invalidation procedures, while Reking Chen is a late 2022 hire from DLA Piper. Chen is experienced in a range of franchising and technology matters, both at non-contentious and contentious levels. In January 2023, the practice was further boosted by the arrival of Yun Chen, who focuses on manufacturing, pharmaceutical and technology industry clients, from Baker McKenzie FenXun.

Shanghai-headquartered law firm Shanghai Beshining Law Office has additional offices in Xi’an, Ningbo, Chongqing, Changsha, Qingdao, Hangzhou, and Houston (US). The IP practice’s ‘outstanding professionals‘, co-led by Qi Xue and Weibin Wang, provide both domestic and overseas legal services, including patents, trade mark, copyright, trade secrets, and integrated circuits’ layout designs.

Giant Beijing-based IP law firm CCPIT Patent and Trademark Law Office also has domestic offices in Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong, along with a recently-opened branch in Wuhan. Internationally, the firm runs outposts from New York, Silicon Valley, Tokyo and Madrid. The team’s vast expertise encompasses advisory work, prosecutions, and administrative enforcement and litigation; and the group comprises specialists in patents, trade marks, copyright, domain names, and trade secrets. President of the firm, Chuanhong Long, is an expert in the prosecution, invalidation, enforcement and licensing of patents; Shaohui Yuan‘s vast patent practice covers applications, prosecutions, reexaminations, invalidations, and infringement litigation; Jianzhong Kang‘s track record includes handling approximately 1000 patent filings and prosecutions, several of which are patent reexamination cases; and Huiqing Wang‘s broad experience also includes IP litigation. Within the firm’s associate ranks, Yingying Shen  and Bo Li  are the names to note.

Chang Tsi & Partners ‘finds efficient solutions‘. The 350-plus strong IP practice comprises lawyers, along with patent and trade mark attorneys, who work from offices in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Guangxi, and Hong Kong, in addition to the firm’s Beijing headquarters. The firm also runs branches from the US, Korea, and Taiwan. The group’s key areas are IP rights, litigation and dispute resolution, as well as IP-related commercial law issues; and it is particularly experienced in trade mark, patents, IP confirmations, administrative IP, and judicial protection. Managing partner Simon Tsi is a renowned litigator; Spring Chang provides ‘very detailed advice‘; Michael Wu acts in patent, copyright and trade mark infringement matters; David Liu has notable legal experience in both the US and China; Tracy Shen is a trade mark law expert; and Nancy Qu specialises in the prosecution and enforcement of IP rights. Sue Gui and Nana Zhang are key counsels.

Acting for major clients both in China and overseas, China Patent Agent (H.K.) Ltd. has ‘one of the most knowledgeable and capable teams in China‘. The practice has enviable experience in IP-related applications, prosecutions, litigation, licensing, and assignments, in relation to patents, copyright, trade marks, and domain names. The group additionally assists with IP registrations, including design applications, for clients in Hong Kong. The team is co-headed by Yanfeng Xiong, whose track record includes several successful reversals at Supreme Court level; and Jingchao Wang and Yuhe Wu, who both work from the firm’s Hong Kong office. Also highly regarded, Ke Ke handles chemistry and biology-related patent prosecutions, invalidations and litigation; Peng Liu focuses on the electronics, telecoms and mechanics sectors; Yu Zhang is a patent application expert; and Richard Xiao Li has significant experience in IP disputes before China’s major courts.

Commerce & Finance Law Offices‘ IP disputes practice covers copyright, patent and trade mark infringements, along with IP cases involving unfair competition issues. The group, which comprises members with overseas education backgrounds and diplomas in both science and engineering, is co-led by Mingtao Chen, Jing Chen, Hongji Li and Qiang Cui.

Dacheng Law Offices‘ ‘responsive, organised and reliable‘ IP practice is highly focused on patent and trademark work, particularly in relation to emerging industries. Fielding both patent and trademark agents, in addition to lawyers, the group consistently acts in IP rights-related litigation at all levels of China’s courts. It also assists with obtaining IP rights. The team comprises several experienced IP practitioners, namely Mingyue Dun, Feng Liu, Yuzhou Yang, Wallace Li, Weihua Li, and Dayong Sun, along with Zhangwei Wang, Yong Zhang, Miao Huang, and Chunyao Zhang. In January 2023, Yuan Yuan was recruited as partner from Shanghai Xinben Law Offices.

Assisting with a broad range of enforcement and cross-practice work, DeHeng Law Offices‘ IP team routinely prosecutes high-stakes matters at global levels. The practice, which predominantly focuses on patents, trade marks, copyright and unfair competition, is led by IP infringement specialist Mingjun Luo. Jun Cui is a fellow IP expert, who also maintains robust competition and anti-monopoly law practices; Menglong Li acts for several well-known companies in protecting their copyrights, patents, and trade mark interests in China; and Xinliang Tao‘s track record includes over 300 arbitration cases and domain name disputes.

The IP team at East & Concord Partners routinely assists with the formulation of protection strategies, along with clients’ actual use of patented technologies. The group is also active in trade mark work, including brand protection strategies. Beijing-based IP rights specialist Bing Guan and patent expert Song Zhang co-lead the practice.

One of the few firms in China with an established IP appellate litigation and advocacy practice, Fangda Partners‘ enviable track record includes numerous appearances before both the country's provincial high courts and PRC Supreme Court. On the non-contentious side, the practice covers domestic and cross-border deals involving procurements, acquisitions, assignments, licensing, brands, patents and copyright. The team is co-led by renowned IP litigator Alexandra Yang and former Shanghai High People’s Court judge, James Hu. The department further includes IP infringement and anti-counterfeiting specialist Richard Lin; Fang Qi, an adviser to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, petrochemical, telecoms, and manufacturing companies; and Hans She, whose experience covers high profile non-contentious proceedings. Also key to the group, Claudia Yun assists with IP-related transactional and litigation work, while Tingting Liao predominantly focuses on patent litigation and invalidation matters, as well as trade secret disputes. The counsels to note are Christine Dong and Lin Qin.

Housing experts in the management, protection and optimisation of IP in China, FenXun Partners‘ IP team has significant experience in litigation involving trade marks, patents, copyright, trade secrets, and domain names. The firm, which is able to leverage its joint operation with international law firm Baker McKenzie, is co-led by Aggie Liu, whose practice ranges from initial litigation strategy and pre-trial relief, to trial proceedings and court judgment enforcements; and Binxin Li, who leads the China patent team. Other names to note are Zheng Zhou, senior counsel Yilan Yang, counsel Lu Zhang, and associates Muzi Xuan and Guangzhen Shang.

With a particularly successful record in trade mark prosecution and litigation, full-service IP firm Ferrante Intellectual Property has offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. The principal advisers are anti-counterfeit department leader Felice Meli, and trade mark and copyright specialist Mandy Chen. Hong Kong-based founder Michele Ferrante is managing partner.

GEN Law Firm‘s ‘very complete IP practice’ is co-led by ‘go-to lawyer for China IP matters’ He Jing, Shanghai office managing partner Jerry Xia, Steve Zhao, whose wide-ranging practice includes the acquisition of IP assets, Kevin Han, Johnson Li, and James Ma. All of these lawyers are IP specialists.

‘Well equipped with strong professional knowledge‘, Global Law Office‘s IP team focuses on the manufacturing, TMT and energy sectors, as well as the pharmaceuticals, sport, and food and beverage industries. Its IP expertise ranges from patents, trade marks and copyright, to trade secrets, domain names, plant variety protection, and unfair competition. Recent highlights include representing Perfect World Coin (before the Supreme People’s Court) in a headline trade mark case, which has major consequences for the entertainment sector’s industry rules. The group, headed by managing partner Jinrong Liu, includes Meph Jia Gui, a specialist in the creation, exploitation and protection of IP rights; Degang Ma, who ‘provides very high-quality advice’; IP litigation expert Jack Li; and Ying Mu, whose practice encompasses trade mark and patent authorisations.

The principal figure within Grandall Law Firm‘s ‘very efficient‘ team is Shanghai-based Shilong Fang, who ‘has many years of experience in handling complex IP cases‘. Recent highlights for Shilong, who focuses on IP litigation involving the high-tech industry, include representing Shanghai Sciyee Environmental Protection Equipment Co in trade mark infringement cases.

Guantao Law Firm‘s IP practice routinely advises on patents, trade marks, copyright, and trade secrets. The team also assists with the IP side to telecoms, media, integrated circuit layouts, plant varieties, and computer software. Group leader Hongjiang Li is an expert in copyright, patent infringement, and technology contract-related litigation.

Haiwen & Partners‘ IP practice is experienced in a range of IP work, including patents, trade marks, copyright (including software), and trade and domain names. The team also comprises experts in trade secrets, integrated circuit layout designs, and IP-related antitrust and competition issues. IP law specialists Qiang Ma and Hanguo Zhang co-lead the practice, which includes veteran entertainment and media law sector practitioner, Cao Yu; TMT sector-focused Fu Peng; pharmaceutical and chemistry sector expert Yingqi Li, who is experienced in patent portfolio work, and administrative and infringement litigation; and Yolanda Jia, who is licensed to practice in both China and California.

Han Kun Law Offices‘ sizeable contentious and non-contentious IP practice is consistently sought out by leading tech industry players to act in challenging IP matters before China’s Supreme People’s Court, IP courts and tribunals, and the China National Intellectual Property Administration. The firm’s full-service IP team covers prosecutions, litigation, and enforcement strategies, in relation to patents, trade marks and industrial designs. The group also regularly works alongside international law firms on global IP-related antitrust actions, cross-border data protection matters, and transactional IP work. Contentious IP law specialist Yan Wang chairs the firm’s IP and litigation departments; Lili Wu‘s experience spans a range of technology sectors; and Rui Luo routinely represents multinational clients in high-stakes IP-related disputes. The group also features IP litigator Haining Song; Jian Zhang, who is experienced in patent invalidation, licensing, and IP infringement and administrative litigation; and patent law expert Tao Zhang.

Boutique law firm Harvesting Law Firm has longstanding experience in IP protection work. The practice has also developed significant expertise in trade mark, patent and copyright infringement litigation. Yafei Luo routinely acts in the litigation of of trade mark infringements, while Weiping Xiao is a specialist in IP rights protection.

Hong Fang Law is highly active in litigation and administrative prosecution work. The team is additionally experienced enforcement matters and investigations. The practice is jointly led by Xu Zhang in Guangzhou, who advises on IP rights acquisitions involving trade marks, copyrights, patents, and domain names; and fellow Shanghai-based IP specialist Eric Su.

Jincheng Tongda & Neal‘s practice is experienced in IP and trade secret protection work, technology transfers, trade mark licensing, and patent, trademark and software-related lawsuits. Examples include the group’s recent representation of Shenyang Blowers Works Group Co in a trade secret infringement dispute. Jason Pang is a high-tech industry specialist; Decheng Li is an adviser to the software and database sectors; and Yong Wang acts on trade secret infringements. Other names to note are Zhenzhong Yang, a former judge at the Beijing No.1 Intermediate People’s Court’s Intellectual Property Office; and IP strategy expert Jin Wang.

Jingtian & Gongcheng‘s experienced IP department includes Minjie Xi, who advises on IP matters in relation to the arts, luxury, fashion, sports, entertainment, and NGO sectors. The practice also features Guo Chen, who routinely advises on patent applications and review procedures; and patent prosecution and litigation specialist Min Xu.

‘A go-to firm for bet-the-company disputes‘, JunHe LLP covers the gamut of IP-related legal services. The firm’s expertise ranges from trade marks, patents and copyright, to unfair competition, domain names, and customs protection; while the practice’s sector specialisms include biotechnology, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, along with energy, automobiles, food, cosmetics, and luxury goods. Among the firm’s several experienced practitioners, James Zhu, who works across the firm’s Shanghai and Silicon Valley offices, assists with patent procurements, litigation and technology licensing; Zoe Wang is particularly active in the life sciences, materials science, software, and electronics sectors; Jessica Xu‘s track record includes successfully obtaining several well-known trade mark recognitions; Johnson Wang is a specialist in patent enforcement and defence-side litigation work; and Rongnan Huang is the Shanghai office’s deputy director. Other names to note are Tao Sun, Donnie Wang, Larry Lu, Beverly Xu, and Lora Wu.

‘Always looking for the business-preferred solution‘, Kangxin Partners, p.c.‘s patent team stands out for its work in electronics, mechanics, and chemistry and life sciences. The team is also well known for its expertise in copyright, trade marks and domain names, as well as IP disputes. The firm additionally operates an enviable IP management tool, Kangxin IP Platform, which facilitates a full range of IP-related services, including trade mark searches, registrations and renewals. The practice fields several experienced practitioners, including managing partner Samson Yu, a specialist in patent and trade mark prosecution; Shirley Dong, whose track record includes numerous patent applications and IP disputes involving patent infringements and invalidations; James Chen, who heads up the firm’s foreign patent department; and Lichun Zhao, a trademark expert that also maintains active copyright and domain name practices. Also highly rated, Gloria Wu ‘does excellent work at reasonable rates‘.

‘Able to cover wide-ranging IP needs through highly diversified resources‘, King & Wood Mallesons‘ ‘outstanding professionals‘ routinely represent major companies, as well as entrepreneurs from emerging industries, in significant IP disputes. The team, which is co-led by Maohua Wang, Xiaoli Yang, He Wei, Tina Tai Yong Li, Mia Qu, and Mingfei Sun, also has enviable expertise in IP transactions, patents, trade marks, and copyright. Among the firm’s other experienced practitioners, Nongfan Zhu‘s practice focuses on IP asset management, dispute resolution, and transactional work; Wenping Chen specialises in patent protection; Yugong Qin maintains a broad IP practice; and Yusheng Shi, Xu Jing, and Gordon Gao are all IP disputes specialists. Additional names to note are Li Hui, an adviser on electrical and mechanical patent prosecutions; Mao Jin, whose career includes working at the State Intellectual Property Office’s Patent Reexamination Board; and IP infringement expert Xiaoxia Zhang.

With ‘substantial experience in handling IP cases‘, Lifang & Partners‘ IP litigation team is best known for its expertise in the technology and telecoms sectors, particularly in relation to patents. The group comprises over 60 professionals, who are also consistently mandated to act in heavyweight disputes concerning trade marks, copyright, and trade secrets. The team is co-led by Guanbin Xie, an expert in IP disputes, technology, and antitrust and competition law; Li Wu, who focuses on patent prosecution, invalidation and litigation work; IP litigation specialist Bin Zhang, whose track record includes several cases before the Supreme People’s Court and provincial high people’s courts; IP disputes practitioner Haidong Yu; and patent law expert Yuanyuan Zhang, who assists with invalidity issues, freedom to operate opinions, and infringement litigation. Other names to note are Lei Zhang, Manxia Xu and Flora Li, along with associates Fang Dong, Heng Ji and Xiao Wang.

Liu, Shen & Associates‘ wide-ranging IP practice covers patent, copyright and trade mark infringement litigation. The team also acts in trade secret disputes. Allen Tao and Michelle Ma co-head the department, which includes IP litigation specialist Guanyang Yao, and Stephen Zou, who focuses on patent portfolio matters and patent-related administrative litigation.

Llinks Law Offices‘ IP team is highly experienced in trade marks, copyright, patents, domain names, and trade secrets, while its sector expertise encompasses telecoms, electronics, software, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals. The firm also fields advisers to the e-commerce, internet and traditional media industries. Clients additionally turn to the group for IP infringement remedies. The practice is co-led by IP disputes specialist James Wang and non-contentious expert Xun Yang, an adviser on information security, privacy, in addition to IP. Also highly regarded is Mark Zhang, who is an experienced IP infringement practitioner.

Lusheng Law Firm‘s core IP offering covers trade mark and patent protection work, litigation and enforcement, and digital and commercial advice. The names to note are IP litigation and enforcement expert August Zhang and litigation leader Sharon Qiao, along with Landy Jiang, Carol Wang, Sophia Hou, and Alice Hou.

Merits & Tree Law Offices covers the full IP lifecycle, its expertise ranging from patents, trade marks and copyright, to trade secrets. Headed up by Lihui Zhao, a specialist in technology-related IP disputes cases, the team also focuses on the IT, advanced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, media, AI, and chemicals sectors.

Particularly active in the TMT sector, Ronly & Tenwen Partners fields a ‘strong group of IP professionals‘. The practice’s recent experience includes numerous cases involving audio-visual networks, animation, gaming, and e-sports. The team, co-led by Liqing Sun, Cailin Weng and Shujuan Li, comprises experts in trade marks, patents, copyright, and trade secrets.

Comprising both lawyers and agents, Tahota Law Firm‘s IP rights team has ample experience in patents, trade marks, copyright, and IP litigation. It also assists with international business-related IP issues. Jingchuan Li heads the group, which features anti-counterfeiting specialist Wang Xiao; and Charles Feng, whose experience includes IP applications and confirmation cases.

Tian Yuan Law Firm‘s IP team is particularly experienced in the IT, communications and internet sectors. It is also increasingly active in patent  and trade secret disputes, Internet Protocol television matters, and biomedicine. The team is co-led by IP rights infringement expert Yan Sun and IP litigator Shizhan Guo.

Wanhuida Intellectual Property comprises both Wanhuida IP Agency and Wanhuida Law Firm, and with footprints spanning major IP hubs in China, the team is best placed to handle the full scope of contentious and non-contentious IP matters. Praised for its solid track record in trade mark matters, it prosecutes a large number of patent and trade mark cases each year. Recent caseloads also saw the team handling enforcement, litigation, unfair competition, and copyright matters for a broad mix of Chinese and foreign clients. Founding partner Gang Bai continues to handle prosecution, enforcement and IP litigation, and leads the team which also includes the highly regarded trade mark specialists Hui Huang and Haiyan Ren, and Sam Li who excels in patent litigation, criminal and civil trade secret cases, and disputes arising from technology agreements. Zegang (Bruce) Yu is also a key name to note for trade secrets, OEM-related disputes and IP infringement matters; Yu splits his time between Shanghai and Ningbo.

Fielding hundreds of professionals, including lawyers, agents, engineers, professors, and scientific researchers, Watson & Band is one of China’s oldest intellectual property service providers. The team is notably active in relation to the chemistry, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and machinery sectors. It also assists with the IP side to electronics, telecoms, data, optical physics, metallic materials, and semiconductors. The practice comprises several experienced practitioners, namely Shanghai executive managing partner Jean Yang, Jianguo Huang, Liming Zhang, and Joe Liu, as well as Xiaobo He, Cathy Wu, Hua Xiao, Yingcong Xu, and Guohua Tang.

Zhong Lun Law Firm‘s ‘extremely knowledgeable, experienced and practical‘ IP team is consistently mandated to resolve major disputes in China, as well as to safeguard clients’ IP rights. Internationally, the practice’s experience encompasses several Belt and Road projects that require strategic IP protection plans. Among the firm’s several experienced practitioners, Peter Ni and Jihong Chen co-lead the IP group; Dongxiao Ma and Yonghong Wang jointly head the IP licensing and enforcement practice; Jimmy Huang leads the firm’s trade mark prosecution offering; and Cliff Yang heads the patent prosecution team. The department also includes Ping Gu, who ‘provides strong strategic advice‘; Yuanchao Ma, a former managing partner of Co-effort Law Firm LLP; Bisheng Shi, who serves as the executive director of the China Intellectual Property Research Association; IP licensing and enforcement expert Helen Cheng; and Peng Zhang, a specialist in TMT-related IP disputes. Shuman Zhang is a key associate.