China

Firm overview

King & Wood Mallesons (“KWM”) is a full service international law firm with one of the largest IP practices in China. KWM has consistently ranked by Managing Intellectual Property as Tier 1 in six practice areas of patent prosecution, patent disputes, trade mark prosecution, trade mark disputes, IP transactions and copyrights among Chinese firms. We are also highly ranked by other respected legal media.

KWM offers a market-leading IP dispute resolution and enforcement practice in China. We provide clients with seamless IP services spanning from judicial review of administrative decisions to civil litigation over patents, trademarks, copyrights (including computer software), domain names, and unfair competition (including trade secrets). We are dedicated to working closely with clients to develop, protect, and maximise their IP value. Clients turn to us for their bet-the-company IP litigation, and we have consistently delivered great results, including recording-setting damages awards. Our IP litigators have successfully represented domestic and overseas clients in numerous administrative review cases, trials, and arbitration proceedings. Many of the cases have been selected as top 10 IP litigation cases of the year and exemplary cases by China’s Supreme People’s Court.

With over 400 patents attorneys, patent agents and patent engineers, we cover the whole gamut of technical fields in patent preparation and prosecution in China and around the world. These technical areas include telecommunications, computer science, semiconductor, internet technology, electronics and power, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, biotechnology, chemicals, materials, automobiles, mechanicals and designs.

By working with some of the biggest and most ambitious brands, we understand that what clients want and can offer a holistic solution based on business and legal considerations. We have a global team of experienced attorneys to help protect clients’ trademarks and brands. We also help Chinese and international companies of different sizes to manage their copyright portfolios. Our clients come from various industries, including publishing, media, music, film and television, architectural design, artwork, industrial manufacturing, clothing and jewelry and the internet.

Our IP transactions team provides comprehensive and tailor-made IP services to support clients’ business planning, restructuring, technology upgrading, investment and financing, as well as mergers and acquisitions. In particular, we provide cradle-to-grave services, including pre-investment survey, transaction structure design, transaction document preparation, and integrated operations. Our team helps clients identify and mitigate risks arising from target IP assets. Our team also assists with the operation and transfer of IP assets, such as IP licensing, assignment, co-development, and IT outsourcing. Our team is adept at IP audit, patent portfolio management, technology brand planning, trademark portfolio management, and optimisation of IP ownership allocation. Our team advises enterprises on pre-IPO preparation, including disclosure of information on the nature of technological innovation, related-party transactions, and core personnel.

Firm overview

“Wanhuida Intellectual Property” is a service mark shared by Wanhuida IP Agency and Wanhuida Law Firm. It emblemizes the home of some 500 dedicated professionals, including trademark attorneys, patent attorneys, attorneys-at-law and their proficient staff and the high quality of services they provide for thousands of our clients worldwide.

Wanhuida is now home for some 500 employees working exclusively in the field of intellectual property. It has some 120 IP lawyers specialized in IP litigation and enforcement work, 160 trademark attorneys, 80 patent attorneys and 80 other professionals, including investigators and supporting staff. Many of them are recognized leaders in their respective fields. They have a wide range of experiences from private practice, in-house counselling, to government services in courts, police departments and administrative agencies.

The firm’s professionals have broad and in-depth experience. Over the years, they have accumulatively litigated over thousands of IP cases in courts all over China, prosecuted tens of thousands of patent applications, and filed hundreds of thousands of trademark registrations. Many of the cases are first of its kind. They are recognized by industries, courts and administrative agencies as exemplary cases for their legal significance.

Wanhuida understands the law and its context through years of study and practice. It also actively participates in the policy process for the development of laws. Since its creation, the firm has been closely associated with the legislative progress of Chinese IP laws and regulations. It continues to play an active role in the improvement of the Chinese legal and regulatory environment. Its practitioners are involved in the processes for revising the trademark law, patent law, copyright law, anti-unfair competition law, and relevant judicial interpretations through submission of comments to draft laws and organizing platforms for discussion and communicating with authorities responsible for policy development.

The firm’s active involvement in policy and law developments gives it good sense on the direction of the laws and equips its professionals with insights that can be critical for protecting the interests of its clients. It also has the pulse on the application of the law in context through thousands of cases before courts and administrative agencies.

This mix of legal expertise and result-oriented practical approach has been critical to the firm’s past success and is the constant among the dynamic changes it will keep as it launches into the future.

Firm overview

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer (HSF Kramer) was formed in June 2025 through the transformational combination of Herbert Smith Freehills and Kramer Levin, creating a world-leading global law firm. With over 6,000 people including c.2700 lawyers and spanning 26 offices, HSF Kramer provides comprehensive legal services across every major region of the world. Uniquely positioned to help clients achieve ambitious objectives, HSF Kramer delivers exceptional results in complex transactions and high-stakes disputes.

Our lawyers help the world's foremost companies unlock the value of their IP to protect their investments, secure and maintain competitive advantage and obtain commercial outcomes. Our teams are internationally recognised as market leaders and have acted on some of the most complex disputes and transactions for our clients.

For more information visit www.hsfkramer.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hsfkramer/

Firm overview

Founded in 2002, Lifang & Partners is a full-service law firm with offices in major Chinese business hubs of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Haikou, as well as Seoul, South Korea. We provide a full range of award-winning legal services covering intellectual property, antitrust and competition law, compliance, securities and capital markets, dispute resolution, and more.

Lifang & Partners is a well-rounded and diverse team that provides one-stop, high value-added services. Many of our partners and lawyers attended top law schools in China and abroad. Some have worked in the central government, major regulatory commissions, the courts, or overseas in well-known international law firms or multinational companies. Through their exceptional educational backgrounds and rich practical experiences, they have enjoyed successful careers in their chosen fields of expertise. Chambers & Partners, The Legal500, Asian Legal Business, Managing Intellectual Property and China Business Law Journal have recommended several of Lifang & Partners’ lawyers on multiple occasions.

Believing in service, loyalty, diligence, efficiency and professional excellence, we provide well-rounded transactional and dispute resolution services that combine our in-depth understanding of China’s legal, social and economic development with rich practical experience and a solid understanding of the challenges facing our clients.