Taiwan

The "consistently excellent" Saint Island International Patent & Law Offices has offices in major Taiwanese cities. Its patent team advises domestic and international clients on both prosecution and litigation. Managing partner Patrick Yun is recommended by the firm's competitors. As a patent attorney in Taiwan, Yun is known for his expertise in patent prosecution and validity matters in the fields of material science and software technology. He is also adept at handling industrial design issues. Partner Sumin Lai specialises in patent litigation, unfair competition, licensing, and patent prosecution. Highlights show partners Yu-Jiunn Kao, Min-Chu Tsai and Tony T Y Chang assisting a US pharmaceutical patent applicant with a challenge to a strict approach adopted by the TIPO in its interpretation of the Enforcement Rules of the Patent Act relating to the format of priority documents. A market commentator says: "We have been working with Saint Island for over 15 years. It has been consistently professional and knowledgeable. It is an excellent firm for work in Taiwan and to work with in the US."

Tai E International Patent & Law Office has offices in Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung. It has a comprehensive IP offering, with a focus on both international and domestic IP prosecution and protection. The firm's patent team has over 60 professionals and engineering specialists in the electronics, mechanical, chemistry and biotechnology fields. President Henry Chi-Heng Guei and partner Fred Chi-Tai Yen represented machinery company Bobst Mex SA in a matter concerning a previously rejected patent application.

The "reliable, responsive and high-quality" firm Top Team International Patent & Trademark Office provides advice on prosecution, licensing and litigation. The firm has expertise in the semiconductor, biotechnology and pharmaceutical areas. Executive manager Peggy Wu, whom a rival describes as "reliable and responsive", specialises in global patent and design filing strategy and prosecution. Nick Tung is another executive manager, described as "experienced" and noted for his "good technical knowledge". He focuses on domestic and international IP matters, particularly in the mechanical and consumer device fields. A market commentator says: "Top Team International has in-depth knowledge about many different technological fields and is capable of transforming this knowledge into efficient and successful IP strategies."

Headquartered in Taipei, the "highly professional and efficient" team at Tsai Lee & Chen provides a range of IP services, including patent preparation, prosecution, portfolio management, licensing and IP litigation. The firm's international department handles patent prosecution and invalidation cases for foreign clients. The domestic patent department works with Taiwanese clients to create a global patent strategy. The firm has expertise in the semiconductors, biochemistry, pharmaceuticals, mechanical and electrical engineering fields. Candy K Y Chen is a partner and patent attorney at the firm. She is described by a market commentator as "highly skilled". Chen predominantly handles patent prosecution. She has expertise in the fields of industrial designs and mechanical and manufacturing engineering. A commentator says: "Candy consistently delivers clear and timely answers to difficult questions, offers thoughtful options, and provides insight into the Taiwanese legal system that is useful to my business." A competitor says: "Tsai Lee & Chen is excellent. It is one of the best firms that I work with. I appreciate the depth of the legal analysis that they provide."

Tsar & Tsai Law Firm's patent department has full-time in-house patent engineers, associates and IP lawyers with technical backgrounds and expertise. Managing partner Jennifer Lin has experience in cases involving the licensing of essential patents and advising multinational high-tech companies on antitrust law and merger control issues. Ray Hsu is a manager of the firm's patent department and is a licensed attorney. He is also a trained biochemist and has more than 10 years of experience in the fields of chemistry and biochemistry. Lin and Hsu acted for a solar cell company in a patent infringement lawsuit. Director of the firm's IP practice group Joyce Ho represented a famous Korean semiconductor and LED manufacturer in an invalidation proceeding.

Eiger's IP team is known for its expertise in handling both contentious and non-contentious IP work. The medium-sized law firm is currently handling some civil and criminal IP enforcement litigation cases for its clients, including Philip Morris International, Kering, Abercrombie & Fitch/Hollister and Subway International. Senior partner John Eastwood heads the firm's IP and technology practice, assisting clients with trade mark and copyright matters. A work highlight features Eastwood and litigator Eva Chen acting for luxury fashion and leather goods company Gucci in a trade mark enforcement case.

Lee and Li established an alliance with Lee and Li-Leaven IPR Agency in 2003. It provides a broad range of services, including acquisition, maintenance, dispute resolution and trade mark exploitation. Partner Gloria Lu handles litigation concerning trade marks and copyright. Lu, together with partner Dennis Huang, acted for Taiwan's first and largest online English teaching institution TutorABC in a trade mark litigation case.

As one of the strongest firms in the region with expertise in IP protection, Saint Island International Patent & Law Offices maintains its place in the top tier. Partner Tony TY Chan, whom a rival says is a "fine legal thinker and very articulate", is the director of Saint Island Int'l Law Office and has a particular focus on IP enforcement, litigation and Chinese trade mark prosecution. Managing partner Frank Liu has experience in IP litigation and counselling, involving trade marks, copyright and unfair competition. He also has expertise in licensing. A rival notes: "They have consistently offered excellent quality work at fair prices and are responsive, kind and knowledgeable."

Founded in 1952, Tai E International Patent & Law Office is a highly respected IP law firm in Taiwan. The firm's trade mark department represents both international and domestic clients. Partner and IP Star Fred CT Yen specialises in trade mark office proceedings, prosecution and counselling. Yen, along with partner Henry CH Guei, acted for automobiles and components giant Aston Martin Lagonda in a trade mark prosecution and litigation case.

Headquartered in Taipei, Tsai Lee & Chen's practice covers trade mark portfolio management, licensing and IP litigation. Deputy managers Yiling Liu and Iris LC Lin are both key practitioners in the firm's trade mark section. Liu's practice covers trade mark prosecution, opposition and trade name issues, while Lin focuses on contentious matters. Red Bull, Nokia and Samsung are some of the firm's trade mark clients. An opponent says the firm's service is "highly professional and efficient".

Tsar & Tsai Law Firm's trade mark department has practitioners with technical backgrounds and expertise. IP director and equity partner Joyce Ho focuses on assisting clients in high tech industries on IP rights protection and infringement disputes. Another partner at the firm Jeanne Wang concentrates on assisting high tech companies with IP, antitrust-related disputes and complex litigation.

With substantial experience in IP and competition, partner Peter Dernbach heads Winkler Partners's IP practice and has been with the firm since 2003. His practice includes assisting clients with obtaining, enforcing and licensing their IP rights. A rising star to watch is Mark McVicar who has over a decade of experience managing major trade mark portfolios for multinational clients. A case study shows Dernbach and McVicar acting for an American eCommerce giant in a trade mark prosecution case.