Innovation is fundamental to a country's development, and innovation cannot do without intellectual property protection. With the public being encouraged to start businesses and engage in innovation, IP lawyers are attracting much attention and contribute to the development of the country's soft power through their efforts.

ALB has been focusing its attention on the IP legal sector and outstanding IP lawyers. In September this year, we completed a survey on IP lawyers and selected the top 15 attorneys based on recommendation by law firms, client interviews and market recognition. We also took into consideration the achievements, practicing features and new client wins of IP lawyers.

The top 15 IP lawyers as listed below in alphabetical order.    

1. Chen Jihong
Firm: Zhong Lun Law Firm

As partner in charge of IP business at Zhong Lun Law Firm, Chen Jihong boasts of about 20 years of legal working experience and has done extensive research on IP issues arising out of new technologies. He is a member of the National IP Expert Bank. Chen was the first to draft the Framework for Evaluation of Enterprise Intellectual Property Systems in China based on enterprise development situations and China's IP legal system. This framework includes 10 categories of evaluation items, covering all contents and indicators of the enterprise IP system, and is used by many enterprises.     

In recent years, Chen has acted for several forward-looking and controversial cases, including projects involving the import of high-speed rail technology as well as the unfair competition case filed by Qihoo against Baidu worth up to up to RMB 400 million involving claims of compulsory webpage switch.

By paying close attention to legislative and regulatory dynamics, Chen aims to provide clients with forward-looking opinions and value-added services, and leads his team to become experts in fields needed by clients.   
2. Feng Chao
Firm: East & Concord Partners

Fluent in English and Japanese, Feng Chao is a partner with East & Concord Partners. Prior to joining his current firm, he worked with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Baker & McKenzie, King & Wood Mallesons, and several other law firms.

In the past 10 years or so, he has represented many IP litigations involving companies in the U.S., Japan, European Union and China, and is in charge of the IP management of multinational companies (MNCs). Feng has handled both controversial and uncontroversial IP cases involving trademark recognition, affirmation and infringement as well as anti-unfair competition and anti-monopoly cases. Some of these were included in the 50 typical cases selected by the Supreme People's Court in 2013.

Descirbing his practicing philosophy as a constant pursuit of perfection and improvement, Feng has also been part of initiatives such as the Research Project on Revisions to the Copyright Law commissioned by the National Copyright Administration and the Research Report on Preemptive Trademark Registration commissioned by JETRO.
3. Lewis Ho
Firm: Dechert LLP

“I hope to do whatever I can to help China transition from the world's factory floor to an innovative power.”

That’s what Lewis Ho, a partner at Dechert, told ALB when asked about his vision for the future. He specialises in providing IP-related legal services for international and domestic biotechnology companies and offers legal opinions for research projects conducted by multinational bio-pharmaceutical companies and financial investors in China. He is also the honorary legal advisor to the Hong Kong Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry.

This year, Ho represented numerous well-known pharmaceutical companies both at home and abroad, including U.S.-listed Medicines Company, Japan-based Eisai and Sequoia Capital. His team assisted China's Huadong Medicine in acquisition of a U.S. generic-drug manufacturer by providing IP due diligence, drug regulatory compliance evaluation and other services for over $1 billion.

4. Li Zhao
Firm: Global Law Office

Currently a partner at Global Law Office, Li Zhao once worked as a judge in a Beijing court and has practiced law as a lawyer for more than 10 years. He has acted for many domestic and foreign listed companies and famous MNCs in litigations involving infringement and rights affirmation of patents, trademarks and anti-unfair competition, and IP administrative disputes.

Recently, Li has acted for prestigious foreign and domestic enterprises such as Amazon, Pearson Education Group, COFCO and SINOMRCH in IP dispute risk assessment, risk-prevention plans formulation, dispute resolution as well as IP monitoring.  

When asked about his approach to clients, Li shared this with ALB: "We should not only provide clients with quality and professional services, but also help them resolve problems, gain their trust and protect their legitimate rights and interests.”
5. Luo Lizhen
Firm: Zhong Yin Law Firm
In the last decade, Luo Lizhen has been focusing on IP legal research and practice. As senior managing partner of her firm’s IP center since 2011, she has helped Zhong Yin win patent agency qualifications, enabling it to fill the gap it had in IP legal services. 

Committed to professionalism and a global vision, Luo has been entrusted by reputable enterprises both at home and abroad to provide them with comprehensive services in IP strategies. She and her team advises clients on matters including complicated trademark matters, international IP protection, litigations involving trademark and patent affirmation as well as IP and copyright protection cases.   
6. Ma Yuanchao
Firm: Co-Effort Law Firm LLP

A senior partner at Shanghai-based Co-Effort Law Firm LLP, Ma Yuanchao has successfully represented several influential litigations, including a 2015 unfair competition case is China’s first video hotlinking case; an unfair competition case filed by IQIYI against HiWiFi, which was among the top 10 IP cases with the most research value in China in 2014; and the "金骏眉" trademark registration disputes, which was one of China’s top 10 influential IP court cases in 2013. Ma also serves as the legal counsel for Tencent, PPS, Shanghai Concert Hall and other illustrious international and domestic enterprises.

Believing that every IP case is piece of art awaiting creation, Ma is also enthusiastic about legal education and research. At present, he guides students pursuing master's degrees at the East China University of Political Science and Law, and has published academic essays in professional journals such as China Intellectual Property, Electronic Intellectual Property and China Invention & Patent.
7. Sun Mingfei
Firm: King & Wood Mallesons

Senior partner Sun Mingfei has extensive legal knowledge and experience, particularly in difficult and complicated IP and commercial cases. In over two decades of practice, he spent 11 years serving on a High People's Court in China, with nine years in its IP division. The cases he has adjudicated have been included in the Supreme People's Court’s "Top 10 Influential Intellectual Property Cases in China". He has also provided opinions for the formulation and revision of the Patent Law, the Copyright Law and many judicial interpretations.

Since becoming a practicing lawyer, Sun has focused his practice on IP and anti-monopoly litigation, as well as real estate, financial and corporate litigation and arbitration. Sun has acted as the legal counsel for many world-renowned companies in the resolution of major disputes. Specifically, he represented the Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals against Jiaduobao before the Supreme People's Court in a case regarded by the industry as the "first case involving packaging decoration in China".
A great believer in the importance of joint effort in team-building, Sun is also keen on IP research. At present, he is a researcher and adjunct postgraduate tutor in the Intellectual Property Research Center of the South China Normal University.
8. Si Yixia
Firm: Chang Tsi & Partners

The founding partner of Chang Tsi & Partners, Si Yixia’s career spans over 20 years, giving him extensive experience in areas including IP, corporate law, dispute resolution and team management. He was once supervisor of the Beijing Lawyers' Association and has held positions at judicial organs, state administrative organs as well as large SOEs,.

At present, Si is the legal counsel of more than 10 well-known international and domestic companies. He has advised many Fortune 500 businesses on IP protection strategy, transaction and protection as well as acted in major and complicated IP cases with favourable results. Among Si’s successful cases was the retrial of an administrative lawsuit involving Johnson & Johnson's trademark Onetouch, and a trademark infringement and unfair competition case involving Mondelez International before the Supreme People's Court.

Si said that he and his team will always pursue excellence and strive to be the best IP lawyers to protect clients' legitimate rights and maximise their interests.
9. Wang Weidong
Firm: Dacheng Law Offices

Wang Weidong, a senior partner with Dacheng, once worked as director of the Legal Affairs Department of the Patent Protection Association of China, which is under the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO). He has extensive experience in patent information retrieval, analysis and risk warning, international technology M&A and technology trade, as well as investigation and litigation involving IP infringement.

He has advised clients including China Mobile, SINOPEC, China State Construction and Lenovo Group. He has also participated in developing the provisions on IP management of key national science and technology special projects as well as SIPO-organised panel discussions about revisions to the administrative measures for patent agency.

In addition to his practice, Wang is also devoted to IP education. He is currently a postgraduate tutor at the China University of Political Science and Law and a guest professor at the Renmin University of China Law School.

Wang believes that the future of IP legal services lies in specialised division of labor and teamwork. "It is the responsibility of Chinese IP lawyers to contribute to the economic transformation and innovative development of the country", he says.
10. Wang Yong
Firm: Jincheng, Tongda & Neal

“IP law is for the protection of innovation and brands. Innovation is not easy, making the professional services of lawyers vital to its protection.”

That’s what Wang Yong told ALB when asked about the importance of IP laws. Wang, who holds a PhD in civil and commercial law from Renmin University of China, has been specialising in IP law for over two decades. His experience encompasses legal issues involving high and new technologies as well as IT and media entertainment. He has acted for foreign and domestic industry giants such as Tencent, Japan’s Yamaha and U.S.based Synopsys. Prior to embarking on a career as a practicing lawyer, he was chief legal counsel of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) in China for nine years. During his stint, he was in charge of MPAA's anti-piracy affairs in China and assisted MPAA members in their efforts to enter the Chinese market, including the establishment of joint ventures.

Wang was also involved in the drafting and subsequent revisions of the judicial interpretations for IP criminal cases organised by the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate. In addition, his report on the protection of trade secrets of high-tech enterprises prepared upon entrustment by the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government was highly regarded by Central Government leaders.
11. Xu Chumeng
Firm: Jun He Law Offices                  

Currently a lawyer affiliated with Beijing-based Jun He, Xu Chumeng was previously the deputy director of the Trademark Division of CCPIT Patent and Trademark Law Office. She has 18 years of experience in areas relating to trademark law and is qualified as a lawyer and trademark agent in China.

Xu’s work focuses litigation, application and opposition relating to trademarks, copyrights and unfair competition. Her clients include many well-known MNCs in auto manufacturing, food, fashion and the Internet. She is adept at dealing with complicated trademark cases and has represented many clients in securing recognition of the status of well-known trademarks including BMW, Jeep and Buick. She is also committed to academic excellence and has contributed to several law books and essays.

Xu wants to be known as a "good lawyer with a big heart" and believes that trust, encouragement and training are the cornerstones for teamwork. She is developing her team to be the best in the business, telling ALB that she envisons her team becoming a "well-known trademark” in IP legal services.

12. Yao Kefeng
Firm: Beijing DHH Law Firm

Yao Kefeng is a partner with Beijing DHH Law Firm who focuses on IP and Internet matters. He and his team have represented thousands of litigation and non-litigation IP cases, and many of these are the first or innovative cases in China. Examples include the first unfair competition case involving the use of the same name by an Internet drama and an entertainment programme as well as a case of standard copyright protection involving 18 well-known publishing houses.        

At present, Yao is the legal counsel for the China Electronic Commerce Association and major domestic Internet firms including Sina.com, Qihoo 360, Youku Tudou and autonavi.com. He has also published academic essays in many prestigious local publications.

Earlier this year, Yao teamed up with reputable domestic institutions and founded the IP protection alliance. This effort is proof of his belief in dedicated and diligent practice as well as his commitment to leveraging his legal skills to safeguard his clients’ interests to the best of his ability.    
13. Zhao Tianjuan
Firm: Golden Gate Attorneys at Law

Zhao Tianjuan is one of the founding partners of Golden Gate Attorneys at Law. In over 13 years of practice, she has focused on services relating to IP law and is highly competent in dealing with foreign-related IP cases. Consistently hailed by several institutions as a top IP lawyer, Zhao handled the trademark infringement case filed by Ritz against Rits, which was recognised by the Supreme People's Court as one of the top 10 IP court cases in 2008. 
 
In the past year, Zhao acted for a criminal case involving a counterfeit Domino trademark, which is considered the most influential criminal case of IP protection ever instituted by a UK company in China.

According to Zhao, IP is a legal practices that demands high levels of teamwork. As she told ALB, “The firm has always focused on individuals in IP team building, and the most important thing is to show respect – respect for the personalities, desires and independent choices of individual lawyers. I personally attach great importance to creating a harmonious working environment and forging simple and sincere interpersonal relationships.”
14. Zhang Feng
Firm: Sichuan Mingju Law Firm

Zhang Feng is a senior partner with Sichuan Mingju Law Firm. He has held positions at several organisations, including stints as a member of the Intellectual Property Committee of the All China Lawyers Association, deputy director of the first Intellectual Property Committee of the Sichuan Lawyers Association, and legal counsel for rights protection of the Sichuan Commission for Consumer Rights Protection.

Zhang is also enthusiastic about legal education and research. He is an adjunct postgraduate tutor at the School of Law of the Southwest University for Nationalities and has collaborated in the writing of several IP law books. He drafted the key content in the Procedural Guidelines for Criminal Protection of Intellectual Property in China, which has been adopted in the Opinions on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Handling of Criminal Cases Involving Intellectual Property Infringement jointly promulgated by the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate and the Ministry of Public Security.

“Efficient, speedy and quality IP services are impossible without the support of professional teams of lawyers. We have always paid attention to preventing and addressing IP legal risks and resolving IP disputes,” explains Zhang.
15. Zhang Shuhua
Firm: Wanhuida Law Firm

Since his career as an IP lawyer began in 1998, Zhang Shuhua has handled thousands of IP administrative protection and lawsuits, assisting companies from the U.S., France and Germany in safeguarding their patent rights in China.

He successfully advised Gillette USA in getting "吉列GILLETTE" recognised as a well-known trademark in China. This was the first time that a Chinese administrative law enforcement authority has recognised the trademark of a foreign owner as well-known.

Zhang has also published numerous articles in foreign and domestic journals, discussing a wide range of subjects including the application of evidence rules, resolution of IP disputes, key points in patent protection and domain name arbitration. 

By providing professional, rigorous and efficient legal services, Zhao believes he can protect the legitimate rights and interests of clients. He also hopes to contribute to the development of the rule of law in China.