Boston-headquartered Fish & Richardson recently becoming the second international law firm to open an office in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen. Ryan McCarthy, chief representative in Shenzhen for the IP-specialist firm, talks about the firm’s strategy for Shenzhen and how it hopes to make its mark in the local legal landscape.

Can you tell me a little about the motivation behind establishing a presence in Shenzhen?

Shenzhen is often referred to as the “Silicon Valley of China.” It is home to many successful tech companies and is attracting entrepreneurs from all over the world. This is a natural fit for us. Fish serves the world's most innovative brands and influential technology leaders and is the largest intellectual property law firm in the United States. As you might expect, Shenzhen’s innovators are producing new and novel inventions at a rapid pace and are seeking the best possible protection for their IP in the US and Europe. Shenzhen boasts the highest number of Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications of any city in China, accounting for almost 50 percent of Chinese PCT filings. There is substantial demand for the IP services we provide. 

Do you have an existing client base here? How will you be looking to grow it?

Yes. Fish has helped some of China’s most innovative companies obtain, enforce and defend their intellectual property rights in the US and Europe. Our client base is spread across China. From Shenzhen, we will serve our Chinese clients and engage with the overall IP community. Our clients’ needs are always growing, and we expect that our presence in China will grow to fill those needs. One of our greatest strengths is providing long-term plans and solutions for clients. Making strategic decisions up front is cost-effective and helps our clients achieve successful outcomes.

How is the intellectual property landscape unique in mainland China, versus in other markets?

We provide US and European legal work to Chinese clients, but do not practice Chinese law.  Instead, we serve innovators who compete globally and have IP needs outside of China.  We do work closely with many Chinese law firms and I have been able to observe the local IP landscape.  What is most impressive is how quickly the IP landscape has changed in response to efforts to strengthen patent rights in China.  The sharp rise in patent filings in China since 2010 has been well documented and reflects those efforts.

In what way do you feel the firm can contribute to the growth of the IP scene in the country? 

Fish has been in the IP business for 140 years.  I believe that our deep experience will enable us to offer wisdom and advice to our clients, as well as the overall IP community in China.  For example, besides day-to-day client work, we regularly speak at IP events and conferences to help educate and inform the IP community on evolving issues in US and European IP law. 

Looking to the future, what are your predictions for the intellectual property market in mainland China?

Chinese companies are creating new and novel high-tech products at a blistering pace. We see an extraordinary amount of research and development in China across every technology because we represent Chinese companies across a broad range of industries, including telecommunications, electronics, financial technology, life sciences, and medical devices. China is rapidly emerging as an innovation leader and more companies will follow to become global technology leaders. The future is bright.

斐锐律师事务所专访：立足“中国硅谷” 提供知识产权业务

总部位于波士顿的美国知识产权律师事务所斐锐近来成为第二家在深圳设立代表处的国际律师事务所。斐锐律师事务所合伙人Ryan McCarthy将担任深圳代表处首席代表，在此次访谈中将介绍斐锐在深圳开展知识产权业务的发展战略，以及如何为当地客户提供最好的知识产权服务。

请您简要介绍在深圳设立办事处的初衷？

深圳一直以来有着“中国硅谷”之称，聚集中国一批最具创新精神的高科技企业，也吸引着全球的跨国企业，斐锐也不例外。我们为全球最具创新力的品牌和最具影响力的技术领先企业提供服务，斐锐是美国最大的知识产权律师事务所。如你所见，深圳的创新速度日新月异，新发明层出不穷，这些创新亟需在欧美市场获得专业的知识产权保护法律服务。深圳企业的专利合作条约 (PCT) 申请数量为全国之最，占中国PCT申请总数的近50%。这为我们的知识产权法律服务提供了巨大的商机。

斐悦在深圳的现有客户基础怎么样？客户开发战略是什么？

我们在深圳已有一些客户基础，斐锐多年来一直为中国客户提供美国及欧洲知识产权申请及维权服务，我们的客户基础遍布中国。立足深圳，我们致力于为中国企业提供全方位的知识产权服务。客户的需求一直在增长，我们也希望我们在中国的代表处也一并发展、从而满足客户不断增长的新需求。我们的竞争优势之一就是帮助客户制定长期计划和解决方案，预先做好战略决策具有最佳成本效益，有助于客户实现最大商业利益与成功。

相较其他市场，中国知识产权法律服务市场具备哪些特性？

我们为中国客户提供欧美法律服务，但不从事中国法的业务。我们为那些在全球市场竞争并在中国以外具有知识产权法律服务需求的创新企业提供服务。我们与很多中国律所保持密切合作，这有助于我们对中国知识产权法律服务市场加深了解。随着中国专利保护的力度加强，中国知识产权保护在整体上也有巨大改观，这点非常令人印象深刻。2010年以来中国专利申请总量大幅增长，即是最好的验证。

您觉得斐悦会在哪些方面助力快速发展的中国知识产权法律服务市场？

斐悦提供知识产权法律服务已有140年的历史。我们在各技术领域的丰富实践经验，将为中国客户提供更便捷和优质的知识产权法律服务，也希望我们的专业与经验能为中国知识产权法律服务的发展贡献一份力量。例如，除了提供法律服务，我们也经常在知识产权各个论坛、峰会等场合发言交流，与中国同行分享美国和欧洲知识产权法律服务市场的最新动态与立法趋势。

展望未来，您如何看中国大陆知识产权法律服务市场的发展？

中国企业高科技产品创新的速度有目共睹。斐锐的律师为中国客户在电信、电子、互联网金融、生命科学、医疗设备等领域代理过诸多案件，我们深感中国企业在每一项技术背后投入的大量研发工作。中国有望成为全球创新的领导者，更多企业也将紧随其后成为全球技术的领导者。我们看好中国市场。

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