WIPR Rankings reveals the go-to firms and attorneys for China patent work
Sister title WIPR’s China Patent Rankings detail the firms and individuals most capable of handling patent matters in the country, from litigators with winning streaks to global strategists.
With ongoing geopolitical tension, evolving IP laws and limits on how foreign law firms can operate, navigating China’s patent system requires specialised expertise.
Sister title WIPR’s newly released China Patent Rankings provide a guide to the law firms and individuals that are best placed to help patent owners protect and enforce their rights within and beyond the country.
The rankings distinguish between the top international and PRC firms in the country, and acknowledge the practices and individuals doing the best non-contentious and contentious patent work.
A resource for those looking for a partner on China patent matters, the rankings contain insight from in-house counsel and private practice lawyers on the go-to firms and individuals in the world’s second-most populous nation.
In its WIPR China rankings debut, Linklaters is singled out by an industry peer for its “expertise in the area, trusted individual contacts, and fee levels compared with other firms”.
The in-house counsel at a China-based company shares their best contact for litigation work, explaining that Global Law Office’s Degang Ma had not lost a case for them over the eight years he had been their patent counsel.
New entrants in the PRC rankings this year include Mizar IP, one of China’s ‘new generation’ law firms which has an increasingly global focus and is taking on complex patent work for entities such as the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences.
Set up for success
China has continued to refine its patent system over the past year, proposing further revisions to the Patent Examination Guidelines in April 2025.
The proposed amendments reflect China’s efforts to adapt its IP system to evolving technologies, and include changes to the examination rules for artificial intelligence (AI).
China has seen a growing number of cases involving patent ownership, with rulings providing useful guidance on how the country’s courts interpret the determination of rights.
Despite these developments, regulatory burdens, diplomatic friction and increased competition for work has led to a well-documented withdrawal from China of some international firms.
Those that have remained in China have established successful structures that allow them to offer their global reach to clients in combination with PRC expertise and full rights of audience.
Baker McKenzie offers this blend through its joint operation with FenXun, which is set up to meet the needs of China’s multinational companies as well as overseas clients with their sights on the market.
Through its strategic partnership with Lusheng, Rouse provides seamless patent services to clients in China, including drafting applications that meet the different demands of IP offices around the world.
International firms in this year’s rankings demonstrated the ability to act as a “cultural bridge” for clients, with on-the-ground expertise in China and the capacity to handle a wide scope of matters.
Many have bilingual lawyers with knowledge of both China and US patent laws, such as Fish & Richardson’s Yong (Eric) Peng, who co-founded the firm’s Shenzhen office and has acted as technical and legal counsel on over 30 patent lawsuits in the US.
PRC firms with cross-border capabilities include China Patent Agent (HK), which has a team adept in standard-essential patent (SEP) disputes; notable members include Beijing director Dapeng Wen, a mechanics and designs specialist who is trilingual and has trained in Japan, Germany and the US.
AI-firsts and global patent strategies
Law firms’ inclusion in the rankings reflected their representation of leading companies in complex, high-stakes matters.
Full-service firm Lung Tin IP Attorneys has a client base that includes Qualcomm, Sanofi, Amazon, Tencent and Ferrari.
The team represented DABUS inventor Stephen Thaler in the first case in China to address whether AI can be registered as a patent inventor.
In the top tier for contentious matters, Fangda Partners’ work highlights include a victory for a Microsoft affiliate in a patent infringement dispute before the Shanghai IP court, and representing Oppo in its high-profile clash with Nokia.
With its patent practice growing in recognition, Chang Tsi & Partners was selected by Baidu for its global AI patent filings, and crafted Air China’s patent strategy.
Fluent in Mandarin, Kilpatrick partner Charles Gray has a China-focused practice that centres on helping IP-rich domestic businesses realise their ambitions.
Eight individuals were recognised in this year’s Hall of Fame category, for lawyers who have had outstanding careers in patent law in the country.
They include CCPIT Patent & Trademark Law Office president Chuanhong Long, described as a “leading and very senior” lawyer by a peer, and King & Wood Mallesons’ Hong (Tina) Tai, who has acted for some of the world’s biggest drug companies in patent disputes.
The China Patent Rankings follow the China Trademark Rankings, which were published in October.
WIPR Rankings is currently researching the US Trademarks, US Trade Secrets and US Patents Rankings. For more information/to be considered for inclusion, please contact rankings editor Baron Armah-Kwantreng at barmah-kwantreng@worldipreview.com
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