Chang Tsi & Partners > Beijing, China > Firm Profile

Chang Tsi & Partners Offices

Chang Tsi & Partners
6TH - 8TH FLOOR, TOWER A, HUNDRED ISLAND PARK
BEI ZHAN BEI JIE STREET
XICHENG DISTRICT, BEIJING 100044
China
Visit website 86 10 8836 9999 86 10 8836 9996

Chang Tsi & Partners > The Legal 500 Rankings

China > Intellectual property: PRC firms

Chang Tsi & Partners ‘finds efficient solutions‘. The 350-plus strong IP practice comprises lawyers, along with patent and trade mark attorneys, who work from offices in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Guangxi, and Hong Kong, in addition to the firm’s Beijing headquarters. The firm also runs branches from the US, Korea, and Taiwan. The group’s key areas are IP rights, litigation and dispute resolution, as well as IP-related commercial law issues; and it is particularly experienced in trade mark, patents, IP confirmations, administrative IP, and judicial protection. Managing partner Simon Tsi is a renowned litigator; Spring Chang provides ‘very detailed advice‘; Michael Wu acts in patent, copyright and trade mark infringement matters; David Liu has notable legal experience in both the US and China; Tracy Shen is a trade mark law expert; and Nancy Qu specialises in the prosecution and enforcement of IP rights. Sue Gui and Nana Zhang are key counsels.

Practice head(s):

Simon Tsi; Spring Chang; Michael Wu; David Liu; Tracy Shen; Nancy Qu

Other key lawyers:

Michael Fu; David Lee; Yan Gao; Ason Zhang; Sue Gui; Nana Zhang

Testimonials

‘Experienced lawyers and team, and the responsiveness, communication skills, and collaborative attitude are important aspects of their service.’

‘Extremely professional and always very helpful. They are conscientious, and always provide problem-solving solutions and solution-oriented strategies.’

‘The work is precise and well-organised, and they meet all deadlines and are available whenever needed.’

‘Chang Tsi & Partners is a unique and highly professional team of patent/trademark attorneys and IP lawyers, with profound knowledge in various fields of science, technology and law, and also with considerable experience in successfully representing clients’ interests in China and abroad.’

‘The company finds efficient solutions for the complex protection and defence of IP rights for different subject matters.‘

‘They create modern IP management strategies for companies intending to manufacture new products and offer new services.‘

‘Clients really appreciate that the company provides an individual and professional approach to clients.’

‘Spring Chang – very detailed advice and conscientious approach to clients’ matters.’

Key clients

American Dairy Queen Corporation (ADQ)

Johnson & Johnson

Dart Industries, Inc.

Michael Kors

Illinois Tool Works Inc.

NUTRAMAX LABORATORIES, INC

INTERCONTINENTALGREATBRANDSLLC

Baker Hughes

SIX CONTINENTS HOTELS, INC.

Air China

Work highlights

  • Acted for SIX CONTINENTS HOTELS in a complex trade mark infringement case.
  • Assisted Dart Industries with the protection of its IP rights.
  • Assisted Foshan Haitian Flavouring and Food Company with a trade mark-related administrative lawsuit.

Chang Tsi & Partners > Firm Profile

The firm:Since its establishment in 2002, Chang Tsi & Partners has become one of the leading law firms in China. The firm has constantly been referred to as a “National Outstanding Law Firm”, “The Best IP Law Firm in China”, “China IP Law Firm” and “Tier 1 IP Law Firm of the Year” by the Ministry of Justice of China, international legal directories and various business magazines such as the Chambers & Partners, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific as well as Asialaw Profiles.

With over 350 professionals consisting of attorneys at law, patent attorneys and trademark attorneys, Chang Tsi & Partners is based in Beijing with fully-fledged offices in Shanghai and Shenzhen, and branch offices in Guangzhou, Guangxi, Chengdu, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, the United States, Korea, and Europe, while establishing an enviable reputation in Intellectual Property and Litigation.

Our areas of practice include intellectual property rights, litigation and dispute resolutions, commercial law and other legal services. Since our establishment, we have been a forerunner in various fields such as trademark, patent, IP confirmation, administrative IP as well as judicial protection. Our high-caliber lawyers and sharpest IP experts are dedicated to protecting your legal rights with efficiency and integrity.

At Chang Tsi & Partners you can find the knowledge, experience and professionals to deal with all aspects of law in both domestic and international matters. The firm is the trusted partner of many Chinese and international enterprises in developing strategic decisions and securing their interests both in China and overseas.

Areas of practice: Chang Tsi & Partners is a “National Outstanding Law Firm (nominated by Ministry of Justice of China)” with a strong reputation in intellectual property and litigation. The firm’s attorneys are distinguished by their wealth of experience and success assisting leading international and domestic corporations with IP prosecution and enforcement in China and around the world.

Our edges
Providing tailor-made legal solution packages with customers’ interests as the top priority.

A close integration of local resources and international perspectives.

Abundant experience in overseas legal services and jurisdictions with affiliations and close cooperation with legal partners all around the world.

Assurance of customer consulting security by installing a centralized management system of OA work platform, RPA robot system, and strict requirements for e-mail outgoing permission.

A guaranteed high-class service and risk management system in line with international standards together with a strict process scope and SOP.

Main Contacts

Department Name Email Telephone
Trademark Spring Chang
Trademark Tracy Shen
Trademark Michael Fu
Trademark Emma Ma
Litigation and arbitration Simon Tsi
Litigation and arbitration Nancy Qu
Litigation and arbitration David Lee
Intellectual property Spring Chang
Intellectual property Simon Tsi
Patent Michael Wu
Patent David Liu
Patent Nancy Qu
Corporate Yan Wang
Corporate Yan Gao
Corporate Litian Xu

Meet The Team(s)

Lawyer Profiles

Photo Name Position Profile
Spring Chang photo Ms Spring Chang Founding Partner / Attorney at Law / Trademark Agent View Profile
Sue Gui photo Ms Sue Gui Counsel/Attorney at Law/Trademark Agent View Profile
Michael Wu photo Mr Michael Wu Partner/Attorney at Law/Patent Attorney View Profile

Staff Figures

Number of lawyers at this office : 350+
:

Languages

English
Chinese
Korean
Japanese
Cantonese
German
Greek

Memberships

Intellectual Property (AIPPI)
International Trademark Association (INTA)
International Association of Restructuring
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Professionals
Association of European Trade Mark Owners (MARQUES)
American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
Intellectual Property Owners (IPO)
European Community Trademark Association (ECTA)

Client Testimonials


CLIENT: Campbell Soup Company

TESTIMONIAL: “We believe that Chang Tsi & Partners is made up of highly efficient Intellectual Property professionals. The team members consistently demonstrated excellent judgment, superior analytical skills, and integrity. Their deep understanding of Chinese law and their extensive practical experience made them capable of solving difficult problems. One thing that cannot be ignored was that the services of Chang Tsi are kept in pursuit of excellence and for the sake of clients. They gave unique insights at reasonable prices. When additional investigation or analysis was required, they would carefully consider the costs and achieve customer benefits optimization.”

CLIENT: Twitter, Inc.

TESTIMONIAL: “Spring Chang, the Founding Partner of Chang Tsi & Partners and her colleagues have become legal advisers worthy of our trust. Due to the complexity of business in China, we not only need sound legal advice, but also a pragmatic management approach. Chang Tsi’s lawyers often provide us with very practical comprehensive insights and intellectual legal guidance, and in particular, they always provide creative solutions to complex cases. They are diligent in seeking ways to deal with problems and responsive to our requirements. They can actively communicate and solve all problems quickly. They always follow our needs and cooperation methods.”

CLIENT: China Grand Enterprises, Inc.

TESTIMONIAL: “Chang Tsi & Partners achieved remarkable results. Not only was the team professionally strong, but also had the ability to stand in customer’s perspective and consider issues, and it effectively helped us solve many key issues. This kind of selflessness and feelings can’t be felt at other partners. Chang Tsi’s founding Partner Spring Chang is an experienced lawyer and a successful leader as well as a manager. We have maintained long-term cooperation with her and her team. Her help for us is all-round. She gave us guidance in a strategic height in addition to professional one.”

CLIENT: Toto Ltd.

TESTIMONIAL: “Mr. Simon Tsi is the Managing and Founding Partner of Chang Tsi & Partners, and he is an excellent lawyer still fighting in the front line. He a strategic layout for the protection of Intellectual Property rights for us, and by taking into account our legal issues and business needs, he solved many of our problems. Not be rigid in frequent prosecutions, he managed to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and coordinate with relevant departments to actively correct or reconcile issues. We admire him and are deeply grateful for his and his team’s help over the years.”

Notable cases


DFJ DragonFund Successfully Enforce the Effective Judgment

Established in 2006, DFJ DragonFund was the joint venture of Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ) and DragonVenture, which concentrated on investing emerging technology in China. DFJ DragonFund is the trademark holder of trademarks including “德丰杰龙脉”(DFJ DragonFund) in China.

In 2016, on behalf of DFJ DragonFund, ChangTsi filed a civil action against Charles Qu (Chinese Name: 曲敬东) and his affiliates for their trademark infringement and unfair competition. Through efforts, DFJ DragonFund won both first instance and second instance: the first-instance was heard by The Primary People’s Court of Haidian District of Beijing Municipality (hereinafter referred as Haidian District Court) and the second instance was tried by Beijing Intellectual Property Court.

Since Charles Qu and his affiliates failed to fulfill the obligations determined in the effective judgment within the prescribed time limit, ChangTsi on behalf of DFJ DragonFund then filed to compulsorily enforce the judgment with Haidian District Court in May, 2021. During the enforcement procedure, ChangTsi submitted several written motions to the Enforcement Department of Haidian District Court, actively and closely communicate with the in-charge judges on the specific enforcement measures, deadlines and steps to move forward the case.

Through our persistent efforts, the Enforcement Department made a “Consumption Restriction” order against Charles Qu to restrict his extravagant consumptions, froze exceeding CNY 3.3M on Charles Qu’s and his affiliates’ bank accounts, and then transferred the money to our client DFJ DragonFund to compensate his loss, reasonable cost and accrued interest. And, a statement for apology in the name of Charles Qu and his affiliates was published both on the official website of “The People’s Court Announcement” (https://rmfygg.court.gov.cn/) & the newspaper “The People’s Court Daily” simultaneously to eliminate the negative impacts on DFJ DragonFund. Besides, Charles Qu and his affiliates were also forced to fulfil the obligations of changing the infringing enterprises’ name, closing their infringing websites and WeChat official accounts, and removing the infringing logos and decorations in their office. Up to now, all the enforceable matters determined in the effective judgment have been successfully implemented.

This enforcement case involves several types of obligations confirmed by the judgment, which included not only property items like compensation damages, but also non-property enforcement items like publishing apology statement, changing the name of the infringing enterprises, transferring the domain names for free, and stopping other online & offline infringement. The in-charge attorneys in this case(Tracy Shen and Shawn Tao) made advanced full preparations and managed to make the aforementioned items enforced in full aspects. In addition, there are six parties subject to enforcement, therefor how to distribute and bear the obligations among them and enforce the case in an efficient way is also quite challenging. Our attorneys carefully researched laws and precedents and then proposed the solution to the court.

With the joint efforts of the client, the judges and our attorneys, the judgment was duly enforced. It’s a satisfactory result for DFJ DragonFund’s 5-year lasting civil action while also encourages more right holders to defend their legitimate rights and interest via judicial channels in China.

Interviews

Spring Chang, Founding Partner

Founding Partner Spring Chang explains how the firm is adapting to clients’ changing needs

 

1) What do you see as the main points that differentiate [Chang Tsi & Partners] from your competitors?

Recognized as one of the top-tier IP law firms in China, Chang Tsi & Partners can be distinguished from our competitors in the following aspects:

Exceptional Legal Expertise: Our attorneys and lawyers are highly proficient in their respective legal fields. Many of our senior lawyers have dedicated over 15 years to serving the same client accounts. Their expertise is continually enhanced through collaborative teamwork and our corporate management structure.

Comprehensive Legal Services: Chang Tsi & Partners boasts extensive experience in both Chinese domestic and international legal services. We maintain partnerships and affiliations with legal professionals worldwide, making us a one-stop solution for everything from prosecution to enforcement. We handle a wide spectrum of matters, including trademark, patent, copyright, trade secret, cyber security law, and corporate law.

Quality Assurance: Over the past two decades, we have established a high-class service and risk management system that aligns with international standards. Our strict process scope and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) ensure the quality of our services. All our team members operate within a centralized management system through an OA work platform and RPA robot system. Our commitment is to consistently surpass our clients’ expectations and promptly meet their needs. We have set a 24-hour responsiveness standard to guarantee timely client support.

 

2) Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?

The Central Government in China, along with the China Patent Office, has been diligently working to create a more favorable environment for patent proprietors. In the initial three quarters of 2023, China witnessed a notable increase in patent grants, with over 690,000 patents awarded, marking a 13.63% year-on-year growth. Early in 2023, the China Patent Office announced that Chinese patent examiners would expedite patent examinations and reduce the average examination period from 22 months to 16 months. Various measures, such as the China Supreme Court directly handling complex technology-related IP cases, have contributed to improved transparency and efficiency. Simultaneously, the maximum statutory damages for patent infringement that a patentee can claim have been raised to 5 million RMB (approximately 700,000 USD), with punitive damages available, up to 5 times the statutory damages, if a willful infringement is established by the IP court. Across China, more than 22 provinces have launched their own open-license pilot platforms, allowing patentees to efficiently sell or license their patents to third parties. Both the Central Government and local governments are actively promoting a market-oriented mechanism for assessing and utilizing existing patents, facilitating rapid commercialization by matching high-value patents with enterprises.

To adapt to these recent updates in patent practice in China, Chang Tsi & Partners continues to enhance our expertise and experience in various areas of patent law. We stay abreast of the latest developments in patent regulations, enabling us to offer comprehensive and tailored solutions to meet our clients’ needs. With our unwavering commitment to professionalism and excellence, we are well-prepared to meet our clients’ expanding patent requirements in the months ahead.

 

3) What’s the main change you’ve made in the firm that will benefit clients?

We have observed that over the past four years, China’s Trademark Law, Patent Law, Copyright Law, and Anti-Unfair Competition Law have all undergone revisions, accompanied by numerous enhancements in legal practices. Looking beyond our borders to major jurisdictions, we can see that changes are also taking place. Consequently, it’s crucial to timely adjust our clients’ legal strategies to address these evolving landscapes.

Our traditional modes of client communication involve email exchanges and face-to-face meetings. However, it has become increasingly impractical for us to travel and meet clients in person due to the Covid-19 restrictions in place over the past three years and the current hybrid working arrangements adopted by most of our clients.

The primary adjustment we have made is to organize more online training courses and routine virtual meetings. This approach ensures that our foreign and Chinese domestic clients remain not only updated on all legal and practice changes but also can develop and refine their legal strategies with our assistance.

 

4) Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them?

Yes, technology is transforming the way we interact with clients and the services we offer at Chang Tsi & Partners. We have fully embraced advanced technology to elevate our management standards and enhance our competitiveness. Upgrades to our computer systems and network storage have laid a strong foundation for efficient business operations. We have implemented industry-leading firewall and backup systems to ensure security and stability. The upgrading of our operating systems and office suite has not only improved office capabilities but also enhanced security. The introduction of a document management system has standardized and secured our document processes. Through automation, we have significantly reduced manual involvement in workflows. Our Power BI platform provides extensive data support for operations, management, and decision-making.

The full launch of our overseas transportation office function has broadened our global business coverage. The implementation of the O365 cloud strategy has provided us with more substantial mailbox space and a more stable experience. This strategy also offers the next generation of office applications and a low-code platform. Our unwavering commitment to digital transformation and innovation ensures our resilience in this era of unprecedented change.

 

5) Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business?

At the request of one of our U.S. clients, Chang Tsi & Partners provided legal opinions and drafted a cooperative development agreement between our client and a third-party company. We played an integral role in the negotiation process right from the start, offering our legal insights and recommendations on a wide range of matters, including patent ownership and protection, the exercise of rights, evaluation, benefit allocation, and trade secret protection. Our recommendations were embraced by the clients, and we subsequently proceeded to draft the agreement, ensuring that our client’s rights and interests were safeguarded while also aiming for a mutually beneficial outcome in terms of business cooperation.

To expedite the development of new products in the Chinese market, our clients sought to acquire a series of patents, including patent applications, from a technology development company located in Beijing.

Through our professional, efficient, and customized services, Chang Tsi & Partners successfully negotiated a substantial reduction in the assignor’s pricing proposal. This negotiation not only benefited the assignor but also led to a more reasonable price for the assignment, ultimately reducing costs and legal risks for our client in the acquisition and utilization of these technologies.

 

6) Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms – where do you see the firm  in three years’ time?

Clients seek stability and strategic guidance from their law firms, particularly when safeguarding their valuable intellectual property rights (IPR). Over the next three years, our firm is dedicated to offering comprehensive protection for our clients’ IPR by harnessing the power of trademark and patent rights. These two forms of protection complement each other, providing a robust defense against infringements.

Trademark rights offer protection for the distinctive aspects of a package or trade dress but may fall short in covering less distinctive elements. This is where design rights play a vital role, offering superior protection by encompassing the entire trade dress or its less distinctive components. With recent amendments to China’s Patent Law, design patents now enjoy extended protection periods and partial design coverage, making them even more valuable to our clients. Additionally, invention and utility model patents are essential for empowering business success in both the short and long term.

In terms of enforcement, trademark rights infringements may be on the decline, but they are becoming increasingly discreet. Infringers frequently imitate packages, trade dress, and patents, which provides them with a safer approach as there is no criminal liability, and the infringement is more challenging to detect. This underscores the significance of design protection in our enforcement strategies.

Should a design lose its novelty or expire, we will explore alternative forms of protection, such as copyright or trade dress safeguards under the Chinese Anti-Unfair Competition Law. However, establishing an infringement case based on copyright entails a higher threshold, as the products must meet the qualifications for copyright protection.

In conclusion, our firm is unwavering in its commitment to staying at the forefront of the ever-evolving landscape of intellectual property rights. We are dedicated to providing our clients with stability, strategic direction, and effective solutions to safeguard their IP rights.

Press Releases

Chang Tsi & Partners Awarded as the Best Agency by Tencent Legal

19th January 2022 We are happy to receive an appreciation letter and are honored to be awarded as 2021 Best Agency for our efficient and effective legal services by Tencent, a leading multinational technology company specialized in Internet-related services. 

Chang Tsi & Partners has been Offering a Customized Online-Training on Amendment of China Patent Law

19th January 2022 The 4th amendment to China Patent Law officially came into effective on June 1, 2021. The highlight of changes are:

Chang Tsi Family Day 2021 was Recently Held in Beijing

19th January 2022 Chang Tsi Family Day 2021 was recently held in Beijing, with the theme of “Gathering Family Power, Sharing Happy Time”. Allfamily members of our employees spent a happy afternoon together. In a fun, physically engaging, and high-energy environment, parents and kids were bound to have an amazing time with friends and family.

Chang Tsi & Partners Awarded National Outstanding Law Firm by Ministry of Justice

19th January 2022 The 10th National Lawyers Congress of China was recently held at the Great Hall of the People. Mr. Xuanguo Xiong, Vice Minister of Justice attended the congress and delivered the closing remarks. During the sessions, 130 law firms in China were awarded as “National Outstanding Law Firm”, whose selection process is extremely fierce, with only 0.4% law firms in China can be selected, making the award the top honour in China's lawyer industry.

Chang Tsi & Partners Invited to Annual Conference of Financial Street Forum 2021

19th January 2022 Ms. Yinghui Han and Mr. Kim Lu, Partners of Chang Tsi & Partners, were invited to the Annual Conference Financial Street Forum 2021. They shared their expertise in legal affairs to the financial enterprises.