Bird & Bird > Shanghai, China > Firm Profile

Bird & Bird > The Legal 500 Rankings

China > Intellectual property: foreign firms Tier 1

With the experienced duo Christine Yiu (Shanghai) and Hank Leung (Hong Kong) at the helm, Bird & Bird‘s comprehensive offering covers all areas of IP, including trademarks, patents, trade secrets, copyright and designs. The team has an enviable track record in litigation and providing strategic commercial IP advice; the department’s combined sectoral experience encompasses the tech, life sciences, healthcare, retail, consumer goods, media, entertainment and sports (including e-gaming) sectors. In Beijing, Rieko Michishita handles contentious and non-contentious IP matters and is a regular advisor to Japanese companies; Dorie Wong‘s workload includes protection strategies, trademark portfolio management and litigation. Also in Beijing, the firm’s IP consultancy enables the team to conduct trademark and copyright matters before mainland Chinese government departments, including registration and enforcement matters; and through its association with PRC firm Lawjay Partners, it assists with litigation before China’s courts. The Hong Kong-based Asia-Pacific IP group head Matthew Laight is also recommended.

China > TMT: foreign firms Tier 1

Bird & Bird’s expertise in the TMT sector is reflected in its in-depth knowledge of both commercial and regulatory areas, notably in complex data and data protection projects. The firm advises on the full spectrum of issues that arise from tech transactions, encompassing a diverse array of legal domains ranging from IP, cybersecurity, and data protection, to employment, corporate, and dispute resolution. Its clients operate in industries such as cloud, IT and telecom, e-commerce and IoT, as well as life sciences tech. Leading the department is James Gong, a TMT specialist with an acute focus on data protection and cybersecurity, as well as regulatory and transactional matters. Gong expertly guides both foreign and domestic multinational companies in navigating data compliance projects, especially those with cross-border elements.

China > Data protection: foreign firms Tier 2

Bird & Bird has a mainland China presence for data protection law through Beijing-based James Gong. Gong has a strong understanding of the local regulatory landscape in China having worked in this field for a decade. He regularly assists major multinationals, including Sony, with their GDPR and systems compliance matters. He is also well-placed to advise on data transfers and breaches.

China > Labour and employment: foreign firms Tier 3

China > Life sciences and healthcare: foreign firms Tier 3

Bird & Bird, which has a strong track record for advising clients in the biotech space, is recommended for its expertise in advising on the digital aspects of the healthcare and life sciences sector, as well as providing employment and IP filings support. The team is led by Hong Kong based Alison Wong, who has experience in patent litigation, licensing matters and the legal implications of clinical trials. James Gong, who works at the firm’s Beijing office, provides expertise on Chinese data protection and security laws for medical industry clients.

China > Corporate and M&A: foreign firms Tier 4

Bird & Bird‘s China practice fields sector experts in aviation, energy, automotive, life sciences, sports, retail, technology and manufacturing. Recent highlights include advising Chinese electric car company Human Horizons on its strategic market entry into Europe. Focused on advising Chinese state-owned enterprises and private companies on entering overseas markets, John Shi leads the Asia-Pacific corporate group from Beijing, where Sarah Zeng and James Gong are also key corporate partners. Shanghai-based Sven-Michael Werner has longstanding experience of advising multinational companies that conduct business in China.