Bird & Bird > Hong Kong, Hong Kong > Firm Profile

Bird & Bird > The Legal 500 Rankings

Hong Kong > Intellectual property Tier 1

Often working closely with practitioners on the Mainland, Bird & Bird's Hong Kong team provides a comprehensive non-contentious and contentious IP offering to both large and smaller retail and consumer, life sciences and technology companies on the protection and enforcement of their IPR. Hank Leung is well-versed in advising on trade mark and copyright matters, including portfolio management and the effective commercialisation of IPR through licensing and other contractual agreements. Leung is particularly adept at advising gaming clients on IP matters, work which has recently included innovative issues relating to non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in the space. Ted Chwu has also been at the vanguard of new technologies and business models, handling a considerable volume of work as it relates to NFTs, the blockchain and AI. In her role as head of life sciences and healthcare throughout APAC, Alison Wong handles a range of IP and regulatory issues for clients in the sector, including in the context of commercial contracts and patent litigation. Matthew Laight, who heads up the firm’s overarching APAC IP offering, is also very adept at handling patent litigation, and is regularly involved for technology clients bringing infringement claims throughout China, as well as internationally. Victor Tse, who was promoted to partner in May 2023, effectively parlays his technical background in science to good effect when handling complex IP litigation.

Hong Kong > TMT Tier 1

Singled out for its expertise in commercial and regulatory TMT matters, Bird & Bird‘s broad offering covers NFT transactions, autonomous driving, cloud, IT and telecoms work. Fintech and payments mandates also continue to be a strength for a group that has seen an increase in instructions relating to data protection and privacy matters, namely security assessments. Leadership duties are split between Beijing-based partner James Gong and Wilfred Ng, who joined from Tencent in November 2022 and spearheads the corporate and commercial TMT team in Hong Kong. Matthew Laight’s caseload includes contentious and non-contentious IP matters, while Hank Leung’s IP know-how extends to mandates involving monetisation in China and across the APAC region. Calista Chiu is another key contact in the group. Clarice Yue left the firm in December 2022.

Hong Kong > Data protection and cyber security Tier 2

The team at Bird & Bird regularly handles a varied range of mandates involving cross-border data transfer agreements, security breaches, and privacy impact assessments. The group has experienced an increase in data localisation and transfer matters after China’s implementation of the PIPL. The team frequently acts for clients from a broad range of sectors, including banking, technology, and transport, who collect and transfer sensitive data. Having joined the team from an in-house position at Tencent in November 2022, ‘one of a kind‘ practice head Wilfred Ng is noted for his broad experience in advising on data protection compliance and GDPR related matters.

Hong Kong > Labour and employment Tier 2

Acting independently, as well as in coordination with the firm's other 32 offices worldwide, the team at Bird & Bird advises on both domestic Hong Kong and international employment matters, solidifying its position as a key choice for international corporates involved in cross-border employment projects across various industries, including technology, life sciences, healthcare, financial services, and retail. Recently promoted to partner, Diana Purdy takes the helm of the team, advising on a complex array of employment matters. Notably, Pattie Walsh, despite her relocation to the San Francisco office, continues to play an active role in the group, harnessing her profound knowledge of the Hong Kong market and advising international clients on contract negotiations, high-profile redundancies, and workplace restructurings. Supporting the team, the ‘technically excellent’ associate Elaine Yeung capitalises on her prior in-house experience within the aviation and sports sectors; this perspective positions Yeung as a valuable advisor for corporates within these domains, as well as various other sectors.

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 > Intellectual property: foreign firms

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 > Life sciences and healthcare: foreign firms

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.