Bird & Bird > Beijing, China > Firm Profile
Bird & Bird Offices
8/F, CHINA WORLD TOWER 1, 1 JIANGUOMENWAI DAJIE
CHAOYANG DISTRICT
BEIJING 100004
China
Bird & Bird > The Legal 500 Rankings
China > Intellectual property: foreign firms Tier 1
Bird & Bird‘s IP group is based across Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen, enabling it to advise on complex multi-jurisdictional IP projects and litigations. The team excels in trade mark and copyright matters as well as patent litigation. Life sciences, healthcare, technology, retail, entertainment and sports are all specialised sectors served by the team, which is comprised of dual-qualified lawyers in areas such as engineering, computer science and medicine. Christine Yiu co-leads the unit from Shanghai and focuses on advising clients in cross-border IP disputes related to copyrights, invention patents, trade marks and designs. Meanwhile, IP specialist Hank Leung co-leads from Hong Kong. Dorie Wong is based in Beijing and is key to advising on brand protection strategy and trade mark portfolio management.
Practice head(s):
Christine Yiu; Hank Leung
Other key lawyers:
Matthew Laight; Emma Ren; Rieko Michishita; Dorie Wong
Testimonials
‘Bird & Bird has a composite IP team that can handle all types of IP litigation, which is extremely rare among foreign firms. The team has been continuously expanding its high-level talents in patent business in recent years and is now able to compete with first-class in-house firms. The firm’s Asia-Pacific and European teams work closely together and have excellent coordination capabilities in large-scale cross-border litigation.’
‘Matthew Laight, as the core partner of the team, is our most reliable partner as always. Christine Yiu is already an international partner with rich experience in domestic IP litigation. Emma Ren is a rising star in the team and we are very happy to cooperate with her.’
‘A strong combination of China/HK litigation management experience/talent and a detailed understanding of long-term strategic implications for the client beyond the case at hand. The team is very proactive and always well prepared which great increases their efficiency and effectiveness.’
‘Matthew Laight and Christine Yiu are two experienced partners who combine excellent attention to case detail with the strategic outlook required to successfully manage global litigation with complication cross-jurisdiction implications. Emma Ren is an excellent junior associate showing a proactive approach unusual at her level. She will go far.’
Key clients
VMI Holland B.V.
Merck KGaA
Tam Jai International Co. Ltd.
Li & Fung Group – Toys“R”Us (Asia) Limited
H World Holdings Singapore Pte. Ltd.
Fitson Singapore Pte Ltd
Razer (Asia-Pacific) Pte. Ltd.
Oaktree Group
Helen of Troy
Shenzhen Reolink Technology Co., Ltd.
Edward Lifesciences
Mouser Electronics, Inc.
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST)
Work highlights
- Assisted VMI Holland B.V. as legal counsel with three patent ownership disputes in a landmark decision made by the Supreme People’s Court.
- Assisted Merck KGaA with a long-standing trade mark, unfair competition and breach of contract litigation between the client and Merck Sharpe & Dohme.
- Assisted Hegen with trade mark registrations for their main brand in China on their pipeline products in various classes, most of which have been approved for registration.
China > TMT: foreign firms Tier 1
Bird & Bird brings a sector-focused approach to TMT, advising on a range of issues from IP to regulatory advice to data protection and fintech. The team has been increasing its capacity to advise on AI-related issues, including AI-related data protection and regulatory matters. It also has expertise in autonomous driving issues such as regulations and commercial developments. James Gong leads the team from Beijing and specialises in TMT, cybersecurity and data protection matters. He is supported on cross-border and multi-jurisdictional matters by the firm's Hong Kong TMT practice.Practice head(s):
James Gong
Key clients
International Olympic Committee
Anker Innovations Limited
Work highlights
China > Data protection: foreign firms Tier 2
Bird & Bird‘s data protection and privacy practice is led by Beijing-based James Gong, who specialises in advising international and Chinese clients on regulatory data protection issues. The team has been active in assisting clients with issues relating to the Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) and Data Security Law (DSL), and often advises on data compliance, data localisation and security assessments. The group is also experienced in supporting clients with cross-border matters and is well-versed in PRC, EU, UK and Hong Kong law.Practice head(s):
James Gong
Other key lawyers:
Harry Qu
Testimonials
The firm has extensive resources and networks in Europe and other key overseas countries. It is very familiar with the practices of internet companies and the legal analysis opinions it provides are logical and easy to understand. IT has the ability to give comprehensive opinions based on the requirements of multiple jurisdictions.’
‘James Gong’s team, including Harry Qu, has a high level of understanding of business scenarios, fast feedback and the results combines practice expertise with legal requirements.’
Key clients
Oaktree Capital (Hong Kong) Limited
Work highlights
- Assisted Oaktree Capital with complying with the PRC Personal Information Protection Law.
China > Labour and employment: foreign firms Tier 3
Spearheaded by the ‘excellent’ Diana Purdy, who shows an ‘in-depth knowledge’ of employment law affairs, the Bird & Bird team has vast expertise in handling discrimination, inequality, and sexual harassment claims. Purdy operates out of Hong Kong, while Shanghai-based Sophie Wang primarily focuses on negotiating employment contracts and separation agreements. Natalie Sit is also highlighted as key for her knowledge on unlawful dismissals, alongside breaches of restrictive covenants.Practice head(s):
Diana Purdy
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘We have used Bird & Bird to advise on a number of employment-related matters including two company restructures in China. We also use B&B for worldwide IP advice. They are always very knowledgeable on the subject matter required and show great experience in their field. All of the work carried out by B&B has been of a high standard and completed quickly and efficiently with optimal results. I would have no hesitation in using them again and recommending to others.’
‘The main partner that advises us in China and Hong Kong is Diana Purdy. Diana has been excellent in every respect with the advice and work she has carried out for us. She shows an in-depth knowledge of her field, gave experienced advice and managed her team efficiently to complete the work needed on time and with the results we needed.’
China > Life sciences and healthcare: foreign firms Tier 3
Bird & Bird's international life sciences regulatory team advises on clinical trials, advertising, litigation, classification of medical devices, advanced therapy medicinal products, and marketing authorisations. The team is also well known for high-value litigation involving pharmaceutical and life science patents. Alison Wong heads up the firm’s Asia-Pacific life sciences and healthcare sector group from Hong Kong; while the workload of James Gong in Beijing encompasses compliance, privacy and cybersecurity issues.Practice head(s):
Alison Wong
Other key lawyers:
James Gong; Christine Yiu; Jang-Sae Pang
Key clients
Alphamab Oncology
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology
Merck
Edward Life Sciences
Stryker
iNova
Hong Kong Centre of Cerebro-cardiovascular Engineering
China > Corporate and M&A: foreign firms Tier 4
Fielding a team of industry experts in aviation, manufacturing, and life sciences, Bird & Bird regularly represents blue-chip tech multinationals and Chinese corporations on all aspects of multi-jurisdictional M&A and strategic partnerships. Operating out of Beijing, John Shi leads the practice, being an expert in corporate transactions and regulatory compliance, while Sarah Zeng focuses on disposals and joint ventures. Shanghai-based Sven-Michael Werner acts for foreign investors.Practice head(s):
John Shi
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team knows the Chinese market and culture as well as the European. They are very effective and fast with a quick understanding of the needs of the parties and the experience to overcome cultural differences and language barriers.’
Key clients
Royal Cosun
FinDreams Battery (FDB, subsidiary of BYD)
Work highlights
- Advised Royal Cosun on its 100% wholly owned subsidiary Aviko’s acquisition of a majority stake in a local French-fries supplier from Inner Mongolia Hongyuan Agriculture Technology Company Limited by Shares with 90% stake acquired in 2020 and the remaining 10% stake in 2023.
- Advised FinDreams Battery (“FDB), a BYD Company Limited (“BYD”) subsidiary, on its strategic partnership with leading automotive supplier BorgWarner Inc. (“BorgWarner”).
Bird & Bird > Firm Profile
The firm: Bird & Bird is the go-to international law firm for companies working with disruptive technology. Whether traditional businesses leveraging cutting-edge technology or start-ups changing the status quo, the firm guides clients through all the regulatory, legal and commercial aspects of this fast-moving environment. It combines exceptional legal expertise with deep industry knowledge and refreshingly creative thinking, to help clients operating at the forefront of their industries to achieve their goals.
Bird & Bird organises itself around its clients, with lawyers typically arranged in groups which focus on key industries and sectors. This structure drives the firm to develop and maintain high-level expertise in practice areas and geographic regions which serve the needs of its client base. It provides a broad advisory, transactional and contentious capability, with the sector and practice groups interacting to provide the best possible service to clients.
Asia Pacific: the firm has been guiding clients in Asia Pacific for almost 30 years. Its offices in the region are located in key business centres in Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo. The team of over 200 highly qualified and multilingual lawyers and legal professionals combines exceptional expertise with deep industry knowledge and refreshingly creative thinking to help clients achieve their commercial goals.
Through a series of strategic and dynamic co-operations with leading local firms in Malaysia, South Korea and Indonesia, it has an extended geographic footprint to assist clients with their requirements in these countries.
China: the firm uses its extensive experience in China to help clients navigate the complexities of China’s business and regulatory environment. This includes advice on business structures, corporate establishment and finance, M&A, commercial arrangements, technology licensing and transfer, information technology and communications services and infrastructure, the protection and exploitation of intellectual property rights, dispute resolution and regulatory compliance. Further, through its formal association with Lawjay Partners, a PRC law firm, the firm can assist clients in contentious matters in mainland China by litigating in the Chinese courts.
Main Contacts
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| Technology and communications |
Lawyer Profiles
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James Gong | Partner | View Profile |
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Rieko Michishita | Partner | View Profile |
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John Shi | Partner | View Profile |
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Dorie Wong | Partner | View Profile |
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Christine Yiu | Partner | View Profile |
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Sarah Zeng | Partner | View Profile |
Solicitor Profiles
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Victor Tse | Partner | View Profile |
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Sophie Wang | I am a Senior Associate in Bird & Bird’s employment team, based… | View Profile |