NTD Patent & Trademark Agency
Firm overview:
Operating at a level near the top of China’s market for patent work, NTD Patent & Trademark Agency serves clients ranging from innovative startups to Fortune 500 companies. Broad technical coverage equips the team to assist clients with inventions in a multitude of fields, from micro-electronics and semiconductors to mechanical engineering and biotech.
A peer says they would be “comfortable” referring clients to NTD, indicating that the firm is a safe pair of hands for patent matters in China. NTD is a particularly strong choice for prosecution and related non-contentious work; the team files over 10,000 new patent applications every year. Litigators and attorneys work closely together to keep clients’ best interests and long-term goals in mind.
NTD has also been recognised for its handling of patent disputes, with its NTD Law Office team covering litigation, arbitration, contractual disputes and other contentious matters.
Team overview:
NTD has invested significantly in its patent team, with over 200 attorneys. The firm has over 500 professionals and support staff, of which 90 are lawyers. NTD’s offices are located in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Silicon Valley and Tokyo.
A longstanding member of the firm, Christopher Shaowei is praised by a client for his creative approach to IP issues. Shaowei has extensive experience representing clients before China’s administrative agencies and courts, and is called upon as a thought leader to speak at industry events across the world.
Heather Lin is frequently called upon to draft patents, particularly for biotechnology clients. Lin’s practice also covers patent infringement and validity opinions and litigation, as well as portfolio management, and she regularly appears as a speaker at IP forums and conferences.
Another key team member is Gavin Jia, a go-to expert for technology-related legal matters who has represented companies including Johnson & Johnson, Intel, Bosch, Danone, Unilever, Volvo, Toshiba, Hitachi, Sumitomo and SAIC.
Key matters:
- A. Raymond: Invention patent infringement dispute
NTD represented automotive parts supplier A. Raymond in filing an administrative complaint with the Suzhou Intellectual Property Office. The client alleged that Suzhou Automobile Technology company had infringed its patent right. After trial, the Suzhou Intellectual Property Office concluded that the accused product fell within the scope of the patent, and the respondent was ordered to cease manufacturing and selling the infringing products.
The case was selected as a “typical case of patent administrative protection” in 2024 by the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA). Qingzhong Jia and Zhihui Wang led NTD’s team.
- Patent infringement dispute for process patent
Together with Caihe Law Firm, NTD represented a technology company in responding to an administrative adjudication request filed by Kumiai Chemical Industry Co with the Shandong Intellectual Property Office based on a process patent.
The case was ultimately closed through mediation, and selected by the CNIPA as a “typical case of intellectual property administrative protection” in 2024. Christopher Shao and Fei Kou led NTD’s team.
Clients:
A. Raymond
