Chang Tsi & Partners
Firm overview:
Established in 2002, Chang Tsi & Partners has evolved into one of China’s leading law firms. A peer recommends the firm as being top-tier in the region. The global needs of its clients are well served from the firm’s offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, as well as branch offices in Guangzhou, Guangxi, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, the US and Korea.
An IP and commercial law specialist, the firm has become a top choice for numerous household-name brands, including 3M, Baidu, LEGO, Skechers and Cadbury. Chang Tsi’s non-contentious trademark services are highly efficient, providing a one-stop-shop for overseas filing and maintenance, global trademark strategies and trademark clearance, risk assessment and registration services across all major jurisdictions worldwide.
The firm also has a strong reputation in litigation. Notable cases it has been involved in include defending tech giant Baidu against trademark infringement and invalidating marks on behalf of Mondelēz brand Oreo.
Team overview:
Managing partner Spring Chang has an international reputation for her IP expertise, with clients including Tiffany & Co, Under Armour, Levi Strauss, Graco and Johnson & Johnson calling upon her to devise tailored strategies. Chang has over three decades of experience and is frequently asked to share her knowledge at industry conferences and in publications across the world.
Managing and founding partner Simon Tsi is a revered IP litigator with nearly 30 years’ experience working with universities, judicial authorities, government ministries and state-owned enterprises. Tsi also draws on significant in-house expertise and deep knowledge of multiple jurisdictions to provide incisive counsel to clients.
Key matters:
- LEGO: Trademark infringement case
A trademark infringement case on behalf of LEGO handled by Chang Tsi was selected as one of the “Top Ten IP Enforcement Cases of 2024” by the State Administration for Market Regulation.
The case involved an investigation into a Beijing-based business that was found to have used the ‘LEGO’ marks on its signage, classroom doorplates, promotional posters, and reception desk. Chang Tsi team’s work included collecting and organising a large amount of evidence in support of the investigation by the market supervision authorities.
- International Great Brands: Measures against counterfeit Oreo biscuits
Chang Tsi & Partners represented Mondelēz subsidiary Intercontinental Great Brands in what became Wuxi’s first civil case attached to a criminal case.
Between September 2022 and February 2023, the defendants produced counterfeit Oreo biscuits in a factory in Shantou City, Guangdong Province, which were then sold via online stores on major e-commerce platforms. The Wuxi Public Security Bureau’s Hui Shan Branch launched a criminal investigation in March 2023.
The Chang Tsi team developed a comprehensive protection strategy for the client. A hearing took place in January 2024 with the judgment resulting in prison sentences, fines and damages. Michael Fu and Yang Luo were part of Chang Tsi’s team on the case.
Clients:
Intercontinental Great Brands (Mondelēz), LEGO
