Wanhuida Intellectual Property
Firm overview:
Widely acknowledged as one of China’s leading IP firms, Wanhuida Intellectual Property assists domestic and international clients with their IP needs in Chinese and international markets. The firm has a deep bench of expertise across all aspects of protecting intangible assets, and the capacity to handle cross-border, complex and novel issues.
Trademarks has been a traditional practice strength of the firm since its creation, and it has generated a series of firsts and landmark cases in trademark prosecution and litigation in China. These include the first registration of a colour combination trademark, and the first court’s decision on the infringement of a registered 3D mark.
Wanhuida is experimenting with artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance its lawyers’ work flows, and uses an online case management system that was created in-house.
Clients that have benefitted from the firm’s counsel on trademark matters include Lacoste, New Balance, Wyeth, Michelin, 3M and L’Oréal. Wanhuida has around 100 IP litigators taking on hundreds of civil and administrative cases every year, sometimes involving parallel litigations within China and in other jurisdictions.
Team overview:
Around 500 IP professionals work at Wanhuida, including 120 lawyers specialising in IP litigation and enforcement, and 160 trademark attorneys.
Partner and member of the management committee Huang Hui is a veteran lawyer who has represented clients before all levels of the Chinese courts up to the Supreme People’s Court. Huang’s career includes a 12-year stint at the then State Administration for Industry and Commerce, and he has authored or co-authored dozens of IP-related publications.
Bai Gang is the founding partner and management committee chair at Wanhuida and a prominent figure in China’s IP field. Bai has played an advisory role in the legislative progress of China’s IP laws and obtained landmark decisions on behalf of clients. He is also deeply involved with the International Trademark Association (INTA), including being elected to its Board of Directors.
Partner and managing committee member Ren Haiyan is the most experienced trademark attorney at the firm, having started her practice in 1994. As joint head of the firm’s trademark practice group and the managing coordinator for all anti-counterfeiting, infringement and unfair competition cases, Ren has guided a team of more than 300 trademark and patent lawyers. She currently serves as co-chair of the INTA China Global Advisory Council for the 2024–2025 term.
