WIPR’s China Trademarks Rankings 2025: New entries, hidden gems and big brands

China rankings provide a guide for counsel and clients looking for trademark specialists in a vast but challenging market, from prosecution experts to heavyweight litigators.

Ten law firms have been recognised in the highest tier of ‘Outstanding’ in WIPR’s newly published China Trademarks Rankings 2025, indicating they have a consistent workload of the most significant matters for a client base of global brands.

This year, the rankings include several new entries in various tiers, from an international law firm that specialises in transactional IP work to a hidden gem in Beijing that provides high-quality, cost-effective services.

WIPR’s China Trademarks Rankings have separate categories for international and PRC law firms, with firms and individuals ranked for the quality of their non-contentious and contentious work.

Against a continuing background of geopolitical tension, the rankings identify the international firms that stand out for the success of their China trademark practices, and the local firms selected by multinational brands for complex, cross-border matters.

WIPR’s Rankings team conducted interviews with lawyers and clients, and researched key work highlights to pinpoint the firms and individuals operating at the forefront of China’s trademark market.

During the research, one in-house counsel explained that Rouse, in this year’s highest tier of international firms for non-contentious work, delivers “what every in-house lawyer likes: I feel like I’m their only client in terms of responsiveness, client care and input.”

There was also high praise for the homegrown talent at CCPIT Patent and Trademark Law Office, in the top bracket of PRC firms, with a peer noting that the team’s “ability to navigate the intricacies of intellectual property law and devise innovative strategies is truly impressive”.

Also highlighted are the leading individuals for trademark work in China, which include the lawyers who have helped to shape IP law in the country, obtain well-known status for globally renowned brands and win high-stakes disputes before China’s courts.

Doing business in China

Amid the well-documented trend of international law firms shrinking or shutting down their presence in China, this year’s research explores how those that remain committed to operating in the country are faring.

Peers acknowledge that Baker McKenzie is still deserving of its place among the ‘Outstanding’ international firms in the country. The firm’s China practice continues to be first-rate across trademark prosecution and litigation; recent work highlights include securing a landmark win for a New Zealand apple producer in a case involving trade dress and trademark infringement.

In 2025, Clifford Chance enhanced its China offering by establishing a joint operation in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone with Shanghai He Ping Law Firm, to combine its global platform with local law expertise and rights of audience.

There are PRC firms also offering these dual benefits to clients, such as the uniquely placed King & Wood Mallesons, a stand-out firm that blurs the distinction between the categories of ‘PRC’ and ‘international’ firms with its Eastern and Western heritage.

A new entrant for 2025, Marks & Clerk offers a local trademark agency licence alongside a global network spanning three continents, and its status as an attorney firm also raises questions about possible future development of the Rankings categories.

High-profile matters

Analysis of China’s best local law firms indicated a continuing trend of PRC firms handling increasingly sophisticated trademark work, which includes more outbound work for multinational domestic brands with global needs.

Tencent, Xiaomi and Baidu are among the multinational Chinese clients that have sought out the firms in this year’s PRC category for trademark matters across multiple continents.

The high calibre of PRC firms’ inbound work was also evident; top-tier firm Chang Tsi & Partners assisted LEGO with a trademark infringement matter last year, and its other clients include 3M, Skechers and Cadbury.

East IP, in the ‘Highly Recommended’ category, handles trademark work in China for Ticketmaster’s parent company Live Nation Worldwide, and advises Treasury Wine Estates—which produces Penfolds, Wolf Blass and Lindemans wines—on its trademark portfolio.

PRC and international firms in this year’s rankings were noted for their involvement in significant anti-counterfeiting efforts.

Squire Patton Boggs’ China IP team carries out almost 100 raid actions every year for Major League Baseball’s franchisee brands, such as the NY Yankees, and in 2024 the team seized over 40,000 fake bags with a retail value of over $10 million on behalf of Italian fashion brand Diesel.

Japanese pharmaceutical company Otsuka, owner of renowned beverage brand Pocari Sweat, enlisted the help of one of the country’s largest law firms, Global Law Office, for an anti-counterfeiting and trademark infringement matter involving two groups of alleged counterfeiters based in Hunan and Guangdong.

The names to know

The China Trademarks Rankings provides a guide to the go-to lawyers for brands looking for experts in filing, strategy, dispute resolution or litigation.

Four individuals are recognised in this year’s Hall of Fame, reserved for those who have made exceptional contributions to their field.

The rankings include some of China’s preeminent trademark lawyers—such as Wanhuida’s Bai Gang, who has played an advisory role in the progress of China’s IP laws—and lesser-known professionals providing high quality services, such as Wenpei He at Chofn IP, described as “very knowledgeable and thorough” by a peer.

Notable moves over the past year include Annie Tsoi’s departure from Deacons in January 2025 to pursue a venture outside of private practice; and Scott Palmer’s exit from Perkins Coie to join Loeb & Loeb at the end of 2024.

Following WIPR’s China Trademark Rankings will be the China Patent Rankings 2025, published this autumn.

Closing out the schedule for this year are the US Trademarks, Patents and Trade Secrets Rankings; to be considered for inclusion, law firms can direct enquiries to rankings editor Baron Armah-Kwantreng at barmah-kwantreng@worldipreview.com.

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