California-based law firm Gipson Hoffman & Pancione has been targeted in a spear-phishing cyber attack that originated in China. The firm is representing software company CYBERsitter in its US$2.2bn law suit against the People’s Republic of China, two Chinese software makers and seven computer manufacturers for using stolen code.

“They were e-mails targeted at individuals in our law firm that were made to appear as if they were coming from other individuals at our law firm,” a spokesperson said. “They attempted to get the target to click on a link or attachment.”

The attack is said to have used the same technique as the one used against Google in China earlier this week.