U.S. law firm Perkins Coie will open an intellectual property agency in China. It will be headquartered in Beijing, and will have a branch in the southern city of Shenzhen.

Perkins Coie told ALB that the agency will be led by Beijing partner Scott Palmer, and provide services like trademark registration and portfolio management services; trademark prosecution and disputes before the CNIPA; copyright registration, assignment and license recordals; administrative enforcement of trademarks and copyrights; domain name registration and disputes and other IP services.

“The Shenzhen office will put us squarely in one of China’s most vibrant and burgeoning technology hubs,” commented Scott Palmer, referring to the fact that the city that has become famous for its growing life sciences, information technology, advanced manufacturing, disruptive technology, and aerospace and transportation technology industries.

The technology hub bordering Hong Kong SAR has become a magnet for law firms of late. U.S. law firm Brinks Gilson & Lione opened an office in Shenzhen in January 2018, becoming the very first foreign firm to do so, and it was followed by Fish & Richardson some months later. In 2019, the market saw the entry of Rimon Law, as well as UK firms Simmons & Simmons and Rouse.

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