August 16, 2010

Jennifer Harris
Clovis, Inc.
jharris@clovisinc.com
312.346.1700

Chicago-based Firm Co-Sponsors Intellectual Property Seminar in China

CHICAGO – In its ongoing initiative to develop new relationships with China, Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione recently sponsored an intellectual property seminar in the southeastern city of Shunde.  Nearly 100 local attorneys and professionals from Chinese law firms attended the half-day event, which was co-sponsored by the Shunde Industrial Design Society.

“Shunde is one of the hubs of China's burgeoning ‘world factory’ and the city is a locus for the development of intellectual property,” said attorney Yuanlin Shen, a scientific advisor at Brinks and the organizer of the trip.

Drawing on the firm’s international experience—especially with China—the group of Brinks attorneys presented four topics during the seminar: the importance of a patent portfolio, strategies for effective intellectual property litigation in the U.S., winning export strategies and chances of success in the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) in Washington D.C.

“China’s exports to the U.S. have tripled over the last decade, but many Chinese companies do not keep up-to-date with changes to U.S. intellectual property laws,” observed Laura Beth Miller, chair of the Brinks International Trade Group and one of the program’s presenters. “We believe our efforts to educate and to build new relationships through seminars will help both countries.” Other presenters included Brinks attorneys William H. Frankel, Harold V. Johnson and Michael P. Chu.

In addition to the seminar, Brinks also sponsored the Third Annual Sino-U.S. Moot Court in partnership with The John Marshall Law School and the Institute for International Intellectual Property of Peking University. Other events during the ten-day trip included meetings with China’s leading intellectual property law firms in Beijing, as well as discussions with Chinese manufacturing companies with intellectual property issues in the U.S.

Representatives from Brinks visit China three or four times each year to further its China initiative.

Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione is one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the United States and serves the intellectual property needs of clients around the world. Brinks has 170 attorneys, scientific advisors and patent agents who specialize in intellectual property litigation and all aspects of patent, trademark and copyright law. The firm also advises on issues relating to intellectual asset management, trade secret, unfair competition, and technology and licensing agreements. Brinks routinely handles assignments for companies in the electrical, chemical, and mechanical engineering sectors; the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and nanotechnology industries; and for companies whose work relates to Internet and computer technology law. The firm’s trademark practice works on behalf of clients who deal in a wide variety of products and services. Founded in 1917, Brinks is based in Chicago and has five additional offices across the country, including its new office in Washington D.C. More information is available at www.usebrinks.com.