Milwaukee-based Foley & Lardner has been given the green light to set up a representative office in Shanghai following an application made in February (www.thelawyer.com 5 February).
The practice will be led by partner and chair of the firm’s Asian practice Catherine Sun and will focus on IP, asset management and litigation.
“China’s growing presence in the global marketplace coupled with its evolving legal system presents a unique business environment for our clients,” said Foley’s chairman and CEO Ralf Boer.
Sun, who in February joined from Weil Gotshal & Manges where she led the China IP practice, has been charged with developing the office.
The practice is to provide IP-related services such as strategies for enforcement and protection of patent, trademark, and copyright assets and on international technology transfer, licensing, and portfolio management.
“Recent studies indicate that 80 per cent of market capitalisation in publicly traded companies is tied to IP assets,” said chair of the firm’s IP department Sharon Barner.
“As a result, businesses are placing more value on IP assets making it more important for them to protect and enforce their rights in China.”
The Shanghai office will serve the firm’s clients in a number of industries including life sciences, manufacturing, automotive, media and entertainment, and high-technology.
