Market observers are often quick to name Watson & Band when asked about leading IP firms in Shanghai and the firm is especially renowned in litigation. Managing partner George Fu worked as a judge in the Shanghai High Court for 14 years before he entered private practice. "We've worked with George on a number of contentious issues. The advice is difficult when you are dealing with countries like China with very complex law and conflicts, but we've been very, very pleased with the service that we've been getting from George," says a client.
The firm advised Honda Motor and Wuyang-Honda Motors (Guangzhou) during a six-year battle with Qianjiang Group and Shanghai Shentong Industrial. Honda sued Qianjiang and Shanghai Shentong for patent infringement in 2004 and the local companies reacted by challenging the validity of the Japanese carmaker's invention patent. After the Patent Reexamination Board (PRB) confirmed the validity of the patent, Honda won the two trials in Shanghai No 1 Intermediate People's Court and Shanghai High People's Court in 2010.