Client feedback and peer comment came to a consensus that Unitalen Attorneys at Law deserves to be on the top for trade mark prosecution work. The firm has also risen up a tier in the trade mark contentious ranking. "We have enjoyed working with Unitalen as it has a strong team taking care of all aspects of the work, such as professionals providing cutting-edge information and making good points on legal issues. We believe Unitalen is one of the best full-service IP firms in China," affirms a client.
The team was strengthened by the arrival of two partners in 2010 – Gu Ping from Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy and Wu Shuchen from State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO). Its roster of international clients counts such names as Seiko Epson, Toyota Motor, Montagut and ABB Technology. The firm has a large local client base as well, enabling it to be the largest PCT filer in China. "Unitalen provides us with good translation and gives us value-added services," says a client of its prosecution practice.
Some of the noteworthy litigation the firm starred in includes delivering victory to BMW in a trade mark infringement and unfair competition case, and advising Izumi-Cosmo, a Japanese manufacturer, to claim damages from a local company based on patent infringement. The case set the standard that in cases of patent infringement, the number of claims involved in a case is not a relevant consideration when assessing damages.
One client has kind words for two key partners of the firm: "Li Yongbo in trade marks and litigation has great experience," he says. "Dan Chen in trade marks has provided professional services for many famous enterprises at home and abroad. She enjoys a great reputation in the profession."