An American intellectual property-specialist firm has become the first foreign law firm to open its doors in “China’s Silicon Valley.”
Brinks Gilson & Lione an office in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province in China last month after getting approval from the government in August. The office is also the Chicago, Illinois-headquartered firm’s first office outside of the US.
“We very much look forward to offering advice and guidance to Chinese-domiciled entities on the intellectual property laws of the US, and to helping them protect their IP,” said Gustavo Siller, Brinks president.” We know we will serve a key role protecting the innovations of Chinese companies and defending them against assertions of infringement in the United States.”
Xilin Jiang, who heads Shenzhen’s Bureau of Justice, attended the opening ceremony. Brinks attorney, their colleagues, clients, and members of the Shenzhen technology community also attended.
“Guangdong Province offers remarkable opportunities, and we are very pleased to be the pioneering US law firm in this truly impressive city," said Brinks shareholder Harold Johnson. “This is a great day for our firm, not only formally opening our first office outside the US, but being the very first US law firm to open an office in Shenzhen. Brinks advises Chinese clients that export to the US about US intellectual property laws, helping them protect their innovations and defending against allegations of infringement.”
Johnson lives in the city and is the office’s managing shareholder. The office will also be staffed by Fei Hu, a Chinese native who studied in the US and was most recently senior legal counsel to chip giant ARM. He was also a lawyer for Huawei and Tencent.
Brinks attorneys Siller, Yuezong Feng, and Lyle Vander Schaaf, who all represent Chinese clients, will join the office on a rotating Basis. The firm is also on the lookout for local Chinese technical and administrative talent.
Founded in 1917, Brinks has more than 130 intellectual property lawyer working out of seven offices across the US.
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