Asia

Meeting the intellectual property needs of an expanding Asian market

Asia boasts some of the world’s most sophisticated markets and fastest growing economies.  Innovative corporations and organizations across Asia turn to Finnegan to identify, protect, advocate, and leverage their most valuable IP assets.  To meet the needs of our Asian clients conducting business in their headquarter countries or in the United States, Finnegan has established offices in Shanghai, Taipei, and Tokyo.  The firm also has strong ties to the IP legal communities in Korea and India, and our attorneys regularly travel to these countries to speak at conferences and meet with clients.

Leadership in U.S. IP law

Finnegan has 45 years of experience in successfully navigating U.S. IP law.  We serve clients of all sizes, from virtually every industry and technology area, and from many Asian countries.  Our singular focus on IP brings an unparalleled depth to our practice, which includes:

• Litigation
• Patent prosecution
• Patent transactions and strategic counseling
• Trademark
• Copyright
• Trade secrets
• False advertising

Japan

When we opened our Tokyo office in 1988, Finnegan became one of the first foreign firms licensed to practice in Japan.  We recognized the importance of the Asian market long before most other law firms and forged strong relationships with Japanese companies that remain important clients of the firm today.  Our clients' businesses span a broad range of technologies, including computer, telecommunication, semiconductor, mechanical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and chemical technologies.  For more than 20 years we have represented Japanese clients in high-stakes matters, including landmark wins for Toyota and Mitsubishi at the ITC.  The firm’s location near the U.S. embassy provides us with convenient access to the only location in Tokyo where firms are allowed to take depositions related to U.S. litigation.

Lawyers from our Tokyo and U.S. offices frequently participate in IP events in Japan, including hosting business roundtables on IP, sponsoring seminars, lecturing at universities and professional organizations, and participating in conventions for organizations such as the Licensing Executives Society International (LESI) and the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI).  In addition, because the firm has several attorneys fluent in Japanese, we can easily communicate with Japanese clients.  Our strong and well-established local presence allows us to keep up with the latest IP developments and serve our clients in all areas of U.S. IP law.

Mainland China and Hong Kong

Our licensed Foreign Representative Office in China is located in the Pudong area of Shanghai, and our attorneys are able to serve clients anywhere in the Greater China region.  As Chinese companies continue to expand their markets, Finnegan is on the ground to assist them with their U.S. IP strategies and needs.

We are proud to have been active and involved in the Chinese community for many years.  We have over 30 professionals who speak Chinese, many with degrees from Chinese universities.  Our local outreach efforts have included seminars, educational programs, and roundtable discussions for both business groups and universities.  We are particularly active in U.S. IP licensing matters in China.

Taiwan

Taiwan serves as a key hub for international business, advanced technologies, technology brand names, and outsourcing. Our Taipei office—the Fei Han Foreign Legal Affairs Law Firm—has thrived since 2003.  Led by Finnegan partners, Fei Han is also supported by legal and technical professionals who are fluent in English, Mandarin, and Taiwanese.  Our Taiwan team provides litigation, prosecution, and counseling services to a wide range of companies in Taiwan.  For more than 15 years, Finnegan has been advising clients in Taiwan in the IC, LCD, LED, solar, smart phone, semiconductor, biomedical, pharmaceutical, communications, telecommunications, and networking industries.

Finnegan regularly hosts local conferences on current IP topics and trends, sponsors programs organized by local business and IP communities.  The firm's attorneys frequently lecture and teach at law and business schools in Taiwan and China.  We also helped found the Chinese Taipei branch of the Licensing Executive Society.

Korea

Finnegan has a well-established Korean client base that continues to expand.  From innovative mid-size companies like Seoul Semiconductors to sophisticated multinational corporations like LG Electronics and Hyundai/Kia Motors, we handle some of Korea’s leading businesses’ most important IP matters.  We have a particular depth of experience in representing Korean companies in complex litigations and IP disputes in the semiconductor, electronic, automotive, high-tech materials, industrial manufacturing, life sciences, and consumer product areas.  We have been active in the Korean business and IP communities for over 15 years, hosting seminars on various IP-related topics and educating IP professionals of Korea-based companies on the nuances of U.S. IP law.  We have many attorneys who speak Korean as their native language.

India

Finnegan is active in the local Indian IP legal community.  The firm has hosted seminars and educational events for many organizations, including the Bombay and Bangalore Chambers of Commerce, the Confederation of Indian Industry, the US-India Business Council, and the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM), which sets the tone for public policy for the Indian software industry.  As Indian businesses continue to expand their markets in the U.S., their IP needs will increase, and we are poised to assist them.

Representative Asian Clients:

• Academia Sinica
• Hon Hai Precision Industries
• HTC America, Inc.
• Hyundai Motor Company
• Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI)
• Konica Minolta Holdings
• LG Electronics
• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
• National Health Research Institutes
• Otsuka Pharmaceuticals
• Seoul Semiconductor
• Shanghai SIM-BCD Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.
• Shanghai Silicon Intellectual Property Exchange (SSIPEX)
• SKC Kolon PI, Inc.
• Sony
• Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd. (TSMC)
• Takeda Pharmaceutical
• Toshiba Corporation
• Toyota Motor Company
• Winbond Electronics Corp.