AWA Asia
Firm overview:
The ‘East-meets-West’ approach of IP consultancy AWA provides an alternative for brands entering the Chinese market. Named after Swedish founder Anders Wilhelm Anderson, AWA Asia is part of a Europe and Asia ‘twin offering’ to international clients and referral firms navigating an unfamiliar territory. The firm operates more than 20 offices across Belgium, China, Hong Kong, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.
AWA Asia’s trademark practice focuses on maximising and maintaining brand value for clients of all sizes, in sectors including food and beverage, technology, automotive and luxury companies. The Beijing office is a licensed trademark agency, meaning AWA’s capabilities extend to filing and enforcement of trademarks directly before the China Trademark Office.
Team overview:
Beijing based Ai-Leen Lim, CEO and principal counsel of AWA Asia, retains her ranking as a Highly Recommended individual (Non-Contentious). She is also recognised as a WIPR Insights Leader 2024.
Lin handles all aspects of the firm’s IP portfolio management directly before the Intellectual Property Department. She also runs the firm’s wholly-owned Chinese IP consultancy, AWA IP (Beijing) Co.
According to peers, Lim has “put together a phenomenal team of people who share her ethos of being very responsive and very knowledgeable”. The former Bird & Bird partner has formed deep relationships with lawyers and clients outside of China, using her “super creative problem solving” to assist on global portfolios. Lim’s international approach receives positive feedback, as one US lawyer says, “to this day she has had more wins than any Chinese counsel I’ve ever known. I can’t say enough good things”.
AWA’s team includes partner Ashley Zhao, who “makes the magic happen” on both contentious and non-contentious matters for clients in food and beverage, entertainment and IT. Zhao, who is also a former Bird & Bird lawyer, retains her position as a Recommended individual in the Non-Contentious category.
Individuals:
- Ashley Zhao, Recommended (Non-Contentious)
- Ai-Leen Lim, Highly Recommended (Non-Contentious)
