Simmons & Simmons

Firm overview:

International firm Simmons + Simmons holds its place in the rankings in both the ‘Highly Recommended, Contentious’ and ‘Recommended, Non-contentious’ categories.

First established in London in 1896, the firm has since grown its presence in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The firm also employs professionals with expertise in other jurisdictions (Africa, the US and Israel) where they work with local firms to offer legal advice to clients in those countries.

Simmons + Simmons entered the Asian market in 1979, with its first office in Hong Kong SAR. More than 45 years later, it is now well established in the region, with three offices in Mainland China, as well as in Singapore and Japan.

The firm’s Mainland China team, based in Shanghai, Beijing, and Shenzhen, works with the Hong Kong office to advise regional and international businesses across Mainland China. The team is an integral part of the international Simmons + Simmons network and works with clients across the financial, asset management, TMT and healthcare and life sciences sectors of Mainland China.

In China, Simmons + Simmons’ specialist trademark practice operates through a separate legal entity, eight-year-old Simmons + Simmons (Beijing) Intellectual Property Agency. The agency advises major institutions and corporations on trademark portfolio prosecution and enforcement and on complex contentious and commercial matters and is recognised by peers for its “good work”.

Specialising in formulating, implementing and managing IP portfolios and enforcement of IP rights in China, the agency is part of an 11-partner firm-wide EMEA and Asia brands group that advises clients on the impact of Chinese law and works with local law firms to issue formal legal opinions when required.

Team overview:

George Chan is a partner in the firm’s Dispute Resolution Group in China and serves as the head of Simmons + Simmons’ (Beijing) Intellectual Property Agency. He retains his position as a Recommended Individual (Contentious) this year, and is a WIPR Insights Leader 2024.

Chan, who has been with the firm for a decade, is highly regarded by peers and crafts novel legal solutions for a range of complex IP dispute resolution matters, including trademarks for renowned international companies. The team has recently been involved in oppositions and invalidations, enforcement and litigation, and licensing for, inter alia, a sporting organisation, an industrial company and a fashion brand.

Clients:

BlackBerry, Johnson & Johnson, Major League Baseball, Off-White, Lifestyles, Standard Chartered, Imperial Tobacco, Aspen Global.

Individuals:

• George Chan, Recommended (Contentious)