Asialaw Profiles
The Guide to the legal markets of the Asia-Pacific

Wilkinson & Grist has a strong reputation for managing the IP portfolios of major international companies in Greater China, especially in Hong Kong. The firm continues to supervise the portfolios of multinationals such as Cartier, Coca-Cola, Kraft, Philips, Heinz, Johnson & Johnson and Hutchison.

Wilkinson & Grist routinely advises on court proceedings in relation to various domain name disputes brought forth by multinational companies. It has a history of representing clients in CIETAC’s Domain Name Dispute Resolution Centre. The firm is also well known for effectively and successfully working with Chinese enforcement authorities on cross border infringement cases.

Partner John Budge leads Wilkinson & Grist’s dispute resolution team, which handles an array of mostly contentious matters for clients in Hong Kong. The firm represents clients in shareholder disputes, as well as liquidators, local clients and leading Hong Kong individuals in Hong Kong disputes. The firm recently represented a client on a case involving disputed wills in connection with the richest woman in Asia. The proceedings were high profile and very complex, and the litigation team was successful after a 40 day trial.

Wilkinson & Grist’s strength in dispute resolution matters is a key benefit for its IP clients. Partners Anne Choi, Yvonne Chua and Andrea Fong are all members of the firm’s IP team.

Wilkinson & Grist continues to advise a number of record companies as they pursue trade mark and copyright infringement actions in connection with karaoke music videos against Hong Kong karaoke operators. The IP team also represents Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV and Volkswagen AG in issuing nearly 50 Hong Kong court actions against suspected ‘shadow’ companies involved in trade mark infringement.

The firm is a leading trade mark, design and patent application e-filer in Hong Kong, and manages IP portfolios for many leading multinationals such as Coca-Cola, Cartier, Colgate-Palmolive, Kao, Kraft, Philips, Heinz, Johnson & Johnson, Ericsson, the Cheung Kong Group, Hutchison and Ikea.