James is an IP specialist with extensive experience in handling IP litigations, contentious, enforcement and advisory matters in Hong Kong and Mainland China. He has served world famous luxury brands, dual listed PRC tech giant, a HK unicorn, MNCs, Fortune 500 companies, and HK listed companies.
He is admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong, and also passed the Greater Bay Area Legal Qualification Examination.
James has strong experience in managing contentious IP proceedings portfolio where he handled over 200 cases in over 40 jurisdictions for the PRC technology giant – Alibaba Group. He also represented the client in various domain name disputes, company name complaints / litigations and online brand protection matters.
James also served prestigious luxury and fashion brands such as Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Tiffany & Co., Givenchy, Loewe, Celine, Kenzo, Versace, Michael Kors, Abercrombie & Fitch in handling large number of IP enforcement and litigation matters in Hong Kong and Mainland China. In particular, he has successfully obtained mareva injunctions for multiple brands before, and also handled a widely reported copyright infringement and passing off case for Louis Vuitton against Belle International in relation to the popular Archlight sneakers (HCA 776/2019).
Further, he has assisted clients in the entertainment industry where he represented the Hong Kong Karaoke Licensing Alliance Limited (“HKKLA”) in their Copyright Tribunal dispute against Neway (the biggest Karaoke Chain in HK) (CT 2/2010), involving over HK$90M of licensing fees for Neway’s use of their karaoke music videos. The case lasted over a decade and resulted in a first ever judgment handed down by the Copyright Tribunal.
He represented the Hong Kong Recording Industry Alliance (1 of 6 registered copyright licensing bodies in HK, which represents multinational record companies such as Warner, Sony, Universal etc., “HKRIA”) in handling their copyright infringement action against Metro Broadcast Corporation (an HK radio broadcaster) (HCIP 42/2021).
James has also acted for Unionpay (Chinese bank card association founded by 85 financial institutions in PRC) in a copyright, trademark and passing off dispute (HCA 863/2018).
In addition, James has in the past issued complicated IP legal opinions (both English and Chinese) concerning company listings on the Main Board of the HK Stock Exchange, and advised clients on privacy policies, IT service agreements, distributorship agreements, NDAs, celebrity endorsement agreements, ecommerce agreements, manufacturing agreements, sponsorship agreements, website terms and advertising compliance issues.
James also has experience in handling employment matters, compliance projects and cyber fraud money recovery actions.
James is a Council Member of the Licensing Executives Society China, Hong Kong Sub-Chapter and an Executive Committee Member of the Hong Kong Automation Technology Council.
James speaks fluent Cantonese, Mandarin and English.
PRACTICE AREAS
INDUSTRIES
PUBLICATIONS
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
EXPERIENCE
- Council Member of the Licensing Executives Society China, Hong Kong Sub-Chapter
- Executive Committee Members of the Hong Kong Automation Technology Council
- Rising Star – Asialaw Profiles, 2024
- Young Lawyer of the Year (Law Firm) – Finalist, Asian Legal Business, 2024
- Notable Practitioner, Managing IP, 2021
- Rising Star – Intellectual Property, Asialaw, 2021 and 2023
- Rising Stars – Licensing International, 2021
- Leading Individual: Bronze Tier in Enforcement and Litigation (Hong Kong), WTR 1000, 2023
- 19th Annual ALB Hong Kong Law Awards – Young Lawyer of the Year (Law Firm) – finalist, Asia Legal Business, 2020
- Council Member of the Licensing Executives Society China, Hong Kong Sub-Chapter
- Executive Committee Members of the Hong Kong Automation Technology Council
- Assisting PRC technology giant, Alibaba, in handling their portfolio of offshore trademark contentious proceedings. James has handled over 200 cases in over 40 different jurisdictions for the group. He also represented Alibaba in handling various domain name disputes, company name complaints / litigations and various online brand protection matters.
- Assisting prestigious luxury brand Louis Vuitton in a copyright infringement and passing off case against Belle International in relation to its popular Archlight sneakers (HCA 776/2019).
- Representing Hong Kong Karaoke Licensing Alliance Limited (“HKKLA”) in their Copyright Tribunal dispute against Neway (the biggest Karaoke Chain in HK) (i.e. CT 2/2010), involving over HK$90M of licensing fees for Neway’s use of their karaoke music videos. The case lasted over a decade and resulted in a first ever judgment handed down by the Copyright Tribunal.
- Representing Hong Kong Recording Industry Alliance (1 of 6 registered copyright licensing bodies in HK, which represents multinational record companies such as Warner, Sony, Universal etc., “HKRIA”) in commencing copyright infringement case against Metro Broadcast Corporation (an HK radio broadcaster) (HCIP 42/2021).
- Representing Malaysia listed snack and confectionery manufacturing business – Oriental Food Industries in an IP infringement dispute commenced back in 2011 against one of HK’s leading importers, exporters and distributors of FMCG food products – Sze Hing Loong (HCA 2094/2011).
- Represented Louis Vuitton, Loewe, Kenzo, Givenchy and Celine in an IP infringement dispute against an infringer (HCA 582/2018) where client successfully obtained mareva injunction and default judgment.
- Represented Unionpay (Chinese bank card association founded by 85 financial institutions in PRC) in a copyright, trademark and passing off dispute.
- Represented Michael Kors in a trademark infringement case (HCA 2819/2017).
- Handling the Hong Kong IP enforcement portfolio of and the Hong Kong Customs trademark recordation for French apparel and accessories brands – Sandro, Maje and Claudie Pierlot.
- Assisted a number of multinational brands in their IP enforcement matters in Hong Kong, e.g. Celine, Givenchy, Loewe, Kenzo, Emilio Pucci, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Versace, Abercrombie & Fitch and La Perla.
- Assisted a Fortune 500 in their PRC Customs enforcement portfolio.
- Handled domain name complaint cases for a number of clients, including PRC technology giant, hotel management brand, luxury fashion group and electronic component manufacturing business.
- Handled Hong Kong company name complaint cases for a number of clients, including PRC technology giant, multinational construction company, luxury fashion groups and Hong Kong listed real estate groups.
- Advised on and issued a number of substantive IP legal opinions regarding registrability and infringement risk of using certain trademarks in relation to company listings on the Main Board of the HK Stock Exchange.
- Provided over 250 pieces of advice regarding legal compliance of advertisements and marketing materials published in Hong Kong.
- Advised an established Hong Kong healthcare food product company on full range of general commercial and compliance matters.
- Advised clients on privacy policies, IT service agreements and disputes, distributorship agreements, NDAs, celebrity endorsement agreements, ecommerce agreements, manufacturing agreements, sponsorship agreements and website terms.