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K&L Gates expands IP scope with launch of new trademarks agency
K&L Gates has rolled out a specialised trademarks agency with the global law firm looking to enhance its capabilities across the space.
Emma Musgrave
K&L Gates’ new agency, dubbed the K&L Gates IP Agency, has been launched in China this week.
The agency will enable K&L Gates employees to file and prosecute trademark applications directly with the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA). Previously the firm has had to rely on the services of local firms.
As part of the roll-out, K&L Gates IP Agency will be headed up by Beijing counsel Edward Yao who will lead a team of the firm’s dedicated intellectual property lawyers.
According to a statement from K&L Gates, the agency creates a “streamlined solution” for its offices in Australia, New Zealand, the US, Europe, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and the UK, and comes in response to client demand across the IP sector.
“Registration of trademarks in China is critical to the success of our clients’ global operations,” said Chris Round, one of K&L Gates’ IP procurement and portfolio management practice group coordinators.
“The creation of the K&L Gates IP Agency allows us to streamline our engagements with clients to remove a level of administrative process so that we can offer a fully integrated trademark solution in China with the cost benefits of this efficiency.”
The launch of the new agency is set to greatly boost IP work carried out by K&L Gates this year. Currently the firm holds 200 lawyers and professionals who specialise in the space, including around 100 registered patent lawyers, agents, and technology specialists with technical or advanced science degrees.
Mr Round added: “Significant strategic benefits come from having local teams on four continents when managing an organisation’s global trademark portfolio, allowing K&L Gates lawyers to continue to use their international platform to register and enforce marks worldwide.”
Emma Musgrave
Emma Musgrave (née Ryan) is the managing editor, professional services at Momentum Media.
Emma has worked for Momentum Media since 2015, including five years spent as the editor of the company's legal brand - Lawyers Weekly. Throughout her time at Momentum, she has been responsible for breaking some of the biggest stories in corporate Australia. In addition, she has produced exclusive multimedia and event content related to the company's respective brands and audiences.
Prior to joining Momentum Media, Emma worked in breakfast radio, delivering news to the Central West region of NSW, before taking on a radio journalist role at Southern Cross Austereo, based in Townsville, North Queensland.
She holds a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) degree from Charles Sturt University.
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