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WLA IP PRACTICE GROUP · PRACTICE 04 OF 6 · INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

GLOBAL IP PROTECTION.
EVERY JURISDICTION.
ONE CO-PRACTICE TEAM.

WLA IP co-practice coordinates trademark portfolios, patent strategy, copyright, and IP licensing across borders — protecting and monetising your intellectual property in every jurisdiction simultaneously, under one Institutional framework.

80+
IP jurisdictions
EU UPC
Barcelona — fully operational
CNIPA
Strengthened enforcement
1
Unified IP strategy
WLA IP INTELLIGENCE · LIVE

IP SIGNALS ACROSS
EVERY ACTIVE
CORRIDOR.

WLA IP Intelligence tracks EU UPC developments, CNIPA enforcement changes, and jurisdiction-specific IP law changes across every active WLA corridor — updated in real time by IP specialists in 90+ jurisdictions.

AREA
SIGNAL
STATUS
EU UPC
UNITARY PATENT
EU Unitary Patent & UPC Fully Operational — Fundamental Change to European IP Strategy
Barcelona UPC fully operational. The EU Unitary Patent covers all EU member states with one single right. WLA IP co-practice co-ordinates EU unitary patent strategy across all European portfolios simultaneously.
ACTIVE
CHINA · CNIPA
TRADEMARK
CNIPA Well-Known Mark Protection Strengthened — Enforcement Improving
China well-known mark protection significantly enhanced. WLA co-practice co-ordinates China IP strategy for all international brand owners — particularly EU→India and GCC→SE Asia corridor participants.
ACTIVE
UAE
ANTI-COUNTERFEITING
Enhanced Anti-Counterfeiting Enforcement in Dubai and Abu Dhabi Free Zones
UAE significantly enhanced IP enforcement in DIFC, ADGM, and major free zones. WLA Gulf IP co-practice active — particularly important for luxury, fashion, and technology clients on the Gulf corridors.
ACTIVE
UK POST-BREXIT
DUAL FILING
UK Post-Brexit IP — Dual Filing Required for UK and EU Protection
UK IP now entirely separate from EU IP. Dual filing at UKIPO and EUIPO required for brands and patents needing both UK and EU protection. WLA co-ordinates UK and EU IP filing simultaneously.
HIGH
INDIA
PATENT OFFICE
India Patent Office — Strategic Filing Sequence Important
CGPDTM processing times remain extended. WLA India IP specialist advises on strategic filing sequence for cross-border patent portfolios with India in scope.
WATCH
IP CORRIDOR JOURNEY

FROM ORIGIN FILING
TO GLOBAL ENFORCEMENT.
ONE TEAM.

WLA IP co-practice holds your IP strategy across the entire corridor journey — from the originating jurisdiction filing through to enforcement in every destination market. One co-ordinated team. All stages. Both sides.

PHASE 01
ORIGIN FILING

Priority filing in home jurisdiction. WLA IP specialist files with full knowledge of corridor intent — PCT, Madrid Protocol, or national strategy co-ordinated from day one.

PHASE 02
CORRIDOR STRATEGY

WLA IP specialists on both corridor sides develop a coordinated multi-jurisdiction filing strategy simultaneously — not sequentially. One brief covers both jurisdictions.

PHASE 03
DESTINATION FILING

National phase prosecution in all target jurisdictions — handled by the WLA IP specialist in each market, briefed directly by the WLA co-practice team.

PHASE 04
LICENSING

Cross-border IP licensing structures — royalty agreements, technology transfer, franchise arrangements — locally compliant in every jurisdiction, globally consistent.

PHASE 05
ENFORCEMENT

Simultaneous enforcement across multiple jurisdictions — WLA co-ordinates local enforcement specialists for maximum impact. Customs recordal. Injunctions. Litigation.

WHAT WLA IP CO-PRACTICE DELIVERS

FIVE IP SERVICES.
ALL JURISDICTIONS.
SIMULTANEOUSLY.

One co-practice IP team in every jurisdiction you need — briefed together, aligned on strategy, reporting through one point of contact.

01

GLOBAL TRADEMARK PORTFOLIO

WLA co-ordinates trademark registration, renewal, and monitoring across all key markets — one programme, local depth in each jurisdiction, one Institutional oversight. Madrid Protocol filings co-ordinated with national prosecution strategies.

02

EU UNITARY PATENT & UPC STRATEGY

EU Unitary Patent and Barcelona UPC strategy — WLA IP co-practice co-ordinates IP decision-making across all EU member states simultaneously. Opt-out strategy. Bifurcation risk analysis. Central attack assessment.

03

INTERNATIONAL IP LICENSING

Cross-border licensing structures — royalty agreements, franchise arrangements, technology transfer — locally compliant in every jurisdiction, globally consistent. WLA co-practices licensor and licensee jurisdictions simultaneously.

04

ANTI-COUNTERFEITING ENFORCEMENT

Simultaneous enforcement action across multiple jurisdictions — WLA co-ordinates local IP specialists for maximum impact in each market. Customs recordal, cease and desist, injunctions, and criminal referrals where available.

05

IP DUE DILIGENCE IN M&A

Cross-border IP due diligence in every deal jurisdiction — WLA IP specialists identify and value IP assets, assess infringement risk, and structure post-completion IP integration across all deal jurisdictions simultaneously.

06

DOMAIN NAMES & DIGITAL IP

Domain name disputes, social media IP protection, and digital brand enforcement — co-ordinated across all relevant TLDs and jurisdictions simultaneously. UDRP proceedings co-ordinated with trade mark opposition and litigation strategy.

PRACTICE GROUP LEAD

STEVE WONG
CHE MING.
WLA IP LEAD.

Steve Wong Che Ming is a seasoned lawyer at Wong Poon Chan Law & Co., Hong Kong. He specialises in mergers and acquisitions, dispute resolution, corporate governance, and intellectual property — leading WLA's global IP Practice Group across 80+ IP jurisdictions.

SW
WLA IP PRACTICE GROUP LEAD · HONG KONG
Steve Wong Che Ming
Wong Poon Chan Law & Co.
HONG KONG

Steve leads WLA's global IP Practice Group — co-ordinating EU UPC strategy, global trademark portfolio management, and cross-border IP enforcement across WLA's 80+ IP jurisdictions. 20+ years experience across corporate, IP, and dispute work in Hong Kong and APAC.

IP
M&A
DISPUTES
EU LAW
BRIEF WLA →
WLA IP PARTNER FIRMS
Wong Poon Chan Law & Co.
Hong Kong · IP · M&A · Disputes — IP Practice Group Lead
PRACTICE LEAD
Altacit Global
Chennai, India · IP · Transactional · Insolvency — ISO 9001 Certified
WLA PARTNER
SGA Law Africa
Pretoria, South Africa · IP · Transactional · Tax
WLA PARTNER
Law & More B.V.
Eindhoven, Netherlands · IP · Transactional · Dispute
WLA PARTNER
Mifsud & Mifsud Advocates
Valletta, Malta · IP · Tax · Immigration
WLA PARTNER
35+ Further IP Jurisdictions
Still open for WLA IP designation
APPLY →
KEY IP JURISDICTIONS

WHERE WLA HOLDS
IP SPECIALISTS.
90+ jurisdictions.

One exclusive WLA IP partner firm per jurisdiction. All connected through the WLA co-practice framework.

India
CGPDTM · Patent Office · Trade Marks Registry
Germany
DPMA · Munich · EPO seat
United Kingdom
UKIPO · High Court IP List
France
INPI · Paris · EU UPC coverage
Hong Kong
IPDO · Trademarks · Patents
Netherlands
RVO · European patent prosecution
Singapore
IPOS · Regional filing hub
UAE
Ministry of Economy · Free zone IP
Malta
IPO Malta · EU UPC coverage
Cyprus
DRCOR · EU member state
South Africa
CIPC · African filing hub
Ghana
GHEITI · Regional trade mark
IP CROSSES EVERY BORDER.
WLA HOLDS
BOTH SIDES.