Firm Overview
Firm history
Founded in 1995, Tsai, Lee & Chen Law boomed with the advent of Taiwan’s high-tech industrialisation. The firm has since developed a full-service IP law department that encompasses all areas of intellectual property in prosecution, portfolio management, litigation and licensing, among other things, with constant trust among its reputable domestic and international clientele.
Industry-sector strengths
The firm’s patent expertise – led by more than 40 patent attorneys licensed in Taiwan and a further 45 patent attorneys licensed in China – encompasses semiconductors, consumer electronics, thin film transistor liquid-crystal display technology, mechanical and electrical engineering, AI, financial technology, computer hardware and software, information technology, telecoms, biochemistry, genetics, and pharmaceuticals.
The trademark clients, on the other hand, cover a wide spectrum of industrial sectors from product manufacturers and retailers to service providers. Our professionals are sophisticated in handling trademark applications for fashion apparels, luxury products, designer’s fabrics, food and drinks as well as gaming and entertainment services, and so on.
IP filing and managed portfolios
Regardless of how IP filing figures may fluctuate, the firm remains dynamic. It handles more than 8,500 patent applications globally each year and 2,000 new trademark filings from domestic and international clients.
Litigation and dispute resolution
Tsai, Lee & Chen has a record of handling numerous landmark cases at the Taiwan IP and Commercial Court (IPCC; formerly the IP Court). The types of litigation and dispute range from trade secret, trademark, patent, copyright and unfair competition to breach of contract. The team is sophisticated when it comes to complex trademark enforcement issues, patent invalidation and infringement, as well as non-infringement declaratory actions.
In 2021, Tsai, Lee & Chen built a strategic alliance with a chartered accountant and hired a senior lawyer specialised in securities law. This move has expanded the firm’s capability to resolve tax disputes and other issues resulting from IP monetisation and mergers and acquisitions.
Key clients
Tsai, Lee & Chen is known for its representation of international clients, including Applied Materials, ARM Limited, Corning Inc, LVMH Group, Microsoft Corp, Nike, Qualcomm, Rimowa GmbH and Ferrari, among others.
As well as international clients, the firm is reputable among domestic industries and works for many high-tech listing companies, such as the largest semiconductor foundry worldwide, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), and the reputable panel display maker, AU Optronics.
The firm’s clientele also includes companies in pharmaceuticals and medical devices, such as TSH Biopharm Corp, Takeda Pharmaceuticals and B Braun AG.
International presence and alliances
The firm remains up to date with the most recent IP law developments and challenges by actively participating in international IP groups, attending board meeting and contributing to committee meetings, as well as speaking at conferences. Tsai, Lee & Chen is a member of International Trademark Association (INTA), the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI), the Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA), the International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys (FICPI), the Pharmaceutical Trademarks Group (PTMG), European Communities Trade Mark Association (ECTA), the Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO), the Asia Patent Attorneys Association (APAA) and MARQUES.
The firm has also accumulated valuable experience and networks in China with more than 20 years of dedicated service.
In-house innovation and technology
The firm has an in-house IT team who designs and maintains its IT software and databases. Tsai, Lee & Chen uses these house-tailored technologies in daily administration, including invoicing, email communication and official formality compliance, among other things, to enhance working efficiency, reduce human error and meet clients’ demands.
