Orrick Expands Its Leading China Intellectual Property Practice

November.19.2014

Shanghai, November 19, 2014 – Orrick announced today that Yufeng (Ethan) Ma has joined the firm’s Intellectual Property (IP) practice as a partner in the Shanghai office. Dual educated in China and the United States (US), Mr. Ma most recently served as Director of IP, Asia at Corning Incorporated, a world leader in specialty glass and ceramics. Prior to that, he practiced for more than a decade in the US representing US and Chinese companies in IP matters, with a focus on litigation before the US International Trade Commission (ITC) and the US federal courts.

“Ethan is an IP practitioner of the highest quality and we are delighted to add him to our team. He offers our clients an invaluable perspective on practical solutions to international IP matters, having practiced IP law in-house in China for a leading international company plus having served as a litigator for 10 years before the US courts,” said Xiang Wang Orrick’s Asia Managing Partner and head of the firm’s China IP practice.

Orrick’s China team has resolved more than 100 cross-border IP disputes in China including matters related to patents, trade secret, trademarks and copyright for numerous multinational corporations operating in China. The firm represents international companies, such as a Leading Tech Company (U.S.), Microsoft, Applied Materials, Intel, Canon and Dow Corning, in their IP related matters in China and also represents Chinese state and privately owned companies in IP matters as well as a wide range of other business activities and disputes in the US and internationally. Financial Times named Orrick to its list of the most innovative international firms in the Asia-Pacific region; the firm was named China IP Team of the Year by Managing IP at its global awards; and Asian Legal Business ranked Orrick’s China patent team Tier 1 for the second consecutive year.

Mr. Ma holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Peking University School of Intellectual Property in Beijing, China, and a JD degree from Vanderbilt University School of Law. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Peking University and a Master of Science degree in Chemistry from Vanderbilt. Mr. Ma is admitted to practice in Illinois and New York and is registered to practice before the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). He is fluent in Mandarin and English. He was previously a partner and member of the Board of McAndrews, Held & Malloy, Ltd. in Chicago, Illinois. In addition to representing clients in complex IP litigation, Mr. Ma has extensive experience advising companies on IP aspects of strategic transactions, including licensing, mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures and collaborations.

Chinese press release here.

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Yufeng (Ethan) Ma Partner, Intellectual Property, Trade Secrets Litigation

Shanghai; Beijing; Chicago

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D:+86 21 6109 7108
E: [email protected]

Practice:

Technology & Innovation Sector
Intellectual Property
Trade Secrets Litigation
Patents
IP Counseling & Due Diligence
U.S. International Trade Commission
International Arbitration & Dispute Resolution
China

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Yufeng (Ethan) Ma Partner

Shanghai; Beijing; Chicago

In addition to specializing in complex IP litigation relating to patent infringement, ITC 337 investigations, trade secrets misappropriation and unfair competition, Ethan has extensive experience advising clients on IP administrative disputes and reexamination, IP strategies, IP due diligence, and IP aspects of strategic transactions, including licensing or transfer, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and collaborations. His clients cover a wide range of industries, including medical devices, hardwares, softwares, internet, semiconductors, electronics, telecommunications, AI, automobile, chemical, materials, energy, etc. His recent clients include Baidu, Tencent, SMIC, JD.com, Micro-Tech, Vivo, Coolpad, Anker, OnePlus, Govee, LANHE, Lovense, Zhejiang Rongpeng, Sansi Electronic Engineering, Yaham Optoelectronics, CreateLED Electronics, Howshow Technology, Huayi Mechanical and Electrical, INFiLED Electronics, Applied Materials, Synopsys, Coilcaft, Hecate, etc.

Over the years, Ethan has represented dozens of Chinese companies in resolving their IP disputes in the U.S. Ethan and his litigation teams won a number of high-profile ITC investigations involving Chinese companies and earned clients’ long-term trust. In one investigation (337-TA-623), his clients are four subsidiaries of a large state-owned company in China, who were sued for patent infringement. The Commission reversed the late Chief Administrative Law Judge’s unfavorable decision and found that Ethan’s clients were not infringing and did not violate Section 337. In another investigation (337-TA-655), he represented the complainant and its subsidiaries in China suing a group of Chinese respondents for trade secret misappropriation. The ITC issued a 10-year exclusion order against these respondents. This landmark decision represents a new development of trade secret law and ITC jurisdiction in the U.S., and was upheld by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Since then, Ethan has won case after case on behalf of his clients. He is also committed to resolving disputes in the most cost-effective and timely way. “Ethan always tries to resolve matters for clients at the lowest cost possible,” said a client who won a case as he recommended Ethan to his peers.

For instance, in 2017, Ethan successfully defended Shenzhen Howshow Technology against Kent Displays, Inc. in an ITC 337 investigation (337-TA-1035) involving alleged infringement of patents relating to liquid crystal e-writers and components. Orrick secured a complete victory for the client by forcing the complainant to unconditionally withdraw after four months of active litigation. The case was named “Deal of the Year 2017 – Disputes and Investigations” by China Business Law Journal.

In another case, Ethan successfully defended Sansi Electronic Engineering, CreateLED Electronics, Yaham Optoelectronics. and other Chinese respondents against Ultravision Technologies in an ITC Section 337 investigation (337-TA-1114) filed on 27 March 2018 involving alleged infringement of patents relating to certain modular LED display panels and components. The complainant was forced to withdraw the complaint unconditionally during the expert discovery period in November 2018, which led to a final termination by the ITC on 21 February 2019.

Prior to joining Orrick, Ethan served as Director of IP, Asia of a world leader in specialty glass and ceramics, where he was in charge of the company’s daily IP matters in China and throughout Asia. Before that, he was a partner and member of the Board at McAndrews, Held & Malloy in Chicago, Illinois. Ethan was the first non-US born lawyer of that firm.

In the past 20 years, Ethan has been committed to building bridges and facilitating understanding between China and the US on IP protection and exchange. In addition to being a frequent speaker at various seminars and conferences in China and the US, Ethan regularly publishes articles and has been interviewed by numerous media. He served as a committee member of the Asian Legal Committee of Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) for many years.

Ethan is also actively involved in the “One Belt One Road” and “Going Out” initiatives led by the PRC government and non-profit organizations. He participated in Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce’s “Going Overseas Service Portal” project, and acts as an expert of Shenzhen Overseas IP Protection and Assistance Expert Pool, a special advisor to Wisdom IP - Overseas Intellectual Property Alliance (WIPA), Nanjing, Jiangsu, an expert in Nanjing Overseas IP Think Tank, Zehjiang Dongyang IP Think Tank, Shanghai International Economic and Trade IP Protection Overseas Expert Pool, and one of the first batch experts in Shanghai Overseas IP Disputes Resolution Expert Pool.

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