Yufeng (Ethan) Ma Named to ALB’s 2019 China Top 15 IP Lawyer List

Asian Legal Business (ALB)
December.24.2019

Congratulations to Yufeng (Ethan) Ma on being named one of China’s Top 15 IP Lawyers for 2019 by Asian Legal Business (ALB). Winners were selected based on client and peer feedback, client engagements and career achievements.

Over the years, Ethan has won case after case on behalf of his clients, keeping his undefeated record to this day. His track record of handling complex cross-border IP litigation and ITC 337 investigations involving Chinese companies has earned clients’ long-term trust.

In the coverage, ALB published a quote from Ethan’s client, who is satisfied with his professional legal service:

“It's an honor working with Ethan Ma. He led several patent litigation cases for our company. To me, he is a mentor and also a friend. He is technically professional, humble and open-minded. His prudent and hands-on working attitude has impressed us a lot. Ethan always puts clients’ interests first – he is committed to resolving disputes for us in the most cost-effective and timely way. Besides, he is patient with us when answering our technical questions. I, on behalf of my team, would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Ethan for his support and advice in our cases throughout this period.”

—— Nancy Zhang, Chief IP Officer, Coolpad Group

In 2019, among other cases, Ethan led his cross-office team and achieved a complete victory for Shanghai Sansi Electronic Engineering Co., CreateLED Electronics Co., Yaham Optoelectronics Co. and other Chinese respondents against Ultravision Technologies in an ITC Section 337 investigation 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, which led to a final termination by the ITC. It is an important win for Chinese LED manufacturers amidst the Sino-US trade tension. The victory in this case enables our clients to stay in the US market, marking a crucial milestone for their overseas expansions.

“First, I wanted to thank my clients for their unconditional trust and strong support. Second, this is truly a team effort – I think I wouldn’t have succeeded and received this award without the tremendous support from our exceptional global IP team,” said Ethan. “I am also honored to be the second Orrick partner being ranked on ALB’s China Top 15 Lawyers List.”

In addition to Ethan, Orrick’s Asia managing partner and the head of China IP practice Xiang Wang was named as one of China’s Top 15 IP Lawyers for 2018 by ALB. Orrick is the only two international law firms with IP partners ranked on the list two years in a row

Ethan is ranked as “Recognized Practitioner” for China IP by Chambers Asia and for China Patent Litigation by IAM Patent 1000 respectively. He was also named as one of China’s top 50 Foreign Firm Lawyers (2018) and one of China’s top 100 Lawyers (2016-2017) on The A-List of China Business Law Journal.

Related Lawyers

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

Beijing; Chicago

See my bio

D:+86 10 8595 5600
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

vCard

See full bio

Yufeng (Ethan) Ma Partner

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.

Related Areas

Markets

China