James Lau

Partner
Trademark & Copyright

Primary office

Hong Kong

Practice focus

Trademark Prosecution

Portfolio Management

Enforcement

Copyright

Designs

Licensing

Advertising

Experience

James partners with a diverse range of clients – from local startups to multinational corporations – to strategically manage their intellectual property assets across Hong Kong, Mainland China, and globally. He acts as a central point of contact, seamlessly coordinating prosecution, enforcement, and portfolio management across multiple jurisdictions, giving clients a single, reliable partner for their most complex IP challenges.

With deep experience in both Hong Kong and Mainland China, James helps brand owners navigate trademark prosecution, anti-counterfeiting operations, and complex litigation in one of the world’s most dynamic markets. He also manages global trademark portfolios across a wide range of industries – including design, jewelry, consumer goods, technology, luxury, and pharmaceuticals – working closely with in-house legal teams and business units to craft tailored protection strategies before market entry and ensure smooth collaboration with foreign counsel.

Beyond trademarks and copyright, James provides practical guidance on personal data privacy, licensing, advertising, and designs, offering clients comprehensive support for their brand and creative assets.

A recognized thought leader, James stays at the forefront of emerging issues such as IP in AI-generated content. He actively contributes to the profession through his memberships in the Technology Transformation Committee of the International Trademark Association (INTA), the Asian Committee of the Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO), the Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA), and the Licensing Executives Society China – Hong Kong Sub-Chapter (LES). He has previously served on INTA’s China Subcommittee and the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce’s China Subcommittee.

James holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Hong Kong. He is admitted to practice in Hong Kong and passed the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Legal Professional Exam in 2022. He is fluent in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese.

Education

  • LLB, University of Hong Kong
  • PgCert Laws, University of Hong Kong

Admissions

  • Hong Kong
  • Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

Languages

  • English
  • Mandarin
  • Cantonese

Recent Insights

On 17 December 2025, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government launched a comprehensive three-month public consultation on a sweeping review of its...
This Law is enacted for the purposes of protecting the exclusive right to use a trademark, strengthening trademark administration, and urging producers and operators...
The State Administration of Market Regulation (SAMR) recently issued draft rules intended to support investigations and administrative enforcement actions by local Market Supervision Bureaux...