Duan & Duan UK LLP hosts the Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration delegation in London

Duan & Duan UK LLP was honoured to host a senior delegation from the Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration, led by Deputy Director General Mr Yang Hui, on their official visit to London on 23 July 2026.

We were especially privileged to be the only law firm on the delegation's itinerary — a mark of trust we do not take lightly, and one that reflects the deep and longstanding relationship between our practices. We were delighted, too, to be joined by colleagues from our headquarters, Duan & Duan Shanghai, who travelled over for the occasion.

A shared priority: protecting Chinese enterprise abroad

Over the course of the visit we exchanged ideas on a subject of growing importance to both jurisdictions — the effective protection of Chinese companies' intellectual property and commercial interests overseas. As Chinese enterprises continue to expand internationally, the need for robust, cross-border IP strategy has never been greater.

Much of the discussion turned on the question our clients face most often: how English law and the English courts can be used to protect and enforce rights in this jurisdiction. England offers a rights-holder a well-developed toolkit — the specialist Intellectual Property Enterprise Court and the wider Business and Property Courts of the High Court, interim injunctions and freezing relief to preserve the position while a dispute is resolved, and effective routes to enforce a judgment once obtained. It is work that sits squarely between the two legal systems, and it is precisely where a firm rooted in both — and able to run a matter in Chinese and in English — is at its most useful. It is the heart of our dispute resolution practice.

Temple and the Royal Courts of Justice

We were also glad to show our guests around Temple — the historic heart of London's legal district — and to visit the Royal Courts of Justice, where so much of England's commercial and intellectual property jurisprudence has been shaped.

Looking ahead

Our sincere thanks to Deputy Director General Yang and the delegation for a thoughtful and productive exchange. We look forward to deepening our collaboration in the years ahead.

Duan & Duan UK LLP — bridging Chinese enterprise and English law.