Covington Adds Leading IP Lawyer Ruixue Ran in Beijing

BEIJING, Jan. 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Covington & Burling is pleased to announce that Ruixue Ran, one of Asia's leading intellectual property lawyers, is joining the firm's Beijing office as a partner. Ms. Ran is expected to further expand Covington's ability to assist its multinational clients with their cross-border intellectual property issues involving China.

With legal training in China and the U.S., Ms. Ran has advised multinational companies on their intellectual property and unfair competition disputes in both countries. She has substantial experience in representing Chinese companies in high-stakes investigations under Section 337 before the U.S. International Trade Commission. Her practice has involved cases spanning a wide range of claims, including patent, trade secrets, trademark, and other types of unfair competition.

"The addition of Ruixue is an important step in the ongoing expansion of our IP litigation capabilities worldwide," said Timothy Hester, chair of the firm's management committee. "This addition in China also complements the IP expertise we have added in Seoul over the past year to support our clients headquartered in Asia."

Ms. Ran, who is admitted in New York, was one of the first Chinese nationals to be authorized to appear before the ITC and subscribe to the agency's protective orders. In addition to advising on ITC cases, she has assisted Chinese companies in U.S. litigation in state and district courts, as well as in commercial IP transactions. As a member of a prominent Chinese law firm, she also advised both Chinese and international clients regarding intellectual property disputes in China's court system, as well as proceedings before China's Patent Reexamination Board, the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO). 

Ms. Ran is ranked by the latest editions of Chambers Asia and Chambers Global in the field of International Trade, which includes experts in Section 337 investigations before the ITC.

"Ruixue and her team bring significant additional depth to our Asian and international intellectual property litigation and international trade practices," said Tim Stratford, managing partner of Covington's Beijing office. "As Chinese-based technology companies continue their ascent on the global stage, and the Chinese market's importance for global companies keeps growing, we feel Ruixue's experience will be invaluable to many of our clients."

According to Sturgis Sobin, a partner in Covington's global IP practice and a leader of its ITC practice, "China has emerged as not only a dominant player in the manufacture of high technology products, but also as a location of rapidly escalating patent activity. In this environment, our clients with global operations increasingly value the ability to develop and implement strategies for cross-border IP disputes."

Ms. Ran said she was drawn to Covington because of its top-tier ITC practice and its strong international capabilities. "I am thrilled to be joining Covington at a time when China-based clients are increasingly looking outward when it comes to their business strategies. The firm has a fantastic reputation when it comes to dealing with high stakes IP disputes, and I'm confident that such disputes are an area of growth due to ongoing globalization. I very much look forward to being part of this comprehensive practice."

Ms. Ran received her bachelor of laws and master of laws from China University of Political Science & Law in Beijing and a master of laws in intellectual property from George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C. She is admitted to practice in New York and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

In an increasingly regulated world, Covington & Burling LLP helps clients navigate their most complex business problems, deals, and disputes. Founded in 1919, the firm has more than 800 lawyers in offices in Beijing, Brussels, London, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Seoul, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, and Washington.

Contact: Sophie Ji
+86 21 6036 2602
sji@cov.com