On March 23, 2026, the inauguration ceremony of the Intellectual Property Working Committee of the Shanghai Foreign Investment Association (SFIA) was grandly held at the Hongqiao CBD Public Affairs Building.

Watson & Band is proud to announce that our firm has been officially elected to the Committee’s leadership team, recognizing our deep professional expertise and outstanding reputation in the intellectual property sector. Tao Hairong, Chair of the Management Committee and Tier-1 Equity Partner, will serve as the firm's designated representative in this leadership role.

A Convergence of IP Leaders

The inauguration ceremony was attended by representatives from 35 member enterprises and featured addresses from key government and industry leaders, including:

• Cao Jian, Deputy Chief Procurator, Third Branch of the Shanghai Municipal People's Procuratorate.
  

• Yang Xubo, Deputy Director, Shanghai Hongqiao International Central Business District Management Committee.
  

• Fan Zheng, President of the Shanghai Intellectual Property Services Association.
  

• Huang Feng, President of the SFIA.

During the event, the Committee formally adopted its working regulations. Moving forward, the Committee will focus on the core IP protection concerns of foreign-invested enterprises, serving as a vital bridge between the government and the business sector to optimize Shanghai's legal environment for foreign investment.

Namelist of the Leadership Team Member

Tackling IP Challenges in the Digital Era

That afternoon, the Third Branch of the Shanghai Municipal People's Procuratorate and the SFIA co-hosted a specialized seminar on "IP Protection in the Era of Digital Intelligence." The event brought together judicial authorities, administrative departments, international organizations, and corporate counsel to discuss new challenges in IP enforcement.

Tao Hairong was invited to speak as a practical expert in a roundtable discussion titled "IP Infringement in Cyberspace (Livestreaming) and its Governance." Joining a distinguished panel of government officials and leading corporate counsel from prominent multinationals—including Ferrero, the LEGO Group, and Yifu—Mr. Tao engaged in a deep dialogue on the complexities of digital enforcement.

A Strategic Commitment to the IP Ecosystem

As a core member of the Committee's leadership team, Watson & Band will fully leverage its comprehensive IP service capabilities to support the Committee’s initiatives. Our firm is committed to contributing in three key areas:

• Professional Support: We will utilize our extensive practical experience in IP litigation, strategic compliance, and data rights protection to assist the Committee in conducting specialized research and coordinating complex cases.
  

• Bridging Government and Enterprise: We aim to help build a normalized communication mechanism, accurately conveying the IP needs and policy recommendations of foreign enterprises to relevant authorities.
  

• Platform Co-construction: Leveraging Watson & Band's resources in international IP exchange and cross-regional cooperation, we will help expand the Committee's service capacity, attracting more outstanding enterprises to foster a globally competitive IP protection environment in Shanghai.

  
  

Taking this appointment as a new starting point, Watson & Band remains dedicated to advancing intellectual property legal services. We look forward to working alongside all member units to elevate the rule of law for foreign investment and help build Shanghai into a premier global highland for IP protection.