Recently, Intellectual Asset Management (IAM), a globally recognized authority in intellectual property media, officially released its 2026 IAM Patent 1000 rankings. Backed by its deep expertise, outstanding performance, and exceptional market reputation in the patent sector, Watson & Band has once again secured its position in the rankings for two core areas: "Patent Litigation" and "Patent Prosecution". Concurrently, six of the firm's professionals have been recognized individually—either maintaining their prestigious rankings or making their debut—for their outstanding contributions and legal acumen.

01 About the IAM Patent 1000

As a highly influential and authoritative publication in the global intellectual property field, IAM's annual IAM Patent 1000 guide is widely regarded as a definitive "gold standard" for the patent legal services sector. The rankings focus on identifying outstanding firms and leading practitioners across major jurisdictions worldwide.

The selection process for the IAM Patent 1000 is notably rigorous and independent. Over a five-month period, IAM's research team conducts extensive interviews and market research with over 1,800 private practice attorneys, patent agents, and in-house IP counsel worldwide. Evaluating key factors such as technical depth, market presence, and client feedback, the research team finalizes its recommendations. All recognized firms and individuals have received strong endorsements from clients and peers alike, making the IAM Patent 1000 an authoritative guide for identifying world-class patent legal talent.

02 Watson & Band Once Again Secures Top Rankings

Watson & Band’s continued ranking in both "Patent Litigation" and "Patent Prosecution" in 2026 is a testament to the firm's exceptional performance and strong client trust over the past year. It further solidifies Watson & Band’s leading position in the intellectual property service sector.

• Patent Litigation: Watson & Band maintains its leading firm ranking, reflecting its deep expertise and strong track record in resolving complex patent disputes. On an individual level, Senior Partner Jianguo Huang, Senior Partner Liming Zhang, and Partner Yue Zhang were once again ranked for patent litigation, highly commended for their professional capabilities and stellar reputations in the market.
  

• Patent Prosecution: Watson & Band continues to stand out in the firm rankings due to its technical strength and high-quality service delivery. Dr. Hua Xiao, General Manager of Watson & Band Intellectual Property Agency Ltd., and Mr. Yingcong Xu, Deputy General Manager, once again secured their places in the individual rankings, recognized for their deep technical expertise and high-quality prosecution work. In addition, Mr. Guohua Tang, Deputy General Manager of Watson & Band Intellectual Property Agency Ltd., made his debut on this year’s individual list for patent prosecution, backed by his solid professional competence and excellent service quality—marking another milestone in the firm's talent development and succession planning.
  

03 A Comprehensive Overview of Watson & Band's Intellectual Property Services

With decades of dedicated practice in the intellectual property field, Watson & Band has established itself as an industry benchmark through exceptional professionalism and comprehensive practical experience.

The firm’s patent practice comprehensively covers cutting-edge technical sectors, including chemistry, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, machinery, electronics, telecommunications, optics, physics, and industrial design. Thanks to its high-quality patent services, Watson & Band has been consistently recognized as a top-tier Chinese IP law firm by authoritative legal directories and has earned prestigious honors such as "Leading Institution in Shanghai's Intellectual Property Service Sector" and "Shanghai Integrity Patent Agency". Leveraging its extensive track record of successful cases across patent prosecution, re-examination and invalidation, infringement litigation, patent landscaping, and strategic IP counseling, Watson & Band delivers comprehensive, premium IP legal solutions to numerous Fortune Global 500 companies and domestic innovation leaders.

04 Gratitude for Trust, Moving Forward with Determination

We extend our most sincere gratitude to our clients and business partners for their long-term trust and support.

Moving forward, Watson & Band will continue to uphold its core values of "Integrity, Strategy, Professionalism, and Dedication". We remain committed to delivering professional, comprehensive, and efficient intellectual property and technology-related legal services, helping our clients achieve steady and sustainable growth in a highly competitive global market, while fostering the deep integration of technological innovation and legal excellence.