Intellectual Property Law Expert – China (USA)

Intellectual Property Law Expert – China

Location: USA
Engagement Type: Freelance / Contract
Work Mode: Remote

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Intellectual Property (IP) Law Expert with specialised knowledge of Chinese Patent Law and CNIPA (China National Intellectual Property Administration) practices. The expert will support legal research, patentability assessments, claim analysis, and evaluation of patent-related matters under the Chinese legal framework.

The ideal candidate should have strong expertise in Chinese patent examination standards, particularly the CNIPA three-step inventive step/obviousness analysis, and experience drafting and analysing patent claims.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct legal and technical research relating to Chinese Intellectual Property and Patent Law.
• Analyse patent applications and assess patentability under Chinese law.
• Apply CNIPA examination standards to evaluate novelty, inventive step, and other patentability requirements.
• Conduct three-step inventive step/obviousness analyses in accordance with CNIPA practice.
• Review prior art and assess its relevance to patentability and inventive step.
• Draft, review, and analyse patent claims for clarity, scope, support, and enforceability.
• Evaluate patent specifications and identify potential issues affecting patent prosecution.
• Analyse Chinese patent examination decisions, guidelines, and relevant jurisprudence.
• Provide well-supported written legal analyses and conclusions based on Chinese IP law.
• Support comparative analysis where Chinese patent standards need to be evaluated alongside international patent practices.

Required Qualifications

• Law degree or equivalent legal qualification with a focus on Intellectual Property Law, Patent Law, or a related field.
• Demonstrated professional experience with Chinese Patent Law and CNIPA procedures.
• Strong understanding of CNIPA patent examination standards.
• Practical experience with inventive step/obviousness analysis under the CNIPA three-step approach.
• Experience in patentability assessment and patent claim drafting/review.
• Strong legal research, analytical, and written communication skills.
• Ability to interpret and apply Chinese IP legislation, examination guidelines, and relevant case law/jurisprudence.
• Excellent English communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working on cross-border IP matters involving China and other jurisdictions.
• Experience with patent prosecution, patent examination responses, or patent portfolio analysis.
• Familiarity with international patent frameworks and comparative patent law.
• Technical or scientific background relevant to patent practice is an advantage.

Core Expertise

Domain: Intellectual Property Law
Jurisdiction: China
Legal System: Civil Law
Specialisation: Patent Law / Patent Examination
Key Focus Areas: CNIPA examination standards, three-step inventive step analysis, patentability assessments, prior-art analysis, and patent claim drafting.