On 28th May 2026, IAM unveils the 2026 edition of IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals. Now in its 15th year, the IAM Patent 1000 serves as a reliable source for identifying world-class patent expertise across both individual practitioners and private practice firms. The guided is the result of an extensive 5-month research process involving thousands of interviews with private practice lawyers, patent attorneys and in-house counsel across dozens of jurisdictions. IAM’s research team analysed the interview findings alongside written submissions and client feedback to identify the firms and practitioners regarded as leaders in patent-related legal services. Only those receiving strong endorsements from peers and clients with direct knowledge of their practice and market reputation are featured in the IAM Patent 1000.
In the guide’s China (Domestic) chapter, Wanhuida Intellectual Property is ranked in the silver band in the category of “Litigation” and “Prosecution”.
The firm has been applauded for its “historical weight” and “institutional authority” in China’s IP landscape. Lauded as “a pioneer of the country’s modern IP system” and “a trusted partner for multinational corporations and domestic innovators”, the firm receives strong endorsements from IAM as it “has long occupied a leading position at the intersection of patent litigation, administrative enforcement and strategic advisory” and has been helping clients “navigating China’s increasingly sophisticated IP regime” through its “delivery of seamless, end-to-end services”.
Four recommended individuals from the firm are featured on the contentious front. Partner and the firm’s Management Committee member Dr. S. Sam LI is ranked as a Luminary for being a “bellwether of the Chinese IP market with decades of experience and a track record that includes shaping key aspects of patent litigation practice in China”. Partner TANG Tiejun is commended for bringing “exceptional insight to complex patent disputes” and for being a sought-after practitioner in “high-stakes validity and infringement litigation”, navigating technically intricate disputes with “clarity and strategic foresight”. Partner ZHANG Shuhua is known for his “formidable reputation” in “securing landmark victories”, which earns him client praise on the “strategic, results-driven approach to protecting and maximizing the value of critical IP assets”. IAM also accentuates another Partner Feng (Janet) ZHENG’s “strong capabilities”, “technical acuity” and “procedural dexterity”.
On the prosecution side, IAM highlights the expertise of Partners DUAN Xiaoling and XIE Minnan. Xiaoling makes the cut for being “a trusted adviser on complex chemical, pharmaceutical and materials science innovation”, with “a rare blend of former examiner insight, strategic thinking and contentious expertise” making her an “asset in high-value patent matters”. Minnan is recognized as playing “a key role in supporting clients in southern China, particularly in pharmaceuticals and life sciences sectors, contributing to the firm’s broader national coverage and technical depth”.
The IAM Patent 1000 identifies the leading firms in the market. Where appropriate, firms are listed in prosecution, litigation and transactions tables. Firms qualify for a listing on the basis of their depth of expertise, market presence and the level of work on which they are typically engaged. Individuals qualify for a listing in the IAM Patent 1000 when they receive sufficient positive feedback from peers and clients with knowledge of their practice and the market within which they operate.