Womble bolsters trademark practice with Chinese IP leader Mai Lin

LOS ANGELES (September 9, 2025) – Womble Bond Dickinson announced today that Mai Lin has joined the firm’s Trademark, Copyright, Privacy, and IP Transactions practice group in Los Angeles. Lin brings nearly 20 years of experience in Chinese intellectual property law, including trademark prosecution, brand protection, anti-counterfeiting, registry disputes, and cross-border transactions. Fluent in English and Mandarin, she advises US companies on navigating the legal, linguistic, and cultural challenges of doing business in China.

“Mai’s addition to our trademark practice will enable us to provide better and faster service to US clients for their trademark work in China,” said Michael McCue, co-leader of the Trademark, Copyright, Privacy, and IP Transactions group. He added that, “[w]e will be able to handle most of this work at our firm, which gives us better control over the quality and cost of the work than sending it to counsel in China.”

Lin has lived and practiced in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, advising clients across a range of industries, including fashion and apparel, electronics, software, toys, food and beverage, oil and gas, retail, gaming, hospitality, and entertainment. She regularly counsels companies on trademark protection and enforcement, recovering misappropriated marks, and develops long-term strategies to safeguard and enhance their brand portfolios in China.

Prior to joining Womble, Lin was the sole US-based partner at one of China’s top IP firms. From her base in Los Angeles, she provided responsive, locally accessible counsel to US companies, eliminating many of the communication and time zone barriers that can arise in cross-border matters. She has also held senior positions at international and regional firms throughout Greater China, where she advised on licensing, technology, and commercial IP matters.

“What makes Mai’s addition so impactful is that she doesn’t just expand our international reach – she brings a capability that’s rare in the US market,” added Laura Kees, co-lead of the Trademark, Copyright, Privacy, and IP Transactions group. “Few attorneys are US-barred, fluent in Mandarin, and able to manage China trademark work directly from within a US firm. It’s a real differentiator for Womble and a meaningful benefit for our clients.”

Lin is active in several professional organizations, including the International Trademark Association (INTA), the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), and the Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association (LAIPLA), where she serves on the Board of Directors and co-chairs the Women in IP Committee. She is a frequent speaker at leading industry events and is recognized for her insights on the evolving IP landscape in China.

Her recognitions include listings in The Legal 500: China for Intellectual Property and the World Trademark Review 1000, in both Transactions and Trademark Prosecution & Strategy.

Lin earned her J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Yale University.

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