Elliot Papageorgiou Head of IP Strategy in China


Speaks:  English, German, Hungarian, Serbian, Croatian, Mandarin (Basic)

Year of Call: 2019 - Hong Kong (Registered Foreign Lawyer)

Year of Call: 2002 - New York

Year of Call: 1997 - England & Wales

Year of call: 1996 - Victoria (Australia)


Primary office:  Shanghai

Secondary office:  Beijing




Elliot Papageorgiou

Elliot Papageorgiou is Gowling WLG's Head of IP Strategy in China. With over 25 years of experience, Elliot has practised intellectual property (IP) law across several continents, including Oceania, Europe and Asia.

Based in Gowling WLG's Shanghai office, Elliot counsels international clients on contentious and non-contentious IP matters, with a special focus on IP value-growth and value-extraction, strategic portfolio development, and cross-border IP enforcement and infringement litigation in China and across the APAC region. Elliot supports a number of embassies in China with current IP developments and issues and is regularly consulted by the European Delegation and European Intellectual Property Office in China. He is the former National Chair of the European Chamber in China (EUCCC)'s Intellectual Property Rights Working Group (IPR WG) and has held various positions within the IPR WG since 2006.

Elliot has represented a number of Fortune 500 companies and other multinationals in patent litigation. Other recent client briefs include developing IP strategies for a number of Europe's leading venture capitalist funds; strategically advising a global leader in cutting-edge semiconductor fabrication, a global leader in quantum computing technology, global engineering and manufacturing conglomerates, as well as some of Europe's best-known engineering firms.

As part of his disputes and litigation practice, Elliot has guided a range of complex patent litigation, as well as trademark and copyright litigation cases, by way of petition for re-hearing (certiorari) before China's Supreme People's Court (SPC) on a number of occasions. One notable such case was ranked number one in the SPC's "Top 50 IP Cases of the Year."

Throughout his legal career, Elliot has consistently been recognized as a leading practitioner in his field by IAM Patent 1000, IAM Strategy 300, World Trademark Review 1000, Managing Intellectual Property, Chambers and Partners, Legal 500, Who's Who Legal, and WIPR, just to name a few.

In addition to his practice, Elliot regularly teaches IP courses at various universities and has given seminars for various industry and professional organisations in China and internationally.

Career & Recognition

Filter timeline:
  • 2024

  • 2023

  • 2022

  • 2021

  • 2020

    • Rankings & Awards
      June 2020
      IAM Patent 1000: The World's Leading Patent Practitioners
    • Rankings & Awards
       2020
      IAM Strategy 300: The World's Leading IP Strategists
    • Rankings & Awards
       2020
      Chambers Asia-Pacific 2020
    • Rankings & Awards
       2020
      Chambers Global 2020
    • Rankings & Awards
       2020
      World Trademark Review 1000 2020
    • Rankings & Awards
       2020
      The Best Lawyers 2020 - Intellectual Property Law
    • Rankings & Awards
       2020
      Who's Who Legal: Patents 2020
    • Rankings & Awards
       2020
      Who's Who Legal: Trademarks 2020
  • 2019

    • Rankings & Awards
      June 2019
      IAM Patent 1000: The World's Leading Patent Practitioners
    • Qualifications (Year of Call/Admission, etc.)
       2019
      Year of Call, Hong Kong (Registered Foreign Lawyer)
    • Rankings & Awards
       2019
      IAM Strategy 300: The World's Leading IP Strategists
    • Rankings & Awards
       2019
      Chambers Global 2019
    • Rankings & Awards
       2019
      Chambers Asia-Pacific 2019
    • Rankings & Awards
       2019
      Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific 2019: Dispute Resolution Star
    • Rankings & Awards
       2019
      Who's Who Legal: Patents 2019
    • Rankings & Awards
       2019
      World Trademark Review 1000 2019
    • Rankings & Awards
       2019
      Who's Who Legal: Trademarks 2019
  • 2018

    • Rankings & Awards
      June 2018
      IAM Patent 1000: The World's Leading Patent Practitioners
    • Rankings & Awards
       2018
      IAM Strategy 300: The World's Leading IP Strategists
    • Rankings & Awards
       2018
      Chambers Asia-Pacific 2018
    • Rankings & Awards
       2018
      Chambers Global 2018
    • Rankings & Awards
       2018
      World Trademark Review 1000 2018
    • Rankings & Awards
       2018
      Who's Who Legal: Trademarks 2018
    • Rankings & Awards
       2018
      Who's Who Legal: Patents 2018
  • 2017

    • Rankings & Awards
      June 2017
      IAM Patent 1000: The World's Leading Patent Practitioners
    • Rankings & Awards
       2017
      IAM Strategy 300: The World's Leading IP Strategists
    • Rankings & Awards
       2017
      Chambers Global 2017
    • Rankings & Awards
       2017
      Chambers Asia-Pacific 2017
    • Rankings & Awards
       2017
      Who's Who Legal: Patents 2017
    • Rankings & Awards
       2017
      Who's Who Legal: Trademarks 2017
    • Rankings & Awards
       2017
      Managing Intellectual Property IP Stars 2017
    • Rankings & Awards
       2017
      World Trademark Review 1000 2017
    • Rankings & Awards
       2017
      WIPR Leader in Patents 2017
  • 2016

    • Rankings & Awards
      June 2016
      IAM Patent 1000: The World's Leading Patent Practitioners
    • Rankings & Awards
       2016
      IAM Strategy 300: The World's Leading IP Strategists
    • Rankings & Awards
       2016
      Chambers Asia-Pacific 2016
    • Rankings & Awards
       2016
      Chambers Global 2016
    • Rankings & Awards
       2016
      Euromoney Expert Guides 2016 - Trademarks
    • Rankings & Awards
       2016
      World Trademark Review 1000 2016
    • Rankings & Awards
       2016
      Managing Intellectual Property IP Stars 2016
    • Rankings & Awards
       2016
      ILO Client Choice Award Winner 2016 - Intellectual Property (China Trademarks)
    • Rankings & Awards
       2016
      WIPR Leader in Patents 2016
    • Rankings & Awards
       2016
      Who's Who Legal: Trademarks 2016
    • Rankings & Awards
       2016
      Who's Who Legal: Patents 2016
  • 2015

    • Rankings & Awards
      June 2015
      Managing Intellectual Property IP Stars 2015
    • Rankings & Awards
      June 2015
      IAM Patent 1000: The World's Leading Patent Practitioners
    • Rankings & Awards
       2015
      Chambers Global 2015
    • Rankings & Awards
       2015
      Chambers Asia-Pacific 2015
    • Rankings & Awards
       2015
      Asia IP Experts 2015 - Leading Lawyer
    • Rankings & Awards
       2015
      ILO Client Choice Award Winner 2015 - Intellectual Property (China Trademarks)
    • Rankings & Awards
       2015
      Who's Who Legal: Patents 2015
    • Rankings & Awards
       2015
      Who's Who Legal: Trademarks 2015
    • Rankings & Awards
       2015
      World Trademark Review 1000 2015
  • 2014

    • Rankings & Awards
      June 2014
      Managing Intellectual Property IP Stars 2014
    • Rankings & Awards
      June 2014
      IAM Patent 1000: The World's Leading Patent Practitioners
    • Rankings & Awards
       2014
      IAM Strategy 300: The World's Leading IP Strategists
    • Rankings & Awards
       2014
      Chambers Asia-Pacific 2014
    • Rankings & Awards
       2014
      Who's Who Legal: Patents 2014
    • Rankings & Awards
       2014
      World Trademark Review 1000 2014
  • 2013

    • Rankings & Awards
      June 2013
      IAM Patent 1000: The World's Leading Patent Practitioners
    • Rankings & Awards
       2013
      IAM Strategy 300: The World's Leading IP Strategists
    • Rankings & Awards
       2013
      Chambers Asia-Pacific 2013
    • Rankings & Awards
       2013
      Asialaw - Leading Lawyer (China IP) 2013
    • Rankings & Awards
       2013
      Chambers Global 2013
    • Rankings & Awards
       2013
      World Trademark Review 1000 2013
    • Rankings & Awards
       2013
      World's Leading Patent Law Practitioners 2013
    • Rankings & Awards
       2013
      Who's Who Legal: Trademarks 2013
    • Rankings & Awards
       2013
      International Who's Who of Trademark Lawyers 2013
  • 2012

    • Rankings & Awards
      June 2012
      IAM Patent 1000: The World's Leading Patent Practitioners
    • Rankings & Awards
       2012
      IAM Strategy 300: The World's Leading IP Strategists
    • Rankings & Awards
       2012
      IAM Patent Litigation 250: Leading Patent Litigator, China
    • Rankings & Awards
       2012
      Asialaw - Leading Lawyer (China IP) 2012
    • Rankings & Awards
       2012
      Chambers Asia-Pacific 2012
    • Rankings & Awards
       2012
      Who's Who Legal: Trademarks 2012
    • Rankings & Awards
       2012
      World Trademark Review 1000 2012
  • 2011

    • Rankings & Awards
       2011
      World Trademark Review 1000 2011
    • Rankings & Awards
       2011
      Asialaw - Leading Lawyer (China IP) 2011
    • Rankings & Awards
       2011
      IAM Patent Litigation 250: Leading Patent Litigator, China
  • 2009

    • Rankings & Awards
       2009
      Asialaw - Leading Lawyer (China IP) 2009
  • 2008

    • Rankings & Awards
       2008
      Asialaw - Leading Lawyer (China IP) 2008
    • Community
       2008
      Chairman & Lecturer, St. Gallen-Fudan University – Executive M.B.L., Shanghai City, China
  • 2002

    • Qualifications (Year of Call/Admission, etc.)
       2002
      Year of Call, New York
  • 1998

    • Education
       1998
      University of Oxford, BCL (Hons.)
  • 1997

    • Qualifications (Year of Call/Admission, etc.)
       1997
      Year of Call, England & Wales
  • 1996

    • Qualifications (Year of Call/Admission, etc.)
       1996
      Year of call, Victoria (Australia)
  • 1994

    • Education
       1994
      Monash University, LLB (Hons.)
  • 1992

    • Education
       1992
      Murdoch University, B.Ec., Macro & Microeconomics
  • 1990

    • Education
       1990
      Murdoch University, B.Com., Accounting & Computer Science

Memberships

  • National Chair, Intellectual Property (IPR) Working Group, European Union Chamber of Commerce in China
  • LES Scandinavia
  • INTA
  • MARQUES

Representative Work

Elliot has managed a range of complex patent litigations, trademark and copyright litigations and successfully petitioned and litigated before the Supreme People's Court (SPC) on numerous occasions. His recent briefs include:

  • Structuring China IP licensing and technology transfer for global leader in specialist chemicals
  • Winning 'patent claw-back' litigation for one of Europe's largest engineering groups, recovering a number of patent-families from potential competitors and protecting the client's trade secrets in the process
  • Winning patent defence litigation before the Supreme People's Court for Europe's largest engineering conglomerate
  • Advising one of Europe' largest venture capital funds on strategic China IP acquisitions and disposals for its invested companies
  • Winning numerous patent infringement lawsuits for industrial engineering groups
  • Winning patent, utility model and design, as well as trademark infringement lawsuits for global filtration companies
  • Developing a Chinese freedom-to-operate and technology strategy for one of Europe's largest automotive parts suppliers, including IP mapping, competitor-threat analyses and implementing strategic measures to generate competitive advantage for the client
  • Advising probably Europe's leading quantum computing company on their global IP strategy including selection of their European counsel, filing and FTO strategies, as well as IP and ALL business-strategies for China
  • Advising Europe's leading specialist OLED pigment producers on their Chinese partnering and bolstering their China IP portfolio for potential sale of the technology and/or the business
  • Structuring IP licensing and exploitation models for high-tech chemical companies
  • Defending China patent portfolios for leading health care companies