Global Insight. Local Expertise.

Founded in Beijing in 2002 by international lawyer Matthew Murphy and leading business consultant Ellen Wang, the MMLC Group provides legal and business services in relation to Intellectual Property, Technology, Corporate and International Trade. As a leading boutique firm with global reach, the MMLC Group is well positioned to assist organisations with their international legal and business needs, from offices in China, Australia and Europe. The MMLC Group is made up of a China trademark agency, a Hong Kong trademark agency, a China based consulting company and a boutique law firm focused on international legal issues.

Recent Firm News

➪ 16 September 2025: Asian Legal Business has ranked MMLC as a Notable Firm for China M&A/Corporate work [read more] ➪ 25 August 2025: MMLC's Matt Murphy has been appointed to AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre's Panel of Arbitrators [read more] ➪ 10 August 2025: MMLC's China trademark agency reps, Matt Murphy, Yu Du and Fei Dang have been included in World IP Review's 2025 List of Leaders, as well as MIP's latest IP Stars' rankings [read more] ➪ 23 July 2025: MMLC has been ranked by Asian Legal Business for its work regarding China trademarks, patents and copyright [read more] ➪ 17 May 2025: MMLC's Matt Murphy has been ranked by Best Lawyers as a leader in Australian corporate law [read more] and Lexology for International Trade [read more]

Recent Insights

China: Copyright Protection for AI-Generated Content - 6 November 2025

Currently, China has established a regulatory framework for copyright protection of AI-generated content (“AIGC”) through judicial precedents and administrative regulations. While not explicitly addressing artificial intelligence (“AI”), Article 3 of the Copyright ...
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Zespri Awarded US$725,000 in Damages for China Plant Variety Rights Infringement - 30 October 2025

According to a China Daily report dated October 27, in late October 2025, the Wuhan Intermediate People’s Court issued a ruling on the plant variety rights infringement case filed in 2023 by Zespri ...
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China: MOFCOM Implements Export Controls for Rare Earth-Related Items - 22 October 2025

On 9 October 2025, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) issued Announcement No. 61 of 2025, introducing a new export control regime on overseas rare earth-related items. The decision is made is based on China’s Export Control Law ...
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Hong Kong High Court Grants Leave to Appeal as to Whether Service by SMS Constitutes Proper Service - 26 October 2025

The Court recognized that the question of whether service of notice of arbitration by Short Message Service (“SMS”) constitutes proper notice, especially in a consumer arbitration context, raises an issue of general public importance deserving appellate ...
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China Seeks Public Input on Draft Judicial Interpretation of the Company Law - 19 October 2025

On 30 September 2025, the Supreme People‘s Court of the People’s Republic of China released the Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Application of the Company Law of the People‘s Republic of China ...
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China Updates Rules for Internet Court Case Jurisdiction - 14 October 2025

On 11 October 2025, the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China (“SPC”) promulgated the Provisions on the Jurisdiction of Internet Courts ...
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  • "MMLC Group ... advises international clients on brand protection, trade mark infringement, and patents, with experience also in plant variety right applications. A client comments: " ... obviously highly skilled in relation to IP and TMT matters and is very reliable ... gets the job done, and can handle complicated legal and business matters for us." - Chambers
  • "Co-founding partner Matthew Murphy of MMLC Group possesses "highly evident expertise in the field." He is noted for his skill in transactional IP, trade mark licensing, brand protection and design registration." - Chambers
  • "Boutique firm MMLC Group continued to act for its longstanding clients, which include leading players in the fashion, technology and food and beverage industries, and also received instructions from new clients. The team recently advised one of its repeat clients on a significant criminal IP counterfeiting matter in Eastern China. Matthew Murphy heads the practice, which is based in Beijing." - Legal 500
    • "MMLC Group is often instructed by foreign and domestic clients on the IP and TMT aspects of major M&A .. the team has been advising a number of multinational technology clients regarding online and offline IT and telecoms agreements, including implementation. It also assisted a number of Chinese entities with disputes concerning security and outsourcing arrangements, among other issues." - The Legal 500
  • "Matthew Murphy of MMLC Group has been practising IP law in China, and in Asia more broadly, for over two decades. A source credits him with being able to "hold clients' hands going into China," providing a comprehensive service." - Chambers
  • "Matthew Murphy is the leading partner at boutique firm MMLC Group and is “outstanding at ensuring that his clients’ needs are always expertly served”. Trademark work is a significant part of his practice, which takes in domain name arbitration, anti-counterfeiting and oppositions for a roster of multinational companies." - World Trademark Review.
  • "Clients across the technology, automotive, retail and media sectors turn to MMLC Group for advice on IT, licensing, privacy and security issues. Its practice also takes in corporate and commercial transactions and litigation. " - Legal 500.
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