Service Areas
- Business
- China
- International + Emerging Markets
- Intellectual Property
- Life Sciences + Biotechnology
- Litigation + Trial
- Intellectual Property Litigation
- Litigation + Trial Practice Overview
- Governments + Nonprofits
- Intellectual Property
- Life Sciences + Biotechnology
- Global Reach
- China
- 中国 (China)
Education
- Ohio State University College of Law, J.D.
- University of Akron, Ph.D.
- Jilin University, China, B.Sc.
Bar Admissions
- District of Columbia
- Illinois
- Michigan
- Not licensed in China
Court Admissions
U.S. District Courts
- Western District of Michigan
- Northern District of Illinois
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Languages
- Chinese
Dr. Weisun Rao primarily practices business law and intellectual property (IP) law with a focus on patent matters. He is adept at identifying IP assets, developing IP strategies and managing IP portfolios that position his clients to take advantage of both legal and business opportunities.
As part of his practice, he regularly prepares and prosecutes U.S. and foreign patent applications and provides counseling in the areas of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, nutraceuticals, chemical engineering, materials, and medical devices. He also conducts due diligence and counter-diligence investigations for his clients and provides patentability, validity, infringement, or freedom-to-operate issues opinions. Additionally, Weisun drafts and negotiates technology transfer agreements, IP licensing agreements, and other contracts related to IP transactions. His client base includes large corporations, small or medium enterprises, individuals, and academic institutions.
Based in the firm’s Chicago and Shanghai offices, Weisun also helps his clients obtain and enforce their IP rights in China, advises his clients on doing business in China, and provides advice to Chinese businesses interested in entering or expanding in the U.S. market.
“Intellectual property is the foundation of today’s knowledge-based global economy. I take great pride in helping my clients secure IP rights and commercialize their valuable inventions and in developing IP strategies that are an essential part of their business and growth plans.”
Weisun Rao
Experience
Weisun conducted patentability and freedom-to-operate investigations on a third party’s patented method for the treatment of endometriosis for a start-up company, then guided the client through the process of obtaining an exclusive license to this patented treatment method. With this license, the client has been able to attract substantial investments to bring its patented treatment to the marketplace.
“It is always satisfying to see that the services I provided have helped our clients grow strategically.”
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association
- State Bar of Michigan
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Chicago Bar Association
- District of Columbia Bar Association
- American Intellectual Property Law Association
- U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
- Scientific Advisory Board for China's Fujian Province on Developing the Biotech and Pharmaceutical Industries, member
Honors + Awards
- Ohio State University College of Law, Cyber, Intellectual Property, Technology, and Entertainment Law Association President, 2003-2004
Publications
"Intellectual Property Laws in China," Best Practices for International Business Transactions in China, Inside The Minds, Thomson Reuters/Aspatore, 2010 Edition
"China's Supreme Court Issued Comments on Handling Intellectual Property Lawsuits," Bloomberg Law Reports 2009, Asia Pacific, Vol 2. No. 2 © Bloomberg 2008. Originally published by Bloomberg Finance L.P. Reprinted by permission.
"Latest Amendments to China's Patent Law," Bloomberg Law Reports 2009, Asia Pacific, Vol 2. No. 1 © Bloomberg 2008. Originally published by Bloomberg Finance L.P. Reprinted by permission.
"Evaluation of Linear Polyethyleneimine/Nitric Oxide Adduct on Wound Repair: Therapy Versus Toxicity," (with D.J. Smith et al.), Wound Repair and Regeneration 1998, 6 (6), 169-577
"Spermic Acid Diester Derivatives as Pharmacological Carriers for Long-term Controlled Nitric Oxide Delivery," (with D.J. Smith), Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin 1998, 46 (11), 1846-1847
"Poly(butanediolspermate): A Hydrolytically Vulnerable Polyester-based Nitric Oxide Carrier," (with D.J. Smith), Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers 1999, 14 (1), 54-63
"Surface Properties, Fibrinogen Adsorption, and Cellular Interactions of a Novel Phosphorylcholine-Containing Self-Assembled Monolayer on Gold," (with S.L. Cooper et al.), Langmuir 2001, 17 (14), 4396-4404
PATENT
Hydrolytically Unstable, Biocompatible Polymers (with D.J. Smith), U.S. Patent #5,962,520
Speeches
"Doing Business in China," 2011 China Expo, Warsaw, Poland, September 9, 2011
"Pathway to Legal Framework for Approving Follow-on Biologics in the United States," BioProcess International Conference and Exhibition, Beijing, China, September 8, 2009
Seminars + Events
Articles
- Doing Business in Poland (Chinese)
- Doing Business in North America (Chinese) (Volume 1 - United States)
- Acquiring Businesses in the USA (Chinese)
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