On May 28, 2026, China Business Law Journal announced the winners of its 2026 China Business Law Awards. Watson & Band was recognized as a winning firm in the AI, Technology & Telecoms category. Following months of intensive, independent research evaluating client feedback and industry nominations, this award demonstrates the strong market and client recognition of Watson & Band's professional capabilities in these rapidly evolving sectors.

Deep Practice Focus and Talent Development

The fields of AI, technology, and telecommunications demand exceptional technical depth and forward-looking strategic planning. Watson & Band has built a distinct competitive edge in key areas such as AI Large Language Model (LLM) compliance, data protection, and digital entertainment IP.

Our TMT team has been further bolstered by the recent addition of Senior Advisor Zeng Xiang, whose hybrid background spanning regulation, industry, and law brings fresh momentum to our AI LLM compliance and embodied AI IP architecture practices. This multidisciplinary team of experienced partners and tech-savvy lawyers collaborates closely to deliver robust legal support in intellectual property, data compliance, unfair competition, and commercial dispute resolution.

These capabilities are consistently recognized by leading global directories. In early 2026, Watson & Band was ranked in the Chambers Greater China Guide for the 13th consecutive year, featured in Chambers Global for TMT: Data Protection & Privacy and TMT: Media & Entertainment, and honored in the LEGALBAND China guide. The firm also joined the Shanghai Internet Society, further deepening its involvement in the internet's legal framework.

Empowering the Digital Economy with Professional Strength

Watson & Band's TMT team regularly advises leading game developers, internet platforms, and technology enterprises. Several of the team's landmark cases have been selected as exemplary intellectual property and unfair competition cases by the Supreme People's Court, as well as representative cases for "new quality productive forces" in the Yangtze River Delta.

Within the digital entertainment sector, Senior Partner Sijie Zhang and his team provide end-to-end support for online gaming, literature, video, and MCN business models. Reflecting this expertise, Watson & Band was selected in August 2025 as one of the inaugural legal partners of the Xuhui District Gaming Industry Service Center, dedicated to supporting gaming and tech startups throughout their business lifecycles.

Additionally, as one of Shanghai’s first "Digital Law Firm Innovation Pioneers," the firm continues to pilot practical AI applications to expand its service boundaries and deliver highly efficient, technology-enabled legal solutions.

Looking Ahead

Moving forward, Watson & Band will continue to enhance its full-chain capabilities—bridging government regulation, industry compliance, and rights enforcement. Through this approach, we remain committed to delivering industry-savvy, regulatory-fluent, and highly client-centric legal services to clients across the internet, AI, and advanced manufacturing sectors.