I’m Ava Na Li, the founder of Ava Li Law PLLC. I’m licensed to practice law in both China and New York. I’m also someone who loves stories.
Before I came to the U.S., I practiced law in Beijing. I was part of the legal service team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, supporting the organizing committee and several well-known brands with trademark and related IP matters. I also worked to protect the “Water Cube” trademark, and we prevailed. That experience left me with a lasting belief: in IP, the law is not only a shield. It becomes part of the brand.
In 2012, I came to the U.S. to study law. I chose Chicago-Kent for its focus on intellectual property and the way it trains lawyers to think precisely about ideas, ownership, and use. I earned my LL.M. in International Intellectual Property Law there, graduating with honors. I then pursued my J.D. at South Texas College of Law Houston. I wanted the kind of training that makes a lawyer clear under pressure and strong in real conversations. South Texas is known for advocacy, and that environment suited me.
I worked with tech companies in Sugar Land and Houston, local law firms, and municipal court. I learned what clients actually need when the situation is complex and time matters. Those years shaped how I work today: practical solutions, honest communication, and care.
My practice focuses on trademark and copyright law. I help artists and authors protect their work, and I guide entrepreneurs as they build and protect their brands. I also handle select business and family immigration matters, including EB-1, NIW, O-1, L-1, H-1B, and marriage-based green cards.
In 2019, I was invited again to join the legal team serving the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics. I worked on intellectual property and entertainment-related matters. Returning to that work reminded me how much trust it takes behind the scenes.
When the COVID-19 pandemic began, my hometown in Hubei was among the first to be hit. I worried for my family and friends. During that time, I returned to something I had always loved: writing. Writing helped me stay steady. I wrote stories about hope, grief, and rebuilding. I took online workshops with the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa, and my story The Gift of the Nine-Headed Bird was published in UIowa Horizon. I also wrote Dust and Spring and Rain’s Fate and Cloud’s Oracle—stories that, like my legal work, are grounded in care and compassion. The pandemic also reshaped my practice. Estate planning became part of the work I do for families.
One day, a reader, an engineer, said to me:
“A good lawyer is a good storyteller. A good lawyer can make stories come true.”
I smiled and asked, “Would you like to be part of that story?”
He said, “Deal.”
That’s how Ava Li Law PLLC began: a team that values professionalism, compassion, creativity, and balance. We focus on trademark, copyright, immigration, and estate planning, helping creators, innovators, and families protect what matters most.
Our story began in 2021.
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