Chinese investments and business dealings in the United States have a way of scaring up controversy among Americans, not least because the deep-pocketed, cheap-labored Chinese are seen as significant competitive threats to American companies. But in one arena, at least, it is becoming clear that Chinese companies face unexpected hurdles of their own when they go to the U.S.: the American legal system.

Anecdotal evidence at my firm and others suggests lawsuits in the U.S. against Chinese companies are increasing. Chinese companies...