The Legal 500 > Asia Pacific > South Korea > Intellectual property: foreign firms

The IP practice group at Ropes & Gray LLP is comprised of David Chun and William Kim. Chun splits his time between the firm's Seoul and Palo Alto offices and represents clients in patent litigation before the US courts while Kim provides bespoke IP advice to company executives and boasts strong connections in the field of IP mediation and arbitration. Much of the firm's recent workload involved instructions from Samsung, who remains a key client. Other notable names on the client roster include Seoul Semiconductor and Naver. The practice regularly litigates on behalf of clients at US trial courts and appellate courts, with some matters reaching the supreme court.

At Covington & Burling LLP, technology and automotive giants such as Samsung and Hyundai form much of the IP department's client base. The group regularly handles outbound IP litigation by supporting the firm's US practitioners on US district court litigation, s.337 investigations and patent office trials and Inter Partes Reviews (IPRs). In the non-contentious space, IP advisory and data security and privacy work are some core focus areas, as is IP due diligence on transactions. Scott Schrader is the name to note for high-stakes dispute work. Also recommended is Chang Sik Kim, who boasts a penchant for technology-related matters. William Park is another key contact.

An especially strong rapport with core client Samsung is a defining feature of the IP practice at Paul Hastings LLP. Key partner Jong Han Kim boasts a relationship with the Korean tech giant that stretches back over 20 years. Other major clients include SK Hynix and LG Display. The firm focuses on US-based patent infringement and trade secret litigation work, with Kim often liaising with practitioners in the firm's DC and Chicago offices to lead matters. Senior associate Han Kyu Lee is another name to note; Lee focuses on internal investigation and complex litigation matters and has prior experience at the DC office of another multinational law firm.

Seong Kim, who divides his time between the Seoul and Century City offices, heads up the IP offering at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP. The Seoul team works closely with the firm's offices in California to seamlessly support Korean conglomerates (including Samsung and Hyundai) with US-based IP litigation. Other key areas of expertise include patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, false advertising and unfair competition. Nam Kim is the name to note for patent litigation, patent preparation and prosecution.