South Korean firm Yulchon boosted its intellectual property practice this month by hiring two industry veterans – Chunghwan Choi from Lee & Ko and Dave Koo from Kim & Chang.
The pair will focus on bringing more international clients to the firm and advising South Korean companies in foreign litigation.
“I think there is room to grow the international client base, perhaps even more so than the domestic client base,” Koo told Managing IP.
Choi will help build the firm's entertainment practice group while Koo’s main focus will be IP and antitrust.
Koo, who joined the firm on May 20, has extensive litigation experience in both the US and South Korea.
On leaving Kim & Chang after 17 years, he said: “I felt like I needed a new start. I spoke with several firms, and Yulchon was the most receptive to what I wanted to accomplish.”
Koo played a key role in business development at Kim & Chang but said he plans to take an even more aggressive approach to bringing in new foreign clients at Yulchon.
He said he is keen to advise technology companies in the internet and biological spaces.
“I studied biochemistry in college, and I still have my heart set on that field,” he said, adding that it's an exciting time for biotechnology companies.
In addition to helping clients protect and monetise their IP, he hopes to help establish companies.
“A lot of startups start with a small number of patents and ultimately go public by way of initial public offerings. I could help them out in all different stages of their development."
Another area Koo has found himself focusing on is helping Korean companies navigate legal issues in other countries.
He noted that LG and Samsung are among the most targeted defendants in patent litigation abroad, adding: “There are also a lot of smaller but very good Korean companies doing business in the US, for example, who face similar patent threats.
“I believe me and colleagues, like Chunghwan, who also has hands-on experience of dealing with discovery and other issues in US litigation, could help these companies defend themselves in the US."
He added that his and his colleagues’ combined experience could bring considerable value and benefit to the Korean defendants in foreign lawsuits.
“I think we have the right platform, colleagues, and support, so we'll give it a shot.”
Foreign focus
Yulchon will also look to benefit from Choi’s experience representing leading media and entertainment companies.
Companies he has worked for include Netflix, Walt Disney, Warner Bros, NBC Universal, and Sony Music.
Yulchon has had lawyers who act for companies in the entertainment industry in the past but the firm has never had a formal entertainment practice group.
“That’s why I agreed to move to Yulchon – I think it’s very meaningful to build a practice group,” Choi said.
He added that while most Korean law firms have an entertainment practice group nowadays, the majority focus on the domestic market.
“Because I started my career with international clients and helped set up many movie companies here in South Korea, I know these foreign companies and what they need.
“So, while our practice group will also cover domestic clients, I hope to have more emphasis on international clients.”
Choi said half of the work he does for entertainment companies is IP-focussed, ranging from IP transfers to management transactions.
Also, because of the growing popularity of K-pop, many foreign companies are trying to purchase assets from Korean composers, making it a good time to be an entertainment lawyer in the country.
Choi also wants to help foreign clients and Korean companies harmonise their industry practices and enter collaborative arrangements.
“As the entertainment industry is quick to adopt new technology, you’re always encountering new problems, such as data protection, e-commerce issues, and how to protect IP related to new entertainment formats such as e-sports,” he said.
“It’s very interesting to take on these new challenges. I’m excited to work as a freshman again and for this opportunity to reset my life.”
