Welcome to the latest instalment of Managing IP’s ‘Five minutes with’ series, where we learn more about IP practitioners on a personal as well as a professional level. This time we meet Jinwon Chun, partner at FirstLaw PC in South Korea.
Someone asks you at a party what you do for a living. What do you say?
It’s funny, the only parties I ever attend are for IP professionals or close friends so I never get asked this question at parties! If someone were to ever ask me, I would probably tell them I’m a patent attorney and I help individuals and companies protect their IP, like patents and trademarks. Thanks to major cases such as Samsung v Apple, the general public seems to have some familiarity with patent law.
Talk us through a typical working day.
My day starts with checking my phone for any emails or messages that came in overnight. Since I work with many international clients and colleagues, it’s imperative that I catch anything urgent. Ironically, I’m always making sure my kids aren’t looking at their phones as soon as they wake up in the morning!
After that, I help my kids get ready for school and drop off my younger daughter on the way to the office.
Armed with a large iced Americano — a Korean favorite — I go through my to-do list and prioritise tasks for the day. Roughly half my workload involves patent prosecution work, and I also handle FTOs, analyses, and IP disputes.
Thankfully, in-person meetings and business trips have picked up again, and I also serve as director of international affairs at the Korean Patent Attorneys Association, so I find myself traveling to various countries for a significant portion of the year.
Later in the afternoon, once the urgent emails and tasks are out of the way, I usually carve out a couple of hours to review documents without interruption. That quiet time is invaluable.
After work, I try to spend quality time with my kids, go for a walk with my wife, exercise, or catch up with friends. I try to make the most of each day.
What are you working on at the moment?
I’m preparing presentation materials for an upcoming client visit. I believe that a well-prepared agenda and materials can significantly elevate the quality of a meeting.
I’m also making preparations to attend the INTA Annual Meeting in San Diego and looking forward to connecting with IP professionals from around the world there.
Does one big piece of work usually take priority or are you juggling multiple things?
Earlier in my career, I usually focused on one big matter at a time. But now, with more experience and responsibilities, I often find myself managing multiple projects of different types at the same time. Switching between tasks quickly and effectively is still a challenge, but I believe it’s a skill most practitioners have to master if they wish to be successful.
What is the most exciting aspect of your role and what is the most stressful?
While it may not be the most exciting aspect, one of the most rewarding moments is when a client tells me that we not only met their expectations but exceeded them. Many of our clients are international, so when our client recognises our work, we know their opinion comes from a perspective molded by their experiences with top firms in all the jurisdictions they are filing in. It makes all the effort worthwhile.
The most stressful part is the fact that even a single mistake in this field can be critical. In patent practice, one small mistake can result in our client losing in court, which also means a major opportunity opens up for their competition, so pressure is always present.
Tell us the key characteristics that make a successful IP lawyer/practitioner.
Persistence, tenacity, vigilance. Before becoming a patent attorney, I used to think patents were only for great, groundbreaking inventions by geniuses. But I’ve learned that some of the most significant patents were made by innovators who were relentless about refining even the smallest details. As IP professionals, we get to walk alongside the innovators and support their journey.
What is the most common misconception about IP?
That you can cut costs on IP and still expect the same quality.
What or who inspires you?
I am always in awe of the grandeur of nature. Landscapes that are beyond human scale remind me of how small we are and how insignificant our struggles may be in the grand scheme of things.
Also, I’m inspired by people who aren’t afraid to take the road less traveled, as well as those who can persevere through fear.
If you weren’t in IP, what would you be doing?
Well, in case my dream of becoming a professional baseball player didn’t pan out, I may have become a doctor — probably in a field that requires a caring and meticulous approach, like pediatrics or plastic surgery.
Any advice you would give your younger self?
Don’t hesitate. Be decisive and learn from your mistakes. I still quietly recite this to myself whenever I am feeling worried or afraid.
What is your motto in life?
There is a Korean proverb, 'Jin-In-Sa-Dae-Chun-Myeong,' which my father chose as our family motto when I was young.
This proverb emphasises the importance of doing one’s utmost and then accepting the results with composure. It also serves as a reminder not to rely on luck, but to give your best so that you have no regrets, whatever the result may be. I guess an equivalent may be, 'Do your best and let the chips fall where they may'.
