Ken Kumayama leads Skadden's Intellectual Property and Technology practice in Palo Alto, where he manages a diverse and sophisticated portfolio. His expertise spans IP, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and data privacy in some of the largest and most complex technology transactions. His practice is informed by his pre-law studies and academic research in theoretical chemistry, geophysics and bioinformatics, as well as a deep knowledge of mathematics, computer programming and the sciences.
Ken is sought after by clients for his extensive knowledge and experience with technology and commercial transactions, including the ownership, protection, and exploitation of intellectual property, such as IP monetization strategies, development and license agreements, co-development agreements, technology joint ventures, patent and other technology license agreements, as well as brand and content license agreements, data license and access agreements, and the sale and acquisition of patent and other IP assets.
Ken devotes a significant amount of time to pro bono work and to mentoring new attorneys. He is involved in local API bar associations, including acting as co-chair of the AI, Data Privacy & Cybersecurity Committee and of the Intellectual Property Committee for the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Silicon Valley. He has written and presented on IP regulatory considerations, generative AI, cybersecurity and data privacy issues.
Ken Kumayama has been recognized by the Daily Journal several times as a leading technology lawyer in California, including as a 2023-2025 Top Intellectual Property Lawyer, 2022 Top Cybersecurity Lawyer and previously as one of the state’s Top Artificial Intelligence Lawyers. He was honored as a 2023 Technology MVP by Law360 and has been selected as one of Lawdragon’s 100 Leading AI & Legal Tech Advisors, in addition to being named to Chambers USA and The Best Lawyers in America.
- Ken was lead IP counsel to Netflix, Inc. in its proposed, but
terminated, high-profile $82.7 billion acquisition of Warner
Bros., including its film and television studios, HBO Max and
HBO, and the related planned spinout of Discovery Global. This
was the largest media transaction announced in 2025. Ken
oversaw a team of Skadden attorneys focused on all aspects
of IP (including content, trademarks and patents), technology
and data privacy related to the transaction. - Ken handled the critical IP and data-related matters in
connection with Skadden’s representation of mobile game
developer and publisher Scopely, Inc. in its $3.5 billion
acquisition of Niantic’s video game business, which includes
Pokémon GO, one of the most successful mobile games of all
time, as well as Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now. The
transaction closed in May 2025, where Ken advised on the IP,
technology, data privacy and cybersecurity aspects of the deal
—which included a spinout of Niantic’s location-based
augmented reality business—and worked closely with
Skadden’s National Security team to guide the transaction
through CFIUS approval. Ken is currently representing Scopely
on its acquisition of control of Loom Games, a Turkey-based
video game company that developed Pixel Flow!, a popular
mobile game, and previously represented Scopely on other
material transactions, including its $4.9 billion sale to Savvy
Games Group, which is wholly owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public
Investment Fund and its $1 billion acquisition of GSN Games
from Sony Pictures Entertainment. - Ken advised Trimble Inc. in the sale of its global transportation
telematics business units to Platform Science, Inc., in
exchange for a 32.5% ownership of Platform Science – leading
the Skadden team that advised the client and negotiated
several key IP and commercial agreements in the transaction,
including an Intellectual Property License Agreement,
Trademark License Agreement, and a complex Master Reseller
Agreement that will govern the two parties’ commercial
relationship after the transaction closes. Ken’s deep expertise
in IP, technology, data privacy and IT aspects of transactions
was critical to the deal. Ken also previously advised Trimble in
the sale and contribution of its agriculture business to a joint
venture with AGCO Corporation, and AGCO’s $2 billion
acquisition of an 85% stake in the joint venture. Trimble
contributed its precision agriculture business excluding certain
Global Navigation Satellite System and guidance technologies,
and AGCO contributed its JCA Technologies business—a
leader in the development of autonomous software for
agricultural machines, implement controls and electronic
system components. Ken provided legal counsel on several
critical aspects of the AGCO-Trimble JV. He advised the client
regarding various IP, technology, trademark and data privacy
aspects of the transaction, including a Technology Transfer
and License Agreement to govern the licensing of Trimble
technology for use by the JV and a Trademark License
Agreement to govern the JV’s ongoing use of the Trimble
name. Ken also advised on the Transition Services Agreement,
pursuant to which Trimble provides transition services to the
joint venture. - Ken advised Intel Corporation in its collaboration with United
Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) to develop a 12nm
semiconductor manufacturing process. The collaboration
between Intel and UMC involved significant intellectual
property considerations and a deep understanding of the
semiconductor fabrication business. The transaction allowed
Intel to secure a sophisticated partner to source customers for
its foundry services business, while UMC was able to
accelerate the development of its 12nm process. Ken advised
Intel regarding intellectual property considerations concerning
the joint development and commercialization phases of the
project, as well as various commercial considerations. Ken
was also lead IP counsel to Intel Corporation in the $11 billion
joint venture with Apollo Global Management, Inc. involving
Intel's Fab 34 semiconductor manufacturing facility in Ireland,
where he handled the IP-related aspects of this transaction. - Ken advised Tata Electronics Private Limited in its agreement
with Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. to enable
the construction of India's first semiconductor fab, including
transferring mature process technologies and overseeing local
training. Ken led the negotiations and drafting of the
agreements and advised the Tata team regarding various
technical, operational and IP-related aspects of the
transaction.
- J.D. (summa cum laude; Order of the Coif; Arizona Law Review), University of Arizona College of Law
- B.A., Integrated Sciences and Mathematics, Northwestern University
- National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
- California
- Foreign Legal Consultant of Canada
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
