South Korea

Firm overview

The IP landscape is transforming with the rise of AI, and PI IP LAW is at the forefront.

PI IP LAW combines unparalleled expertise in AI patent prosecution with visionary implementation of AI technologies in legal practice.

Founded in 2013, our firm has established an outstanding reputation as Korea's pioneer in AI patent practice, backed by exceptional technical expertise and proven track records in representing cutting-edge technology startups across computer vision, smart factory solutions, AI-based drug development, VR/AR, and robotics. Our attorneys embody the spirit of AI envisionists, not only protecting clients' innovations but also championing the AI transformation of traditional IP legal work.
Many of our clients, including globally recognized AI startups backed by Samsung and NVIDIA, trust us to build and manage high-value IP portfolios that support their IPOs and global expansion. Our work extends beyond prosecution, offering strategic consulting, litigation, and IP commercialization. Through our IP Scale-Up and IP Build-Up programs, PI IP LAW has helped clients develop robust portfolios and achieve record valuations in M&A and IPOs.
Our expertise encompasses comprehensive IP Commerce solutions, including licensing, anti-counterfeiting, and border enforcement. As one of the first Korean firms to implement the trademark co-existence procedure, we have developed custom templates to guide clients through this innovative framework. Our international, multilingual team, with professionals from China, Latin America, and Korea, provides a truly global perspective and operates across a trusted network spanning over 120 countries.

Firm overview

Firm overview

Founded in 1977, Lee & Ko is a premier full-service law firm in Korea. With more than 880 professionals organized into 40 specialized teams, Lee & Ko is consistently ranked in the top tier in all of its leading practice areas by international publications. Lee & Ko’s foreign and domestic clients benefit from its incomparable breadth and depth of resources, experience and professionalism.

With more than 100 seasoned patent and trademark attorneys, Lee & Ko’s IP group delivers superior legal services focused on helping clients to navigate the complex legal landscape by providing practical and effective solutions. The IP group is dedicated to the protection, transfer, counselling and enforcement of IP rights. With unrivalled experience in advising and representing clients in cross-border patent/trademark disputes and IP prosecution, the IP group has a global reach and is consistently ranked in top-tier categories for intellectual property by numerous global law firm evaluators, including the Legal 500, Asialaw Profiles (Euromoney), Chambers & Partners, IAM, WTR, and Managing Intellectual Property.

Patent prosecution and patent office trials
The IP group assists clients in multiple industry sectors, including biotechnology, specialty chemicals, semiconductors, materials science, electronics, mechanical, pharmaceuticals, telecoms and computer software. The IP group’s patent attorneys have significant experience litigating before the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) in invalidity and scope confirmation actions and freedom-to-operate analysis. The breadth and scope of their experience allow the IP group’s patent attorneys to create robust patents by evaluating patent applications during preparation, filing and prosecution with a critical eye towards enforcement. The combined prosecution, transactional and litigation experience enables the IP group’s patent attorneys to ensure that clients develop valuable patent portfolios which offer the broadest protection while ensuring patent validity and enforceability.

Patent litigation, enforcement and dispute resolution
Success in any litigious matter can mean many things. However success is defined, the IP group produces results for its clients. The IP group understands that clients need a trial team with substantial technical and scientific knowledge, but also substantive knowledge of the law and the rules and procedures governing legal proceedings. Many of the IP group’s litigators have strong technology related backgrounds and skills which cover a wide range of technical fields. The IP group also includes litigators who were former judges specializing in IP law and IP cases while serving on the Supreme Court, the Patent Court or the Seoul High Court, as well as former examiners and administrative law judges from the KIPO. When criminal issues arise, the IP group works closely with attorneys in Lee & Ko’s white collar crime group who formerly served as public prosecutors. Complemented by insight received from senior lead litigators, many of whom have 20 to 30 years’ trial experience, and seasoned foreign legal counsels, the IP group is in a unique position to create an effective trial team that can provide comprehensive legal services framed by technical, strategic, judicial, administrative and international perspectives.

Patent development and counselling
The IP group assists clients in developing and deploying a portfolio of strategic IP assets. Beyond the knowledge of IP matters and underlying technology, the IP group is fully aware that a key component to the success of any client includes the strategic use and licensing of its IP portfolio. The IP group has unrivalled experience in negotiating licensing, distribution and joint venture agreements covering all areas of intellectual property. Besides licence negotiation and drafting, the IP group provides counselling for clients on licensing strategies, IP-related competition law issues and strategic product development and distribution.

Trademark prosecution and portfolio management
Lee & Ko offers strategic counselling, trademark prosecution and portfolio management services to clients around the world. Through its network of international law firms, Lee & Ko currently advises numerous multinational and Korean clients across various industries on trademark prosecution matters in more than 50 countries.

IPTAB practice
Lee & Ko has decades of trademark litigation experience before the Korean Intellectual Property Trial and Appeals Board (IPTAB) and has successfully represented multinational clients as part of its worldwide campaigns involving a series of IPTAB actions. Lee & Ko provides positive results but also coordinates legal strategy with other disputes pending around the world.

Comprehensive judicial enforcement of trademark and related rights
Lee & Ko’s trademark team provides comprehensive enforcement solutions by integrating its investigations, enforcement and regulatory teams. Experienced Lee & Ko attorneys in both civil and criminal litigation formulate the best enforcement strategies tailored to each client’s unique circumstances and needs. Lee & Ko’s team works closely with its criminal practice team to instigate criminal proceedings when appropriate and to gather evidence that may be used to later establish civil liability and support any damages claims. This approach is critical because there is no practical means of civil discovery in Korea. Lee & Ko’s attorneys based in Korea, China and Vietnam provide monitoring services on the production and distribution of infringing goods and counterfeits in these countries and other nearby regions. Lee & Ko’s Chinese and Vietnamese lawyers also provide legal expertise in the relevant local laws.

Customs and border management
Lee & Ko’s trademark team is experienced in pursuing customs and border protection measures when appropriate. These may be pursued along with civil and criminal litigation under the Trademark Act and the Unfair Competition Act. Numerous Lee & Ko professionals have extensive experience working with the Korean customs authorities and former high-ranking officials who provide invaluable insight on this issue.
Lee & Ko’s highest priority is to build lasting relationships with clients by being responsive to each client’s specific needs. The firm has a well-earned reputation for successfully handling landmark matters in many of the most important transactions and cases involving business both in Korea and worldwide. Lee & Ko’s fully integrated team of legal experts – with specialties including tax, fair trade law, antitrust and competition matters, criminal enforcement and defense, as well as corporate practice – is well-suited to protect clients’ trademarks, brands and worldwide reputations.

Firm overview

First-tier IP Firm in Korea

FirstLaw P.C. is a law firm engaged primarily in the practice of IP law.  FirstLaw P.C. was founded in 1988, and since then has rapidly grown to become one of the leading IP law firms in Korea.  Throughout the span of three decades since its founding, the Firm has consistently enjoyed the reputation for its quality services as a top-tier IP firm in Korea.

FirstLaw’s practice encompasses all aspects of intellectual property, including patents, utility models, trademarks, designs, domain names, trade secrets, licensing, intellectual property portfolio development and management, and other related areas.

Talented and Dedicated Professionals

FirstLaw’s patent attorneys hold advanced degrees in various technical and scientific disciplines, such as computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, biotechnology and chemistry.  By combining the depth of education and experience with up-to-date knowledge of jurisprudence, rules and procedures of various jurisdictions gained through the Firm’s long-term overseas education programs, FirstLaw’s attorneys provide clients with the most efficient IP prosecution services.

IP Protection Activities

In addition to IP prosecution activities, the Firm specializes in protecting the valuable IP rights of its clients.  FirstLaw’s attorneys formulate comprehensive enforcement programs, which seek to prevent infringement in the marketplace, as well as successfully prosecute and defend infringement actions when they arise.  They also develop domestic and global litigation strategies and coordinate multi-jurisdictional litigation in cooperation with outstanding lawyers in other countries with whom they have established cooperative relationships for many years. 

FirstLaw P.C. has also been actively involved in various IP-related transactions such as mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, cooperative research and development agreements, consulting and employment agreements, non-disclosure agreements and licenses.

Chemical/Pharmaceutical/Biotechnology Practice Group

Among the three (3) patent groups, the chemical/pharmaceutical/biotechnology practice group provides outstanding legal services by virtue of its members’ accumulated technical knowledge, information pooling and extensive practice experience in patent filing, prosecution, trial, litigation, licensing, and counseling in extensive chemistry-related areas encompassing organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, chemical engineering, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, textile, agrochemical, food engineering, new materials, and semiconductor manufacturing processes and materials.

Electronics/IT Practice Group

The electronics/IT practice group concentrates on protecting the cutting-edge technologies of clients based on its diverse experience and in-depth knowledge.  Group members possess expertise and a broad range of experience in the fields of semiconductor devices, display systems, wired/wireless communications, computer hardware and software, electronic control systems, electronic components, nanotechnology, and online businesses, among others.

Mechanical Practice Group

The mechanical practice group meets the needs of clients in a wide variety of technology areas including general mechanics, automotive and aeronautical instruments, mechatronics, control devices, measurement instruments, medical equipment, and nuclear power generators, to name a few.

Trademark/Design Group

In the trademark/design group, attorneys assist clients in the strategic selection, application, registration, management and enforcement of trademark, design and domain name rights in a cost-effective manner.  They also help clients prevent third-party misappropriation of trademarks and names by opposing registration and seeking cancellations of existing registrations at the Korean Intellectual Property Office and before various national and regional patent and trademark offices under the Madrid Protocol.

Litigation Group

Lastly, the litigation group is proud to provide each client with customized, high-quality, and efficient legal services in a cost effective manner.  FirstLaw’s trial lawyers are armed with deep understanding of technology in various fields, in addition to legal experience and expertise.  The litigation group has been engaged in a number of major patent infringement actions and has been highly successful thanks to its dedicated and close working relationship with the clients. 

Last updated 28th August 2019