Founded in 1977, Lee & Ko is a premier full-service law firm that consistently ranks among the most highly respected law firms in Korea. With more than 600 lawyers organised into 40 practice groups, Lee & Ko offers its clients unequalled depth of experience and resources across the entire spectrum of legal issues.
Lee & Ko takes protecting the valuable trademarks and brands of its clients seriously by bringing together expertise in trademark prosecution, portfolio management and counselling, infringement monitoring and policing, civil and criminal litigation (including administrative and appellate practice), customs and border protection, as well as unfair competition law. Lee & Ko’s track record shows that this approach has achieved consistent success for clients which include multinational corporations from various industries such as electronics, home furnishing, fashion, cosmetics, machinery, food and beverages, healthcare, e-commerce and finance.
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.
Several Lee & Ko members are former judges from the IP Division of the Korean Supreme Court, the Korean Patent Court, the IP Division of the Seoul High Court and the former Korean IP Office Examiners with 30 years of IP litigation experience. Based on in-depth experience and organised strategy, Lee & Ko has successfully represented multinational clients in litigations of critical importance to brand protection.
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 defence, as well as corporate practice – is well-suited to protect clients’ trademarks, brands and worldwide reputations.