The Patent 1000 focuses exclusively on patent practice and has firmly established itself as the definitive 'go-to' resource for those seeking world-class legal patent expertise.
Recommended - Firms: transactions
Bronze - Firms: litigation
Gold - Firms: prosecution
For over 70 years, NAM & NAM has paved the way for its patrons’ IP success. Always reliable and responsive, the set prides itself on its proactive approach and tailored, holistic IP care. The sizeable team of seasoned experts is adept at fulfilling the specific needs of overseas players. The outfit uses a variety of tools to streamline the workflow – from conducting pre-application reviews and creating office action checklists, to using in-house developed technology to systematically review patent application translations and IP management. Dedicated to delivering only the highest quality of work, it boasts a full-time quality management team, led by managing partner Ben Yuu. As well as using customer feedback, Yuu also leverages his in-house IP experience from Qualcomm and Samsung to excel on the prosecution front. Young-min Kim leads the mechanical and materials group, where he handles patent analysis and prosecution. He covers a diverse range of patent products, from vehicle parts to electronic cigarettes, and is in significant demand among global market leaders for his technical experience. Captain of the chemical, biotechnology and pharmaceutical squad Seo-young Lee is highly sought after for her multidimensional advice and expertise in patent prosecution and invalidation. Her IP expertise has been appreciated by government institutions – she is currently a patent adviser for the Korean Rural Development Administration. Meanwhile, personable and practical IP strategy leader Sung-wook Kim uses his extensive international experience and vast technical knowledge in the fields of semiconductors, electronics and software to excel in IP protection, enforcement, litigation and technology transfers.
As a pioneer in the field and the country’s oldest IP law firm, NAM & NAM is synonymous with intellectual property in South Korea. The hallmarks of our success have been a relentless pursuit of excellence and a refusal to compromise on quality since the day the firm was established in 1952.
NAM & NAM has been trusted by both domestic and multinational clients for 70 years. This trust stems from the quality of our services, provided by outstanding professionals who deliver effective solutions drawing on their considerable experience and know-how. Our professionals have backgrounds in key technologies and are trained with the specific needs of global clients in mind. With a focus solely on IP-related matters in South Korea, we are constantly expanding our practice and can be relied upon for effective and clear advice, no matter the issue.
Certifications and processes
To ensure a consistently high quality of work output and information protection, the firm has established and operates systemised work procedures to adhere to strict quality management standards. The firm is ISO 9001 and 27001-certified.
Key information
- Foundation: 1952
- Number of partners: 10
- Number of professionals: over 100
- Serviceable language: Korean, English, German, Chinese, Japanese
Specialties
NAM & NAM has one of the largest and most complete IP practices in South Korea, covering all forms of intellectual property and all major areas of technology, with a particular focus on the fields of electronics, artificial intelligence, biology, mechanics, branding protection, trademarks and designs.
Practice areas
NAM & NAM has expertise in all aspects of the protection of intellectual property, as detailed below.
Preparation and prosecution at the Korean Intellectual Property Office
- Availability searches, clearance searches, prior art searches and assessment
- Searches for prior-registered designs and for trademark availability and analyses
- Drafting, preparing drawings, filing, reviewing and amending claims and descriptions
- Reviewing and responding to office actions
- Requesting re-examination following final rejections
Appeals/trials before the Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board
- Appeals against decisions of refusal
- Appeals against final rejections
- Appeals against decisions of dismissed amendments
- Administrative cancellation trials
- Correction and invalidation trials
- Confirmation of scope of right trials
- Invalidation of correction trials
Court proceedings
- IP dispute arbitration, litigation and criminal accusations
- IP trials, invalidations, cancellations actions and oppositions
- Trade secret disputes, copyright disputes, domain name disputes
- IP enforcement, injunctions
Customs
- Visiting Customs and providing IP rights holders with useful information, including appraisal results, photos and identity of consignors/consignees
- Devising strategies to combat infringers and/or counterfeit goods based on statistics and other information
- Sending cease and desist letters and/or taking legal action, including civil suits and criminal accusations
- Conducting training sessions for customs officers to improve their knowledge and skills in discerning genuine and counterfeit goods
IP consulting
- Freedom-to-operate investigations and analyses of technology trends
- Provision of information on third-party pending patent applications
- Evaluation of technology and IP assets, technology transfer
- IP licensing
- IP commercialisation
NAM & NAM always strives for excellence in line with the firm’s motto: “PAVE the way for client success,” where ‘PAVE’ stands for prestigious, accessible, value-adding and effective. Acting as a bridge between our clients and their IP success in South Korea, we encourage you to experience our specialised, innovative and high-quality services.
Jurisdiction