Established 2002
Tel: +82-2-6207-6800
Fax: +82-2-6207-6801
Email: ihseo@cholaw.com
Website: www.cholaw.com
Contact: Tae-Yeon Cho, Ik Hyun Seo
Number of partners: 4
Number of lawyers: 17
Languages: English, Korean, Japanese, Portuguese, French
Practice Areas: Trademarks, Copyrights, Administrative Actions, Domain Names and Internet Issues, Unfair Competition, Litigation, IP Enforcement Programs, Licensing & Distribution
Firm Overview
The firm was established in 2002 by two senior attorneys who decided to leave a large firm environment to create a more focused, efficient and responsive practice. Based on the reputation and capabilities of the founding members, as well as the established trust and loyalty with their clients, the firm was immediately active representing multi-national clients. The firm’s clients are among the most recognized names and leaders in various business sectors, such as software and technology, retailing, luxury goods and fashion, energy, etc.
Since its establishment, the firm has continued to grow, a result of the firm’s uncompromising emphasis on maintaining its reputation for the highest level of service, professionalism and integrity. This philosophy and commitment has been essential in developing and servicing the firm’s prestigious list of clients, whose needs are sophisticated and whose matters have global impact.
The firm is proud of its approach of nurturing very close and personal relationships with its clients, the foundation of the firm’s ability to know its clients and thereby serve their needs more effectively and efficiently.
Intellectual Property Practice
The firm has a strong and diverse practice in all aspects of intellectual property. It is very active with both domestic and international prosecution practice for trademarks, as well as related disputes and administrative proceedings. Aside from prosecution matters, the firm and its members have become particularly well-known for its capabilities in the areas of litigation, anti-counterfeiting and internet related matters.
In the area of anti-counterfeiting and enforcement, the firm has developed a very strong reputation for its effective and creative programs in combating many difficult problems in Korea. The firm represents many brand owners and manages among the most active anti-counterfeiting and trademark enforcement programs in the country.
The firm is also very active with domain name disputes, successfully reclaiming domain name registrations from cyber-squatters for trademark owners. Mr. Tae-Yeon Cho has served on the executive committee for the Internet Address Domain Name Dispute Resolution Committee, the government body that administers Korean domain name disputes. Another member of the firm, Mr. Ik Hyun Seo, serves as a panelist for WIPO with respect to gTLD disputes.
South Korea
Cho & Partners
IP-focused firm Cho & Partners was established in 2002 by Tae-Yeon Cho and Ik Hyun Seo. It is widely recognised in the market for its high-quality representation, particularly in trademark litigation matters. Although the firm, led by the two aforementioned partners, is not large in size, it punches above its weight with a stellar roster of multinational and domestic clients across a broad spectrum of sectors. The firm has a diverse offering in all aspects of IP, from trademark and patent prosecution to anti-counterfeiting and copyright matters. It has recently been active in domain name disputes, with Cho acting as outside counsel for the Internet Address Domain Name Dispute Resolution Committee. Seo is a panellist for the World Intellectual Property Organisation.
Intellectual property
Work highlights
Successfully represented Louis Vuitton in a high profile litigation case against LG Household & Health Care for trademark infringement based on a product from its subsidiary, The Face Shop. The high court last year decided in favour of the client after LG filed an appeal on the original district court judgement that concluded the product packaging in contention constituted dilution.
Acting for energy drink giant Red Bull in a dispute with a domestic company named Bulls One, an automobile fluid manufacturer and distributor. The dispute involved mutual attacks on the parties’ trademark registrations, and was particularly complex and interesting because market survey evidence was being utilised, a relatively new area of law in Korea.
Representing Microsoft in a case against Asiamuyeok Company for the cancellation of its domain name ‘window10.asia’ and an injunction against its sale of product keys for Windows 10 programme software without the client’s permission. This is the first case in Korea on product keys provided in the licensing of software and will have a significant impact on the widespread sale of product keys in the country.
Key clients
Apple, Burberry, Crocs, Philip Morris, Tapestry
Client feedback
“Very user-friendly, consistently responsive, and deliver practical, clear advice.” – Intellectual property
“It has strong leadership with Cho and Seo. They lead a dedicated and committed team of individuals.” – Intellectual property
Jae Eun Lee
“Jae Eun is very responsive and communicates very well. She always provides clear and practical advice.”
Ik-Hyun Seo
“Ik-Hyun is a dedicated leader. He is dedicated to his firm, his staff, and his clients. He regularly reviews the work and requests all feedback, both positive and negative. He is quick to oversee important projects and special requests. He is a problem solver.”
South Korea
Intellectual property
| Outstanding |
|---|
| Kim & Chang |
| Lee & Ko |
| Highly recommended |
|---|
| Bae Kim & Lee |
| Cho & Partners |
| Yulchon |
| Recommended |
|---|
| FirstLaw PC |
| Lee International IP & Law |
| Shin & Kim |
| Yoon & Yang |
| You Me Patent & Law Firm |
| Other notable |
|---|
| AIP Patent & Law Firm |
| Darae Law & IP Group |
| Jipyong |
| Lawyer | Ranking | Practice Area |
|---|---|---|
| Cho, Tae Yeon | Distinguished practitioner | Intellectual property |
| Lee, Kathryn | Rising star | Intellectual property |
| Seo, Ik Hyun | Distinguished practitioner | Intellectual property |
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