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Attorney Profile

Principal

Kiwon Sung

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Attorney who understands startups and growth stage companies

Kiwon Sung is a seasoned counsel who understands what a corporate legal team needs.  Kiwon's practice focuses on the representation of companies in business transactions and counseling involving intellectual property and technology, including licensing, development agreements, distribution and commercialization activities, joint ventures, outsourcing, and other service arrangements.

Kiwon provides 10 years of legal expertise on a broad range of matters including cross-border deals as well as in assisting companies with mergers, acquisitions, and other complex business transactions involving technology and intellectual property that protect enterprise value.  He regularly advises clients on a wide range of complex transactions involving patents and technology, including structuring and negotiating strategic licensing, development, collaboration, procurement, and distribution deals.

Prior to practicing as a solo practitioner, Kiwon worked at a recognized litigation law firm in Los Angeles.  He has litigation experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in actions addressing a range of claims, including patent infringement, entertainment, breach of contract, and probate issues.  He has also helped clients in handling, among other things, dispositive motions, e-discovery, and pre-trial preparation.  Kiwon has been practicing law since 2012, and he worked as general counsel for legal affairs at the automotive electronics company of Korea’s second largest conglomerate.

Kiwon Sung is a licensed attorney who has been admitted to practice in both California and South Korea since 2012.  He is also licensed as a real estate agent in California.  Prior to graduating Sungkyunkwan University School of Law in Korea for J.D. (Juris Doctor) degree,  Kiwon majored in industrial systems engineering for B.S. (Bachelor of Science) degree.  Kiwon has also earned the LL.M. (Master of Laws) degree specialized in Media, Entertainment, Technology Law and Policy from UCLA Law.

Kiwon had served in the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID) as a Korea-US liaison soldier (KATUSA).  He is native in Korean and is thoroughly familiar with Korean laws, corporate culture and business practices.​

While working as a General Counsel at a global automotive electronics company, Kiwon oversaw cross-border business transactions, provided legal consultation for development projects, managed patents and patent infringement cases, and provided corporate oversight.  Kiwon was also responsible for regulatory compliance and anti-corruption and was tasked with M&A, investments, and antitrust & competition risk management.

While attending the UCLA Law, Kiwon had worked as a pro bono practitioner at UCLA patent clinic for solo inventors or small businesses.  

Kiwon is currently serving as a legal advisor (Startup and Intellectual Property Laws) as well as a member of Economic Advisory Board for the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Los Angeles.

Experience​

  • Law Office of Kiwon Sung (Present)

  • Bird Marella, P.C.

  • UCLA Law Patent Clinic, Pro Bono Practitioner

  • Hyundai Autron (Now merged with Hyundai Autoever, Hyundai Motor Group), General Counsel for legal affairs

  • Sunwoo LLP

Education

  • UCLA Law, LL.M. specialized in Media, Entertainment, Technology Law and Policy, 2019

  • Sungkyunkwan University School of Law, J.D., 2012

  • Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), B.S. in Industrial & Systems Engineering, 2009

Admissions

  • State Bar of California

  • Korean Bar Association

  • Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO)

Books

YouTube Appearances

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