Technology development and industry diversification have created new forms of intellectual property. Lee & Ko’s IP Practice Group has a deep understanding of technology and industry and extensive experience in transactional work and strategic analysis. Based on this breadth of knowledge, the Group has provided strategic and thoughtful advice to clients on various IP transactions.

IP transactions are made in various deals involving, among others, grant of licenses under technology introduction, technology export or transfer, technology consulting or partnership, formation of a joint venture company, grant of rights in R&D agreements, manufacturing and sales agreements, licensing of trademarks, trade names and characters, and investment promotion and liquidation from collateralization of MD agreements and intellectual property. Our team of experts, comprising of foreign attorneys, attorneys specialized in negotiations, seasoned attorneys – assisting in IP transactions – from different practice groups and accountants, have provided comprehensive and pragmatic counseling on IP transactions. Also, Lee & Ko’s IP Practice Group offers a full range of services covering a broad spectrum of technical fields such as electric/electronic, mechanical, chemical, pharmaceutical, medical, telecommunications, fashion, games, food and beverage, entertainment, e-commerce, and business ventures on new technologies. The forms of intellectual property subject to these transactions are also diverse, including, among others, various technologies and inventions, know-how, software, brands or marks, scenarios or music and characters.

Expertise

Provides Comprehensive and Practical Solutions on IP Transaction Matters

Contract Formation

Lee & Ko’s IP Practice Group assists clients in preparing and revising agreements and negotiating the terms of the agreements.  Through close cooperation with other practice groups, the Group also provides comprehensive counseling services on legal matters, such as compliance and tax law issues, that arise from the formation of the agreements.

Contract Performance

After the execution of IP transactional agreements, there could be disputes or disagreements between parties during the performance of the agreements.  Lee & Ko’s IP Practice Group assists clients in securing intellectual property based on a thorough analysis of contract interpretation and addresses different issues on contract performance by formulating strategies based on a careful analysis of the parties’ disputes that could arise from the contract performance.

Contract Termination

Disputes can also arise between parties during the termination of agreements.  Lee & Ko’s IP Practice Group provides counseling on measures that clients need to take for proper termination of the agreements and assists the clients in preparing comprehensive strategies to address different issues with the exercise of rights and potential disputes after the termination of the agreements.  In the event of a dispute during the termination of the agreements, Lee & Ko’s IP Practice Group offers comprehensive services in all phases until the termination of the agreements by effectively and proactively responding to the dispute through initiating adjudicatory proceedings and assisting the clients in reaching a resolution.

Corporate Restructuring: Acquisition and Merger

Lee & Ko’s IP Practice Group provides comprehensive counseling on matters related to IP transactions during mergers and acquisitions and business transfer or stock transfer.  In particular, we offer evaluation services on intellectual property assets for IP transactions during corporate restructuring, we scrutinize and identify significant issues with such assets, and we deliver advice on how to address risks by analyzing and interpreting the terms of the agreements about the intellectual property.

Transactions between Affiliates and Related Companies

There is a great need to review IP transaction agreements in various cases, including, among others, corporate restructuring such as split, merger or establishment of a holding company, granting licenses of new intellectual property between affiliates or examining IP transactions between affiliates.  Lee & Ko’s IP Practice Group, based on our extensive experience on IP transactions between domestic affiliates, provides comprehensive and qualified counseling services on matters related to IP transaction agreements between affiliates, corporate structuring strategy, and compliance and tax law.