Ilkwon Kim

Ilkwon Kim

  • Partner
  • T. +82-2-3404-7678
  • F. +82-2-3404-0805
  • E. ilkwon.kim@bkl.co.kr

Overview

Ilkwon Kim focuses his practice on IP disputes—patents, trade secrets, and copyright—and provides strategic counsel and litigation support across pharmaceuticals, biotech, medical devices, and the broader healthcare industry.

Drawing on his academic and research background in life sciences, Mr. Kim has earned a reputation for developing compelling legal arguments grounded in deep technical expertise—delivering successful outcomes for clients across the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, GMO, and medical device sectors. His experience representing both global pharmaceutical and biotech patent holders and generic and biosimilar companies gives him a well-rounded perspective on IP disputes, enabling him to craft optimal strategies that account for every dimension of the conflict.

Representative Experience

2026-Present Bae, Kim & Lee LLC
2017-2026 Lee & Ko

Representative Matters

Represented a global pharmaceutical company in patent infringement/invalidity litigation concerning a psoriasis treatment
Represented a global pharmaceutical company in patent infringement/invalidity litigation concerning an HIV treatment
Represented a global pharmaceutical company in patent infringement/invalidity litigation concerning an asthma treatment
Represented a global pharmaceutical company in patent infringement/invalidity litigation concerning a blood anticoagulant
Represented a global pharmaceutical company in patent invalidity litigation concerning pharmaceutical formulations
Represented a global pharmaceutical company in patent invalidity litigation concerning pharmaceutical impurities
Represented a domestic biopharmaceutical company in patent infringement/invalidity litigation concerning an anticancer drug
Represented a domestic biopharmaceutical company in patent infringement/invalidity litigation concerning a treatment for autoimmune diseases
Represented a domestic medical device manufacturer in patent infringement litigation concerning implants
Patent invalidity litigation concerning a natural-product health functional food
Represented a domestic game developer in patent infringement litigation concerning gaming technology
Represented a domestic chemical company in patent infringement/invalidity litigation concerning semiconductor materials
Represented a domestic broadcasting company in copyright infringement litigation concerning a film
Represented a domestic broadcasting company in copyright infringement litigation concerning a television drama
Represented a domestic public institution in copyright litigation relating to open access
Represented global companies in GMO (LMO) approval applications involving potatoes, canola, and sugarcane
Litigation seeking indemnity related to humidifier disinfectants
Capital Markets Act violation matter relating to a bio-medical device
Product liability litigation concerning pharmaceutical impurities
Representation in applications for reassessment of reimbursement adequacy (arthritis treatment, spherical activated carbon, etc.)
Litigation concerning pharmaceutical impurities
Administrative litigation relating to drug price reductions
Advisory matters concerning non-physician-owned hospitals
Pharmaceutical license agreements

Education

2024 Duke University School of Law (LL.M.)
2017 Korea University Law School (J.D.)
2007 Seoul University (B.A.)

Selected Activities

Publications
Molecular mechanisms of MHC class I-antigen processing: redox considerations (Antioxid Redox Signal, 2009)
Nude Textbook: Common Science Edition (Co-author, Etoos, 2002)

Qualifications

2026 New York
2019 Patent Attorney (Korea)
2017 Korea