Biography

Seong Ku Jang is a founding member and partner in the firm’s Mechanical Group. Mr. Jang has played a critical role in the establishment of the prosecution and enforcement practices of the firm.

Prior to joining the firm as a founding member, Mr. Jang was a patent examiner at the KIPO for more than ten years, receiving the Presidential Award and Commissioner’s Award for his work and contributions to the Korean patent landscape. He also completed coursework and training provided by the USPTO and EPO, and has familiarity with the examination practices of both organizations.

Mr. Jang has extensive experience in providing the firm’s foreign and domestic clients with distinct expertise in patent prosecution, enforcement actions, litigation, and portfolio management in matters involving machine tools, automobiles, ships, and general mechanical engineering for over 30 years. He has successfully represented numerous multinational corporations in patent infringement actions involving technology across the entire mechanical engineering spectrum and continues to assist clients in obtaining the strongest possible patents for their business needs.

Profile

• Bar Admissions
  • ·Korean Patent Bar (1984)
  • · Licensed as Construction Mechanical, Engineering Class I and General Mechanical Engineer Class I (1977)
  • · Passed the Examination of High Degree Technical Government Officials, Mechanical Engineering (1976)
• Education
  • ·Patent Documentation and Search Training Program, European Patent Office, Hague and Munchen (1986)
  • · Patent Academy Training Course at the USPTO (1983)
  • · Seoul National University, Department of Mechanical Engineering (B.S., 1977)
• Experience
  • ·FirstLaw P.C. (1988-present)
  • · Primary Examiner, Korean Intellectual Property Office (1977-1988)
  • · Awards: Presidential Award for Exemplary Government Official and Commissioner's Award for Best Patent Examiner of the Year in 1987
• Professional Activities
  • ·Korea Patent Attorneys Association (KPAA)
  • · Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA)
  • · International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI)
  • · International Trademark Association (INTA)
• Languages
  • ·Korean, English and Japanese