Partner Spotlight: Rudy Y. Kim

Rudy Y. Kim is the chair of Morrison Foerster's Litigation Department in Palo Alto and a member of the firm's Diversity Strategy Committee. He has over 20 years of experience representing clients in high-stakes IP and technology related litigation in federal district and appellate courts, in private arbitration, and before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). He has also successfully tried criminal jury cases with the San Francisco District Attorney's Office. His work has involved a wide range of complex, cutting-edge technologies, including autonomous vehicles, computer hardware and software, consumer electronics, data storage, network security, semiconductors (design and fabrication), wireless communication, and medical devices.

In two to three sentences, describe your practice.

I help protect and defend some of the world's leading technology companies in litigation implicating patents, trade secrets, and other intellectual property and commercial rights. Many of my cases are high-stakes, competitor-versus-competitor disputes, and they often involve litigation either for or against international companies located outside the United States.

Why did you choose to make MoFo your professional home?

I joined the firm 14 years ago because of the strength of its IP and technology related litigation practice and because of its down-to-earth and collegial work environment and culture. Our firm is full of very bright and talented lawyers, who are easy to work with and who do not take themselves too seriously. I was also attracted to the firm because of its longstanding and demonstrated commitment to diversity and community service. MoFo is a leader in the area of diversity and inclusion and actively promotes women, attorneys of color, and other diverse attorneys. The firm has also been a strong supporter of professional and community service activities, including pro bono work and involvement in minority bar associations and other service organizations.

How do clients benefit from having diverse teams of lawyers working for them?

We represent diverse clients from around the world in a wide range of venues. Having a diverse team helps us to relate to our clients and see things from their perspective, while also enabling us to effectively represent their interests in other forums. As an example, we often represent clients in other countries, including countries in Asia and Europe. Having diverse team members allows us to connect and communicate more effectively with our clients, and to more adeptly advocate on their behalf to a diverse range of judges, arbitrators, juries, and decision-makers who come from different backgrounds.