Derek Kunhee Kim, Esq.

Transactional Practice - Structured and negotiated a cross-border trademark and recipe licensing agreement for a Korean café brand entering the U.S. market (Dallas, Texas) - Advised a Korean national licensor on U.S. trademark protection strategy, FTC Franchise Rule compliance (16 C.F.R. Part 436) and Texas Business Opportunity Act safe harbor structuring, cross-border IP licensing, and international royalty mechanics — ensuring the arrangement was properly characterized as a trademark and trade secret license rather than a regulated franchise or business opportunity. Cross-Border Dispute Resolution Practice - Representing a Hong Kong-based entertainment/fan-experience platform managing multi-party cross-border disputes across Asia-Pacific involving contested receivables and competing jurisdiction claims; isolate defensible claims, sequence settlement strategy, and coordinate regional payment recovery while preserving business relationships. - Advising a Hong Kong-based Web3 developer in response to a demand for return of grant funds issued by a Cayman Islands foundation company, involving contract construction under Cayman Islands law, CIAMA arbitration threat analysis, force majeure and prevention-of-performance defenses arising from a protocol exploit and regional exchange suspensions, and bad faith negotiation counterclaim strategy — reframing a purported clawback as a leverage play unsupported by the agreement's express payment structure

Anchor Asia-Pacific Division's flagship copyright training initiative, "IP from the Ground Up," delivering live training sessions on music, film, animation, and publishing. • Delivered copyright training to stakeholders in the Philippines, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Bhutan, and the Maldives—grounding discussions in international frameworks (Berne Convention, WIPO Copyright Treaty) to help creators protect and monetize original content • Facilitated policy dialogue with government officials and industry professionals; the Maldives acceded to the Berne Convention (Nov 2025) following sessions addressing cross-border enforcement gaps for local filmmakers • Supported Bhutan's ongoing Copyright Act modernization, discussing digital-age revisions with IP officials months before the government's January 2026 public consultation

• Negotiated and structured a multi-party neighboring rights acquisition between a Korean musician and an independent music label, addressing performer rights ownership, existing third-party licensing arrangements, and cross-border revenue distribution. • Advised an LA-based actress with a 674K+ Instagram following on a non-union performer agreement for an upcoming international feature production, negotiating talent-side protections on compensation mechanics, credit, publicity/image & likeness scope, promotional obligations, travel/per diem, confidentiality, and dispute/enforcement terms—with an eye toward long-term exploitation and brand risk. • Advised an industry-leading Korean beauty YouTuber with 500K+ global subscribers on sponsorship, licensing, and brand protection; negotiated influencer marketing and product collaboration agreements that secured long-term monetization while safeguarding IP rights. • Drafted and negotiated agreements central to the entertainment industry, including content licensing, talent management, joint development, and international distribution contracts. • Registered U.S. trademark and copyright for creators, including securing copyright protection for a Korean fitness influencer with 348K subscribers, ensuring global IP enforcement and commercialization readiness.

- Advised on M&A, Corporate Governance, Venture Capital, Trademarks, and Copyright - Drafted and Negotitate Shareholder Agreements, Share Purchase Agreement, Note Purchase Agreement, Convertible Notes, and other contracts concerning Venture Capital - Negotitated cross-border patent and trademark licensing agreements Notable Achievements -Negotiating a Master Franchise Agreement for a mid-sized Korean conglomerate expanding its business in Thailand. Developing a working expertise of the following bodies of law: Corporate: International Banking Act of 1978, Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Securities Act of 1933 Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Intellectual Property: the Bayh-Dole Act, U.S. Copyright Act, the Lanham Act

• Advise government officials on trademark, copyright, and brand protection strategies for small- to medium-sized enterprises. • Conduct legal research and draft reports on various IP topics that affect Asia-Pacific member states (e.g., implementation of Paris Convention’s provisions on collective marks, trademark filings, and protections against unfair competition). • Becoming a subject-matter expert in how various countries comply with the copyright and trademark law requirements of the Paris Convention, the Madrid Protocol, and the Singapore Treaties.

- Developed inexperienced hurdlers to Conference, Regional, County, and All-State champions - Fostered cooperative, inclusive, yet competitive team atmosphere with students from diverse backgrounds - Coordinated workouts amongst event groups - Conducted one-day hurdling workshops at Lansing-area high school

- Assist attorneys to advise indigent clients on child custody, divorce, landlord/tenant disputes, and consumer credit matters - Research child custody, guardianship disputes, and landlord/tenant law - Strategize program infrastructure for a post-COVID Detroit legal landscape - Recruit administrative and lawyer volunteers

Korean and English: • Korea Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and World Intellectual Property Organization: Inter-Regional Copyright Enforcement Workshop • Hongik University International Language Institute • Running Berries K-Pop Dance Studio • Korea Health Industry Development Institute: Medical Korea 2019 Medical Conference Korean and Mandarin Chinese: • Refugees Seeking Asylum at the Seoul Immigration Office • Running Berries K-Pop Dance Studio

• Reconciled the language and cultural barrier for Korean and Chinese judges, attorneys, public officials, university faculty, and 9th Circuit Court of Appeal, Federal, and Superior Court judges. • Strategized program expansion in Korea and China with courts, firms, public entities, and academic institutions. • Assisted in planning 2-week US Law Program for SK Group Lawyers and Thomson Reuters. • Assisted recruit program’s first Chinese scholar. • Translated classes, presentations, research documents, procedural documents, and class materials. • Traveled to Korea with Dean to meet with law firms, Supreme Court Vice-Chairman, and Ministry of Justice. • Lectured Korean and Chinese Lawyers on bridging the cultural gap between the East and West.

• Authored new chapter and edited outdated materials Publication: MacLaren and Folsom, the Eckstrom Treatise on International Joint Ventures (Thomson Reuters) Chapter 20: Korea: Corruption in Modern Day South Korea: A Country at a Crossroads

• Translated for Intellectual Property lawyers and judges from 10 countries participating in World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) regional workshop.

- Tested into Advanced Level 1 - Elected Class Representative by classmates and professors - Achieved HSK Level 6 Certification

- Currents Affairs and the State of Unification on the Korean Peninsula - Intensive Korean Language Level 3, 4 - Chinese Characters 1

Awards: Outstanding Junior Award, Junior Class Council | Best of MSU Journalism Awards, First Place 
 Thesis: The Salvation Dilemma: A Qur’anic and Biblical Analysis on the Various Elements of Eternal Redemption Research: Game of Inches: Exploring the Potential of Google Glass in College Athletics Activities: Student-Athlete: Track & Field 110m Hurdles; Abroad: Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea | Fall 2014