Barun IP & Law

What Barun IP & Law does

Barun IP & Law is a South Korea-based intellectual property law firm founded in September 1996 by Managing Partner Ho-Hyun Nahm, headquartered in Seoul's Gangnam district (Trade Tower, since 2024). The firm provides comprehensive IP legal services across patent and utility model prosecution, trademark and design registration, overseas filings, IP litigation, and domain name dispute resolution, serving global enterprises (Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor, Nike, BASF, Bayer, Jimmy Choo, Pantone, Studio Ghibli, Supercell, Airbus Helicopter, among others), Korean domestic companies ranging from conglomerates to SMEs, and individual inventors and entrepreneurs. Its core differentiator is an unrivaled domain name dispute practice — Ho-Hyun Nahm has authored over 1,700 domain dispute decisions described as a world record, and serves as a panelist for WIPO, NAF, ADNDRC, HKIAC, and the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board. Underlying intellectual property includes Nahm's Design Value Assessment Model (developed 1991, used by Korean courts and the Korean Institute of Patent Attorneys) and a codified Domain Name Dispute Resolution Overview publication series.

The firm operates a professional services revenue model with per-matter billing on a quote-based, non-publicly-disclosed basis. Distribution is direct enterprise field sales to corporate legal departments, R&D teams, and business development contacts, supplemented by an international network of 2-3 leading patent firms across 200+ countries for cross-border filings. Go-to-market also includes a significant thought leadership layer — an MBN TV program ('Interesting Patent Stories', 17 episodes), KBS 1 Radio interviews, multiple published books, YouTube content, a monthly IP newsletter, free downloadable document templates, and complimentary on-site consultations and IP training. A strategic partnership with Barun Law Firm (since July 2006) provides access to 180+ litigation lawyers including former Supreme Court Chief Justice and Patent Court chief judges, enabling integrated IP prosecution-to-litigation services.

Recent strategic activity has emphasized capacity investment (2024 Gangnam office relocation), thought leadership publication (Domain Name Dispute Overview 2023), and continued enterprise client wins across diverse verticals. The firm has accumulated recognitions including the 2010 New Quality Innovation Award (first in the patent industry to receive it), Korea's Best IP Law Firm awards in 2012-2013, and the 2023 ADR Development Contribution Award. There is no disclosed external investment, public listing, or subsidiary structure; ownership remains privately held by the founder.

Name

Barun IP & Law

Legal name

Barun IP & Law

Website

https://barunip.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Barun IP & Law is a Seoul-based intellectual property law firm founded in 1996, serving global enterprises, Korean companies, and individual inventors with patent, trademark, design, and domain name dispute services across 200+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Intellectual Property Legal Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Intellectual Property (IP) Law (BPAHAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Patent Prosecution & Portfolio Management (BPAHAMAA), Trademark Prosecution & Brand Protection (BPAHAMAB), IP Litigation & Dispute Resolution (BPAHAMAE), IP Compliance, Anti-Counterfeiting & Enforcement (BPAHAMAK)

Keywords

• Intellectual property law
• Patent prosecution services
• Trademark registration
• Domain name disputes
• IP litigation

Headquarters

HQ city

Daechidong

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Legal Services Fees: Professional fees for intellectual property legal services including patent/trademark/design prosecution, dispute resolution, licensing negotiations, and IP portfolio management. Services are billed on a per-matter basis with fees varying by complexity, jurisdiction coverage, and service type.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Barun IP & Law is a Korean intellectual property law firm providing full-service IP rights acquisition, protection, and enforcement across patents, trademarks, designs, utility models, copyrights, and trade secrets. The firm specializes in multi-jurisdictional IP prosecution, domain name dispute resolution (with over 1,700 decisions authored), licensing negotiations, IP portfolio management, and IP litigation including administrative trials, civil/criminal actions, and cross-border disputes in the US and EU.

Product overview

Barun IP & Law is a full-service intellectual property law firm offering a comprehensive suite of services centered on the acquisition, protection, and enforcement of IP rights. The core portfolio includes Patent & Utility Model Services, Trademark & Service Mark Services, Design Protection Services, Domain Name Dispute Resolution, and Dispute Resolution & Litigation Support, complemented by overseas filing capabilities. The firm distinguishes itself through specialized domain name dispute resolution with over 1,700 cases handled, and maintains a strategic partnership with Barun Law (법무법인 바른) for litigation support. Additional value-added services include IP publications and educational materials, a TV program on patent concepts, downloadable document templates, and complimentary on-site consultations and training. The firm's integrated approach combines technical expertise across multiple technology domains with comprehensive legal services spanning the entire IP lifecycle from filing to dispute resolution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,700+ domain name dispute cases successfully handled
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Barun Law Firm (법무법인 바른)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2006Strategic business partnership since July 2006, combining IP law firm with litigation law firm. Barun Law Firm consists of 180+ specialized lawyers including former Supreme Court Chief Justice, former Seoul High Court judges, former Patent Court chief judges, and other judicial officials.
• Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic cooperation and working relationship for swift response to domestic and international domain name disputes. KISA is the Korean government agency responsible for internet security and domain name administration.
• Asian Domain Name Dispute Resolution Centre (ADNDRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation for handling international domain name disputes through UDRP proceedings and Asian domain name dispute resolution. ADNDRC is a major dispute resolution institution for Asia-Pacific region.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Bae, Kim & Lee LLC: Major Korean law firm with a substantial IP practice spanning prosecution, licensing and litigation. Comparable in serving chaebols and global enterprises with integrated IP needs.
• Lee & Ko: Major Korean full-service firm with a strong IP practice covering patents, trademarks and litigation. Comparable in serving Samsung-adjacent conglomerates and global brand owners with cross-border mandates.
• Kim & Chang: Korea's largest full-service law firm with the country's deepest IP prosecution and litigation bench. Most directly comparable Korean competitor across patents, trademarks, designs, domain disputes and cross-border IP litigation.
• Y.P. Lee, Mock & Partners: Leading Korean IP boutique with strong patent and trademark prosecution and dispute practices. Comparable peer in scale, focus, and clientele for high-end IP work in Korea.
• Yulchon LLC: Large Korean full-service firm with growing IP and TMT practice. Comparable enterprise peer with broader bench and similar cross-border client roster.
• FirstLaw Co., Ltd. Korean IP-focused firm with cross-border filing and trademark expertise. Closely comparable as a mid-sized IP specialist serving enterprise clients across multiple jurisdictions.
• Jipyong IP: Korean full-service firm with a strong IP litigation and prosecution practice. Comparable peer for cross-border IP mandates and Korean IP dispute work.

Broad incumbents

• Mintz: Global IP-focused firm with significant patent and trademark capabilities. Comparable broader incumbent for multinational brand owners seeking integrated IP counsel.
• Finnegan: Global IP-focused firm with deep patent prosecution and litigation capabilities. Comparable as a larger incumbent competitor for multi-jurisdictional IP mandates, particularly in the US and Europe.
• Fish & Richardson: Global IP powerhouse with patent prosecution, litigation and post-grant practices. Comparable as a larger international incumbent competing for the same cross-border IP portfolio work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCM4bH43P6qJy8Mdb1zZyxhQ

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Barun IP & Law