Dave B. Koo
Partner
dkoo@darroweverett.com
(401) 453-1200
Bio
Dave B. Koo, the Chair of our Intellectual Property & Technology Practice Group and a Practice Leader in our Healthcare & Life Sciences Practice Group, brings over two decades of global legal experience representing Fortune 500 companies, major Korean conglomerates, and multinational corporations in complex cross-border litigation, transactional, and regulatory matters. Dave’s practice focuses on high-stakes patent litigation, IP licensing, competition law, and technology transactions, with a deep understanding of both U.S. and international legal frameworks.
Having practiced at top U.S. law firms and led legal teams at premier firms in Seoul, Dave has served as a trusted advisor to clients in the technology, life sciences, and consumer products sectors. He is particularly skilled in navigating overlapping legal regimes in intellectual property and antitrust, advising on matters ranging from multi-jurisdictional patent disputes to compliance with evolving privacy and data protection laws in Asia and the U.S.
An additional highlight of Dave’s career is his early experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry as Director of Regulatory Affairs, where he gained invaluable insight into FDA regulations and the challenges life sciences companies face in IP and regulatory matters.
Prior Experience
Before joining DarrowEverett, Dave was Senior Foreign Legal Counsel at two of South Korea’s leading law firms, where he advised some of the top technology companies in the world in IP, antitrust, and regulatory disputes. He began his legal career in California, practicing at several prominent international and U.S.-based firms, where he focused on patent litigation and IP matters for biotech and tech clients.
Prior to entering the legal profession, Dave worked in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector as Director of Regulatory Affairs, where he was responsible for FDA regulatory compliance and product development strategies. This industry foundation has given him an insider’s understanding of the challenges of life sciences companies face, particularly in IP protection, licensing, and regulatory submissions.
Practice Areas
- Intellectual Property & Technology
- Healthcare & Life Sciences
- Antitrust & Trade Regulation
- Data Privacy & Cybersecurity
- Corporate & Business Transactions
- Labor & Employment
- International Business & Cross-Border Transactions
Bar Admissions
- California
- United States Patent and Trademark Office
Education
- Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, J.D.
- University of California, Berkeley, B.A. in Molecular and Cell Biology
Involvement
- International Bar Association (IBA), Antitrust and IP Sections
- American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
- Korean-American Bar Association (KABA)
Representative Matters
- Represented a global telecommunications chip maker in its appeal of a landmark antitrust ruling by the Korea Fair Trade Commission, securing partial reversal before the Seoul High Court in a matter involving FRAND, SEPs, and abuse of dominance claims. Led legal strategy and coordinated with U.S. and Korean counsel.
- Led global patent litigation and licensing strategy for a leading LED technology company in a multi-country dispute with a competing semiconductor lighting manufacturer, achieving a favorable global resolution through simultaneous litigation and negotiation.
- Advised a major social media and technology platform in its appeal against a multimillion-dollar privacy ruling by the Korean Personal Information Protection Commission, resulting in a reduced penalty and regulatory clarity for platform operations in Korea.
- Counseled a multinational audio technology company in two major KFTC investigations concerning FRAND and IP licensing practices, achieving full dismissal of all claims after multiyear defense efforts.
- Secured a favorable settlement for a leading semiconductor equipment manufacturer in a high-profile trade secret and patent dispute with a Korean competitor, involving extensive technical evidence and simultaneous U.S. and Korean proceedings.