LA JOLLA, CA, March 02, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- John M. Kim has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Mr. Kim has established a distinguished career in the field of intellectual property law, marked by more than two decades of leadership and innovation. As founder and managing partner of IPLA LLP, with offices in San Diego and San Francisco, he has overseen client and firm management while driving high-level strategy for global trademark clearance, prosecution and enforcement since 2004. His most notable achievement is the founding of IPLA LLP from the ground up after departing DLA Piper as a senior associate. Without prior law firm management experience, he successfully built IPLA LLP into one of the largest trademark specialty firms in the nation, a testament to his vision and determination.

Prior to establishing IPLA LLP, Mr. Kim served as a senior associate at DLA Piper from 2000 to 2004. During this period, he honed his expertise in trademarks and copyrights, as well as foreign trademark clearance, registration and enforcement. His responsibilities included managing complex intellectual property portfolios for a diverse clientele, further developing his skills in high-stakes legal environments.

Mr. Kim began his legal career as an associate at Fulwider Patton LLP in the Greater Los Angeles Area from 1998 to 2000. In this role, he gained foundational experience in intellectual property law, working on cases that involved both domestic and international trademark matters. Throughout his career, his commitment to professional development has been evident through his longstanding membership with the International Trademark Association since 1998.

Educationally, Mr. Kim earned a Juris Doctor with a focus on trademarks from the School of Law at Santa Clara University in 1996. He previously completed a Bachelor of Arts in business-managerial economics at the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1993. Beyond his schooling, he attributes his success to outstanding customer service, emphasizing the importance of listening to clients' needs and maintaining mindful attention to both fees and service quality. He believes that fostering loyalty through exceptional service encourages referrals. He genuinely cares for his clients, considering many of them friends and treating everyone with the respect and care he could give a friend or family member.

Mr. Kim's accomplishments have been recognized through several prestigious awards, including selection as a Super Lawyer since 2019, recognition among Top Attorneys San Diego from 2008 to 2018 and earning Silver Rank from World Trademark Review by Law Business Research. Beyond his professional pursuits, he has contributed to civic causes as an attorney volunteer with Casa Cornelia Law Center from 2000 to 2004.

In his personal life, Mr. Kim enjoys spending time with his family, including his two children, and taking vacations. In the upcoming years, he aims to expand his business globally by opening foreign offices in Beijing and South America—focusing on either Argentina or Brazil—and establishing the IPLA brand across different continents to better serve clients. His goal is to create a physical presence in Asia, South America and potentially Europe, offering IPLA's combination of services and affordable fees on a global scale.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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