Profile

Yoon S. Ham is a Senior Partner at Hauptman Ham LLP and a registered patent attorney with more than 30 years of experience in intellectual property law. His practice focuses on patent preparation and prosecution, portfolio strategy, international filings, and post-grant proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Mr. Ham advises clients ranging from startups to global corporations on protecting and leveraging their innovations through tailored IP strategies. His clients include Fortune 500 companies and emerging technology manufacturers in the electronics, telecommunications, computer software and hardware, optical, and consumer goods industries. He also has extensive experience negotiating technology licensing, distribution, and supply agreements, as well as other international commercial contracts.

Fluent in Korean and grounded in hands-on engineering experience, Mr. Ham previously worked as a semiconductor research engineer for a major Korean electronics corporation. His technical expertise in computer science and electrical engineering enables him to align patent portfolios with business goals while effectively navigating both U.S. and international patent systems.

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Highlights

  • Registered patent attorney with over 30 years of experience in IP law
  • Extensive experience in patent prosecution, licensing, and international portfolio management
  • Technical background in computer science and electrical engineering
  • Advises clients on post-grant proceedings, IP strategy, and global filings
  • Former semiconductor research engineer for a leading Korean electronics company
  • Fluent in Korean; experienced in cross-border IP counseling and negotiation
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Education

  • Franklin Pierce Law Center – Juris Doctor, 1994
  • Franklin Pierce Law Center – Master of Intellectual Property, 1992
  • Korea University – Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, 1986
  • Korea University – Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, 1984
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Personal

Mr. Ham enjoys traveling and playing golf.

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Additional

Academic & Professional Activities
  • Adjunct Professor, Korea University, Seoul, Korea (September 2017 – December 2018)
  • Frequent lecturer for universities, government agencies, and professional associations across Asia and the U.S.
  • Keynote Speaker, Annual Joint Conference of the Korea and Japan Patent Attorneys Associations (October 2004)
  • Lecturer, Asian Pacific Intellectual Property Association, Taiwan (April 2008)
  • Lecturer, Korea Patent Attorneys Association, Korea (September 2008)
  • Lecturer, Korea Electronics Association, Korea (September 2008)
  • Regular presenter for corporate in-house counsel and IP departments in Taiwan, China, and Korea
Lectures & Seminars
  • Guest Speaker, A Korean Engineer’s Journey to Become a U.S. Patent Attorney, USPTO AANHPI KAIPO-KAIPBA Event, May 3, 2023
  • Guest Lecturer, U.S. Patent Infringement Analysis and Claim Construction, WIPO Program hosted by Seoul National University, May 2, 2019
  • Guest Lecturer, U.S. Patent Infringement Analysis and Claim Construction, Dankuk University, April 20, 2019
  • Panel Speaker, Examiner-Oriented Patent Prosecution, IP Law Summit, Las Vegas, March 11, 2018
  • Guest Speaker, Top Ten Mistakes to Avoid in Obtaining Strong U.S. Patents, Korea Intellectual Property Protection Agency, October 20, 2017
Publications & Interviews

Mr. Ham has contributed to numerous professional journals and newspapers, including The Monthly Intellectual Property Magazine of Korea, Korea Economic Daily, ETNEWS Daily, MK Daily, IP Journal, and Invention and Patent. His published works and interviews span more than a decade of commentary on U.S. patent law, IP strategy, and cross-border innovation.

Selected publications and interviews include:

  • “Impact by AIA on the Procedure of Patent Procurement and Future Forecast,” Global IP Trend (2014)
  • “How to Utilize IPR for Korean Companies,” Korea Economic Daily (October 3, 2014)
  • “Patent Trolls—Are They Subject to Regulation?” ETNEWS Daily (November 20, 2013)
  • “PIPA and SOPA: IP Protection or Violation of Freedom of Speech,” MK Daily (October 22, 2013)
  • “Message from the ITC on Apple v. Samsung Dispute,” ETNEWS Daily (August 27, 2013)
  • “Analysis of First-to-File System in View of the America Invents Act,” Invention and Patent (February 2012)
  • “Introduction to the New U.S. Patent Law and Strategies in View of the New Law,” Invention and Patent (November 2011)
  • “Challenging U.S. Patents,” Invention and Patent (March 2010)
  • “Patent Prosecution Strategy in View of McKesson Information Solutions, Inc. v. Bridge Medical, Inc.,” Invention and Patent (October 2007)
Additional
  • Bar Admissions: District of Columbia; Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
  • Professional Associations: [enter if applicable]
  • Languages: Korean
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Contact Hauptman Ham, LLP for your intellectual property needs.

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