Eugene Kim

Eugene Kim is widely recognized as one of the best trial lawyers in California. Therefore, Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, entertainers, and professional athletes come to Mr. Kim to protect and enforce their legal rights. Mr. Kim’s diverse clientele includes HYBE Corporation, BTS, IU, New Jeans, Le Sserafim, Chris Brown, Forever 21, Walmart, Chick-fil-A, Wingstop, Dunkin Donuts, Little Caesars, In-N-Out, Liberty Dental, Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), Quest Nutrition, Therapydia, Lamar Advertising Company, KASE Real Estate, Windermere Real Estate, Sunbelt Rentals, Inc., the Nordic Group of Companies, and the Southeastern Conference of Seventh Day Adventists.

Mr. Kim attributes his success in the courtroom to his community involvement, which gives him unique insight into various aspects of society, business, and governance. Currently, Mr. Kim serves on California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Judicial Selection Advisory Committee, he is the Vice Chair for Altura Credit Union, the Vice President for Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino, a Board Member for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and a member of the of the San Bernardino County Elimination of Bias Committee. Previously, Mr. Kim served as the President of the San Bernardino County Bar Association, President of the Orange County Korean American Bar Association, President of the Asian Pacific American Lawyers of the Inland Empire, and President of the Pick Group of Young Professionals. He also served on California State Bar’s Judicial Nominations and Evaluation (“JNE”) Commission, was a Treasurer and a Regional Governor for the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (“NAPABA”), and a member of Riverside’s Raincross Group.

• Access to Justice Award Recipient – 2023
• Speaker at the American Board of Trial Advocates James Otis Lecture, 2023
• Impact Award Recipient, Pick Group 2019
• Speaker at IMN and ICR3 Conference, Opportunity Zones & Cannabis, 2019
• Rising Stars, Thompson Reuters, 2016 – 2017
• Super Lawyer, Thompson Reuters, 2018 – Present
• Best Lawyer Under 40, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, 2013
• “AV-Preeminent” Rating, Martindale Hubbell, 2013 – Present
• Inland Empire Magazine, Top Lawyers in the Region, 2015 – Present
• National Institute for Trial Advocacy Graduate, 2014
• Leadership Riverside Program Graduate, Riverside Chamber of Commerce 2013
• Leadership Award Recipient, Orange County Korean American Bar Association, 2012
• Pick Board Development Training Program, Graduate 2010
• Chair of the Moot Court Honors Program, Southwestern Law School, 2001 – 2002
• Law Review Blue Book Award Recipient, 2001

• Employment Dispute: Obtained a complete defense verdict in a jury trial where a family member alleged that she was an employee of a trust and entitled to unpaid wages, overtime, meals, and rest breaks; the jury determined that she was not an employee and was not entitled to any compensation.
• Trust and Estates: Obtained a complete defense verdict on behalf of a family trust where a daughter claimed to be the sole beneficiary of a family trust; the court found that the daughter was intentionally excluded the family trust and that the trustee of the family trust acted properly by making no distributions to the daughter.
• Conversion and Conspiracy: Obtained a complete defense verdict in a jury trial where my client, who won a $26 million lottery ticket, had to defend a claim that he conspired with various family members to steal the winning lottery ticket; the jury found that my client purchased the winning lottery ticket.
• Employment, Whistleblower, Retaliation: Obtained a successful jury trial verdict in a whistleblower and FEHA retaliation case filed by a veteran police officer against a police department in Los Angeles County; after a two-month jury trial, the court held that it was a mistrial due to a hung jury. 
• Real Estate and Loan Dispute: Obtained a civil judgment in a bench trial where the seller wrongfully refused to complete a real estate transaction that involved a 40-acre parcel of property, hotel, and restaurant.
• Partnership and Real Estate Dispute: Obtained a multi-million dollar judgment at trial on behalf of a deceased partner when the surviving partner refused to pay expenses associated with the entitlement and development of two 13-acre commercial properties.
• Healthcare and Partnership Dispute: Obtained a multi-million judgment at trial in an ownership and valuation dispute over a nephrology medical group. More importantly, the Court ordered the adverse party to pay 99% of the attorney’s fees and costs (almost $1 million) incurred by our client.
• Commercial Equipment Lease: Obtained a seven-figure civil judgment on a commercial equipment lease for high-end computer servers.
• Professional Negligence and Environmental Law: Obtained a six-figure judgment at trial against a consultant that negligently drafted a Screen Check Draft Environmental Impact Report and a Final Environmental Impact Report. 
• Partition: Obtained a multi-million dollar judgment at trial that forced the sale of a commercial property and distributed the proceeds from the sale to each owner on a pro rata basis.
• Civil Rights Violation: Prevailed at trial in a case against the State of California involving a prisoner’s constitutional right to refuse medical treatment.
• Trade Secret and Cannabis: Secured a dismissal (not a settlement) of a trade secret lawsuit filed in federal court against a nationally acclaimed biochemist for allegedly stealing nanotechnology that makes cannabidiol (“CBD”) water soluble. 
• Copyright/Trade Dress Violation: Obtained a multi-million dollar settlement for a social game developer in a copyright and trade dress dispute that involved a popular Facebook app.
• Protect and Enforce Intellectual Property Rights: Managed global trademark portfolios for businesses and efficiently enforced and litigated cases to secure their brand identity across product and service lines.
• Franchise Dispute: Negotiated a multi-million dollar settlement between two partners that owned numerous home healthcare franchises.
• Forgery Case: Successfully defended a restaurant owner at trial against an alcohol distributor that attempted to enforce a contract that was forged.
• Property Boundary Dispute: Negotiated a favorable settlement in a case involving a boundary dispute between a homeowner and a public agency when the homeowner purchased their property without knowledge of the encroachment.
• Breach of Contract Claim: Obtained a judgment against a party that failed to exercise an option to purchase a ground lease.
• Property Tax Assessment: Negotiated a multi-million dollar tax assessment dispute involving Proposition 8 and 13 valuations for outdoor advertising signs.
• ADA Violations: Negotiated favorable settlements for numerous small businesses that allegedly violated the American with Disabilities Act.
• Mechanics Lien: Negotiated a favorable settlement with a real estate developer that recorded mechanics’ liens and allegedly performed work on a large scale timeshare condominium project.

• Judicial Selection Advisory Committee, Governor Gavin Newsom (2019 – Present)
• Altura Credit Union, Board of Directors (2017 – Present)
• San Bernardino County Bar Association, President (2017 – 2020) and Vice President (2015 – 2017)
• National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Treasurer (2016 – 2017), Regional Governor (2014 – 2016)
• Judicial Nominations and Evaluation Commission, California State Bar (2016 – 2018)
• Asian Pacific American Lawyers of the Inland Empire, Founder (2013), President (2014 – 2015), and Board Member (2013 – 2017)
• Orange County Korean American Bar Association, President (2011 – 2012) and Board Member (2009 – 2012)
• Pick Group of Young Professionals, President (2013 -2014) and Founding Member (2009)
• Big Brothers Big Sisters, Board Member (2014 – Present)
• Tech Coast Angels, Member (2012 – 2014)
• Asian Professional Exchange, Director of Corporate Relations (2009 – 2010)
• The Unforgettables Foundation, Board Member (2007 – 2010)