ATTORNEYS

Nary Kim
Partner

310.272.7927
nkim@kbkfirm.com
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Nary Kim is an accomplished litigator who has helped build compelling and convincing cases for a wide range of high-profile clients, including major film and television studios, music labels and brands, top-tier law firms, and leading entertainment figures and artists.

Ms. Kim’s practice focuses on entertainment and media and complex litigation, and she provides the expertise needed to develop winning case strategies for her clients. Among other matters, she has successfully litigated or resolved disputes over profit participation, copyright and trademark infringement, trade secret misappropriation, and film and television distribution agreements. She has been an integral member of seven KBK trial teams, including the trial teams that won a favorable judgment for a prominent business client and secured multiple arbitration victories for major film and television studios. Ms. Kim also has played a leading role in securing the dismissal of a child pornography case filed by the person pictured on the album cover of Nirvana’s “Nevermind.”

In addition to her achievements in the entertainment and media litigation practice, Ms. Kim has successfully defended lawyers and law firms in professional malpractice cases, secured numerous anti-SLAPP victories for both entertainment and malpractice clients, and has successfully resolved First Amendment, construction, landlord-tenant, and employment disputes in state and federal courts.

Ms. Kim has received numerous accolades in honor of her achievements, including Law360’s Rising Star Award, Variety’s “Up Next” recognition, Lawdragon’s Next Generation, and Benchmark Litigation’s 40 & Under list. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for Public Counsel, the nation’s largest provider of pro bono legal services, and serves on the Law360 Media & Entertainment Editorial Advisory Board. Ms. Kim also maintains an active pro bono practice.

Education

University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, J.D., 2013

American Jurisprudence Award in Entertainment Law
Asian American Law Journal articles editor
California Law Review member

Amherst College, B.A. with honors, 2009

Recipient of the Ralph Waldo Rice Prize for best senior portfolio submitted to the English Department in consideration for honors

Representative Matters

Commercial Litigation

Served as an integral part of the legal team that obtained two consecutive favorable judgments for a media company in a pair of breach of contract actions filed against the manufacturer of toys and entertainment products.
Served as a key member of the team that secured a complete defense verdict for major film studios in a confidential arbitration brought by a world-famous stand-up comedian.
Served as the lead associate on a team that obtained a favorable settlement for a well-known music producer in a breach of fiduciary duty case brought by a former business associate.
Assisted in the successful defense of HR-MWC Partners, LLC, in a multi-million dispute arising from the failure of a land-development project in Tianjin, China.
Served as the lead associate on a team that obtained a favorable settlement for a real-estate developer in a construction defect dispute against the general contractor of a retail development project.

White Collar Defense and Government Investigations

Obtained the dismissal of a $20 million qui tam action alleging that a national construction company had engaged in bid-rigging, had improperly obtained projects from the federal government through programs designed to benefit small, minority businesses, and had falsified costs associated with its projects.

Legal Malpractice

Served as part of the legal team that obtained a favorable settlement for a top-tier national law firm.
Served as an integral member of a team that successfully obtained the dismissal of State Bar disciplinary proceeding against an attorney at a national law firm.

Trademark Law

Served as an integral part of a team that successfully settled a trademark dispute that had been brought by a major energy drink manufacturer against a competing manufacturer.

First Amendment Litigation

Served as the lead associate on a team that obtained a favorable settlement for a California-based artist in a First Amendment case that was filed against the County of San Bernardino.

Recognition and Affiliations

Benchmark Litigation, 40 & Under Hot List, 2022-2023
Law360, Rising Star, 2023
Law360, Media & Entertainment Editorial Advisory Board, 2023
Lawdragon, The Next Generation, 2023
Variety “Up Next,” 2022
Public Counsel: Board of Directors, 2022—present
ACLU Foundation of Southern California, Artistic Expression Award, 2014

Publications and Appearances

“Who Owns Your Company Facebook Account? #unclear,” Law360 (2015).
“Capping Hours to Avoid ACA Costs Could Violate ERISA,” Co-author, CFO.com (2014).
“Paparazzi Law Limits Our First Amendment Rights,” Co-author, Daily Journal (2013).
“Too Smart for His Own Good? The Devolution of a “Model” Asian American Student,” 20 Asian Am. L.J. 83 (2013).

Prior to Kendall Brill & Kelly

Jenner & Block, LLP, 2013–2015
Associate

Bar and Court Admissions

California, 2013
U.S. District Courts
Central and Northern Districts of California