Timothy B Yoo

Intellectual Property, Entertainment, Complex Business Litigation

Timothy B. Yoo first-chairs high-stakes IP, technology, and commercial disputes for clients ranging from venture-backed startups to global Fortune 500 companies. Technically trained in engineering and a seasoned trial lawyer, he combines deep technical fluency with extensive courtroom experience to consistently deliver results in high-leverage, complex disputes.

Recognized by Chambers USA as an “excellent lawyer with deep IP experience” who is “very smart and has good judgment,” Timothy is consistently named among California’s Top Intellectual Property Lawyers by the Daily Journal. He is also featured in the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global IP Lawyers guide and was named “Trial Lawyer of the Year” by the Century City Bar Association in Los Angeles. Because of his track record, clients regularly retain Timothy on the eve of trial to take over high-exposure cases.

As Chair of the firm’s IP Litigation Practice Group, Timothy quickly masters complex technologies to navigate intricate legal disputes across multiple industries, including semiconductors, consumer electronics, aerospace, content security, automotive, fintech, cryptocurrency, and entertainment media.

Timothy’s ability to quickly master complex technologies efficiently and navigate intricate legal disputes makes him a sought-after advocate across multiple industries, including semiconductors, consumer electronics, satellite broadcast, automotive, fintech, cryptocurrency, and entertainment media.

Recent Highlights:

Next-Gen Tech Arbitration: Successfully defended the world’s largest electronics contract manufacturer in an arbitration hearing over next-generation atmospheric water-generation technology.

Fintech Jury Trial: Won a complete defense verdict in a two-week federal jury trial on behalf of a unicorn fintech company against trademark and tortious-interference claims.

Satellite & Content Security Dispute: Served as lead trial counsel for a premier satellite television provider in a two-week federal court trial involving content security technology.

$175M Defense Victory: Defeated Microsoft’s $175 million breach-of-contract lawsuit against the world’s largest memory-chip maker regarding DRAM supply after three-week federal jury trial.

Secured favorable resolution for blockchain company and its CTO in multi-jurisdiction ICO fraud and securities litigation.

Foundational Patent Litigation: Currently representing a leading research university in patent litigation against a multinational technology company over foundational 2D/3D mapping technology.

Cross-Border & Entertainment Expertise

Before joining Bird Marella, Timothy served as head of international disputes for CJ Entertainment & Media, Korea’s largest entertainment and media conglomerate. This unique in-house background gives him a distinct edge in cross-border litigation and IP enforcement for Asian companies navigating the U.S. legal system.

A trusted legal strategist for global brands, Timothy represents prominent international media companies, record labels, and global K-pop stars—including HYBE, BTS, SEVENTEEN, TXT, Stray Kids, Kakao Entertainment, TV Chosun Corp., MBC, Seoul Broadcasting System, and NHN Bugs—in high-profile U.S. copyright and IP matters.

President, LACBA Counsel for Justice

Member, Council of Korean Americans

Fellow, Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), 2016

Articles & Publications

Featured in Cover Story Interview, Legal Times, July 2023

Author, “K-Pop to Parasite—Navigating South Korean Business Culture,” Bloomberg Law, May 2020

Author, “Proliferation of Streaming Video Services Could Lead to Increased Regulations and Taxes on OTT Providers,” Daily Journal, April 2020

Author, “How Streaming Video Cos. Are Challenging New Taxes,” Law360, April 2020

Podcasts

Guest, "047: Tim Yoo on How to Study Elite Performers to Find an Edge," Khurram's Quorum, February 2026

Guest, "031: Tim Yoo on What Lawyers Can Learn from Pro-Wrestling, Applied Mathematics, and Tennis," Khurram's Quorum, January 2025

Guest, "Hsu Untied," March 2024

As lead trial counsel, secured a nearly $30 million judgment for a multinational logistics company client after a bench trial in Los Angeles Superior Court in a matter involving fuel distribution throughout California. Glovis America, Inc. v. Red Energy, Inc., et al., Case No. 23STCV07607.

As lead trial counsel, after several years of litigation including a two-week federal jury trial, secured a $20-million-plus judgment in 2025 on behalf of his LED-display manufacturer client Galaxia Electronics Co., Ltd. in a breach-of-contract and promissory fraud case. Galaxia Electronics Co., Ltd. v. Luxmax, U.S.A., et al., Case No. 2:16-cv-05144-JAK-GJS (C.D. Cal.).

Successfully defended one of the country’s largest real estate firms as lead trial counsel in a nearly four-week jury trial in Los Angeles Superior Court in a case involving allegations of defective construction and material non-disclosures in a multi-unit, mixed-use development.

Won complete defense verdict in a federal jury trial for Pentius, LLC, a consumer-credit fintech company, on industry incumbent ConsumerDirect’s trademark, false designation of origin, and intentional interference claims following a nearly two-week trial and just a few hours of deliberations. ConsumerDirect, Inc. v. Pentius, LLC, et al., Case No. 8:21-cv-01968 (C.D. Cal.).

Secured summary judgement on behalf of Korean media company Seoul Broadcasting System in a long-running copyright dispute concerning the works of South Korean composer Jae-Ho Lee. Beom Su Lee v. Kim Yonja, et al., Case No. 2:23-cv-10677-MCS-E (C.D. Cal.)

Won copyright-infringement lawsuit on behalf of international K-pop sensation BTS and its label, HYBE Corporation. The plaintiff alleged that the idea for CJ E&M and HYBE’s reality show I-Land was stolen from a written treatment for his original television series idea. The district court granted Timothy's first motion to dismiss without giving the plaintiff leave to amend—concluding that plaintiff’s claims failed as a matter of law—and entered judgment in favor of his clients. Bryan Kahn v. CJ E&M, BTS aka Bangtan Boys, and Big Hit Entertainment Company, Case No. 2:21-cv-03230-DMG-KS (C.D. Cal).

Successfully defended Humax USA, Inc., a set-top box and wireless router distributor, in a patent-infringement lawsuit in the District of Delaware. Plaintiff had alleged that Humax USA’s products infringed on its patents purporting to cover port-triggering functionality. After minimal discovery and the exchange of non-infringement positions, Plaintiff agreed to a voluntary dismissal. CDN Innovations, LLC v. Humax USA, Inc., Case No. 1:23-cv-00159 (D. Del.).

Won copyright-infringement lawsuit in favor of a joint defense group comprised of some of Korea’s largest media companies – Kakao Entertainment, Genie Music, NHN Bugs, TJ Media, Keum Young, MBC, and TV Chosun – concerning the works of South Korean composer Jae-Ho Lee. Successfully prevailed on successive motions to dismiss, securing a dismissal with prejudice. Beom Su Lee v. TV Chosun, et al., Case No. 2:22-cv-00933-DSF-KS (C.D. Cal.).

In 2021, successfully defended the world’s largest electronics contract manufacturer as lead trial counsel in a ten-day JAMS arbitration hearing in Los Angeles, California involving atmospheric water-generating technology.

Represented leading test prep and college consulting company in several trademark enforcement actions, including in a trademark opposition action before the Trademark Trial & Appeal Board over a competitor’s confusingly similar trademark registration, resulting in the express abandonment with prejudice of the competitor’s mark, Elite Education Group International Inc. v. Elite Educational Advisors, LLC, TTAB Opposition No. 91270898, and a district court action against another competitor resulting in that competitor’s agreement to rebrand entirely.

As co-lead trial counsel, achieved a complete defense verdict on behalf of his client SK hynix, the world’s second-largest memory chip manufacturer, after a three-week jury trial in the Western District of Washington in a $175-million breach-of-contract lawsuit brought on behalf of the Microsoft Corporation by its subsidiary insurer. Cypress Insurance Co. v. SK Hynix America, Inc., Case No. 2:17-cv-00467-RAJ (W.D. Wash.).

Completely defended a $50-million copyright-infringement lawsuit on behalf of his client CJ Entertainment & Media, Korea’s largest media conglomerate, concerning the distribution of “K-pop” songs in the U.S. over the Beats Music platform. Prior to the commencement of extensive international discovery, Timothy was able to get the case dismissed in its entirety based on the doctrine of forum non conveniens, which the Ninth Circuit has noted is an “exceptional” remedy that is rarely to be used. DFSB Kollective Co. Ltd. v. CJ E&M, Inc., et al., Case No. 2:15-cv-01650-SVW-FFM (C.D. Cal.).

Defended ASRock America, a subsidiary of Taiwanese electronics contract manufacturer Pegatron Corporation, in a patent-infringement lawsuit involving high-performance WiFi routers, resulting in a favorable settlement for his client. BE Labs, Inc. v. ASRock America, Inc., Case No. 2:19-cv-2637-JAK-AS (C.D Cal.).

Favorably resolved a global trademark dispute on behalf of his snack-food manufacturer client World Peas Brand, the maker of Peatos™, against Frito-Lay.

Successfully defended an individual client in a trade-secrets-theft case against a tech conglomerate, resulting in the plaintiff tech company taking a license on his client’s patents (embodying the alleged trade secrets).

Served as trial counsel for leading wireless device manufacturer in a patent infringement investigation before the International Trade Commission, resulting in a determination of non-infringement and invalidity of the asserted patent. ITC Investigation (337-TA-794).

University of California, Berkeley School of Law, J.D., American Jurisprudence Award (Introduction to IP), 2007

California Institute of Technology, B.S., Applied & Computational Mathematics, 2004