Daniel Shim Joins Fish & Richardson as Of Counsel, Bringing Extensive Samsung IP Litigation Expertise

US intellectual property law firm Fish & Richardson has announced the addition of Daniel Shim as of counsel to its global IP litigation practice, based in Washington, DC. Shim joins the firm following a distinguished 16-year tenure at Samsung Electronics, where he played a central role in managing the company’s worldwide IP litigation portfolio.

Shim’s most recent position at Samsung was as group leader and principal legal counsel at the company’s R&D centre in Seoul, a role he held since November 2018. In this capacity, he oversaw global IP litigation efforts, advised on litigation strategy, licensing, and enterprise risk, and coordinated parallel proceedings across multiple jurisdictions in collaboration with outside counsel. Notably, Shim was involved in the high-profile global dispute between Samsung and Apple, which culminated in a settlement in 2018.

Before returning to Seoul, Shim spent four years (2014–2018) as director of European IP affairs based in Brussels. During this period, he was actively engaged in significant standard essential patent (SEP) and fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) licensing disputes on behalf of Samsung. His European experience includes involvement in litigation at the Düsseldorf Regional Court concerning power consumption measurement technology and in battery technology disputes against Varta at the Regional Courts of Munich, Mannheim, and Braunschweig, which were ultimately resolved through settlement.

Shim began his career at Samsung in 2009 as legal counsel within the global legal affairs group, advancing through senior and principal legal counsel roles based in Suwon. Prior to joining Samsung, he practiced as an associate at US law firms Steptoe & Johnson in Washington, DC, and Sughrue Mion. He holds a degree in electrical and computer engineering and an LL.M. in EU competition law and economics.

Fish & Richardson highlighted Shim’s extensive experience handling complex, multi-jurisdictional IP disputes across the US, UK, Germany, the Unified Patent Court (UPC), Brazil, China, India, and other Asian jurisdictions. His expertise in SEP and FRAND litigation aligns with the firm’s strategic focus on high-stakes patent enforcement and licensing matters.

Samsung remains one of the most active participants in SEP disputes globally and a frequent litigant before the UPC. Shim was involved in ongoing proceedings against patent holders such as Maxell and ZTE, including the high-profile dispute with the Chinese telecom company that is currently prominent in UPC and national courts in Germany and the UK.

During his time at Samsung, Shim collaborated with Fish & Richardson on key litigation campaigns, including US proceedings related to mobile communications patents asserted by non-practicing entity Headwater Research. These proceedings formed part of a global litigation strategy that also encompassed UPC actions and were settled in 2025.

Commenting on his move, Shim stated, “Fish combines deep technical and litigation experience with a highly collaborative, client-focused approach. I’m excited to join a team that I know delivers strong results on complex, high-stakes matters and to help clients navigate the increasingly global nature of IP disputes.”

Fish & Richardson, founded in 1878, is a leading US IP law firm with over 450 attorneys across 15 offices in the US, China, and Germany. Its Munich office serves as the firm’s European hub, staffed by a diverse team specializing in patent litigation and related IP matters.

Shim’s appointment reinforces Fish & Richardson’s commitment to expanding its global patent litigation capabilities, particularly in the evolving landscape of SEP enforcement and FRAND licensing disputes, which continue to shape the international IP environment.