Jones Day Strengthens Washington IP Practice with Former USPTO Deputy Commissioner Charles Kim

Jones Day has welcomed Charles Kim as a partner in its global Intellectual Property Practice, where he will be based in the firm’s Washington office. Kim brings more than 24 years of experience in intellectual property law, with a specialized focus on patent law, patent policy, and disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).

Before joining Jones Day, Kim served as the Deputy Commissioner for Patents — Legal at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). In that capacity, he acted as the principal patent counsel to the Chief Operating Officer of the Patents organization. His responsibilities included providing executive leadership to multiple USPTO units, including the Office of Petitions, the Office of Patent Legal Administration, the Office of Patent Quality Assurance, the Central Reexamination Unit, and the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure staff.

Kim also oversaw the Office of International Patent Cooperation and led the USPTO’s Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technology Working Group. Under his leadership, the group developed key national policies on AI intellectual property, including Inventorship Guidance for AI-Assisted Inventions, guidance on the use of AI tools before the USPTO, and updates on patent subject matter eligibility related to AI.

Anthony M. Insogna, Practice Leader of Jones Day’s Intellectual Property Practice, highlighted Kim’s unique qualifications, stating, “Charles brings an extraordinary depth of hands-on experience shaping U.S. patent policy at the highest levels, particularly at the intersection of patent law and artificial intelligence. His two decades of leadership at the USPTO, including his role in developing the Office’s guidance on AI-assisted inventions, gives our clients a rare and valuable perspective as they navigate patent protection for emerging technologies.”

Jones Day’s Intellectual Property Practice comprises over 225 professionals worldwide, representing innovators in complex litigation, technology-driven transactions, and IP asset management. The firm maintains a full-service IP practice with a global footprint spanning Australia, China, Korea, Asia, Europe, Japan, and the United States.

Noel Francisco, Partner-in-Charge of Jones Day’s Washington Office, praised Kim’s addition, saying, “Charles’s decades of public service and his standing as a leading authority on patent law and policy make him a tremendous addition to our Washington Office. His experience advising the USPTO Director and representing the agency before the National Science and Technology Council gives him an important vantage point on where patent law is headed, and our clients will benefit enormously from his counsel.”

Kim holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering with High Honors from Rutgers University and earned his Juris Doctor from George Washington University Law School. He also completed an Executive Certificate in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, where he studied courses including “Leading in Artificial Intelligence: Exploring Technology and Policy.” He is admitted to practice law in Virginia.

Reflecting on his decision to join Jones Day, Kim said, “Jones Day’s reputation in IP and its global collaboration across offices made this opportunity an attractive next step in my career. I look forward to drawing on my experience shaping patent policy at the USPTO, particularly around AI and emerging technologies, to help our clients protect and enforce their IP. I am eager to join the team in Washington and to work with my IP colleagues around the world.”