Helen B. Kim

Partner
Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP

Los Angeles
United States
T:+1 213 892 9261
Los Angeles
United States
T:+1 213 892 9261
Helen B. Kim

Helen B. Kim

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Biography

Helen B. Kim is a trial lawyer with more than 30 years of experience representing clients in securities and other complex commercial litigation. She represents public and private companies, as well as their directors, officers and principal shareholders before the courts and in arbitration proceedings.

Helen has successfully defended clients in multiple shareholder derivative suits, nationwide securities class actions and securities and commodities enforcement proceedings. She also guides companies and their officers through regulatory investigations.


Professional experience

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JD, Yale Law School, 1987

MM, The Juilliard School, 1984

AB, Harvard-Radcliffe Colleges, 1982

  • California State Bar
  • New York State Bar
  • Defended general counsel of a New York City-based financial services company in three federal securities class actions brought on behalf of its shareholders arising from the company's failure to disclose a US$400m account receivable in a bond offering and a subsequent initial public offering. Obtained dismissal of all fraud claims and reached a settlement with lead plaintiffs. In a related case, defended the company's general counsel in a federal securities class action brought on behalf of customers of the company's subsidiary, asserting claims of breach of fiduciary duty and aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty. Obtained dismissal of all claims.
  • Represented former associate general counsel in the federal securities class actions filed against a commodities brokerage firm and successfully obtained dismissal of all claims. Additionally, represented former associate general counsel in connection with the CFTC and Securities Exchange Commission's joint investigation of the company. After receipt of a "Wells Notice," advising that the Enforcement Division of the CFTC proposed to recommend the institution of an enforcement action, successfully persuaded the CFTC not to bring charges.
  • Renegotiated the terms of an operating agreement that effectively gave the clients control of the LLC on a going-forward basis, removed the offending minority member from the position of managing member, permitted the project to proceed to completion, and allowed the clients to purchase units in the completed project at a steeply discounted price.
  • Represented REIT, its board of directors and officers and obtained dismissal of all claims by former outside advisor, including breach of contract, unfair business practices and breach of fiduciary duty, by obtaining order for terminating sanctions and monetary sanctions arising from plaintiffs' egregious discovery abuse.
  • Obtained complete dismissal after two-week bench trial of all claims by LLC against minority member for breach of fiduciary duty and negligence.
  • Lead trial lawyer for a minority shareholder who obtained a judgment, after a three-and-a-half-week jury trial, against majority shareholders for fraud, breach of contract, and conversion for their unlawful actions to dilute the client's ownership of the company and for payment of disguised dividends.in damages for infringement of four patents related to golf ball construction; obtained jury verdict invalidating all four asserted patents as anticipated and obvious.
  • Counseled clients on compliance with Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, including in the areas of testimonials, endorsements, online advertising and "Made in the USA" claims.
  • Southern California Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2007, 2009-2020
  • Most Influential Minority Attorneys in LA, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2018
  • Most Influential Women Lawyers in LA, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2017-2018
  • 25 Most Influential Women in Securities Law, Law360, 2016
  • Civic Leadership Award, League of Women Voters of Los Angeles, 2014
  • Women's Leadership Award, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, 2012
  • Patricia Phillips Outstanding Committee Service Award, Los Angeles County Bar Association, 2010
  • Top 100 California Women Attorneys, Daily Journal, 2008-2010
  • Person of the Year Award, Korean American Association of Greater New York, 2001
  • American Bar Association Member of Council of the Section of Litigation (2022-present); Managing Director of the Section of Litigation, 2021-2022; Managing Director Designate of the Section of Litigation, 2020-2021; Division Director of the Section of Litigation, 2018-2020; Chair, Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession, 2018-2020; Former Chair, ABA Securities Litigation Committee, 2014-2018; Special Advisor, Fund for Justice & Education, (2023-present); Council for Fund for Justice & Education (2020-2023); Special Advisor, Standing Committee for Bar Activities & Services, 2023-present
  • Korean American Coalition, Former Chair, 2014-2018
  • Los Angeles County Bar Association and Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles Joint Task Force on the Retention and Promotion of Women in the Profession
  • Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, Past President, 2008-2009
  • National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, President, 2007-2008