Lawyers
David K. Lee
David K. Lee is Chair for the Corporate Practice Group and the Media and Entertainment Practice Group at the law firm of Lee & Kaufman, LLP, in Los Angeles, California. David represents studios, music companies, software companies and other content providers, broadcasting companies, real estate owners, developers and funds, motion picture distributors and investors, auto manufacturers, securities companies, insurance companies, national retail chains, and publishing companies in connection with general and complex corporate and business work such as general corporate work, content license and distribution, investment and finance, mergers and acquisitions, and joint ventures. David represents many foreign companies in international deals including Korea, Japan, China, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Italy and Australia.
David began his legal practice in 1991 with the highly prestigious international law firm of Kim & Chang in Seoul, Korea as an associate. At this firm, David represented mainly Fortune 500 companies from all over the world such as the Walt Disney Company, IBM, Microsoft, Hewlett Packward, and Apple on business, corporate and government compliance and regulatory matters in Korea. David later joined one of the leading boutique transactional and litigation law firms, Radcliff, Fransen Tricker & Dongell, in the Los Angeles office, where he managed business and corporate transactional matters for private clients and public entities.
Between these firms, David spent time with Asiana Airlines, the U.S. Offices, as head legal counsel in the U.S. During his time with the airline company, David coordinated and managed all legal matters for the more than 20 offices in the U.S, reporting directly to the Senior Vice President, head of North America and South America operations. David’s work included both managing and working on transactional, litigation and government compliance and regulatory matters, coordinating with numerous outside counsel throughout the U.S.
David received his bachelor degree from the University of California, at Los Angeles, and his juris doctorate from the McGeorge School of Law, in Sacramento, California. David also studied economics at Oxford University at Oxford, England. David’s legal expertise and accomplishments are recognized in Strathmore’s Who’s Who. David is also passionate in his support of political candidates and projects in the U.S. and Korea.
Martin J. Kaufman
Martin is a native of Los Angeles. In 1999, Martin joined his long time friend and business partner, David Lee, in forming the boutique law firm, Lee & Kaufman, LLP (a firm that consists of six attorneys specializing in all legal matters). Martin came to the firm as a seasoned trial lawyer, responsible for handling complex litigation matters in the areas of business, entertainment, employment and personal injury litigation. As head of the firm’s litigation group, Martin has represented such notable clients as Honda North America, Hartford Insurance, California Korea Bank, Asiana Airlines, Speed Racer Enterprises, Piaggio, USAand Elan Records, along with several other prominent individuals. Martin has also expanded his practice to include the representation of several “start up” companies, as well as rendering business and employment advice and guidance for other small to mid-sized companies.
Prior to forming Lee & Kaufman, LLP, Martin was corporate counsel for Honda North America, where he was an essential ingredient in many of the recent successes of this Fortune 500 company. At Honda, Martin created a nationwide practice where he amassed a trial record of 13-1. He also gained experience in trademark, copyright employment and intellectual property matters.
Since this time, Martin has engaged in an extensive employment law practice where he primarily defends mid-sized to large corporate clients in a variety of actions involving employment related claims such as ‘ADA’ claims and discrimination disputes. Martin also spends considerable time advising clients on the various pitfalls and issues that regularly arise under Federal and State employment law.
In 1991, Martin graduated with distinction from the University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. He joined the prestigious law firm, Pillsbury Madison & Sutro. At “PMS” Martin represented many of the foremost companies of the Dow Jones, including Pacific Telesis, Travelers, Chevron, Ford Motor Company, Bank of America.
Education
Juris Doctor, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law (1991), Editor for
Law Review, editor for The Transnational Lawyer.
B.A. Political Science, University of California at Irvine (1988), cum laude.
Varsity letter, UCI Track and Field Team, Pacific Coast Athletic Association
(PCAA) Scholar Athlete
Credentials and Associations
Member, California State Bar (admitted 1991); Admitted to practice before all California Federal Courts;
Member, America Bar Association;
Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association;
Chairman of Board, Wilshire Center Chamber of Commerce
Publications and Speaking Engagements
“The corporate response to massive discovery," DRI annual meeting, February, 1996;
"Challenges for the corporate practitioner," American Bar Association convention, Arizona, 1999.