Kee Young Lee

Kee Young Lee is a patent litigator at Covington & Burling LLP, specializing in intellectual property disputes in U.S. district courts and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). Drawing on a background in electrical and computer engineering, Lee handles complex technical issues across various technologies, including semiconductors, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays, liquid crystal displays (LCD), software, and wireless communications. Lee primarily represents operating companies, with tracked appearances indicating a focus on defendant-side work.

Lee's experience includes significant involvement in patent infringement litigation and ITC Section 337 investigations. A notable case includes representing Samsung Display Co Ltd as a defendant in litigation with BOE Technology Group Co Ltd, a dispute that encompassed patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation claims related to OLED display technology. This multi-year global litigation ultimately settled, with BOE reportedly agreeing to license Samsung Display's OLED intellectual property and pay royalties. Lee's firm, Covington & Burling, has a respected patent litigation group known for representing pharmaceutical and technology clients before the ITC and federal courts.

Lee regularly litigates cases in federal district courts, the U.S. International Trade Commission, and before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), also handling appeals from these proceedings, including matters before the Federal Circuit. For example, Lee was involved in PTAB proceedings related to BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd. v. Samsung Display Co., Ltd., which were terminated due to settlement.

Prior to joining Covington & Burling, Lee worked as a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, focusing on patent applications in natural language processing, speech signal processing, and audio compression. Lee earned a J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 2020 and holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, awarded in 2013. Lee is admitted to the District of Columbia bar.