by Kim, Lahey & Killough Law FirmSara Kanos joins Kim Lahey Killough Greenville Office
Kim, Lahey & Killough Welcomes Intellectual Property Attorney Sara Kanos
Kim, Lahey & Killough Law Firm is pleased to announce the addition of intellectual property attorney Sara C. Kanos to the firm’s Greenville, SC, office. Kanos brings more than two decades of intellectual property experience to the firm, with a practice spanning patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and internet-related matters. Her work encompasses patentability analysis, trademark clearance, infringement assessment, and licensing and contractual arrangements, offering clients a strategic, big-picture approach to managing intellectual assets across their full lifecycle. Originally from Bergamo, Italy, Kanos is fluent in Italian and brings an international perspective to cross-border IP matters.
Kanos is widely recognized for her work in intellectual property law. She was named the Best Lawyers in America® 2026 “Lawyer of the Year” in Trademark Law for the Greenville metro market and has been listed in Best Lawyers for both Intellectual Property Litigation and Trademark Law continuously since 2018. She has also been named to South Carolina Legal Elite for her work in Intellectual Property and Innovation and recognized as a Top Lawyer by TALK Greenville Magazine.
An active voice in the IP community, Kanos has authored and lectured on intellectual property issues for legal, business, and innovation audiences. She previously served as Chair of the South Carolina Bar’s Intellectual Property and Unfair Competition Committee, is a Leadership Greenville alumna and is an engaged member of the Greenville technology and entrepreneurship ecosystems.
“We are thrilled to welcome Sara Kanos to the firm,” commented firm founder Doug Kim. “Sara is exactly the kind of attorney that defines Kim, Lahey & Killough: someone who came up through larger firms, built a distinguished career, and brings that depth of experience to bear for clients who deserve big-firm caliber counsel in a boutique setting. Sara’s exceptional credentials, her scientific background, and her remarkable record in trademark and patent matters make her a perfect complement to what we have built here.”
A biochemist by training, Kanos holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Biochemistry from Furman University, where her research included pharmaceutical synthesis and the study of DNA-interactive compounds. She applies that deep scientific background directly to her IP practice, most notably in patent prosecution and technical analysis. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law and is admitted to practice before all South Carolina courts, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, and the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
About Kim, Lahey & Killough
With offices in both Greenville and Charleston South Carolina, the Kim, Lahey & Killough Law Firm provides strategic legal solutions to businesses of all sizes in the areas of intellectual property creation and protection, brand protection, invention protection, copyright, licensing, intellectual property litigation, trade secrets, software protection, internet and e-commerce issues, corporate formation, contracts, and business disputes and mediation resolutions.
by Kim, Lahey & Killough Law FirmIP attorneys named in 2026 South Carolina Super Lawyers
Kim, Lahey & Killough Attorneys Named to 2026 South Carolina Super Lawyers List
Kim, Lahey & Killough is pleased to announce that four of its attorneys have been recognized in the 2026 South Carolina edition of Super Lawyers, a legal ranking published by Thomson Reuters.
Patent attorneys Doug Kim, Seann Lahey, B.C. Killough, and Hunter Freeman have each been named among the state’s top-rated intellectual property attorneys.
Charleston-based attorney B.C. Killough marks his 12th consecutive year of recognition for his work in intellectual property law in the publication and in Greenville, SC IP attorney and firm founder Doug Kim celebrates his 10th year of recognition.
Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Super Lawyers recognizes no more than five percent of the lawyers statewide each year.
About Kim, Lahey & Killough
With offices in both Greenville and Charleston South Carolina, the Kim, Lahey & Killough Law Firm provides strategic legal solutions to businesses of all sizes in the areas of intellectual property creation and protection, brand protection, invention protection, copyright, licensing, intellectual property litigation, trade secrets, software protection, internet and e-commerce issues, corporate formation, contracts, and business disputes and mediation resolutions.
by Kim, Lahey & Killough Law FirmCIPA in South Carolina
California’s Privacy Law Reaches South Carolina
A 1967 California wiretapping statute is creating unexpected legal exposure for businesses far outside the Golden State, including right here in South Carolina. In an article published in South Carolina Lawyer, Kim, Lahey & Killough attorney Emily Bohan and University of South Carolina School of Law student Max Young explain how the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA) has been repurposed to target common website tools like tracking pixels, session replay software, chatbots, and analytics platforms.
CIPA’s core requirement is that all parties to a communication must consent before it is recorded. This is significantly more strict than federal law and most state statutes. Plaintiffs are now arguing that third-party scripts embedded on websites function as illegal wiretaps, and courts have been receptive. Critically, recent decisions make clear that consent mechanisms must be triggered before any tracking begins, meaning the standard practice of loading scripts on page arrival, before a user can click “accept,” may already constitute a violation.
The reach of CIPA has expanded beyond California’s borders. In Briskin v. Shopify, the Ninth Circuit found that collecting and monetizing data from California residents was enough to establish personal jurisdiction, even for a Canadian company with no California office. The “capability test” emerging from Ambriz v. Google adds another layer of risk: vendors that merely retain the ability to use client data for their own purposes (such as training AI models) may not qualify for otherwise available defenses that could shield them from liability.
Steps Businesses Should Take Now
- Affirmative consent mechanisms should fire before any tracking scripts load.
- Sensitive data fields should be masked on the client side so raw inputs never leave the user’s browser.
- Vendor contracts must explicitly prohibit data monetization and secondary use and should include robust indemnification clauses covering privacy and wiretapping claims.
- Regular technical audits are essential to catch unauthorized third-party trackers before plaintiffs do.
Excerpt:
Wiretapping in the Digital Age: How an Old Law in California is Reaching into South Carolina
The National Expanse of California Privacy Law
For many attorneys in South Carolina, the notion that a California state law enacted in 1967 regulating industrial espionage and wiretapping could impose significant liability on a manufacturing firm in Greenville or a hospitality group in Charleston may seem farfetched. Yet, the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA) has been repurposed to target modern tracking technologies. What began as a statute designed for technology running on copper wires may now apply to website pixels, chatbots, and session replay soft-ware, creating a minefield of potential liability for companies nationwide.
This expansion presents a unique threat to entities outside of California, including those here in the Palmetto State. Due to the borderless nature of the internet and aggressive jurisdictional theories, South Carolina businesses and other non-California entities are increasingly finding themselves appearing in California courts. The core of this liability lies in CIPA’s strict “all-party consent” requirement. Unlike federal law and other state statutes that permit recording with the consent of one party involved in a communication, CIPA requires the consent of all parties to a communication before recording is permitted. Consequently, the undisclosed use of third-party tracking scripts may lead to both criminal and civil penalties with significant statutory damages, and this law has already caught many businesses off guard.
The full article, including a detailed review of the relevant case law and practical compliance steps, is available in the Spring issue (page 27) of South Carolina Lawyer.
Emily Bohan is an attorney at Kim, Lahey & Killough’s Greenville, SC office, focusing her legal practice on business formation, corporate law,franchise law and mediations. She is licensed to practice in both South Carolina and Virginia. Max Young is a J.D. candidate, Class of 2026, at University of South Carolina.
by Kim, Lahey & Killough Law FirmHunter Freeman Named Leader in the Law by South Carolina Lawyers Weekly
Hunter Freeman Named Leader in the Law by South Carolina Lawyers Weekly
Kim, Lahey & Killough is pleased to announce that attorney Hunter Freeman has been named a Leader in the Law by South Carolina Lawyers Weekly as part of the publication’s 2026 Excellence in Law list, which honors South Carolina’s Premier Lawyers.
Freeman focuses his 20+ years law practice on intellectual property matters, serving clients ranging from emerging ventures to multinational companies. He guides organizations through complex IP and business disputes, manages domestic and international IP portfolios, and develops brand protection strategies aligned with long-term business objectives.
In addition to his legal practice, Hunter Freeman serves as Chairman of the InnoVision Awards, South Carolina’s premier organization for the advancement of innovation and technology. He also co-chairs the South Carolina Bar‘s Technology Innovation and Intellectual Property committee and has contributed to regional initiatives through the Upstate SC Alliance Global Cities Initiative Steering Committee and the Greenville Bar Executive Committee. He is a frequent speaker at universities, startup accelerators, and technology conferences on topics including IP and artificial intelligence, software licensing, and emerging technology.
Hunter Freeman adds this recognition to a growing list of honors, including listings in The Best Lawyers in America across four categories: Litigation – Intellectual Property, Commercial Litigation, Trademark Law, and Copyright Law; recognition from Greenville Business Magazine‘s Legal Elite of the Upstate, South Carolina Super Lawyers, and TALK Greenville’s Top Lawyers for his work in Intellectual Property matters.
A graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law, Freeman’s undergraduate degree is in physics. When asked by the publication to how his background had influenced your career he commented “I was a physics major and a competitive athlete. The former sparked my interest in technical and scientific innovation, which led me to patent law. The latter gave me a competitive drive that I bring to litigation.”
“Receiving this recognition is meaningful, but what matters most is helping entrepreneurs and businesses protect and grow what they’ve built,” said Freeman. “South Carolina has a vibrant innovation economy, and I’m proud to play a role in supporting it.”
About Kim, Lahey & Killough
With offices in both Greenville and Charleston South Carolina, the Kim, Lahey & Killough Law Firm provides strategic legal solutions to businesses of all sizes in the areas of intellectual property creation and protection, brand protection, invention protection, copyright, licensing, intellectual property litigation, trade secrets, software protection, internet and e-commerce issues, corporate formation, contracts, and business disputes and mediation resolutions.
by Kim, Lahey & Killough Law FirmDoug Kim named to South Carolina 50 Most Influential list
Kim Lahey & Killough Firm Founder Doug Kim named to South Carolina 50 Most Influential list
Kim Lahey & Killough is proud to announce that its firm founder, Doug Kim, has been named to Integrated Media Publishing’s inaugural list of the Statewide 50 Most Influential People in South Carolina. Honorees were chosen through extensive staff research by the publications group as well as community nominations for their work across the Palmetto State.
A former computer programmer and software engineer, intellectual property attorney Doug Kim has assisted in securing some of the earliest blockchain and AI patents in South Carolina. In addition to his own successful law practice, he has built a law firm that has grown to be South Carolina’s go-to boutique firm for intellectual property matters, providing legal solutions and strategies tailored to each client from start-ups to multinational corporations.
Doug is a leader in the state’s technology ecosystem, most recently serving as Chair of South Carolina’s InnoVision Awards. He is a frequent speaker and trusted authority on AI, technology and intellectual property matters throughout the state.
In addition to this recognition, Doug has previously been named to the South Carolina 500 list by SC Biz; the TALK Greenville Top Lawyers list in the area of Technology Virtual; he has been named by Best Lawyers® as Trademark Lawyer of The Year and Patent Lawyer of The Year for the Greenville metro market; Greenville Business Magazine has named him a Legal Elite of the Upstate; South Carolina Super Lawyers® lists him as a Top Rated Intellectual Property Attorney; and Managing Intellectual Property magazine has previously named him as an “IP Star.”
With offices in both Greenville and Charleston South Carolina, the Kim, Lahey & Killough Law Firm provides strategic legal solutions to businesses of all sizes in the areas of intellectual property creation and protection, brand protection, invention protection, copyright, licensing, intellectual property litigation, trade secrets, software protection, internet and e-commerce issues, corporate formation, contracts, and business disputes and mediation resolutions.
by Kim, Lahey & Killough Law FirmDoug Kim named to SC Biz South Carolina 500 list
Founding attorney Doug Kim named to SC Biz South Carolina 500 list
Kim Lahey & Killough is pleased to announce that our firm founder Doug Kim has been named to the South Carolina 500 list by SC Biz. The South Carolina 500 is SCBIZ’ first-ever list of The Palmetto State’s most influential and impactful leaders in business, nonprofits, government and higher education. Featured in the December 2025 issue of the publication, South Carolina honorees in law are listed here.
Doug Kim started his career as a computer engineer after earning his Physics degree at Davidson College. After earning his law degree and working close to two decades as an intellectual property attorney, he founded Kim and Lahey with Seann Lahey in Greenville. The firm, now Kim, Lahey & Killough, has offices in both Greenville and Charleston and was recently honored as South Carolina’s Best Intellectual Property Law Firm by statewide business publications.
In addition to his work as an intellectual property attorney, Doug serves as a South Carolina certified mediator, is a regular speaker and author on topics including intellectual property, artificial intelligence, innovation and their intersection with law. Doug serves as Chair of South Carolina’s InnoVision Awards and previously chaired the South Carolina Bar Technology, Innovation and IP Committee.
With offices in both Greenville and Charleston, SC, Kim, Lahey & Killough Law Firm is devoted to helping clients establish, enforce, and leverage their intellectual property rights from the Upstate to the Lowcountry to across the globe. The firm serves the manufacturing, software, energy, finance, hospitality, tourism, defense, agriculture and technology industries as well as universities. Key practice areas include intellectual property, business and commercial litigation, mediation, employment, corporate and business matters including formation and structure, mergers and acquisitions, contracts, and cybersecurity.
