by Kim, Lahey & Killough Law FirmAll attorneys listed as 2025 Legal Elite
Entire Kim, Lahey & Killough attorney team listed as 2025 Legal Elite by Charleston Business and Greenville Business Magazines
Kim, Lahey & Killough is proud to announce that each of their eight attorneys has been named in the 2025 Legal Elite lists with all five of the firm’s registered patent attorneys recognized as Legal Elite in Intellectual Property and Innovation by Greenville Business Magazine and Charleston Business Magazines. “There are only a select few firms in South Carolina that are boutique intellectual property firms and to have our entire team recognized by our peers in Legal Elite is quite an honor. This recognition confirms the commitment we have to our clients and to providing excellent legal services that help our clients create and protect their intellectual property. This reaffirms our continuing commitment to our clients to assist them with matching legal strategies with their business goals to grow their companies and innovations,” commented firm founder, Doug Kim.
The IP attorneys named Legal Elite include firm founders Doug Kim and Seann Lahey as well as B.C. Killough, Hunter Freeman, and Robert Merting.
In addition to the firm’s core intellectual property practice, the firm supports businesses with corporate counsel. Business attorneys Casey Martens, Anthony Nolte and Emily Bohan were each recognized for their work in corporate matters: Casey was named for her work in Employment Law – Defendants and Emily Bohan was listed for Corporate Law – Business Organization matters.
Greenville business attorney Anthony Nolte rounds out Kim, Lahey & Killough’s whole team of Legal Elite, named for his work in Corporate Law-Merger & Acquisitions. Licensed in both South Carolina and Texas, Tony is a former business and financial executive as well as in-house counsel for Shell, among other successful ventures. He concentrates his legal work in the areas of company structure and formation, start-ups, early-stage and growth companies, corporate governance, mergers, divestitures, and acquisitions, financings, franchising & licensing, contracts, business succession, business disputes & resolutions. Outside of the office, Tony Nolte is an Angel Investor, teaches as an adjunct professor at Furman University, mentors startups in the Greenville ecosystem, serves as a limited partner in the Greenville Next Founders Fund I and is a member of VentureSouth.
The Legal Elite are selected annually through peer nominations from attorneys throughout the state of South Carolina in 50 legal practice areas.
About Kim, Lahey & Killough
With offices in Greenville and Charleston, SC and Brevard, NC, the 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.
by Kim, Lahey & Killough Law FirmSeven attorneys named 2024 Legal Elite
Seven Kim, Lahey & Killough attorneys listed as 2024 Legal Elite by Charleston Business and Greenville Business Magazines
Kim, Lahey & Killough is pleased to announce that seven attorneys have been named in the 2024 Legal Elite lists. Notably, all five of the firm’s registered patent attorneys were recognized for their work in the areas of intellectual property and innovation, a core focus of the law firm.
Greenville Business Magazine and Charleston Business Magazine recognized Doug Kim, Seann Lahey, Hunter Freeman, Robert Merting and B.C. Killough for their contributions to Intellectual Property and Innovation. “This recognition from our peers is a testament to the depth and breadth of our IP practice, as well as our firm’s commitment to excellence. We are honored to have our entire patent team acknowledged, alongside our talented colleagues in employment and corporate law,” commented firm founder, Doug Kim. Additionally, Casey Martens and Emily Bohan were honored for their work in Employment Law and Corporate Law – Business Organization matters.
Doug Kim is no stranger to legal awards and accolades. In addition to his Legal Elite IP and Innovation recognition, Kim has been listed in South Carolina Super Lawyers annually since 2017, and he has been recognized in the Greenville, SC Best Lawyers® list, named the Best Lawyers® Trademark Lawyer of The Year, the Best Lawyers® Patent Lawyer of The Year, and an IP Star by Managing Intellectual Property magazine.
Firm co-founder Seann Lahey is noted for his IP and Innovation work not only by Legal Elite of the Upstate but is also listed in South Carolina Super Lawyers as well as Best Lawyers in America for his work in intellectual property law. Seann has extensive experience dealing with international and U.S. patent prosecution, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, licensing of intellectual property rights, and rendering legal opinions on validity, infringement and enforceability of intellectual property rights, as well as IP litigation.
Hunter Freeman has over 20 years of experience as a litigator and certified mediator and works to provide novel ways for clients to create value through the protection, prosecution and enforcement of their IP including trademarks, service marks and copyrights. As the 2024 Chairman of the InnoVision Awards, Hunter works hard to provide opportunities for start ups and businesses in the state to advance technological innovations. In addition to Legal Elite, Hunter has been recognized for his legal efforts by both Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America ® for his work in intellectual property and business litigation.
Greenville patent attorney Robert Merting joins his colleagues as a named Legal Elite for IP and Innovation this year. Robert’s general business practice serves a variety of clients and industries, including builders, manufacturers, inventors, professionals and governmental organizations. He counsels businesses and individuals on IP contracts, corporate IP agreements, trademarks, non-disclosure agreements, and patents.
Charleston patent attorney B.C. Killough has counseled businesses and professionals for over 30 years. Regularly recognized for his legal efforts on behalf of his clients, Killough’s Legal Elite for IP and Innovation award is joined by recognition as a Senior Fellow by the Litigation Counsel of America, as an AV preeminent rated attorney with Martindale-Hubbell, as a Best Lawyers Corporate Lawyer of the Year for the Charleston market, and Thomson Reuters has recognized Killough as a Stand-Out Lawyer – a recognition bestowed by in-house counsel peers.
Casey Martens is recognized as a Legal Elite for her work in employment law for both plaintiffs and defendants. Casey’s legal practice includes business litigation, intellectual property and employment counsel to small and medium-sized businesses, as well as to employees in employment disputes. Licensed to practice in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia, Casey heads up the firm’s Brevard, NC office.
Business attorney Emily Bohan is commended as a Legal Elite for her efforts with Corporate Law – Business Organization matters. Emily focuses her legal practice on franchise law, business formation and organizations (Including LLC’s and Partnerships), and labor and employment matters. And when businesses are in a dispute, Emily serves as a certified mediator, to assist parties to come to a resolution outside of the courtroom. Greenville Business Magazine recognized Emily as a 2024 SC Women in Business.
The Legal Elite are selected annually through peer nominations from attorneys throughout the state of South Carolina in 50 legal practice areas.
About Kim, Lahey & Killough
With offices in Greenville and Charleston, SC and Brevard, NC, the 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.