Area of Practice

Mr. Kim’s practice encompasses the full breadth of US Government Compliance & International Trade law, with focus on:

FDA, US Customs & Border Protection, International & Domestic Transportation litigation practice in State and Federal Court;
FSMA Regulatory Compliance Practice for Food and Beverage products;
Developing Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) & Food Safety Plan for Food Manufacturer/Distributor/Importer;
FDA Form 482/483 Response, USCBP Protest and Petition, Form 28/29 response, Country of Origin, Valuation, Marking, & C-TPAT Certification/Validation;
Importer’s regulatory compliance policies and procedures, and training programs, assisting
importers in CBP Focus Assessment, formal audit;
Defense of seizure and forfeiture action by US Customs & Border Protection & FDA;
Strategic counseling in the Food, international trade & Customs law.

Education

Michigan State University

College of Law – Food Law

Trinity International University

Trinity Law School – Juris Doctor

University of Washington

Ocean Engineering

Bar Admission

California
United States District Courts for the Central, Eastern & Southern Districts of California
US Court of International Trade

Licenses & Certification

Qualified Individual (FSVP)
PCQI for Human Foods (FSPCA)
FSPCA Lead Instructor for FSVP Course
Certified Seafood HACCP
Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training
Board Certified California Attorney in Admiralty & Maritime Law
US Customs House Broker

Professional Associations

International Association for Food Protection
Los Angeles Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders Association
Maritime Law Association of the United States
Transportation Lawyers Association

Honors, Awards & Appointment

Presidential Award, President Myung-bak Lee (for service to the agreement on KORUS FTA, Oct, 2012)
Commerce Award, Commerce Award, Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif.
Leadership Award, Lieutenant Governor of California
Distinguished Service Awards and Letters of Appreciation - received from House of
Representatives; California Senate; Superior Court Judge; County of Orange; various cities
Advisory Panel by Korea Agro- Fisheries Trade Corp (2015 – Current)
Advisor/National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives (2017 – Current)
Advisory Panel by Korean Consulate General of Republic of Korea (2014-2016)
Advisor/Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (2011-Current)

Representative Matters & Trials

Represented a foreign fish processing factory before the Food & Drug Administration. Modified Seafood HACCP plan, drafted a petition in response to FDA import alert requirements, reviewed company’s production process from harvesting to final labeling. Trained and advised client on record keeping and production process best food safety practices.
Represented a large US food importer in connection with FSMA Compliance. Drafted numerous importer’s Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP). Reviewed a foreign supplier HACCP Plan and Developed Food Safety Plan for US Food Manufacturer.
Provided advice and counsel to a large Korean food manufacturing company and importer as an outside general counsel. Drafted, food Safety plan, supply chain security plan. Attended FDA, US CBP audit on behalf of clients. Developed comprehensive import compliance programs under 19 & 21 CFR.
Represented numerous US importers in US Customs’ Section 592 penalty actions.
Represented clients before FDA and CBP on a variety of issues, including FDA warning letters, Penalty Actions, classification, origin marking, Food labeling, record keeping violations. Drafted over 500 CBP Form 28/29 responses, protests, petition for CBP’s liquidated damages claims & complaints on behalf of importers to avert civil monetary penalties and seizures.
Represented a US importer in connection with a 2.7 million intellectual property violation penalty action from US Customs & Border Protection (19 USC 1526(e), 1526(f). The 2.7 million penalty was mitigated in full and client saved 2.7 million dollars through our representation.
Obtained more than 200 favorable protest decisions from CBP addressing the product classification, country of origin, valuation and the eligibility of products for preferential treatment under KORUS FTA, NAFTA and CAFTA. Helped clients recover and save tens of millions dollars in duty and fees.
Represented import clients in prior disclosures of import violations related to tariff classification, valuation, Processing Fee and eligibility for preferential treatment.