Colleagues at Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp (MSK) say that Elaine K. Kim, who joined the firm in 2011, is a remarkable role model for female and diverse attorneys. A 2005 graduate of Yale Law School and a partner at MSK, Kim is an effective rainmaker and accomplished litigator. She represents clients in cases involving complex commercial litigation and high-stakes IP issues, and thrives in a male-dominated legal environment. In one such case, she successfully represented a major motion-picture production company and the writer/director of one of the highest-grossing movies of all time in a highly publicized breach of contract and fraud case.
As a member of MSK’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee, Kim has been instrumental in helping to bring new perspectives and best practices to the firm. She is also working to implement recruitment, retention and promotion policies consistent with the firm’s diversity and inclusion goals.
Community service and advocacy for women and minorities in the legal profession are important to Kim. In addition to serving on the board of the Asian Pacific Community Fund, she belongs to several professional and civic associations, including the Korean American Coalition, Korean Community Lawyers Association, Korean American Bar Association of Southern California and Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles.
Diversity and inclusion are more than words to Kim. “To me, diversity and inclusion mean that differences in backgrounds and thinking are valued and welcomed,” she says, “and that the workplace actively seeks to address all forms of bias.” Kim goes on to explain, “Today, businesses— like the societies they serve—are made up of diverse individuals. Diversity and inclusion make companies better places to work, and better at meeting the needs of clients and customers.”
Kim offers this advice to women building careers: “Seek out mentorship and advice from women who have moved up the pipeline ahead of you. And don’t forget to include and support the women who are moving up the pipeline after you.”
