SK Innovation selects Covington & Burling for legal battle against domestic rival

By Lim Chang-won Posted : May 24, 2019, 14:38 Updated : May 24, 2019, 14:38

[Courtesy of SK Innovation]

SEOUL -- For a legal battle over technology related to batteries for electric vehicles, SK Innovation has appointed Covington & Burling LLP, an international law firm,  as a legal representative, underlining its determination to actively respond to what it called LG Chem's unwarranted allegations about technology leaks.

Covington & Burling advises multinational corporations on significant transactional, litigation, regulatory, and public policy matters. It has been well known among South Korean firms for defending Samsung Electronics in intellectual property suits.

"We are currently working on a battery lawsuit according to legal procedures," an SK Innovation (SKI) official said. "We will strongly deal with LG Chem's groundless allegations and its attempt to undermine colleagues who have moved to SK Innovation."

LG Chem, a petrochemical and battery-making arm of South Korea's LG Group, has asked the U.S. International Trade Commission to ban SKI batteries in the American market, It has filed a separate lawsuit with a district court in Delaware, accusing SKI of producing batteries with technologies leaked by transferred employees.

SKI, a latecomer in the global battery market, has warned of strong legal action if LG Chem goes ahead with undue accusations to crab competitors, insisting the key subsidiary of South Korea's third-largest conglomerate SK Group has acquired a top level of technology through consistent investment in research and development since its battery business began in 1996.

SKI has accused LG Chem of hurting national interests by bringing a dispute over intellectual property rights to a U.S. court. German auto giant Volkswagen has selected SKI as the fourth strategic supplier of battery cells to cover its demand in North America.
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