By Emily Pascale*
Introduction
The San Diego Chapter of the Federal Bar Association is pleased to feature Hubert (Hugh) Kim in this month’s member spotlight. Hugh is a partner in Wilson Turner Kosmo’s business litigation and trade secret practice groups. As a part of his business and real-estate litigation practice, Hugh represents organizations in complex disputes in federal and state court.
Path to the Law
Hugh grew up in and around Los Angeles, moving between Hollywood, Woodland Hills, and Calabasas. After graduating from Calabasas High School, Hugh attended the University of California San Diego, where he initially wanted to study chemistry. Not long into his freshman year, Hugh discovered his interest in economics and political science.
After two gap years, Hugh enrolled in law school at the University of San Diego. Unlike many of his classmates, Hugh did not feel compelled to practice law. Instead, Hugh saw his legal studies as an outgrowth of his intellectual curiosity and interest in policy.
The summer after his first year in law school, Hugh worked as a research assistant for Professor Roy L. Brooks, who Hugh describes as “the single most influential person” on his career. Professor Brooks actively involved his research assistants in the writing process, including encouraging them to publish their own work. Under Professor Brooks’ guidance, Hugh authored an essay regarding German reparations for Holocaust victims in an anthology published in 1999 titled When Sorry Isn’t Enough and co-authored several articles with Professor Brooks, including “Critical Theory Applied to Title VII,” in California Labor & Employment Law Quarterly in 2000. Working for Professor Brooks “did not feel like work at all,” Hugh recalls. “I was being challenged without it feeling like it was a challenge.”
In addition to working as a research assistant, Hugh served as a judicial extern for the Honorable James F. Stiven, United States Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of California. As a judicial extern, Hugh was introduced to the inner workings of federal court. He enjoyed working in Judge Stiven’s chambers, which he describes as a collaborative work environment. “It was one of my favorite experiences during law school.”
Through externing, Hugh met Licia Vaughn, Judge Stiven’s first law clerk and one of Hugh’s first friends in the legal profession. Licia, currently Executive Director, Lateral Partner Integration, Strategy & Transitions at DLA Piper, helped connect Hugh with an attorney at Mazzarella Dunwoody & Caldarelli, LLP, which led to Hugh’s first position out of law school.
Career in San Diego
As a litigation associate at Mazzarella Dunwoody & Caldarelli, Hugh focused his practice primarily on business litigation. He became drawn to this practice area because he enjoyed approaching disputes objectively and working as both plaintiff’s and defense counsel.
In 2004, Hugh moved to Wilson Turner Kosmo LLP (then Wilson Petty Kosmo Turner LLP). At the time, his new firm was in the same building, only three floors above his former firm. At Wilson Turner Kosmo, Hugh initially focused his practice on employment-related matters, which filled the firm’s need at that time. As the firm grew, Hugh expanded his business practice to what it is today: a mix of complex commercial litigation, real estate litigation, and intellectual property litigation. Hugh, who describes himself as a “jack of all trades,” enjoys working across practice groups. He regularly appears in both state and federal court, and advises organizations of all sizes and industries.
Last year, Hugh was recognized by the San Diego Business Journal as a Leader of Influence in Law, and he has been named one of SD Metro’s 2024 Top Attorneys in San Diego. In January 2024, Hugh was named partner at Wilson Turner Kosmo. Reflecting on his career, Hugh attributes his success to his desire to learn and to seek intellectual challenges. “I don’t think of myself as a lifelong learner,” Hugh says. “To me, that almost implies that there’s some aim to do that, whereas for me, it’s just who I am.”
Community Involvement and the FBA
Hugh is actively involved in the local legal community and has held various roles in the San Diego Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, including Chapter President in 2013. Currently, Hugh sits on the Board of Directors for the San Diego Federal Bar Foundation and serves on the San Diego ESI Forum’s Steering Committee. Hugh is also a member of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Lawyers Club of San Diego, and Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego.
As a first-generation law student, Hugh likes to give back to the community through mentorship. Hugh mentors students through programs such as Just the Beginning, an organization that encourages students from underrepresented groups to pursue career and leadership opportunities in the law. “I’m happy to impart any wisdom I can.”
* Emily Pascale is a Public Relations Committee Member of the Federal Bar Association’s San Diego Chapter. She is a judicial law clerk for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.
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