South Korea

IP-focused firm Cho & Partners was established in 2002 by Tae-Yeon Cho and Ik Hyun Seo. It is widely recognised in the market for its high-quality representation, particularly in trademark litigation matters. Although the firm, led by the two aforementioned partners, is not large in size, it punches above its weight with a stellar roster of multinational and domestic clients across a broad spectrum of sectors. The firm has a diverse offering in all aspects of IP, from trademark and patent prosecution to anti-counterfeiting and copyright matters. It has recently been active in domain name disputes, with Cho acting as outside counsel for the Internet Address Domain Name Dispute Resolution Committee. Seo is a panellist for the World Intellectual Property Organisation.

Intellectual property

Work highlights

Successfully represented Louis Vuitton in a high profile litigation case against LG Household & Health Care for trademark infringement based on a product from its subsidiary, The Face Shop. The high court last year decided in favour of the client after LG filed an appeal on the original district court judgement that concluded the product packaging in contention constituted dilution. 

Acting for energy drink giant Red Bull in a dispute with a domestic company named Bulls One, an automobile fluid manufacturer and distributor. The dispute involved mutual attacks on the parties’ trademark registrations, and was particularly complex and interesting because market survey evidence was being utilised, a relatively new area of law in Korea.

Representing Microsoft in a case against Asiamuyeok Company for the cancellation of its domain name ‘window10.asia’ and an injunction against its sale of product keys for Windows 10 programme software without the client’s permission. This is the first case in Korea on product keys provided in the licensing of software and will have a significant impact on the widespread sale of product keys in the country.   

Key clients

Apple, Burberry, Crocs, Philip Morris, Tapestry

Client feedback

“Very user-friendly, consistently responsive, and deliver practical, clear advice.” – Intellectual property

“It has strong leadership with Cho and Seo. They lead a dedicated and committed team of individuals.” – Intellectual property

Jae Eun Lee

“Jae Eun is very responsive and communicates very well. She always provides clear and practical advice.”

Ik-Hyun Seo

“Ik-Hyun is a dedicated leader. He is dedicated to his firm, his staff, and his clients. He regularly reviews the work and requests all feedback, both positive and negative. He is quick to oversee important projects and special requests.  He is a problem solver.”

DR & Aju brings a full suite of advice to clients across all practice sectors and industries. Its corporate and dispute resolution practices have enjoyed growth the past year. The M&A team increased to 30 attorneys, which has enabled its foray into the media, IT and consulting and education sectors with specialist teams. On the corporate side, its work in the manufacturing, logistics and shipping sectors are recognised. Litigation and commercial transactions specialist Hyun Woo Yi joined the firm last year from Barun as the international arbitration team gains more prominence. For example, last year it received a number of new instructions from domestic conglomerates for arbitration disputes centred in Greece, Israel, Taiwan and Singapore. Corporate partner Sung Hoon Im and international arbitration head Timothy Dickens are the key contacts. It is worth noting the firm is part of the Taylor Wessing ASEAN Plus Group network.

Corporate and M&A

Work highlights

Advised Singapore-based SIA Engineering Company on its joint venture agreement with a Korean entity, a holding company of a regional low-cost carrier, for a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) business in Korea. This was the first time a Singaporean company has invested in Korea for an MRO business.

Acted for Malaysian listed company CCM Duopharma Biotech on its acquisition of shares of SCM Lifescience, a Korean company that researches, develops, manufactures and sells stem cell therapy products.

Acted for Pan Asia Logistics Korea in a matter related to the purchase and sale of the Mercedes Benz warehouse in Iljuk. A Korean private equity fund bought the warehouse, which has a long-term lease with Mercedes Benz Korea.

Key clients

Rakuten Group, Siberia Airlines, Want Want China Holdings

Dispute resolution

Work highlights

Acting for domestic cosmetics company Nature Republic in disputes with global distributors over the non-payment of relevant amounts under conventional and e-commerce distribution agreements.

Represented a client in an international arbitration against a Korean Chaebol brought before the Kazakhstan International Arbitrage in Astana. The matter involved the construction of the Four Seasons hotel in Astana.

Key clients

Accom Immobilien, German Ski Federation & Globetrotter, NH Investment & Securities Company, Vittoria

Jipyong is a well-rounded firm that offers representation across all major practice areas and core industries. The firm ascends into the ‘Highly recommended’ tier for its labour and employment practice. Managing partner and labour specialist Ji Hyung Kim is widely-respected in the market, noted as a ‘pillar of industry’ by peers for his extensive experience in this field. Gee Hong Kim is a frequent lead partner in competition/antitrust cases, and many of the firm’s top M&A matters last year featured corporate partners Cheol Jeong and Min Shin. The equity capital markets practice has an impressive resumé as issuer’s counsel on numerous listings, including a recent banner IPO from SK Biopharmaceuticals that was led by capital markets head Haeng Gyu Lee. The firm has invested heavily on the growth of its real estate practice, with its hiring of twelve senior attorneys from Nexus Law Group in May 2020. The firm is deepening its regional footprint with on-the-ground operations in a number of emerging markets such as Indonesia, Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam.

Aviation and shipping

Work highlights

Representing the relatives of the deceased and surviving Korean victims of a river cruise collision on the Danube river in Hungary. This case is one of the biggest casualty cases in Hungary and all the passengers on board were from a Korean tour group.

Advising a domestic chemical company after a ship came into contact with its berth and caused damages while it was approaching the terminal at Incheon port. 

Banking and finance

Work highlights

Advised BNK Asset Management on the related financing and establishment of Korea’s first commodity farming investment fund, the ‘BNK Tuna Private Investment Trust 1’.

Acted for Standard Chartered Bank Korea on a loan transaction of $77 million relating to the development of an office building carried out by the Ascendas Korea Office Private Real Estate Investment Trust No 4.

Key clients

Hana Financial Investment, Korea Investment & Securities, Mirae Asset Daewoo, Shinhan Investment Corporation

Capital markets

Work highlights

Represented SK Biopharmaceuticals in its record-breaking Kospi IPO that brought in $800 million. Completed in July 2020, this was the country’s largest listing since 2017.

Advising lead manager Yuanta Securities on the IPO of Cambodia’s largest commercial bank, ACLEDA Bank, on the Cambodia Stock Exchange. Upon completion, ACLEDA Bank will be the first commercial bank in Cambodia to list its shares on the country’s bourse. 

Acted for Korea Investment & Securities and Shinhan Investment Corporation on fintech player Settlebank’s $66 million IPO on the Kosdaq market of the Korea Stock Exchange (KRX).

Key clients

JLK Inspection, Korea Electronic Power Industrial Development, Metanet Mplatform, Mirae Asset Daewoo, OliPass Corporation, Suprema ID

Competition/antitrust

Work highlights

Represented Intel Corporation, an interested third party, during the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) investigation as well as the following litigation in the landmark Qualcomm antitrust matter.

Advising homegrown search engine giant Naver Corporation in connection with the KFTC’s investigation into suspected abuse of market dominance. The competition regulator is accusing Naver of restricting competition in the e-commerce market by using its dominant market position.

Key clients

AU Optronics, Han Express, SeAH Steel Corporation, SK Holdings

Construction 

Work highlights

Acted for Hyundai E&C in a dispute over maintaining successful bidder status after it was revoked. The team helped the client win a motion for a preliminary injunction against the Public Procurement Service.

Represented Ssangyong E&C in a dispute with the joint contractor, which exercised the right to set-off after the decision on the commencement of the client’s rehabilitation process. The team helped its client win the case in the first and second instance proceedings.

Key clients

B Grimm Power Korea, GS Retail, Hana Financial Investment, Tae Young Engineering & Construction

Corporate and M&A

Work highlights

Advising SK Chemicals on its $321 million transfer of the bioenergy business to Hahn & Company.

Engaged by Dongbu Steel and its creditors for the transfer of control of the company by issuance of new shares to KG Group and Cactus Private Equity.

Acted for SK Investment Vina II, an investment vehicle established by SK Group for its investment in Vietnam-based Vin Group, on the issuance of new shares to Oogway2, a fund established by IMM Investment.

Advised Smilegate Megaport on its purchase of 100% shares in game developer Super Creative from the existing shareholders.

Key clients

Kanglim, NH Capital, SK Gas, SK South Asia Investment, Withinnovation Corporation

Dispute resolution

Work highlights

Represented Korean Education and Research Information Services and 17 other metropolitan and provincial offices of education in a case claiming for payment of service fees related to the infrastructure maintenance and management contracts.

Acting for Daewoo E&C in a damages compensation lawsuit involving a cartel. The team helped the client obtain a Supreme Court decision to quash and remand the case, finding that the client was not responsible for the damages.

Key clients

Hyundai E&C, Hyundai Motors, Kakao, Ssangyong E&C

Energy

Work highlights

Advised SK Gas on its sale of 51% shares in Eumseong Natural Gas Power to Korea East-West Power. The client additionally acquired 34% of shares in Ulsan GPS Corporation from Korea East-West Power and Korea Development Bank.

Acted for SK Trading International and SK Energy on their subscription for shares issued by Best Oil Company, a holding company owning petroleum importers and distributors in Myanmar.

Key clients

B Grimm Power Korea, Samchully Asset Management, Sprott Korea

Insurance 

Work highlights

Representing three Korean non-life insurers, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance and KB Insurance, in their multiple litigation claims against medical institutions for the return of insurance payouts made for uninsured elective medical treatments charged to patients’ actual medical expense insurance policies.

Defending a major Korean non-life insurance company on a claim for insurance benefits related to a loan secured by meat products as collateral.

Intellectual property

Work highlights

Successfully represented Kakao in securing a Supreme Court decision to reverse and remand the lower court decision in a case where a video producer sought compensation for damages from Kakao. The producer alleged Kakao had allowed its users to post his copyrighted videos on the Kakao platform without his permission.

Labour and employment 

Work highlights

Acted for National Intelligence Service employees in their claim for the reinstatement of their public servant status past the retirement age stipulated in the agency’s employment regulations. The Supreme Court ruled that it is unlawful to differentiate between the retirement age for men and the retirement age for women in the public sector, a landmark decision that helped gender equality.

Represented Hyundai Motor Company in a dispute over paid holidays. The court decided that it was valid for Hyundai Motor Company to reduce the number of paid holidays per month and year for executives in its employment rules after adopting a limitation of 40 working hours per week.

Key clients

Hyundai Engineer, Kakao Bank

Media and entertainment

Work highlights

Advised Keyeast on the production of television series ‘Hyena’, which was broadcasted on both SBS and Netflix. It also acted for Hwa & Dam Pictures on the production of ‘The King-Eternal Monarch’, which was also shown on SBS and Netflix.

Acts for SM Entertainment on general agreements regarding its music and performances including agreements for digital music distribution on foreign platforms, as well as copyrights and portrait rights.

Representing actor Suzy, and K-pop girl bands IZ*ONE and Fromis 9 in criminal actions for defamation in connection with online harassment.

Key clients

Kakao, MBC, Naver, SBS, SM C&C

Pharmaceuticals and life sciences

Work highlights

Assisted clients Bioleaders and Israel-based Weizmann Institute of Science on their establishment of a joint venture company, Quintrigen.

Representing Korean lab Seegene on the government procurement agreement to supply COVID-19 test kits to Los Angeles and federal, state, and city governments of the United States.

Key clients

Choong Ang Vaccine Laboratories, Dongkook Pharmaceutical, Genexine

Real estate

Work highlights

Advised Hana Financial Investment, GS Retail, and Moa General Construction on the $396 million acquisition of the MBC office-building land site in Daegu.

Acted for Mirae Asset Daewoo, SK Engineering & Construction, SK D&D, and Tae Young Engineering & Construction on the acquisition of Doosan’s land site located in Gunpo.

Key clients

Korea Development Bank, Mastern Investment Management, Urban JD Oil

Restructuring and insolvency

Work highlights

Represented the custodian of Hwaseung’s rehabilitation and advised Hwaseung in claim allowance proceedings against several creditors.

Assisting JW Pharmaceutical in its objection to rehabilitation security rights claim allowance proceedings.

Key clients

IBK Securities, Nonghyup Bank, QCP JB Technology Valuation Private Equity Fund

Technology and telecommunications 

Work highlights

Providing the Korea Communications Commission with regulation proposals related to the Broadcasting Act, the Information and Communications Network Act, and the Act on Broadcast Advertising Sales Agencies.

Advising the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology on a revision of laws in connection with the designation of projects for the regulation-free special zones, related to eco-friendly cars of the future and smart healthcare.

Key clients

Kakao, Naver

Client feedback

“Jipyong accurately reviewed our case and concentrated on the minimum legal issues. Its claims were critical, easy to understand, and very logical.” – Construction

“The firm is very responsive.” – Shipping

Jong Heo

“He provided detailed writing and sufficient explanation.”

Kyung Hoon Song

“He is kind and very smart. He prepared for the trial thoroughly enough to present for more than 10 minutes without looking at his papers in court.”

Choon Won Lee

“He is responsive, and has expertise in Korean shipping and contract law.”

Kim & Chang is a firm that needs no introduction as the largest and most dominant full service law firm in Korea. It remains unchallenged across the board, maintaining its ‘Outstanding’ ranking in all practice areas and sectors. It is a veritable first-choice firm for many international multinationals, brands and domestic conglomerates. Its sheer size allows the firm to house multiple top-notch specialists in every niche area of legal practice and push the boundaries of innovation with landmark and sizable matters. One peer said: “One way to benchmark it is if Kim & Chang is found anywhere on a deal or case, you know it’s a significant matter.” Noteworthy hires last year include international arbitration stars Sae Youn Kim from Yulchon, and Matthew Christensen from Bae Kim & Lee, senior foreign attorney and capital markets specialist Youngjin Sohn from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, and competition expert Min-Ho Lee from Lee & Ko.

Aviation and shipping

Work highlights

Represented Hyundai LNG Shipping a post-M&A dispute with Hyundai Merchant Marine over its consecutive voyage charter (CVC) for Korea Gas Corporation. The team is also representing the client in arbitration proceedings against Korea Gas Corporation seeking outstanding fees related to the CVC.

Successfully defended a mid-sized Korean shipyard in arbitration against an Italian buyer governed by CISG and seated in Stockholm.

Key clients

Panasia

Banking and finance

Work highlights

Acted for Korea Trade Insurance Corporation in relation to its partner Abu Dhabi National Oil Company raising $3 billion in debt financing from Santander.

Advised the senior and junior lenders Mirae Asset Daewoo Securities and Meritz Securities on providing $1.6 billion term loan facilities for Hyundai Merchant Marine to acquire 12 container vessels.

Key clients

Hanon Systems, Kookmin Bank, Korea Development Bank, Standard Chartered Bank

Capital markets

Work highlights

Acted as Korean counsel for Budweiser Brewing Company APAC on its $5 billion IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Engaged by KB Securities as the arranger for the $250 million bond issuance of Eastern Air Overseas, a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines.

Represented Morgan Stanley and the Bank of America Merrill Lynch as the joint lead managers in connection with the $688 million convertible bond offshore private offering by LG Display.

Key clients

DBS Bank, Kookmin Bank, Korea Gas Corporation, KT Corporation, Woori Bank

Competition/antitrust

Work highlights

Advised IBM and open-source software company Red Hat in obtaining an unconditional clearance from the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) for IBM’s acquisition of Red Hat. The global mega-merger was valued at $34 billion.

Representing Danaher Corporation in the Korean merger filing for its $21.4 billion acquisition of General Electric’s Healthcare Life Sciences Biopharma Business.

Advised Booking.com International in the KFTC investigation into alleged use of unfair terms and conditions, and on its appeal of the KFTC's corrective order requiring the company to amend its terms of service. The team helped the client obtain a Seoul’s high court decision reversing the antitrust regulator’s corrective order.

Assisted Xperi Corporation and TiVo Corporation obtain unconditional clearance on their merger. Similarly, the team helped Peugeot obtain its unconditional clearance for its acquisition of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

Key clients

Gemalto, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Momentive Performance Materials, Siemens, Thales

Construction 

Work highlights

Represented Kyeryong in a dispute over which company was the winning bidder in a process conducted by the Bank of Korea. The client was being challenged by the second-place bidder, even though it had been based on having the highest technical score and had submitted a bid price that was higher than the estimated price.

Advised developer consortium consisting of Daewoo E&C, Doosan E&C, Pacific E&C and YM General Construction as the plaintiffs in an action against a project owner for claims involving a delay in the construction period and significant changes in design.

Key clients

Eleven Construction, OneCareWorld, Posco Engineering & Construction

Corporate and M&A

Work highlights

Acted as lead counsel to Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation and Hyundai Mobis in a $4 billion joint venture agreement signed between Hyundai Motor Group and NYSE-listed auto parts maker Aptiv Technologies.

Advising Hyundai Heavy Industries on its takeover bid for Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering to acquire a 55.7% stake worth $1.7 billion in the target.

Represented Divine Kora Holdings on its $2.3 billion acquisition of the existing shares of Daesung Industrial Gases.

Key clients

Estee Lauder Cosmetics, Lotte Corporation, MBK Partners, Woojin Thinkbig Corporation,

Dispute resolution

Work highlights

Represented Samsung Biologics in a lawsuit to revoke an SFC-issued corrective order that found the client had committed accounting fraud in relation to its equity stake in a subsidiary.

Advised Siemens during the KFTC investigation and subsequent appeal seeking reversal of the sanctions imposed by the regulator.

Key clients

Schindler Holding

Energy

Work highlights

Represented the Export-Import Bank of Korea and Korea Trade Insurance Corporation in their $1.8 billion project financing from Korean lenders for the development and construction of 24 offshore wells, an onshore LNG liquefaction plant, and two LNG trains in the Mozambican exclusive economic zone.

Engaged by Shell Eastern Petroleum to prepare and negotiate transaction documents, and advise on regulatory risks as its joint venture seeks to develop CDM projects and trade carbon credits.

Advised Korea East-West Power on its spin-off of Dangjin Eco Power Corporation and the acquisition of 66% shares in Eumseong Natural Gas Power.

Key clients

Asia Cube Energy, Hanwha Energy Corporation, Kexim, Korea Southern Power, Taekwang Holdings

Insurance 

Work highlights

Assisted Hanwha General Insurance and SKT in establishing a country first, an innovative digital non-life insurance company called Carrot General Insurance. This was the first time in South Korea that regulators granted an insurance business licence to a company in which the physical IT facilities were entirely outsourced to external parties.

Presented to the insurance authorities why co-reinsurance is necessary and beneficial for the domestic market. As a result, the regulators announced the introduction of a co-reinsurance system, along with an amendment to applicable regulations.

Investment funds

Work highlights

Assisted Glenwood Private Equity as the general partner as it established a Korean private equity fund called ‘Glenwood Co Investment Private Equity Fund II’.

Advised IMM Private Equity on the formation of its flagship blind fund, IMM Rosegold IV PEF, as well as its parallel investment vehicles.

Key clients

Korea Investment Corporation, Praxis Capital Partners, STIC Investments

Labour and employment 

Work highlights

Successfully defended Hyundai Motor Company in a case brought by an employee of a dealer that had executed a dealership agreement with it. The plaintiff claimed he was an employee of the client and that he had been illegally dispatched to work for the dealer.

Assisted DuPont Korea in consolidating the working terms and conditions of its different corporate entities.

Successfully defended Hyundai Heavy Industries at all court proceeding stages over a case related to unpaid wages that focused on the inclusion of overseas onsite work allowance in ordinary wage.

Key clients

Air Products Korea, Pfizer Korea, Qualcomm Korea

Media and entertainment 

Work highlights

Advised CJ ENM Corporation in connection with its contemplated sale of 50% of the total shares, plus 1 share, in cable TV operator CJ Hello to mobile carrier LG Uplus Corporation for $648 million.

Private equity

Work highlights

Advised the Blackstone Group in the acquisition of shares of Geo Young Corporation for over $873 million from Anchor Equity Partners.

Acted for MBK Partners on its $1.38 billion sale of 22.2% stake in Coway to Woongjin.

Represented KKR on its $979 million sale of 100% equity interests in KCF Technologies to SKC Corporation.

Key clients

Ace Equity Partners, Bain Capital Credit, Blackstone, Glenwood Private Equity, IMM Private Equity, JC Flowers & Co, KKR

Real estate

Work highlights

Advised E-Mart as the seller of 13 of its hypermarket stores to a real estate fund managed by Mastern Investment Management for $779 million.

Acted for Mirae Asset Global Investments in selling one of its office buildings located in Cologne, Germany.

Key clients

Douzone Bizon, Kendall Square Asset Management, Vestas Investment Management

Restructuring and insolvency

Work highlights

Advised Philippine lenders BDO Unibank, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, Bank of the Philippine Islands and Land Bank of the Philippines on the acquisition of shares in Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction (HHIC) pursuant to the restructuring of the Philippine subsidiary of HHIC.

Acted for Samil PWC to provide legal advice for the creditor financial institutions council of Daiyang Metal during its workout programme.

Representing Korea Development Bank in a confirmatory action with Haengbok during the rehabilitation proceedings of Dongbu E&C and in the appeal that followed.

Key clients

Dongwon Industries, DVB Bank SE, KEB Hana Bank, Wolverine World Wide

Tax

Work highlights

Acted for the Korean sub-custodian banks of Luxembourg SICAV and SICAF in their appeal against the tax assessment made in connection with withholding taxes on dividend and interest income received. The team led its clients to victories in all three stages of the litigation over a course of six years.

Represented a US-based multinational company in the first Supreme Court case on beneficial ownership in the context of a group restructuring.  

Technology and telecommunications 

Work highlights

Advised Hyundai Motor Group on its joint venture with Aptiv that will focus on research and development of autonomous driving technology. The deal is valued at $4 billion.

Represented domestic web search giant Naver on its spin-off transaction to establish Naver Financial for financial-related business.

Acted for Kakao and its subsidiaries in Singapore and Japan on the development of its own blockchain platform KLAYTN and on the complex sales of its digital token KLAY.

Key clients

Delivery Hero, Yanolja Corporation

Client feedback

“Kim & Chang is the only law firm in Korea that is capable of devising and formulating a new type of transaction in accordance with the requirements of a new legal or financial regime. Other firms can do well to the extent the transaction is effected within the confines of already well-established transactional framework.Hhowever, they are not capable of formulating or devising a new legal or financial regime which requires an overall high-level legal expertise.” – Banking and finance

“Kim & Chang set up a dedicated outbound project team a few years ago, building impressive achievements in the field. Kim & Chang nowadays likens to other top-tier global firms, as they now provide a similar level of service as the global firms. It distinguishes from other local firms given the excellence of its legal service.” – Banking and finance

“Without any doubt, Kim & Chang is the top law firm in Korea and has extensive experience in international project finance transactions. Kim & Chang has strong capabilities for all legal matters. In this regard, we can have a one-stop service from Kim & Chang. In these days, most legal matters get complicated and cannot be resolved by one of two professionals. Kim & Chang has many lawyers having different specialities, which has been very helpful for us.” – Banking and finance

“The firm has handled various complicated legal matters with an exceptionally wide knowledge of international project finance transactions. It represented our company with the highest standards compared to other Korean firms. It is now at the level of international top-tier law firms rather than one of the Korean firms in terms of advising on international project finance transactions. Not only is it  highly experienced, responsive and professional, but also has a solid understanding of our business.” – Banking and finance

“The firm protected our company from risks. As a result, we could improve our process with sustainability.” – Competition/antitrust

“It gave us a shrewd response to an issue, a careful analysis and a solution.” – Construction

“It provides effective and efficient advice based on the understanding of the legal issues and the regulatory requirements, as well as an up-to-date knowledge of Korean financial regulations. It offers a full range of service for insurance regulatory compliance and competition law issues, among others.” – Corporate and M&A

“The firm has the smartest lawyers in the market, who have their hands on most, if not all, major deals in Korea. When it comes to structuring and executing sophisticated M&A transactions in Korea, Kim & Chang is in its own league.” – Corporate and M&A

“It has an excellent network for problem-solving and excellent expertise.” – Corporate and M&A

“Kim & Chang provides excellent, on-the-point advice. Its legal expertise, as well as their practical support in getting things done, is highly appreciated. Kim & Chang is an excellent choice, especially for a foreign company investing in Korea.” – Dispute resolution

“Organised, effective and intelligent.” – Dispute resolution

“Legal advice at the highest level, always very precise and on time. Perfect English language abilities and the possibility to provide efficient teams with changing lawyer numbers as required.” – Dispute resolution

“Has expertise, resources and experience.” – Dispute resolution

“The firm has very competent attorneys who have a lot of knowledge and experience in dispute resolution. The firm also has suggested workable solutions for the issues that my company confronted.” – Dispute resolution

“The team has strength in understanding the client's needs as they try to have our concerns reflected in the contract drafting or negotiation process. Also, its advice is not one-sided but rather balanced between legal aspects and commercial viability.” – Energy

“The team has cutting edge knowledge.” – Insurance

“Appreciate its technical know-how and it is well-resourced.” – Labour and employment

“It is a very knowledgeable silk-stocking firm, with consistent solid legal support from senior staff.” – Media and entertainment

“The firm provided us with proper legal advice and solutions to help us negotiate with a counterparty very well.” – Real estate

“The lawyers are highly responsive and presented broad and in-depth knowledge of Korean laws and the regulatory environment with sufficiently accumulated industry experience.” – Regulatory

“Provided timely advice based on experience and knowledge, which was very helpful.” – Shipping

“Firm has diligent and impeccable professionals who understand our needs and perspectives very well. It is highly knowledgeable and the work has always been of the highest quality. The lawyers are very attentive and responsive.  ” – Tax

“I believe Kim & Chang is the best tax adviser in Korea having a great tax team of lawyers, CPAs, and former tax officers. Although the big four accounting firms in Korea have bigger tax teams, their tax service quality doesn't compete with Kim & Chang. If we have important tax issues, we first approach Kim & Chang for tax advice.” – Tax

“The firm possesses a deep understanding of the IT industry, and the lawyers are quick and accurate in their replies.” – Technology and telecommunications

“It guided how us on how the company could work with our customers under the recent regulation changes and now we have clearer views and plans.” – Technology and telecommunications

Jae Ho Baek

“He has strong legal knowledge and ability, listens to us, implements feedback and always meets deadlines.”

Je Heum Baik

“He has lots of knowledge and experience in international tax litigation and always provides on-point advice. He offers creative solutions in a timely manner. He does really good detailed logical analysis.”

Seong-Hyeon Bang

“Excellent knowledge of both law and technology.”

Sup Joon Byun

“He has a ‘can-do’ attitude and is willing to go the extra mile. He has good suggestions and ideas.”

Duck Soon Chang

“He is the best for all aspects as a lawyer.”

Paul Cho

“Paul is the strongest employment lawyer we have worked with both within Korea and the wider APAC region. He understands business needs and the in-house legal environment and tailors advice accordingly. He is also very responsive and communicative.”

Sung Gweon Cho

“He is excellent, very attentive and responsive. He is highly knowledgeable and his work has always been of the highest quality.”

Matthew Christensen

“Bright, hard-working and always works to achieve the best for his clients.”

Jin Yeong Chung

“Precise analysis of legal issues and realistic solution preparation.”

Byung-Moon Jung

“Using his practical experience and expertise in a variety of tax issues, he provided us with very useful and efficient legal opinions relating to our construction project and corporate issues.”

Sae Youn Kim

“She is highly experienced, professional and innovative.”

SongHo Lee

“He shows kindness, has quick responses, thorough analysis, and presents well-thought through solutions.”

Chul-Won Lee

“He is good at listening to the client's needs and giving quick feedback. Also, he has a good understanding of my company’s culture.”

Daewoong Lee

“Daewoong is very modest, interactive and approachable. This is a particularly strong asset when it comes to face-to-face negotiations. Since his early years of experience was in corporate, he understands the needs of our company and the decision-making process.”

Shin Kwon Lim

“He is smart and extremely efficient. He quietly gets the job done, taking care of every detail.”

Jina Myung

“Jina has been instrumental in leading our landmark transaction to success, and, in my opinion, she is the best transaction attorney in Korea.”

Kyoung Won Noh

“He is very responsive and takes any necessary actions quickly.”

Min Chul Park

“He is excellent in his field and understands our business very well.”

Jeong-il Park

“He is a senior tax adviser, a CPA. He always provides tax advice exceeding our expectations, based on his good knowledge of tax and banking, and the finance industry. We feel that he really tries to help us by providing value-added tax advice and relevant legal issues by resourcing lawyers and experts in Kim & Chang. We really appreciate his work for us.

Sangmyoung Shin

“Sangmyoung Shin is leading the firm's outbound project finance team based on his expertise in the field.  He well understands the market and commercial terms, making him be a very reliable legal counsel. He smoothly deals with all major issues of a deal. He also is a good coordinator among firms, banks and other advisories. He is definitely one of the most prominent figures in the field.”

“We mainly worked with Sangmyoung Shin on international ECA finance deals including project finance, ship finance and ECA export credit finance matters. Many of the deals Mr Shin worked on were mega transactions worth billions of US dollars, involving major ECAs and international financial institutions. As Kim & Chang's leading project finance and energy partner, Mr Shin has many outstanding qualities among which his ability to solve complicated issues involving international project finance transactions is very much appreciated by clients. There are not many lawyers with both solid legal knowledge as well as commercial sense in the field of international project finance.”

“Mr Shin is very professional, insightful and has a highly commercial outlook. No rival, he is the only Korean-qualified and US-qualified lawyer in the international project finance market who has knowledge of all the relevant laws, including Korean law and practices. He has been our number one pick for recent years as now he seems to be leading the market.”

“He is extremely knowledgeable and experienced with good communication skills.”

Hyun Wook Shin

“He is highly professional with abundant industry experience and in-depth knowledge. He presented excellent problem-solving skills and coordination support.”

Andrew White

“He is the best litigator and arbitrator in the world. He is the only one who has litigation experience in the US.”

Young corporate and financial law boutique firm, LAB Partners hit the ground running when it opened two years ago, offering sophisticated advice on all core law areas. Its panoply of founding partners were already recognised by the market as leaders in their areas, having honed their expertise at other leading Korean firms. The firm has been savvily characterised by local media as ‘the Avengers of corporate legal practice’. Managing partner and structured finance and securitisation doyenne Young-Hee Jo helms a leadership team that includes Jinho Ahn, Jinho Kim, Youngju Kim, Kwangbok Kim, and recent joiner senior foreign attorney from Jipyong, Seungmin Jasmine Jung. The firm clearly demonstrates strengths in the finance space, particularly in banking, securities and asset management. Jo is a go-to name for securitisation matters.

Capital markets

Work highlights

Represented Shinhan Card in relation to its cross-border issuance of $500 million asset-backed securities based on its credit card receivables.

Acted for Hyundai Card on its cross-border issuance of $500 million asset-backed securities based on its credit card receivables and card loans

Key clients

KB Kookmin Card, KEB Hana Card, Lotte Card, Woori Card

Labour and employment 

Work highlights

Advised professional gamer Kanavi on the termination of his existing contract with his former e-sports team Griffin and helped him sign a new favourable contract with a Chinese e-Sports team.

Private equity

Work highlights

Advised Orchestra Private Equity in a buyout on its purchase of 86.3% of the shares in top digital dart company Hong International and Japanese corporation HIC.

Represented Evergreen Advisors on its management buyout of 100% of share in UMoment via JJLee Company, a holding company belonging to the client.

Acted for Industrial Bank of Korea Private Equity and BNW Investment in a management buyout transaction where they purchased 100% of the shares of Yellostory. The transaction had a unique structure in that the PE fund established two special purpose companies (SPCs) in a two-tiered structure and after the closing, merged one of the SPCs with Yellostory.

Key clients

IS Dongseo, Korea Development Bank, Noh and Partners

Real estate

Work highlights

Advised New Songdo International City Development as the developer and borrower in connection with the $352 million project financing of residential properties in Songdo.

Client feedback

“The firm is responsive and knowledgeable about the market, and clear, concise and commercial in their advice.” – Capital markets

Young Hee Jo

“Young Hee is one of the most knowledgeable securitisation experts in Korea. There is nothing she does not know about the subject. She is highly responsive, communicative and decisive. There is no one we would rather work with.”

An undisputed premier firm, Lee & Ko holds steady in the rankings as a foolproof choice for its impressive roster of offshore and onshore clients. Its renowned finance practice wins plaudits from peers and clients that acknowledge its frequent role representing lenders. The capital markets practice continued its march of dominance in the debt space, evidenced by its outflow of record-breaking and market-leading bond issuances over the last 12 months. Managing partner Yong Seok Ahn is recognised for his corporate and competition expertise. Notable movements include the hiring of former standing commissioner of the KFTC, senior counsel Seok Ho Kim, former head commissioner of the Seoul National Labour Relations Commission Woon Bae Jeon, corporate partner Frank Shyn from Kim & Chang, and three new partners for the IP team from Kim & Chang and the Korean Intellectual Property Office.

Banking and finance

Work highlights

Advised the lenders Samsung Securities, KB Securities and others on an extension of credit facilities to facilitate Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets’ total acquisition of Daesung Industrial Gases through a Korean SPV.

Represented borrower SKC Corporation on acquiring financing through a special purpose company for its purchase of copper foil manufacturer KCF Technologies from KKR valued at $1.26 billion.

Key clients

IMM Private Equity, ING Bank, Kookmin Bank, NH Investment Securities

Capital markets

Work highlights

Acted for Mirae Asset Daewoo in connection with the establishment of a $5 billion medium-term note (MTN) programme. The client became the first securities company in the world to establish an MTN programme.

Advised LG Chem on the issuance of three tranche notes due 2023, 2024 and 2029. Globally, this was the first-ever issuance of green bonds by a chemical company.

Represented Hanwha Life Insurance on its issuance of $420 million hybrid bonds due 2049 with an interest rate of 3.69%.

Key clients

Central Motek, Jetema Corporation, KEB Hana Bank, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Corporation, Korea Resources Corporation, Posco

Competition/antitrust

Work highlights

Acted for Saudi Aramco on filing a merger notification over the acquisition of 17% of the shares in Hyundai Oil Bank that it purchased for $1.2 billion. The client obtained unconditional merger clearance.

Assisted SK Telecom and SK Broadband in attaining merger clearance over the clients’ joint acquisition of systems operator T-Broad Corporation.

Key clients

General Electric, Huawei, MediaTek, Samsung Electronics

Corporate and M&A

Work highlights

Advised MBK Partners on its acquisition of 79.8% of shares in Lotte Card from Lotte Corporation for $1.2 billion.

Represented SKC Corporation, a chemical and tech material subsidiary of SK Group, on its acquisition of global copper foil maker KCF Technologies from KKR for $1 billion.

Acted for Sae-A Trading as the acquirer of 60.5% shares in Korean cardboard and box manufacturer Tailim Package, and on the acquisition of both Tailim Paper and Tailim Packaging. The seller in all these transactions was IMM Private Equity.

Key clients

Aramco Overseas Company, Hyundai Oilbank, LG, Samsung Electronics, SK Broadband

Dispute resolution

Work highlights

Represented third-party interveners Huawei and MediaTek in a lawsuit commenced by Qualcomm against the Korean Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) for cancellation of a corrective order. The clients supported the KFTC, which ultimately won a court ruling that its decision was lawful.

Acting for the government of Korea in an investment treaty arbitration under the Korus FTA and 2013 Uncitral Arbitration Rules brought on by US hedge fund Elliott Associates.

Key clients

Chungho Comnet, Hanwha Life Insurance, Kookmin Bank, Woongjin Coway

Intellectual property

Work highlights

Advising Big Hit Entertainment, the exclusive agent of global K-pop phenomenon BTS, in commencing legal action against publisher Asta TV Korea for selling photobooks fronted as entertainment magazines that featured a large number of BTS photos. The court’s decisions are the first-ever to recognise that entertainment companies are also independently entitled to legal protection for their artists’ name, logo, portrait, and photos.

Representing King.com in a landmark copyright infringement case against Korean developer Avocado Entertainment. The Supreme Court rendered a decision in favour of the client, holding that a game is afforded copyright protection if its elements are selected, arranged and combined in accordance with certain intent so that the resulting game has creative characteristics distinguishing itself from other games.

Key clients

CyberOptics Corporation, Eider, GS Caltex Corporation, Netmarble Corporation, SKC Kolon PI, Tempur Korea

Labour and employment 

Work highlights

Engaged by Oracle Korea to formulate and implement a long-term strategy for support in handling and improving labour-management relations, in addition to legal support.

Advising Hyundai Motors on its appeal to the Central Labor Relations Commission (CLRC) after losing a wrongful termination suit at the Regional Labor Relations Commission (RLRC). The CLRC reversed the RLRC’s ruling and found in favour of the client. The employee has filed an appeal.

Key clients

Citibank Korea, Colony Capital, Kangwon Land, Kia Motors, LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics

Regulatory

Work highlights

Advised a domestic automaker on potential competition issues that may materialise, such as platform monopoly and the abuse of market dominance in collecting big data, while launching a connected car service.

Acting on behalf of Woori bank for investigations by authorities for criminal charges related to allegations of violation of the financial supervisory service regulation, criminal code, and Capital Markets Act.

Key clients

BNP Paribas Cardif Life Insurance, Sony Interactive Entertainment Korea, Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics

Restructuring and insolvency

Work highlights

Acting for GS E&C, Koomin Bank and Hanwha Life Insurance in its suit against the city of Uijeongbu to enforce the rights under the operation of the agreement, after the PPP light rail project the clients had provided financing for was declared bankrupt.

Advised Korea Export and Import Bank as the largest creditor in the rehabilitation plan of Sungdong Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Corporation.

Key clients

Ascentury Busan, Busan Bank, Daesang Corporation, Joyson Safety Systems Japan KK, Nonghyup Bank

Tax

Work highlights

Defended Lotte Property & Development against a tax audit from the local tax authorities concerning the acquisition of Lotte Tower.

Key clients

Amazon, Baring Private Equity, Hanjin, HSBC, LG, MasterCard, Samsung, Shinsegae, SK

Client feedback

“It provides professional services tailored to customer needs.” – Aviation

“Lee & Ko provided timely and comprehensive advice. In a jurisdiction not well known by my company, the lawyers helped guide us by distilling the key legal points to be considered in the transaction.” – Competition/antitrust

“Lee & Ko has been very professional and prompt with their advice. It always delivers business-orientated advice. It has a good understanding of the complexity of our business.” – Competition/antitrust

“Excellent firm. Accurate and works fast.” – Corporate and M&A

“Professional, bilingual, quick and experienced.” – Labour and employment

“The team provided us with an in-depth investigation and research.” – Labour and employment

“It is responsive, flexible, give clear advice and are very technically sound. It understood our business, our needs and our concerns.” – Labour and employment

“It is very practical and socially aware. The partner with whom we primarily work has a great command of English, which is important to us as an MNC based out of the US.” – Labour and employment

“Reasonable fees, client-friendliness, and flexibility.” – Labour and employment

“The firm is very knowledgeable and professional. The advice it provided was always tailored to suit our business's needs and was detailed.” – Labour and employment

“The lawyers were strategic, business-oriented and structured which facilitated our business decision-making.” – Labour and employment

“Excellent communications and immediate action.” – Labour and employment

“Fast and accurate feedback.” – Labour and employment

“Lee & Ko has an excellent labour team. The members of the labour team work together to make decisions, which have produced good results for litigation. They have a lot of experience and can help you win a lawsuit by quoting similar cases.” – Labour and employment

“It provided accurate legal review opinions for critical decisions.” – Labour and employment

Chang Soo Jin

“He has good customer care. He provided various materials to our company to eliminate the risks that may arise in the future, as well as those in ongoing lawsuits, and suggests labour law education.”

Kyung Tae Kim

“He is an accountant and attorney at the same time. Therefore, in approaching the tax law problem, he is able to propose more professional solutions.”

William Kim

“William is pragmatic.  He understands client management with relation to an MNC.”

“He is a strategic thinker that provides structured support for decision-making on our end.”

“He is intelligent, quick and has excellent language skills.”

Sang Hoon Lee

“Hands-on, responsive, and clear.”

“He is client-friendly, flexible, knowledgeable and experienced.”

Kee Won Shin

“Shin was very responsive and communicated complex local issues to my company in a very effective manner. His background in Hong Kong and experience with international clients is a big value-add.”

“Kee Won is very friendly and approachable. He has in-depth knowledge of the applicable laws and is able to give a good summary and solution for the issues at hand.”

Hyunseok Song

“Passionate attitude.”

“He communicates with his team and clients very effectively. I am looking forward to working with him and his team in the near future.”

“He provides professional solutions and is very friendly.”

“He is very experienced, full of knowledge and gives us quick feedback.”

A leading maritime and shipping specialist law firm, Moon & Song has been a familiar partner to international shipping businesses since 2006. Founder Kwang-Myeong Moon is a highly-respected maritime law pioneer with over two decades’ worth of experience in the field and he is active in all the firm’s work. Moon & Song’s mastery of shipping matters makes it a top choice for major protection and indemnity insurance clubs, insurers, shipowners and charterers. Its bread and butter remains collision and grounding cases within Korean territorial waters.

Shipping

Work highlights

Appointed by Japan P&I Club to defend the owner of a speeding vessel that collided into a strip of cranes while entering Pusan New Port. As the civil case is still in an early stage, the firm is concentrating on reducing the liability of its client against the owner of the cranes and damaged container vessel.

Represented SC Grand Shipping in criminal and civil proceedings as the owners of the Russian Flagged Vessel Sea Grand, which collided with the Busan Gwangan Bridge and two yachts. The team is also defending the clients in administrative proceedings in the Busan Maritime Safety Tribunal.

Key clients

Highlink Shipping, Hyundai Glovis, Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance, Korea Gas Corporation, Korea Shipping Association

Seum Law is a boutique law firm that is focused on the technology and telecommunications sphere, and is recognised for advising startups and venture capitalists. It climbs up to the ‘Highly recommended’ tier in the technology and telecommunications table, an acknowledgement of its commitment to this area, particularly for early-stage players. Last year the firm assisted a number of start-ups in their exits, including toothpaste maker Rupicello Korea. The firm does not profess to compete with its larger counterparts for big-ticket mandates, but rather has steadily increased its profile among mid-market clients. This is exemplified by a double-digit increase in its aggregate deal volume in relation to the previous year.

Private equity

Work highlights

Advised Bunjang Corporation in a $134 million buyout transaction with PE fund Praxis Capital that saw Praxis take an 80% stake in the client. Praxis chose to acquire Bunjang as the first portfolio company of its newly formed Blind Fund No 3.

Key clients

ADRIEL

Technology and telecommunications

Work highlights

Acted for Daangn Market, which operates an app-based used goods marketplace, in its recent $33.6 million funding round which was led by Altos Ventures and Goodwater Capital. Investments in the client included ones from existing investors Softbank Ventures, Kakao Ventures, Strong Ventures, and Capstone Partners.

Key clients

CatchItPlay, H2O Hospitality, LiBEST, StradVision, Thermo Lab Korea

Shin & Kim maintains its esteemed reputation in the market across all areas, and notably moves into the ‘Outstanding’ tier for its corporate and M&A practice. Peers refer to the firm with respect and say that in recent years, the firm is furthering its visibility on matters and building on its historic strengths in capital markets and real estate. The firm boasts a 12-partner strong team dedicated purely to capital markets, one of the largest among all Korean law firms, and runs its IPO and structured finance teams separately under the capital markets wing. Top-tier capital markets specialist Jong-Ho Song returned last year to the firm after a two-year secondment at Taekwang Group. The real estate team was bolstered by the joining of partners Jun Man Shim and Dong Seon Kim from Yoon & Yang, and the corporate team lateralled in Hyoung Soo Kim from Lee & Ko and Jinwon Park, the former head of O’Melveny & Myers’ Seoul outfit.

Banking and finance

Work highlights

Advised the lenders involved in the refinancing of existing acquisition financing for MBK Partners’ purchase of Homeplus.

Represented Woori Bank and other lenders on providing debt financing to MBK Partners for its acquisition of controlling shares in Lotte Card.

Key clients

Barclays Bank, Kookmin Bank, Korea Development Bank, Lotte Tour Development

Capital markets

Work highlights

Acting for Hyundai Card on its planned IPO debut on the Korea Stock Exchange.

Advised Yellow Balloon Tour, Korea Investment Securities and KB Securities, on Yellow Balloon’s successful $16.8 million IPO and listing on the Korea Stock Exchange.

Represented ESR Bayman on its $1.6 billion IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the second-largest offering in Hong Kong in 2019.

Key clients

ChunLab, Flitto, Hyundai Capital Services, Shinhan Financial Group

Competition/antitrust

Work highlights

Represented Mercedes-Benz Korea in filing a lawsuit to cancel the KFTC’s remedial order and surcharge based on dealer collusion on labour costs. The high court ruled in favour of the client, and when the KFTC appealed to the Supreme Court, the country’s top court dismissed the regulator’s appeal.

Acted for SK Global Chemical in its merger filing related to its acquisition of Arkema France.

Key clients

CJ OliveNetworks, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Lotte GRS, Merck, SK Telecom

Corporate and M&A

Work highlights

Represented SJL Partners, KCC Corporation and Wonik QnC Corporation as the buyers in a $3.1 billion acquisition of MPM Holdings, a global silicones and advanced materials company. This was the second-largest outbound M&A transaction ever conducted by a Korean company.

Acted for Kumho Industrial and Asiana Airlines in the sale of the latter to HDC Hyundai Development Company and Mirae Asset Daewoo for $2.2 billion.

Advised Canadian fund manager Alberta Investment Management Corporation on its $2.12 billion acquisition of Daesung Industrial Gases from MBK Partners.

Key clients

GE, Linde Group, Viacom, Samsung Group, Shinhan Financial Group

Dispute resolution

Work highlights

Represented Baring Private equity Asia in a $283 million dispute arising from a post-M&A transaction for one of the largest logistics companies in Korea. The arbitration was seated in Hong Kong. 

Acting for Korea Western Power in an investor-state dispute filed against the government of India. The client alleges that India’s change in gas allocation policy and its implementation breached the Korea-India bilateral investment treaty and caused $400 million in damages.

Key clients

JSC Nenskra Hydro, K-Water, Lone Star Funds

Energy

Work highlights

Advised Korea Overseas Infrastructure & Urban Development Corporation on a potential investment in a PPP project through a joint venture between GS E&C and a local company that plans to build independent power transmission lines in Bangladesh.

Provided legal counsel to Korea Gas Corporation, which is in negotiations with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, to review the natural gas supply regulations under the Urban Gas Business Act.

Acted for AES Corporation, the major shareholder in a special purpose company (SPC) that owns the coal-fired Mong Duong 2 power plant in Vietnam. The team advised on a complete restructuring of the dividend mechanism and financing of the SPC. 

Key clients

Jeju Hanlim Offshore Wind Power, IGIS Private Equity, Posco Energy

Insurance 

Work highlights

Acted for Heungkuk Fire & Marine Insurance in a dispute against the FSC over entering into an outsourcing agreement. The client had filed an administrative lawsuit requesting the cancellation and imposition of fines, and the first instance court ruled in favour of the client.

Assisted JC Partners in obtaining approval for the change of a major shareholder in MG Non-Life Insurance.  

Key clients

KB Insurance, Nonghyup Life Insurance, Tongyang Life Insurance

Intellectual property

Work highlights

Acted for Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical in filing a patent invalidation claim against Bristol-Myers Squibb Company regarding the patent for Eliquis, the worldwide successful blockbuster oral anticoagulant drug.

Advised domestic biotechnology company ViroMed in an arbitration for the transfer of patent rights from Reyon Pharmaceutical, another domestic pharmaceutical player.

Key clients

BTC, Samsung Display, SBS, Seoul Semiconductor, Wemade Entertainment

Labour and employment 

Work highlights

Representing Samsung Electronics against criminal investigations and charges of unfair labour practices brought upon it by government prosecution.

Advising Posco in a trial for remedies against unfair labour practices and labour management relationship brought on by a new Posco labour union.

Key clients

Hanwha Life Insurance, Korea Aerospace Industries, Samsung C&T, WeWork

Private equity

Work highlights

Advised IMM Private Equity in the divestiture of its 20.1% stake in cable TV operator t-broad for $280 million. An interesting aspect was the transaction was innovatively structured as the client sold its shares by way of acquisition of treasury stocks.

Key clients

KKR, MBK, Bain Capital, Blackstone, Hahn & Co, Affinity, and Sequoia

Real estate

Work highlights

Advised KR1 CR Reit on its sale of Seoul Square building in the largest real estate transaction in the first quarter of 2019.

Acted for the Shin Young consortium on the purchase and development of certain parcels of land located at Yeouido, Seoul. It continued to advise on the following construction of complex facilities, sales facilities, an office building and apartment.

Key clients

IGIS Asset Management, Inmark Asset Management, Mirae Asset Global Investment, Pine Street Asset Management

Restructuring and insolvency

Work highlights

Defending DMC Industrial-Educational Development Foundation against an unjust enrichment claim filed by the bankruptcy trustee of the plaintiff, Korean-German Institute of Technology.

Acting for plaintiff Industrial Bank of Korea against the bankruptcy trustee of Tetra on an objection to the priority order of the distribution of bankruptcy assets.

Key clients

Daewoo Group, GBS Korea, Hyondae YooHwa, Hynix Semiconductor, SK Global

Tax

Work highlights

Advised the Korea Railroad Corporation in filing for a claim reassessment of paid gains taxes equal to $756 million after a project failed. When the tax authority rejected the claim, the team helped Korail succeed in the appellate court to reversing the tax regulator’s rejection. This was a massive win as the largest ever corporate tax dispute in Korea.

Key clients

Asiana Airlines, Cha Biotech, CJ Logistics Corporation, Del Monte Korea, Dole Korea, Ssangyong Motor Company, Lotte Group

Technology and telecommunications 

Work highlights

Acted for SK Broadband to prove that it lawfully improved the cancellation process in accordance with a corrective order issued by the communications regulator.

Represented an affiliate of SM Group, Samra Midas, regarding the approval for the change of the largest investor under the Broadcasting Act after the client acquired 30% of the shares of Ulsan Broadcasting Corporation.

Key clients

China Telecom, Hancom, Kakao, KT, NS Homeshopping, SKylife TV, Tbroad

Yoon & Yang is a premier choice for all corporate and financial law areas, notably in the competition, technology and telecommunications, dispute resolution, employment and regulatory areas. The firm works with large international and domestic clients from all industries and sectors. This year, it moves up in the ‘Investment funds’ ranking and places in the ‘Private equity’ tier, nods to the firm’s growing body of work for asset managers and its mid-market private equity investments. In a momentous case, the firm was instrumental in a historic win for the Republic of Korea in the first investor-state dispute settlement arbitration under the Korea-US free trade agreement. Duk Mo Chung, Hoil Yoon and Sang Hoon Park are managing partners and vaunted experts in litigation, competition and employment, respectively. Recently, the firm hired partners Hwan Jun Heo, Jong Youl Choi and Yong Ho Choi from the Financial Supervisory Service to bolster its banking and finance practice group. Competition partners Sang Mo Koo and Jun Ran Lee departed for DR & Aju last summer.

Aviation and shipping

Work highlights

Advising SK Shipping in a dispute against Korea Gas Corporation arising from faults of a Korean LNG containment system.

Representing Posco Plantec in a $1.7 million dispute with Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance arising from the insurance company’s denial of insurance claims related to the damage its crane suffered when a sea carrier hit it during inclement weather.

Key clients

Intergis Corporation, KB Insurance, Panana Arro Shipping

Banking and finance

Work highlights

Advised the Export-Import Bank of Korea in its $100 million project financing for the construction of the Trishuli Hydroelectric Power Plant in Nepal.

Acted for Shinhan Investment Corporation on the establishment of its REIT, the Goyang A Zone REIT, and provided on all financing aspects of its investment in a housing development project in Gyeonggi province.

Key clients

Cape Investment and Securities, Industrial Bank of Korea, Samsung Securities, Shinhan Bank

Capital markets

Work highlights

Assisted the Export-Import Bank of Korea in issuing $1 billion global bonds with a dual-tranche.

Advising issuer Avellino Lab USA on its pending IPO in Korea and on its deposit agreement with the Korea Securities Depository to, pursuant to the IPO, list issued Korean depository receipts on the Kosdaq.

Key clients

Cammsys Global, Korea Investment Holding, National Pension Service, Putra Kary International

Competition/antitrust

Work highlights

Representing Qualcomm as lead counsel in Qualcomm’s appeal of the antitrust regulator’s administrative surcharge for alleged abuse of dominance involving the client’s patent licensing practices.

Advising US-based United Technologies Corporation in obtaining unconditional clearance for the Korea Fair Trade Commission’s review of its acquisition of Raytheon Company. The merger between the aerospace equipment supplier and Raytheon, a defence equipment company, is valued at $52 billion.

Key clients

Camso, Cathay Pacific Airways, NGK Spark Plug Corporation, Taekwang Group

Construction 

Work highlights

Working with Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology on the sale of its original real estate property as it plans to relocate.

Successfully defended Busan Savings Bank in a Cambodian litigation case relating to a business cooperation agreement on the Camko City development project in Cambodia.

Key clients

Jeonnam Development Corporation, Korea Land and Housing Corporation, Korea Railroad Corporation

Corporate and M&A

Work highlights

Advised Hyundai Motor Company and Gwangju Metropolitan City on their joint venture deal to establish an auto manufacturing company.

Acted for Taiwanese conglomerate Uni-President Corporation on its acquisition of Korea’s Woongjin Foods.

Represented Koramco REIT’s Management and Trust’s acquisition of Citi Bank’s Seoul Headquarters building.

Key clients

CHA Biotech, E-Land Park, Jiangsu Yawei Technology Investment, Shinhan Financial Group

Dispute resolution

Work highlights

Representing SK Innovation in a high-profile claim filed by LG Chem over alleged misappropriation of trade secrets of its electric vehicle battery.

Acting for Kolon Life Science after the approval of its drug Invossa was revoked by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety over allegations of falsified reports.  

Key clients

Audi Volkswagen Korea, British America Tobacco Korea, General Electric, Keystone Foods, MAN Truck & Bus Korea

Insurance 

Work highlights

Representing GE and another client in a dispute with an insurance company over the malfunctioning of a generator.

Engaged by Hanwha Life Insurance on its policy coverage of COVID-19.

Defending NongHyup Life Insurance in a dispute relating to the liability for payment of insurance benefits over the issue of the plaintiff’s self-harming.

Key clients

Jette Corporation, KB Insurance, KEB Hana Bank

Investment funds

Work highlights

Advised Daishin Asset Management’s real estate fund’s investment in the trust beneficiary rights in the Canalside Building in Japan.

Acted for Hyundai Asset Management on its Crewe Toll Holdings Unit Trust’s acquisition of shares issued by three companies in Bailiwick of Guernsey.

Key clients                                                                                                       

KCLAVIS Asset Management, National Pension Service, SKS Mirae Asset Contents

Labour and employment 

Work highlights

Advising GE OWS Korea and its subsidiaries on legal advice and compliance related to the operating working hour system according to the amended Labour Standards Act.

Successfully represented Posco ICT in an administrative litigation matter for the remedy of discrimination which was filed by dispatched workers, employees of five subcontractors.

Key clients

Bayer Korea, BMW, Enercon Korea, GlaxoSmithKline, IBM Korea, McAfee Korea, Otis Elevator, Sanofi Aventis Korea

Media and entertainment

Work highlights

Advising Netflix on its OTT services in the country, on regulatory issues, and in contract preparation for its original contents production.

Acting for Viacom on all legal matters pertaining to the client’s shooting and production of original content in the country.

Key clients

KBS, MBC, SBS, SK Telecom, T-Broad

Pharmaceuticals and life sciences

Work highlights

Acting for German medical device company Erbe Medical Korea on its entrance into the Korean market.

Advising CHA Healthcare on its acquisition of 8.8% shares in Singapore-based diagnosis networks company SMG.

Key clients

BL&H Corporation, DongWha Pharmaceutical, SK BioScience, SK Chemical

Private equity

Work highlights

Represented KTB Network on its investment in Indian online foods platform start-up Grofers International.

Acted for Eco Prime Environment Private Equity Fund No 1 on its acquisition of domestic waste treatment company Yongsin Environment Development from Macquarie Private Equity Fund.

Key clients

Cape Investment & Securities, Hanwha Asset Management, Moorim Capital, Opez Investment

Real estate

Work highlights

Assisted Korea Investment & Real Estate Trust on its establishment and licence approval.

Advised KCLAVIS Asset Management’s acquisition of an office building in Jung-gu, Seoul.

Key clients

Koramco REITs Management & Trust, Korea Professor Mutual Society, Mapletree Korea

Regulatory

Work highlights

Represented Mugunghwa Trust in obtaining an approval of major shareholders’ change from the FSC during the course of its acquisition of Hyundai Asset Management.

Successfully defended Osstem Implant in an audit review and investigation by the Financial Supervisory Service.

Key clients

Korea Investment Holdings, Korea Midland Power, L’Oreal Korea, Yuhan Corporation

Restructuring and insolvency

Work highlights

Representing Koramco REITs Management & Trust and Hana Bank in a case filed by the tenants of a building after the original owner, Newcore, commenced a rehabilitation procedure.

Acting for Daishin AMC in a lawsuit related to the wage-related substitute payment and general right to foreclose outside bankrupty. The outcome of the Supreme Court decision will affect the priorities of dividends in bankruptcy proceedings in Korea.

Key clients

K-Swiss, Metanet Security, Woori Bank

Tax

Work highlights

Assisting a domestic bank to review tax issues that may arise in connection with a foreign company’s capital increase by third-party allocation and its implications to the existing shareholders and related party in Korea who participate in the capital increase.

Provide tax advice to a Korean company on its acquisition of shares of a real estate investment company holding real estate in Scotland.

Key clients

British American Tobacco Korea, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction, Nestle Korea

Technology and telecommunications 

Work highlights

Representing the defendant BTC Korea.com in a class action suit for damages brought by cryptocurrency investors claiming that they incurred losses due to the server shutdown of cryptocurrency exchange platform Bithumb at the end of 2017.

Advising on privacy law matters and compliance for Chanel, Heineken Korea and Nestle Korea.

Key clients

Apple, Coupang, Intel, Microsoft, Qualcomm

Client feedback

“Yoon & Yang is excellent in developing strategies to defend a matter and is very detail-oriented. Also, we were impressed that each lawyer, regardless of seniority, devoted themselves to our project and provided consultations in a timely manner.” – Competition/antitrust

“Yoon & Yang, with its breadth of expertise especially in the field of competition laws, has been extremely professional and knowledgeable of our industry. It was evident that the team were the top experts in the field of competition and antitrust, and the team was able to advise an effective step-by-step strategies throughout the case. On top of the high quality legal service it provided, Yoon & Yang was also extremely accessible and attentive to our needs.” – Competition/antitrust

“We retained Yoon & Yang for their timely and quality advice. Yoon & Yang's long-standing history in antitrust laws was assured from the beginning, and we felt comfortable knowing we were in good hands. As a client, we enjoyed working with the committed attorneys at Yoon & Yang who were always professional and easy to communicate with.” – Competition/antitrust

“The team exuded professionalism and commitment. Whenever we work with Yoon & Yang, it has shown a dedicated attitude to solve our requests quickly and accurately. Based on various experiences in competition and antitrust, the team analysed and examined our requests from various angles to provide the optimal solutions to us. Its client-focused attitude is also very impressive.” – Competition/antitrust

“I think that Yoon & Yang's attorneys are highly strategic, professional and well-informed.” – Competition/antitrust

“While handling M&A deals, it is important to be advised by experts with various backgrounds. Comprising accountants, tax attorneys and foreign attorneys, as well as Korean attorneys, we believe that the firm’s one-stop advice is second to none in the Korean M&A market. In addition, the M&A team of Yoon & Yang are very good negotiators and have a high level of industry knowledge so that we could close the M&A deals successfully. It always comes up with fast and effective responses to complicated legal issues. Therefore, we are extremely satisfied with the service and we will continue to retain Yoon & Yang in the future.” – Corporate and M&A

“It provided quick feedback and an accurate interpretation of the law.” – Corporate and M&A

“From the very first stage of the dispute to the end of the hearing and negotiations between the parties, Yoon & Yang advised us in every single detail.” – Dispute resolution

“The firm is very dedicated to dealing with our requests, closely analysing legal issues and fact relevance, and suggesting problem-solving plans in various ways. I think its performance abilities are excellent.” – Dispute resolution

“It is commercial, of excellent quality, responsive and has bench strength in litigation.” – Dispute resolution

“Proactively researched our issue and found a solution in a timely manner.” – Dispute resolution

“Very client-oriented.” – Energy

“Knowledgeable and dedicated to the client.”– Energy

“The firm members that I have dealt with have shown excellent biotech and pharma expertise, excellent legal judgment, and excellent language skills. It has delivered very favourable legal results for my company.” – Intellectual property

“Yoon & Yang's positive attributes are highly capable professionals who work diligently to satisfy us, and the services they provide are both thorough and polished. I am satisfied with its value for our money and meeting our needs.” – Restructuring and insolvency

Keon Joo Cho

“He is devoted to our cases and responds promptly.”

Cholsoo Han

“Cholsoo Han is excellent in analysing issues and formulating a strategy based on his vast knowledge and experience. We all agree that he is an expert in competition and antitrust who is able to provide accurate and in-depth consultation.”

“He has very good knowledge and experience in all antitrust issues as a former Secretary General of the KFTC. He is a famous figure in the antitrust community in Korea.”

“Cholsoo Han has a high level of professionalism and excellent strategy. His advice based on his hands-on experience from the Korea Fair Trade Commission was very helpful for our organisation.”

Sang-Goo Han

“The positive attributes of attorney Sang Goo Han is his great knowledge of general corporate matters, and rehabilitations and restructuring, especially for matters of insolvency-related M&As and litigations. He is the most experienced attorney that we have since worked within Korea. We would definitely work with him in the future.”

“He has a broad and deep knowledge in the bankruptcy and insolvency field, and he works in a timely manner. He shows a friendly demeanour when giving us advice and his counsel was helpful to solve problems.”

Chul Ho Kim

“Chul Ho Kim is an expert in competition matters. His experience representing multiple multinational corporations, as well as large corporations in Korea in the field of competition was extremely helpful. He was also very attentive being always ready to answer questions and kindly explained anything that was unclear. It was absolutely a pleasure to work with him and he was extremely reliable throughout the case.”

“We always enjoy working with Chul Ho Kim, who is a highly rated practitioner in the competition field in Korea. As a client, we benefitted from his work experience that extends through a full scope of competition and antitrust laws. Thanks to Chul Ho Kim, our representation was solid and rooted in years of experience.”

Sung-Jin Kim

“As a partner of Yoon & Yang and leader of the firm’s M&A team, Sung-Jin Kim has advised us regarding our M&A transactions since our establishment. As far as we know, he has abundant experience in M&As and has extensive knowledge of legal issues arising from such transactions. In addition, his responses are very efficient and quick. His strengths lie on his creative approach to matters. He not only provides legal solutions but also helps us to successfully close deals by delivering hands-on advice and feasible alternatives.”

Sam Kim

“He is very kind, and always actively discusses with clients to fully understand the issues. Also, he always presents clear and effective solutions.”

Junsang Lee

“He has a depth of knowledge and expertise, and is very experienced. He is a former senior judge, very responsive, and he provides pragmatic and commercial advice.”

Soongki Yi

“Has deep knowledge of the oil and gas business.”

Seung Ryong Yoo

“He is excellent in communications and has an empathetic ability. He is very good at persuading judges at the court by organising the case in a nice order from the judges' point of view.”

Yulchon keeps steady in the ‘Outstanding’ bands for competition, litigation, private equity and tax this year. Its famed dispute resolution practice has over 250 professionals and keeps apace with an evolving market, creating new disputes practice areas that are novel and innovative. For example, it has established a ‘police investigation action team’ as a proactive response to the recent adjustment of the prosecution-police investigation right. Other nascent disputes groups focus on mobility, blockchain, and sports and entertainment, to name a few.

In high profile recruitment, Yulchon nabbed partner Geen Kim from Lee & Ko to add punch to its capital markets and securitisation offerings. 

Another coup for the firm was the joining of senior advisor Joon Ho Kim, who was the former chairman of the Self-Regulation Committee of Korea Financial Investment Association and a former top-ranking officer of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC). Kim was part of a hiring spree in 2020 to fortify the firm’s TMT expertise, which also included two senior associates from the KCC, partner Yoon Yung Huh from Bae Kim & Lee, and Si-Mok Kim a former officer of the Financial Supervisory Commission in fintech. The firm is committed to developing new technology field practices, with niche specialties in AI, big data, cloud computing, fintech, blockchain, and online gaming.

On the back of its elite standing for antitrust matters, the firm bolstered its unique healthcare antitrust practice with the recruitment of senior advisors Yang Ji Ryu and Sun Jin Kim, from the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Biopharmaceuticals and Herbal Medicine Bureau, respectively. Competition partner Yoon Young Huh lateralled over from Bae Kim & Lee, while partner Sung Il Kang and senior advisor Sung Jae Han joined from the Korea Fair Trade Commission.

Aviation and shipping

Work highlights

Advised KEB Hana Bank in connection with the $288 million financing of three Boeing aircrafts on lease to China Airlines.

Assisted KTB Asset Management, as a collective investment company, to establish a shipping fund to extend a junior loan to four Marshall Islands special purpose companies that would assume the shipbuilding contracts of four container ships.

Key clients

Hanwha Investment & Securities, Multi Asset Global Investments, VI Asset Management

Banking and finance

Work highlights

Advised Goldman Sachs with respect to a loan facility provided to US-based City Storage Systems acquiring multiple real properties in Korea.

Acted for KTB Investment & Securities and KTB Asset Management in connection with the acquisition of shares in an Austrian company that owned T-Center, a commercial building in Vienna.

Key clients

KTB Investment & Securities, KEB Hana Bank, Standard Chartered Bank Korea

Capital markets

Work highlights

Represented co-lead managers Nomura Securities, HSBC and Korea Investment Securities in the $345 million IPO transaction of Lotte REITs.

Advised defence group Hanwha Systems on its $331 million IPO transaction.

Acted for Hyundai Card as originator counsel in connection with the $330 million securitisation of credit card receivables.

Key clients

GS Caltex, Japan Tobacco International, SNK Corporation, Stic Investments

Competition/antitrust

Work highlights

Defending Qualcomm as co-defence counsel against the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC)’s allegations of abuse of dominance in mobile communication technologies, first before the KFTC in its record-setting $920 million fine decision, then at the Seoul’s high court and now before the Korean Supreme Court. 

Representing Thermo Fisher in its $11.5 billion global acquisition of Qiagen to obtain antitrust clearance from the authorities.

Key clients

Hitachi Automotive Systems, Schaeffler Korea, Woowa Brothers

Construction 

Work highlights

Successfully represented a consortium of Hyundai E&C, GS E&C and SK E&C in an action raised against Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and won all claims for additional payment of $171 million regarding the construction of Shin-Hanul nuclear power plants.

Representing Khan Bio Corporation on all aspects of an avocado farm project and processing factory in Myanmar.

Key clients

Daelin Industrial, Doosan Heavy Industries, Korea Development Corporation

Corporate and M&A

Work highlights

Advised chemical and pharmaceutical holding company SK Discovery on its merger with SK Syntec valued at $1.1 billion.

Acting for Prudential Financial with the ongoing preparations for the sale of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Prudential Life Korea for at least $1.7 billion. This transaction is expected to be the largest M&A deal of 2020 when completed.

Represented financial investors Hillhouse Capital Management, Altos Ventures, GS PIA and others to sell their collective 87.3% equity stake in online food delivery platform Woowa Brothers to Germany-based Delivery Hero for $3.48 billion.

Key clients

Geo Young Corporation, Line Plus, Net 1, Silicon Mitus

Dispute resolution

Work highlights

Successfully represented Glaxo Group and GlaxoSmithKline Korea in a preliminary injunction proceeding Involving trademark infringement and unfair competition claims against a domestic pharmaceutical company.

Acted for Schaeffler Korea before the supreme court and successfully had all sanctions vacated that were imposed by the Korea Fair Trade Commission for price-fixing allegations.

Key clients

British American Tobacco, NH Investment & Securities, SOCAR

Energy

Work highlights

Advising Lotte Group in connection with a $1 billion mega-scale real estate development project in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Insurance 

Work highlights

Assisted Catalina Holdings on the target’s Korean subsidiaries and Korean law in the client’s $80 billion acquisition of Asia Capital Reinsurance Group.

Advised Mirae Asset Financial Service (MAFS) on its merger with Mirae Asset Mobile (MAM). The merger aimed to create a synergy effect by combining the online insurance sales general agency of MAM with an offline insurance sales general agency (MAFS).

Key clients

KB Insurance, Korea Life Insurance Association, Lotte Insurance, Prudential Financial

Intellectual property

Work highlights

Successfully represented golf simulator company Golfzon in a patent infringement litigation seeking an injunction and monetary damages against competitors SGM and Kakao VX.

Defended SK Networks against a patent infringement suit filed by payment systems entity Smartro seeking partial damages of $13 million. Ultimately, the court awarded a judgement in favour of the client and significantly lowered the amount of damages.

Key clients

HiCon Corporation, Seoul Semiconductor

Investment funds

Work highlights

Advised Mirae Asset Global Investments in a $6 billion transaction involving the acquisition of 15 luxury hotels located in the US from An Bang Insurance of China through a Korean private equity real estate fund.

Represented Mirae Asset Daewoo and its affiliates in their $68.6 million subscription of shares issued by Naver Financial Corporation.

Key clients

CJ CGV, Hillhouse Capital Management, Unison Capital 

Labour and employment 

Work highlights

Successfully represented SK Hynix in litigation brought by its employees alleging that the client underpaid their severance because it failed to include their profit-sharing bonuses in the calculation of severance.

Private equity

Work highlights

Represented IMM Private Equity on its $616 million minority stake investment in Shinhan Financial Holdings.

Advised TPG Capital Asia’s private buyout of Health Balance, a Korean health supplement and baby food business, from Anchor Equity Partners.

Acted for the founders of local pharmaceutical wholesaler Geo Young Corporation in the sale of their 46% stake to Blackstone for $945 million.  

Key clients

Altos Ventures, Goldman Sachs, Meritz Securities, Praxis Capital Partners

Restructuring and insolvency

Work highlights

Represented Cheil General Hospital & Women’s Healthcare Center on all rehabilitation matters, including filing the petition for commencement of rehabilitation proceedings and on a comprehensive stay order to enjoin creditors from enforcing their claims against the debtor.

Successfully acted for Seoul Guaranty Insurance Company in a litigation against financial institution creditors that participated in the workout procedure for 21st Century Shipbuilding.

Key clients

Heungkuk Securities, KB Kookmin Bank,  Samjong KPMG

Tax

Work highlights

Acted for SK E&S and Posco in a dispute over a pricing scheme unique to long-term LNG supply agreement and the appropriateness of dutiable value of LNG imports.

Represented several commercial banks including Woori Bank, KEB Hana Bank, KDB Bank and Export-Import Bank of Korea in a tax litigation to cancel a withholding tax assessment of $24 million on interest paid in connection with refund guarantees. The Supreme Court ruled in favour of the clients. 

Key clients

Asiana Airlines, Janssen Korea, Nexon Korea Corporation

Technology and telecommunications 

Work highlights

Successfully represented Socar and VCNC against a criminal complaint that its passenger transport service based on the sharing economy model allegedly violated current law. The clients’ acquittal holds great significance as a watershed in the establishment of a regulatory framework for the mobility industry, sharing economy models and other innovative industries in Korea.

Advised SK Telecom, SK Broadband and t-broad on SK Broadband’s acquisition of cable TV operator, t-broad.

Key clients

CJ Hello, Contents Alliance Platform, Stratasys, Woowa Brothers Corporation

Client feedback

“It has many attorneys who have worked in the government, therefore, has a strong understanding of the regulators within Korea. It also has strong connections within the regulators to make things easier to ask questions to the regulator on a no-name basis.” – Banking and finance

“The firm is deeply knowledgeable and combines excellent legal skills with authoritative and commercially-orientated advice.” – Competition/antitrust

“It offered us good local practice advice and evaluated on our activities from the KFTC's perspective.” – Competition/antitrust

“The firm was very responsive and proactive.” – Competition/antitrust

“The lawyers were knowledgeable and experienced, they had a good rapport with us.” – Competition/antitrust

“They know their stuff, they are very realistic in their predictions and they got the deal done.” – Competition/antitrust

“Yulchon is very knowledgeable in the M&A space in South Korea, specifically involving the insurance sector. They also are responsive and efficient.” – Corporate and M&A

“Yulchon responded to all of our requests almost in real-time, around the clock. It also asks questions, not confining themselves to just answering our questions. It can do this because it understands our business and tries to see things from the client's perspective. It is also very cost-efficient, meaning usually one or two junior partners with ample ‘field’ knowledge take care of our needs instead of wasting our money for research work by associate lawyers directed by a too senior partner to pinpoint issues.” – Corporate and M&A

“Yulchon has firm knowledge and experience for M&A transactions. The firm always listens to the client's needs and is trying to duly and properly respond to the client's requests.” – Corporate and M&A

“The most satisfactory element of Yulchon's M&A team was how it kept our commercial and financial, as well as legal interests in mind when assisting us. We think this is what separates it apart from other law firms in Korea. The Yulchon team provided us with exceptional assistance in structuring and executing this rather complex transaction, performing a major role in discussing not just legal, but also commercial and business issues. We won an industry award for this transaction, and Yulchon's help was essential.” – Investment funds

“It responded to requests and emails very quickly. The lawyers were very thorough and knowledgeable, and they understood our business objectives.” – Regulatory

Cecil Chung

“He is very knowledgeable and proactive in responding and making suggestions. He is willing to go the extra mile to provide advice.”

“He is so friendly, very knowledgeable and he understands client objectives well.”

“He is very knowledgeable and realistic, very pleasant to work with.”

“Cecil is a highly impressive lead partner. He is authoritative and decisive, and highly respected, while still responsive and commercial.”

Nina Kim

“She was able to coordinate a large team of lawyers to work efficiently and in a timely fashion.”

Sun Hee Kim

“She is a great liaison between the Korean attorneys at the firm and the foreign client. She is whip-smart, so she can learn a new field quite quickly. Her Korean and English speaking skills are outstanding.”

Hyung Ki Lee

“Hyung Ki Lee was the lead lawyer in our transaction. We were impressed by his expertise in a wide range of legal issues as well as his commercial shrewdness, which is why we continue to retain him.”

Jin Kook Lee

“Jin Kook was the lead partner for our transaction. He provided full support for the deal, and guided us with very practical and reasonable solutions at every moment.”

Seuk Joon Lee

“Possesses client-friendliness, knowledge, flexibility and experience.”

Sung Bom Park

“He offers quality services with reasonable charges.”