Korea’s top 100 lawyers | Asia Business Law Journal
Asia Company Law Journal reveals Korea’s primary personal apply lawyers. Lim Mi Ran stories
South Korea has been a uncommon success tale in taking care of and contolling the covid-19 pandemic, which has usually ravaged economies and companies around the world. The place discovered its lessons early on and labored proactively to mitigate the affect of the pandemic.
In accordance to an Asia Enterprise Regulation Journal study of regulation firms in the region at the stop of very last yr, South Korean firms were being the only kinds among all important lawful marketplaces in Asia that claimed a important development in income, regardless of the pandemic.
South Korea’s authorized market is dominated by a handful of mega community companies, with a large number of scaled-down corporations carrying out much more concentrated operate. Even though overseas regulation corporations are allowed to function, they can’t do domestic legal work.
Faced with the task of determining the best 100 lawyers in the nation, Asia Company Legislation Journal undertook an intensive study of in-property counsel and other lawful specialists (see methodology), inviting them to nominate legal professionals and offer justifications for each individual nomination. From the responses, it is obvious that what customers find are people today who can fix intricate legal issues, with an in-depth knowledge of business affairs and a keen organization sense.
Practical experience and expert expertise are invaluable to any client. Shin & Kim handling spouse Oh Jong Han is a person attorney possessing this sort of qualities, who is highly regarded for his skills.
“[Oh] is a single of the ideal specialists in the area of economic and business disputes,” claims Park Chan Myung, normal manager of the auditing office of Daishin Securities, a Seoul-centered economic companies corporation.
“Clients can count on his abundant practical experience of working with numerous sorts of economical and commercial lawsuits,” states Park. “He offers pragmatic and innovative options correctly fitted for clients’ conditions. His management and communication make clients feel snug and self-assured in a intricate problem.”
Lee Received Hae, head of the authorized department at Hyundai Elevator, also commends Oh for his skills in dispute resolution. “Oh is extremely good at knowledge the huge image of a scenario, and establishes excellent system,” suggests Lee. “At court hearings, my impact is that he argues in a calm still pretty persuasive method. I believe he has a good capacity to accurately have an understanding of and analyse critical troubles that determine the end result of a scenario.”
Tony Dong Wook Kang, the associate in charge of intercontinental arbitration and litigation at Bae Kim & Lee, is yet another dispute resolution specialist who has stands out for his expertise and expertise.
“He is a person of the best counsel we can constantly count on,” claims Kim Youngjun, senior manager of the legal affairs workforce at Mirae Asset Daewoo Securities. “Kang is a fantastic litigator with in-depth knowledge and experience in litigation. Not only does he acquire a realistic and productive tactic in managing disputes, but he also has the capacity to give us with dynamic and resourceful methods by his resourcefulness and global insight, which can hardly be compared even between his finest friends.”
Clientele are normally wanting for much more than sound authorized suggestions. They want another person who can offer strategic abilities. James Park, the CEO of US-dependent adhesives maker Imperial Polychemicals, endorses Kim Beomsu, a managing partner at KL Associates, for being a “brilliant litigator” with a “strategic and out-of-the-box approach”.
“He is quite attentive to the client’s desires, getting into thing to consider not only the lawful but also the professional elements of a scenario,” states the CEO. “It is for this reason that I was not only very delighted with the final result alone, but also the full procedure – it made the litigation an enjoyable expertise, if it can be described as this kind of.”
Jody Kim, a counsel at South Korean building corporation DL E&C, also recommends Kim Beomsu for this out-of-the-box strategy. “Kim is a quite balanced dispute resolution practitioner, as he can get a pragmatic and business method to take care of disputes favourably, whilst he is always prepared to think out of the box and offer non-regular answers each time wanted,” claims Jody Kim. “It is usually a pleasure to function with Kim [Beomsu], and obtaining him on our aspect presents us a terrific offer of consolation.”
As the feedback display, shoppers of South Korean lawyers, and overseas lawyers practising in the place, search for strategists and advisers who can earn their assurance with their know-how, and guide them with enterprise insights obtained by viewing the troubles from the clients’ point of view.
As Park Chan Myung, of Daishin, says: “A stable partnership between customers and lawyers is the to start with phase to fixing issues.”
Edward Dhong, a senior overseas legal professional at Yoon & Yang, is a lawyer who has created good partnerships with his purchasers.
“Among a growing variety of lawyers in Korea, only a handful of seriously stand out as credible business companions,” suggests Roger Chae, standard counsel of international authorized and compliance at Hanon Methods, an automotive air manage equipment maker. He suggests Edward Dhong is a lawyer “focused on delivering value”.
“Edward’s working experience in huge regulation firms in Korea and the US, and in-household at a world wide organization, allows him to address authorized issues with a business tactic,” suggests Chae. “Law universities do not instruct this, and law firms really do not educate this. Edward is also responsive, flexible and genuine – if he does not know an answer to an concern, he’ll conveniently confess it, but will swiftly obtain anyone who does.”
The experts
There is great demand from customers for attorne
ys with specialized niche places of know-how. When IP is a common space of specialisation, rising locations such as antitrust and fintech are progressively in demand from customers. Even so, supplied the intricate nature of transactions and instances, legal professionals have to go further than their parts of knowledge and give multi-disciplinary capabilities to develop the rely on of their clientele.
Ben Yuu, the running lover of Nam & Nam, a professional IP agency, has produced a identify for himself and the organization with an potential to go past the brief. Search engine marketing Taeyoung, a senior authorized counsel at Hyundai Kia Motor Team, praises Yuu for his “dedication to the projects”, and the ability to analyse “issues from a customer-oriented perspective”.
“I’ve been working with Yuu since 2017,” states Search engine marketing. “We have been executing quite a few trademark tasks all through that time. Specified trademark initiatives in the US are intermingled with trademark and individual bankruptcy problems, which means we have to verify not only IP challenges but also common lawful problems.
“There had been so several challenging lawful difficulties at the beginning, so it was complicated to come across the clues to clear up the challenges. On the other hand, Yuu thoroughly untied the thread, action by stage, so that we are just at a action driving touching the goal line.”
Yang Changwoo, patent counsel at Qualcomm, claims Yuu’s operate is “always leading-notch. Many thanks to his interpersonal skills, it is often a enjoyment to function with him.”
John Kim, a senior overseas lawyer at Lee & Ko, gets praises from purchasers this kind of as Daniel Shim, the principal authorized counsel of Samsung Electronics, who claims: “John Kim is an excellent patent litigation professional based mostly in Korea. Though John is a US patent litigator, his practical experience spans throughout the globe, in the US, Asia and Europe. He is also effectively versed in disputes relating to trademarks and copyrights. He is 1 of the recommended lawyers to anybody working with IP dispute issues.”
Hong Suakbuam, a companion at Yoon & Yang, is greatly regarded for his skills in antitrust and levels of competition. He signifies domestic conglomerates and international firms, and presents information on situations linked to the Truthful Trade Act and the Act on the Regulation of Phrases and Circumstances.
“He usually finds the solution,” suggests Lee Bong Keun, deputy basic supervisor of retailer Asung Daiso.
Lee Yun Seob, workforce chief of the authorized division at Seacret Direct Korea, a multi-level market place enterprise that sells individual treatment products and solutions, is comprehensive of praise for Hong’s work. “As a corporate legal team’s leader, I have been functioning with quite a few legislation corporations and legal professionals who are specialised in antitrust and opposition law, and I can say Hong is the ideal lawyer in the field,” he suggests. “He appreciates client’s desires and always places all his endeavours into finding alternatives for purchasers.”
Lee Dong Suk, the legal group chief at Samsung Medison, says: “Hong can tackle complex law situations necessitating an understanding of not only the lawful theories but also the deep know-how of the pertinent field, and the client’s unique needs.”
Lee Sanghyun, senior lawful counsel at Samsung SDI, provides that Hong has excellent analytical and communication expertise, and has dealt with situations for him connected to “the Honest Trade Act (cartels, and many others.), the Act on Fair Transactions in Significant Franchise and Retail Organization, and the Good Transactions in Subcontracting Act”.
Derek Received, a manager in the international tax department of EY, describes Hong as an “excellent attorney who is aware of his client’s aims and aims, who does his greatest to reach people ambitions and objectives, and is an professional in competition and shopper law”.
Cecil Saehoon Chung, a senior overseas counsel at Yulchon, is one more antitrust lawyer who comes remarkably proposed. Davina Garrod, a associate at global law business Akin Gump in London, says: “Cecil is a top rated-tier antitrust practitioner who is incredibly good, incisive and commercially minded. We love doing the job with him.”
Females of influence
Gender stereotypes persist in the South Korean legal current market, in spite of decades of substantial progress and development. A couple of women have fought against the odds and earned the respect and have confidence in of their customers, and now a new technology of women attorneys are producing their way in the profession, buoyed by the development of the women ahead of them who have opened up the market place and adjusted clients’ perceptions.
Anna Chung, an infrastructure-centered partner at Shearman & Sterling in South Korea, is a female lawyer who has acquired the respect and have confidence in of her purchasers. She gets praises from a variety of clientele, notably Jung Seung Ho, common supervisor at Lotte Engineering & Construction. “Anna is the most lively expert law firm, inspite of [Shearman & Sterling] opening an office environment later in comparison with other international regulation corporations in Korea,” states Jung.
“She has the fantastic capacity not only to comprehend the issues that clients want, but also to counsel very clear methods immediately.”
The controlling director of a New York-based mostly private fairness organization targeted on infrastructure investments, who did not want to be named, experienced this to say of Chung: “Anna has a very sturdy knowing of the broader commercial problems in each individual transaction past legal matters, and finds productive alternatives to troubles that are specially handy in new markets and sectors.”
Claudia Hong, a senior overseas legal professional at Shin & Kim, is also extensively praised by clientele. “Claudia is one of the finest advisers I have worked with in Asia-Pacific,” claims Lee Sanghyun, the head of client for Asia-Pacific, and government affairs and general public coverage at Google. “Her special potential to recognize possible problems, and to offer strategic guidance, would make her stand out from other people.
“She will take a quite pragmatic and innovative method to resolve sophisticated issues with a whole lot of organization perception and comprehension created into it,” provides Lee Sanghyun. “This tends to make her suggestions relatable and uncomplicated for the management to understand. Additionally, addressing Korea’s intricate regulatory and legislative issues in a broad vary of predicaments is a tough task, but her large know-ho
w, prompt attention, and rapid turnaround time for strategic tips make her an exceptional adviser to us.”
Other prominent women who produced it onto the A-listing incorporate: Yully Kang, a companion at Jipyong Kim Sae Youn, an legal professional at Kim & Chang Kim Youthful, an lawyer at Kim & Chang Oh Hyun Joo, a companion at Lee & Ko and Helen Pak, a senior international lawyer Shin & Kim.
Spotlighting the folks
When on the lookout for lawyers with professional know-how, the reputation and experience of a practitioner engage in an important purpose. Robert Wachter, co-head of the global arbitration and cross-border litigation team at Lee & Ko, is a prominent title in this regards.
Wachter is a globally recognised arbitrator, an adjunct professor at Seoul Nationwide College University of Legislation, the Supreme Court docket of Korea (Judicial Analysis and Instruction Institute), and Ewha Womans University.
“Robert’s meticulous planning and awareness to depth make him a fantastic advocate and a formidable cross-examiner,” suggests Benjamin Hughes, an impartial arbitrator at The Arbitration Chambers in Singapore.
Cho Sung Keuk, managing partner of Cho & Lee, a shipping and insurance policy-concentrated firm, is a single of the foremost professionals in these apply places in South Korea. Kim Byoung Kuk, a maritime claims crew leader at ACE American Fireplace and Marine Insurance coverage Firm Korea, describes Cho as “a really well-known attorney in South Korea and a person of the leading lawyers in the area of international trade, maritime, aviation and commercial insurance”.
“I have solved a ton of maritime claim problems and arguments with his counsel in the past decade,” states Kim Byoung Kuk. “In specific, his distinctive capacity to interpret circumstances from different points of check out is a must have. He has also kept up educational research in his qualified field, and shared such matters with lots of individuals in the subject. He is highly regarded and admired by them.”
Kurt Gerstner, a senior legal professional at Dentons Lee, “has an excellent perception of the circumstance and normally advises necessary key details of the subject,” states Chun Yoosung, a senior manager of wood products and solutions corporation Foresco. “He is always well well prepared with legal technique, and can be reliable.”
Andrew Chamberlin, a spouse at boutique American legislation agency Ellis & Winters, states: “Kurt offered excellent guidance on lawful tactic when performing co-operatively and proficiently with our group on intricate legal difficulties. His capacity to examine and contrast the US and Korean authorized system was crucial to establishing a tactic to take care of the overall litigation.”
Chamberlin notes Gerstner is a member of the Global Association of Defence Counsel, and makes many shows connected to South Korean and Asian authorized problems pertinent to multinational providers.
Sean Hayes, an lawyer at IPG Authorized, also comes broadly proposed. Hayes was the first non-Korean used as an legal professional by the Korean Court docket Process (the Constitutional Courtroom of Korea) and was also 1 of the first non-Koreans to be a whole-time typical member of a South Korean law college.
Compiling the A-Checklist
The A-Checklist is primarily based on comprehensive research done by Asia Company Law Journal. To detect the top 100 legal professionals in Korea, we turned to hundreds of in-dwelling counsel in Korea and about the world – as effectively as companions at global law companies – and requested them to notify us which attorneys really should make the lower and why. Nominations have been produced by gurus at a huge range of Korean and international organizations, money establishments, and law companies, including: ACE American Fireplace and Maritime Insurance policy Enterprise Korea, Akin Gump, Asung Daiso, BSS, Corney & Lind Legal professionals, County Courtroom of Victoria, DL E&C, Daishin Securities, Ellis & Winters, EY US, Foresco, Google, Hanon Techniques, Hyundai E&C, Hyundai Kia Motor Group, IPCO, Jacobs, Jus Ad Astra, KB capital, Lotte Engineering & Design, McCarter & English, Mirae Asset Daewoo Securities, MMI Korea, Qualcomm, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, Revolution Fibres, Samsung Electronics, Samsung Medison, Samsung SDI, Seacret Direct Korea, Smilegate, The Arbitration Chambers, and numerous a lot more. Complete editorial research adopted the nomination system.
The final list demonstrates the nominations received merged with the Asia Enterprise Regulation Journal editorial team’s extensive knowledge in documenting and analysing the authorized market place in Asia. All Korean personal-follow legal professionals and international attorneys based in the place had been mechanically suitable for inclusion in the nominations approach, and, as generally, there were no expenses or any other demands for entry.
The names and images of all 100 A-checklist lawyers are published below. In addition, every single A-list attorney was offered the chance to contain their biography and get hold of information, for which a publishing price was charged.
It is crucial to notice that while the compilation of the A-listing was dependent entirely on unbiased editorial investigate, the biographies and make contact with specifics that surface along with several of the listings have been published by the collaborating lawyers, and the content material has not been independently confirmed by Asia Enterprise Law Journal.
