Lee & Ko has been named “Best Overall Law Firm” at the Korea Law Awards 2025, hosted by Asia Business Law Journal (ABLJ). The “Best Overall Law Firm” distinction is awarded to the firm that has earned outstanding evaluations across all practice areas. In addition, Lee & Ko was recognized in a total of 23 categories, including AI, Aviation, Competition & antitrust, Mergers & acquisitions, Private equity & venture capital. This achievement further reinforces Lee & Ko’s position as Korea’s leading full-service law firm, providing seamless one-stop legal services across a broad range of industries.
ABLJ specifically highlighted Lee & Ko’s advisory role in the acquisition of DIG Airgas by Air Liquide, one of the world’s largest industrial gas suppliers, a transaction valued at approximately KRW 4.6 trillion. The deal raised a number of complex issues, including refinancing of existing shareholder loans and acquisition financing, post-merger integration (PMI) considerations, and withholding tax obligations on capital gains realized by foreign sellers. The transaction is regarded as the largest deal announced in Korea in 2025, underscoring Lee & Ko’s capability to handle large-scale, high-stakes cross-border matters. International clients have also praised Lee & Ko’s global competitiveness, noting that the firm “maintains exceptional specialist teams across every practice area and explains Korean legal issues in a manner that incorporates cultural context, enabling foreign clients to pursue their business activities in Korea with confidence.”
ABLJ, a leading legal publication in the Asia-Pacific region, has evaluated Korean law firms since 2021 based on surveys of lawyers at domestic and international law firms and corporations, as well as practice-area performance data submitted by Korean law firms.
[Categories]
- Best Overall Law Firms
- AI
- Anti-corruption & anti-bribery
- Aviation
- Banking & finance
- Blockchain & Digital Assets
- Capital markets
- Competition & antitrust
- Corporate & commercial
- Data compliance & cybersecurity
- Defense
- Energy & natural resources
- Entertainment & sports
- ESG
- Healthcare & life sciences
- Inbound investment
- Infrastructure & project finance
- Insolvency & restructuring
- Insurance & reinsurance
- Mergers & acquisitions
- Outbound investment
- Private equity & venture capital
- Structured finance & Securitisation