Department profile
Shin & Kim

Corporate/M&A

Global Guide 2026 : South Korea


Shin & Kim

Rankings

About

Provided by Shin & Kim

Our Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group has extensive experience assisting domestic and foreign companies, strategic investors and, more recently, start-ups and unicorn companies on all types of mergers and acquisitions.

The Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group provides tailored advice for each individual transaction in consideration of the clients’ end-goals, utilizing our deep understanding of the relevant laws and market practice in Korea. Its expertise covers matters such as management right transfer transactions, minority interest/mezzanine investments and solicitation, mergers and splits, share exchanges and business transfers. It also utilizes the full-service nature of Shin & Kim by drawing on expertise from other groups to provide solutions to various issues that may arise in the course of an M&A process.

The Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group is consistently ranked the highest in the industry and recognized for providing timely and sophisticated legal advice each step of the way, from reviewing transaction structures, conducting legal due diligence and negotiations to obtaining M&A related licenses, approvals and permits.

Clients (30)

  • Orix Corporation
  • Hahn & Co
  • SK Group
  • IMM Private Equity
  • CJ Group
  • Kakao Corporation
  • Lotte Group
  • Dongbu Group
  • Affinity Equity Partners
  • KKR
  • MBK Partners
  • Mirae Asset Global Investments
  • Posco
  • Sequoia Capital
  • Shinhan Financial Group
  • SJL Partners
  • Stonebridge Capital
  • Woori Financial Group
  • Asiana Airlines, Inc.
  • Baring Private Equity
  • Chubb Group of Insurance Companies
  • GIC
  • Hanwah Group
  • KCC Group
  • KDB Bank
  • Mando Corporation
  • Meritz Securities
  • SD Biosensor, Inc.
  • The Export-Import Bank of Korea
  • Well to Sea Investment

Industries (23)

  • Automobiles & Parts
  • Banks
  • Chemicals
  • Consumer Product Manufacturing
  • Education
  • Energy
  • Financial Services
  • Food & Drink Producers
  • Government
  • Health Care
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Insurance
  • Media
  • Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences
  • Real Estate
  • Retail
  • Technology, Hardware & Electronics
  • Telecommunications
  • Transportation
  • Insurance
  • Bio, Healthcare
  • Private Equity
  • Chemical

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Corporate/M&A - South Korea

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

Shin & Kim's robust corporate team routinely assists clients with a wide variety of corporate activities, including cross-border mergers and acquisitions, investments, joint ventures, restructuring and private equity deals. It is also well placed to handle spin-off matters. The team acts as counsel on large multi-jurisdictional transactions and specialises in advising Korean clients looking to make outbound investments. It serves clients in a variety of sectors including finance, manufacturing and technology.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Shin & Kim advised Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group on a USD4.2 billion joint venture transaction between AliExpress International (Netherlands) and Apollo Korea.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The law firm values an in-depth understanding of the client's business and provides active negotiation strategies rather than simply providing legal opinions.

    Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
  • Shin & Kim has an excellent ability to accurately identify the issue and solve it. The importance of each issue was appropriately weighed, which greatly contributed to shortening the closing.

    Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Jae Young Chang
    Band 1Jae Young Chang

    Jae Young Chang

    Jae Young Chang heads the Shin & Kim corporate/M&A practice and is well recognised for his experience in a range of M&A transactions. His expertise is in high demand among Korean corporations and private equity houses.

    • He makes reasonable rating adjustments and has deep expertise in corporate-related issues, which allows for more extensive and insightful legal advice across a broader range of corporate matters.

      Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
    • Jae Young's experience and professionalism in deal work are very good. He is outstanding in presenting solutions and strives to meet client needs. His business understanding is excellent.

      Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
  • Band 1Tong-Gun Lee
    Band 1Tong-Gun Lee

    Tong-Gun Lee

    Tong-Gun Lee maintains a commanding position in the rankings table, supported by widespread compliments from clients. He advises on matters including acquisitions and divestments for a range of domestic corporate clients and private equity houses.

    • Tong-Gun has extensive M&A experience and gives decisive comments. He has fighter's mentality, which makes negotiations easier.

      Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
    • He demonstrates a thorough understanding of our position and uses that knowledge effectively in negotiations. He is also highly persuasive and logical when dealing with the counterparty.

      Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
  • Band 2Hae Sung Jeong
    Band 2Hae Sung Jeong

    Hae Sung Jeong

    Hae Sung Jeong's client roster includes conglomerates and private equity houses. He has expertise in private equity deals, leveraged buyouts and corporate governance.

    • Hae Sung Jeong is a lawyer I can trust for deal execution.

      Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
    • He is a highly skilled and competent lawyer with strong expertise.

      Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
  • Band 3Chung-In Anthony Choi
    Band 3Chung-In Anthony Choi

    Chung-In Anthony Choi

    Chung-In Anthony Choi is active on a variety of matters and has experience handling cross-border mergers and acquisitions. He regularly handles mandates from leading private equity clients, assisting with inbound investments into the Korean market.
    • He is an outstanding corporate finance lawyer in Korea.

      Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
  • Band 3Joongil Cho
    Band 3Joongil Cho

    Joongil Cho

    Joongil Cho focuses on corporate governance matters, M&A and private equity transactions. He counts prestigious domestic and international conglomerates among his clientele.

    • Joongil has a sincere and dedicated work attitude and extensive M&A experience. He has the ability to accurately determine client needs by considering the entire transaction process as a whole.

      Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
    • He is an excellent lawyer in all aspects, offering high processing speed and effective communication with clients.

      Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
  • Band 4Stephanie H. Kim
    Band 4Stephanie H. Kim

    Stephanie H. Kim

    Stephanie Kim is considered an experienced lawyer when it comes to cross-border acquisition and investment transactions. She regularly works with Korean and foreign entities in the financial services and TMT sectors.
    • Stephanie has excellent communication skills with clients and gives accurate answers to questions anytime, anywhere.

      Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
    • She is very creative in finding ways around obstacles in deals. She goes out of her way to help clients and make the matter effortless.

      Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
  • Up and ComingDong Jun Park
    Up and ComingDong Jun Park

    Dong Jun Park

    Park Dong Jun acts for both Korean and foreign corporates on a range of transactional matters. He is both Korea and New York qualified and clients benefit from insight drawn from his experience in both Korea and the US.

    • He has the ability to engage in deeper discussions on broader corporate issues.

      Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
    • Park Dong-joon is an expert who presents accurate legal foundations, flexibility and diverse ideas, with very prompt responses to client feedback.

      Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
  • Up and ComingHae Seong Ahn
    Up and ComingHae Seong Ahn

    Hae Seong Ahn

    Ahn Hae Seong is sought out for her expertise in M&A, private equity transactions and joint venture transactions.

    • Hae Seong is a rising star in M&A. She is very skilled in M&A work and has a fantastic, professional work ethic.

      Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
    • Hae Seong provides accurate advice based on her extensive experience in M&A. She is not only able to advise on legal regulations and risks, but also to help complete the M&A transaction.

      Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal

Ranked Individuals at Shin & Kim (8)

South Korea

Members

Provided by Shin & Kim

Shin & Kim has rankings in the following guides

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