Kim & Chang

Managing Partner: Kye Sung CHUNG and Kyung Taek JUNG
Number of fee earners: Over 1,500
Number of lawyers: 1000
Languages: Korean, English, German, French, Dutch, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese

Firm Overview:
Kim & Chang is Korea’s premier law firm. Since its founding in 1973, the firm’s proven track record of providing highest quality legal services to its clients and delivering “first-of-its-kind” solutions to complex legal challenges has set the firm apart. The firm is the market leader in all major practice areas. Today, more than 1,500 professionals – both attorneys and industry/subject matter experts – work seamlessly together to pursue excellence and to craft innovative solutions for Kim & Chang’s clients around the world.

Main Areas of Practice:
Antitrust & Competition
Banking
Capital Markets
Corporate Investigations & White Collar Defense
Environment
Financial Regulation & Compliance
Financing
FinTech
Health
Insolvency & Restructuring
Insurance
Intellectual Property
International Arbitration & Cross-Border Litigation
International Trade & Customs
Labor & Employment
Litigation
Mergers & Acquisitions
Privacy & Data Security
Private Equity
Real Estate
Securities
Shipping
Tax
Technology, Media & Telecommunications

Antitrust & Competition:
■Represented both parties in IBM’s acquisition of Red Hat
■Represented multiple foreign banks in the KFTC investigation into alleged engagement in FX rate collusion. Kim & Chang was able to persuade the KFTC to close its investigations without finding liability or with significantly lower fines than initially proposed
Contacts: Youngjin JUNG, Gene-Oh (Gene) KIM
Emails: [email protected], [email protected]

Banking & Finance:
■Project financing of Samcheok Thermal Power Plant
■Project financing of coal fired power plant in Gangneung, Gangwon-do
Contacts: Chan-Moon PARK, Bumkyu SUNG
Emails: [email protected], [email protected]

Capital Markets:
■Issuance of Social Covered Bonds by Korea Housing Finance Corporation (“KHFC”)
■Issuance of Global Depositary Shares by Kakao Corp
Contacts: Young-Man HUH, Myoung Jae CHUNG
Emails: [email protected], [email protected]

Corporate/M&A:
■Acted as the Korean legal counsel to SK Hynix, which was one of the main financial investors of the consortium led by Bain Capital. The consortium acquired Toshiba Memory Corporation from Toshiba Corporation
■Acquisition of ADT Caps by consortium of Macquarie Korea Opportunities Management - SK TELECOM
Contacts: Jong-Koo PARK, Sang Hyuk PARK
Emails: [email protected], [email protected]

Criminal Defence:
■Has been involved in virtually every major investigation case involving foreign or domestic automotive companies in the last three to four years, including acting as regulatory counsel in investigations and litigation concerning emissions compliance, homologation, and other regulatory issues, which also involved acting as defense counsel in investigations by criminal enforcement, competition and customs authorities. Representations included several European, US and major domestic automotive companies
■Successfully represented a US-based global technology company in a criminal investigation concerning alleged product support issues. Through an in-depth understanding of the technical matters at issue and circumstances in other jurisdictions, we were able to see a successful resolution of the investigation. Ultimately in March 2019, the police closed its investigation in this case and referred the case to the Prosecutors Office with a recommendation of non-indictment
Contacts: Seung Ho LEE, Michael H. YU
Emails: [email protected], [email protected]

International Trade & Customs:
■Successfully represented financial institution in connection with a criminal investigation relating to transactions with party potentially subject to UN sanctions
■Advised global technology company in connection with export control compliance issues under the Act on Prevention of Disclosure and Protection of Industrial Technology in connection with acquisition of Korean business and technologies and subsequent IP transfer to overseas holding company
Contacts: Youngjin JUNG, Joon Ho BU
Emails: [email protected], jhbu @kimchang.com

Intellectual Property:
■Successfully represented Astellas in an infringement action filed during the patent term extension (PTE) of Astellas’ patent covering various novel compounds including solifenacin
■Successfully defended the validity of HCT’s patent on a dispenser with thermal storage tip despite a negative decision from the Patent Court (intermediate appellate court)
Contacts: Jay (Young-June) YANG, DuckSoon CHANG
Emails: [email protected], [email protected]

Labour & Employment:
■Successfully represented POSCO on an employee status classification lawsuit filed by POSCO’s contract workers alleging dispatched workers status
■Conducted in-depth HR and labor cost assessments for the SK Telecom-Macquarie Korea Opportunities Management consortium’s acquisition of ADT Caps
Contact: Weon Jung KIM
Email: [email protected]

Litigation/Arbitration/Dispute Resolution:
■Representing automobile manufacturers and importer in multiple collective civil actions filed by mass plaintiffs who are owners/users of certain diesel engine vehicles that are subject to controversies related to emissions control
■Successfully represented two major Korean construction companies working in joint venture regarding claims against their employer, in an LCIA arbitration seated in London, governed by English law
Litigation Contacts: Chang-Hoon BAEK, Jin-Yeong CHUNG
Emails: [email protected], [email protected]
Arbitration Contacts: Byung-Chol (B.C.) YOON, Eun Young PARK
Emails: [email protected], [email protected]

Private Equity:
■Represented MBK Partners in its KRW 2,298,900,000,000 sale of 59.15% stake in Orange Life Insurance
■Represented Hahn & Company for (i) its KRW 1,000,000,014,388 acquisition of newly issued shares, approximately 71.4% stake, of SK Shipping Co., Ltd. (“SK Shipping”) and (ii) its investment of KRW 500,000,000,000 in convertible bond of SK Shipping
Contacts: Young-Man HUH, Jong Koo PARK
Emails: [email protected], [email protected]

Real Estate & Construction:
■Acquisition of Centropolis building located in Seoul, Korea by M&G Real Estate
■Acquisition of logistics real properties in Europe through Korean real estate fund structure
Contacts: Hyoung-Soo KWON, Jin-Ho SONG
Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Tax:
■Landmark Supreme Court win on requirements for a qualified spin-off
■Landmark Supreme Court decision on beneficial ownership
Contacts: Byung-Moon JUNG, Woo Hyun BAIK
Emails: [email protected], [email protected]