About
Managing Partner:Sang Gon Kim
Number of partners: 327
Number of lawyers:685
Languages:Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese, German, French, Spanish, Russian and Vietnamese
Firm Overview:
Korea’s premier full-service law firm. Lee & Ko’s practice groups are consistently ranked among the top in each field of practice by leading Korean and international professional publications.
Practice Areas:
Anti-Corruption & Regulatory
Antitrust & Competition
Aviation
Banking & Finance
Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Corporate Restructuring
Capital Markets & Securities
Corporate & M&A
Corporate Governance
Customs
Energy
Environment
Foreign Direct Investment
Health Care & Life Science
Insurance
Intellectual Property
International Arbitration
International Trade
Labour & Employment
Litigation
Maritime & Shipping
Overseas Investment
Private Equity & Venture Capital
Privatisation
Product Liability
Real Estate & Construction
Regulatory & Compliance
Shipping & Transportation
Tax
Technology, Media & IT
White-Collar Crime
Main Areas of Practice:
Competition/Antitrust:
■ Successful representation of Alvogen Korea in the KFTC’s investigation into colluding with AstraZeneca Korea to delay the release of generic cancer drugs in exchange for exclusive distribution rights Korea, in a rare case with similarities to a reverse payment case, resulting in a significant reduction in fines and exemption from criminal referral; representation is ongoing in the administrative appeal.
■ Successfully represented leading Korean shipbuilders (Samsung Heavy Industries, Hyundai Heavy Industries and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering) as interested third parties against Gaztransport et Technigaz S.A. (“GTT”), resulting in the Supreme Court ruling that GTT engaged in abuse of dominance by tying engineering services into contracts for the licenses of key technology used in storage tanks for LNG carriers.
Contact: Hwan Jeong
Email:[email protected]
Banking & Finance:
■ Advised the Korea Development Bank for the refinancing of Busan New Port Phase 2-4 project finance (Approx. USD876,000,000)
■ Advised Hana Securities for its participation in the senior secured loan in connection with ArcLight Energy Partner’s acquisition of 8 power generating facilities in New Jersey (USD 1,240,000,000)
Contacts: Dong Eun Kim, Jaewoo Kwak
Emails: [email protected], [email protected]
Capital Markets:
■ The Export-Import Bank of Korea’s issuance of EUR1,500,000,000 Notes issued under the US$32,500,000,000 GMTN Programme
■ Kookmin Bank’s block deal of Samsung Electronics shares (Approx. USD1.1 billion)
Contact: Hyunjoo Oh
Email:[email protected]
Corporate/M&A:
■ Representation in acquisition of Osstem Implant by MBK Partners through Public Offering (Deal Value: USD 1.8 billion)
■ Representation in establishment of joint venture between LG Energy Solution and Hyundai Motor Group (Deal Value: USD 4.3 billion)
Contact: Hyun Tae Kim
Email:[email protected]
Dispute Resolution:
■ Representing Korean corporations in an arbitration against a US supplier of nuclear technology, wherein the US company alleges that the clients are not allowed to transfer the nuclear technology they intend to export abroad. This case holds significant importance for Korea’s nuclear industry.
■ Representing the chairman and CEO of a Korean conglomerate in a USD 900 million ICC arbitration brought by foreign investors after receiving a favorable award in a previous arbitration raised by the same foreign investors with practically identical requests.
Contacts: Sungwoo (Sean) Lim, Robert W Wachter
Emails:[email protected],[email protected]
Employment & Labour:
■ Successful representation of one of Korea’s largest (and the world’s largest) electronics manufacturer and services provider) (including being the world’s largest mobile devices manufacturer) in a precedent-setting, landmark case involving whether performance incentives must be recognized as wage items that are included when calculating severance, notwithstanding the relevant incentive payments being discretionary bonuses. If such incentive payments are recognized as “wage,” it could potentially open a floodgate of claims from former employees (who have already received severance that excluded the incentive/bonus), alleging underpayment in their severance packages. The outcome of this case could have massive commercial and financial ramifications for all employers, domestic and foreign, in Korea.
■ Successful and effective representation of the primary government mineral resources mining corporation in defense of its wage peak policy (i.e., employees over a certain age have their salaries reduced/capped in exchange for longer employment). The Korean Supreme Court held, in a qualified decision, that wage peak systems are invalid and can be implemented under certain conditions and laid out a factors-based test to determine the proper implementation thereof. Following the controversial Supreme Court decision, many disgruntled employees, who had their salaries reduced on their wage peak systems, began to file lawsuits against their employers to challenge and demand increases in their salaries. This case presents the case-of-first-instance where an already- existing wage peak system was held lawful and permitted to continue under the court's new standards – and thereby helping all employers defend, maintain, or implement wage peak systems lawfully and with confidence.
Contacts: Sang Hoon Lee, William Kim
Emails:[email protected],[email protected]
Shipping & Transportation:
■ Advised numerous Korean LNG shipping companies participating in international bids hosted by major LNG traders or producers, including Vitol, Shell, and Qatar Gas. Thanks to Lee & Ko’s expert guidance, our clients secured multiple long-term charter-party contracts in each bidding, significantly enhancing their financial stability. These successes not only benefit our clients but also contribute to the overall strengthening of the LNG shipbuilding industry in Korea.
■ Advised a Korean cable production company called Taihan Cable & Solution (“Client”) intending to purchase and import a cable-laying vessel called MV Spirit (“Vessel”) from a Dutch owner called Boskalis. Lee & Ko has provided the client with comprehensive scope of advices relating to the purchase: deal structure, sale & purchase of the Vessel, inception of cargo insurance and hull insurance, registration of the Vessel in Korea, license issue under Korean Marine Transportation Act, bareboat charter and etc. Thanks to our expertise and experience, the Client successfully concluded this deal. This deal serves as a crucial stepping stone for the Client, providing a foundation upon which they can explore new business avenues, such as offshore cable laying projects or the development of offshore wind power plants.
Contacts: Jin-Young Jung, Yang-Ho Yoon
Emails:[email protected]; [email protected]
Tax & Customs:
■ Successfully represented LH Company against the Korean tax authority’s (“NTS”) corporate income tax and VAT assessment, and, ultimately, nullified the assessment of corporate income tax of USD 329 million and the USD 1 million VAT..The case is very significant because of the large tax assessment amount, covering tax issues with implications for other real estate and construction companies in Korea.The positive outcome of this litigation at the Supreme Court level should be an important precedent in the real estate and construction industries.
■ Successfully represented Intergraph Korea against the NTS assessment of withholding tax on royalties.We thoroughly convinced the courts that payment for use of industrial software by Intergraph Korea to its U.S. affiliate (“Intergraph U.S.”) should be treated as business income rather than royalties, and thereby not subject to tax in Korea as Intergraph US does not have a place of business in Korea.Affirmed by the Korean Supreme Court, the positive outcome of this case is a very favorable outcome not just for Intergraph Korea, but for all other U.S. software companies in similar circumstances.
Contacts: Tom Kwon, Ok Hyun Ma
Emails:[email protected],[email protected]
Intellectual Property:
■ Successful representation of Coway, the No.1 water purifier company in Korea, in multiple invalidation and negative scope confirmation actions involving “sterilizing water purifier” patents filed by ChungHo whereby IP High Court found all claims in favor of Coway; as well as winning an appellate court judgment overturning the court of first instance decision in a separate patent infringement and damages compensation suit regarding “ice water purifier” patents filed earlier by Chungho involving tens of billions of damages in KRW (tens of millions in USD) that went on for 8 years.
■ Successful representation of SK Trichem, an affiliate of SK Group specializing in materials, in a patent invalidation action before Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board and IP High Court whereby the market competitor claimed invalidity of SK Trichem’s precursor-related patent, which is essential in semiconductor business.
Contact: Hwan Sung Park
Email:[email protected]
White Collar Crime:
■ Successfully defended in a case involving mis-selling of a fund whose size is 25 billion KRW.
■ Successfully defended in 150 billion KRW fraud case involving executives of a major cryptocurrency exchange.
Contacts:Changhee Suh, Dong Seong Nam
Emails:[email protected], [email protected]
Ranked Offices
Provided by Lee & Ko
- SeoulHanjin Building, 63 Namdaemun-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, Seoul, South Korea, 04532
- Web: www.leeko.com
- Tel: +82 2 772 4000
- Fax: +82 2 772 4001/2
- View ranked office
Contributions
Latest contributions provided by Lee & Ko
All contributions provided by Lee & Ko
Lee & Ko rankings
Articles, highlights and press releases
91 items provided by Lee & Ko
Latest Legislative Trends in Korea Regarding AI
Latest Legislative Trends in Korea Regarding AI
Lee & Ko Partner Da Joo JUNG Named ‘Top 15 North Asia Litigators 2024’ by ALB
Lee & Ko Partner Da Joo JUNG Named ‘Top 15 North Asia Litigators 2024’ by ALB
Lee & Ko Selected as Top-Tier Law Firm in MIP “2024 IP Stars” Rankings
Lee & Ko Selected as Top-Tier Law Firm in MIP “2024 IP Stars” Rankings
Lee & Ko Awarded in 9 Areas including Asia Firm of the Year and South Korea Firm of the Year...
Lee & Ko Awarded in 9 Areas including Asia Firm of the Year and South Korea Firm of the Year in the 'Asialaw Awards 2024'
Tier 1 Law Firm in ALB ‘M&A Rankings 2024’
Tier 1 Law Firm in ALB ‘M&A Rankings 2024’
Lee & Ko chosen as top law firm in all 24 sectors by ‘Asialaw Profiles 2024’
Lee & Ko chosen as top law firm in all 24 sectors by ‘Asialaw Profiles 2024’
Tier1 in All Practice Areas of IFLR1000 2024
Tier1 in All Practice Areas of IFLR1000 2024
FSC Unveils Network Separation Improvement Roadmap - Expanding the Use of Generative AI and SaaS...
FSC Unveils Network Separation Improvement Roadmap - Expanding the Use of Generative AI and SaaS in the Financial Sector -
Selected 2024 Tax Law Amendment Proposals
Selected 2024 Tax Law Amendment Proposals
Recent Developments Regarding Attorney-Client Privilege in Korea
Recent Developments Regarding Attorney-Client Privilege in Korea
FSC Announces Guidelines on Determining NFTs’ Status as Virtual Assets
FSC Announces Guidelines on Determining NFTs’ Status as Virtual Assets
Lee & Ko Advised on the First Innovative Financial Service ...
Lee & Ko Advised on the First Innovative Financial Service Involving the Trust Beneficiary Certificates Following the Announcement of the Guidelines on Security Tokens
ALB Asia Top 15 ESG Law Firms for Two Consecutive Years
ALB Asia Top 15 ESG Law Firms for Two Consecutive Years
Highest Ranking in Patent Litigation by IAM Patent 1000 2024 for 10th Consecutive Year
Highest Ranking in Patent Litigation by IAM Patent 1000 2024 for 10th Consecutive Year
Attorney Vera Eun Woo Lee, chosen as MIP’s ‘Top 250 Women in IP’ for two consecutive years
Attorney Vera Eun Woo Lee, chosen as MIP’s ‘Top 250 Women in IP’ for two consecutive years
Attorney Sung Hui Yoon, selected as ‘Benchmark Asia-Pacific’s Top 40 Under 40 2024’
Attorney Sung Hui Yoon, selected as ‘Benchmark Asia-Pacific’s Top 40 Under 40 2024’
Attorney Keum Nang Park, selected as ‘Top 100 Women in Litigation 2024’ by Benchmark Litigation
Attorney Keum Nang Park, selected as ‘Top 100 Women in Litigation 2024’ by Benchmark Litigation
Lee & Ko awarded in four categories at 'Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific Awards 2024'
Lee & Ko awarded in four categories at 'Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific Awards 2024'
Concretizing Rights of Data Subjects in the AI Era
Concretizing Rights of Data Subjects in the AI Era - Implementation of the Second Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of PIPA
‘Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific 2024’ ranks Lee & Ko in the top tier in every 10 practice areas
‘Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific 2024’ ranks Lee & Ko in the top tier in every 10 practice areas for the second year in a row
Landmark Ruling: Supreme Court Overturns PIPC Sanctions Against E-commerce Platform Operators
Landmark Ruling: Supreme Court Overturns PIPC Sanctions Against E-commerce Platform Operators
Korean Tax Regulation Updates for 2024
Korean Tax Regulation Updates for 2024
Lee & Ko wins Specialist Award – Pro Bono at the 2024 IFLR Asia Pacific Awards
Lee & Ko wins Specialist Award – Pro Bono at the 2024 IFLR Asia Pacific Awards
Tong Keun Seol and Jin Young Jung Awarded “ESG Lawyer of the Year” and “Transport Lawyer of the Year
Tong Keun Seol and Jin Young Jung Awarded “ESG Lawyer of the Year” and “Transport Lawyer of the Year” at The Asia Legal Awards 2024
Lee & Ko Wins the Most Awards by Category and “Law Firm of the Year” at ABLJ Korea Law Awards 2023
Lee & Ko Wins the Most Awards by Category and “Law Firm of the Year” at ABLJ Korea Law Awards 2023
PIPC Announces Policy Direction for the Protection of Online Behavioral Data Used in Targeted Advert
PIPC Announces Policy Direction for the Protection of Online Behavioral Data Used in Targeted Advertising
Band 1 in 7 Practice Areas by "Chambers Global 2024"
Band 1 in 7 Practice Areas by "Chambers Global 2024"
Strategic Considerations for Korean Investors: Leveraging the Special Tax Provision for Foreign Pass
Strategic Considerations for Korean Investors: Leveraging the Special Tax Provision for Foreign Pass-Through Entities
'Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024' ranks Lee & Ko in the top tier in 15 practice areas
'Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024' ranks Lee & Ko in the top tier in 15 practice areas
KFTC proposes ex-ante regulation of platforms under the “Platform Competition Promotion Act”
KFTC proposes ex-ante regulation of platforms under the “Platform Competition Promotion Act”
Latest Legislative Trends in Korea Regarding AI
Latest Legislative Trends in Korea Regarding AI
Lee & Ko Partner Da Joo JUNG Named ‘Top 15 North Asia Litigators 2024’ by ALB
Lee & Ko Partner Da Joo JUNG Named ‘Top 15 North Asia Litigators 2024’ by ALB
Lee & Ko Selected as Top-Tier Law Firm in MIP “2024 IP Stars” Rankings
Lee & Ko Selected as Top-Tier Law Firm in MIP “2024 IP Stars” Rankings
Lee & Ko Awarded in 9 Areas including Asia Firm of the Year and South Korea Firm of the Year...
Lee & Ko Awarded in 9 Areas including Asia Firm of the Year and South Korea Firm of the Year in the 'Asialaw Awards 2024'
Tier 1 Law Firm in ALB ‘M&A Rankings 2024’
Tier 1 Law Firm in ALB ‘M&A Rankings 2024’
Lee & Ko chosen as top law firm in all 24 sectors by ‘Asialaw Profiles 2024’
Lee & Ko chosen as top law firm in all 24 sectors by ‘Asialaw Profiles 2024’
Tier1 in All Practice Areas of IFLR1000 2024
Tier1 in All Practice Areas of IFLR1000 2024
FSC Unveils Network Separation Improvement Roadmap - Expanding the Use of Generative AI and SaaS...
FSC Unveils Network Separation Improvement Roadmap - Expanding the Use of Generative AI and SaaS in the Financial Sector -
Selected 2024 Tax Law Amendment Proposals
Selected 2024 Tax Law Amendment Proposals
Recent Developments Regarding Attorney-Client Privilege in Korea
Recent Developments Regarding Attorney-Client Privilege in Korea
FSC Announces Guidelines on Determining NFTs’ Status as Virtual Assets
FSC Announces Guidelines on Determining NFTs’ Status as Virtual Assets
Lee & Ko Advised on the First Innovative Financial Service ...
Lee & Ko Advised on the First Innovative Financial Service Involving the Trust Beneficiary Certificates Following the Announcement of the Guidelines on Security Tokens
ALB Asia Top 15 ESG Law Firms for Two Consecutive Years
ALB Asia Top 15 ESG Law Firms for Two Consecutive Years
Highest Ranking in Patent Litigation by IAM Patent 1000 2024 for 10th Consecutive Year
Highest Ranking in Patent Litigation by IAM Patent 1000 2024 for 10th Consecutive Year
Attorney Vera Eun Woo Lee, chosen as MIP’s ‘Top 250 Women in IP’ for two consecutive years
Attorney Vera Eun Woo Lee, chosen as MIP’s ‘Top 250 Women in IP’ for two consecutive years
Attorney Sung Hui Yoon, selected as ‘Benchmark Asia-Pacific’s Top 40 Under 40 2024’
Attorney Sung Hui Yoon, selected as ‘Benchmark Asia-Pacific’s Top 40 Under 40 2024’
Attorney Keum Nang Park, selected as ‘Top 100 Women in Litigation 2024’ by Benchmark Litigation
Attorney Keum Nang Park, selected as ‘Top 100 Women in Litigation 2024’ by Benchmark Litigation
Lee & Ko awarded in four categories at 'Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific Awards 2024'
Lee & Ko awarded in four categories at 'Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific Awards 2024'
Concretizing Rights of Data Subjects in the AI Era
Concretizing Rights of Data Subjects in the AI Era - Implementation of the Second Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of PIPA
‘Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific 2024’ ranks Lee & Ko in the top tier in every 10 practice areas
‘Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific 2024’ ranks Lee & Ko in the top tier in every 10 practice areas for the second year in a row
Landmark Ruling: Supreme Court Overturns PIPC Sanctions Against E-commerce Platform Operators
Landmark Ruling: Supreme Court Overturns PIPC Sanctions Against E-commerce Platform Operators
Korean Tax Regulation Updates for 2024
Korean Tax Regulation Updates for 2024
Lee & Ko wins Specialist Award – Pro Bono at the 2024 IFLR Asia Pacific Awards
Lee & Ko wins Specialist Award – Pro Bono at the 2024 IFLR Asia Pacific Awards
Tong Keun Seol and Jin Young Jung Awarded “ESG Lawyer of the Year” and “Transport Lawyer of the Year
Tong Keun Seol and Jin Young Jung Awarded “ESG Lawyer of the Year” and “Transport Lawyer of the Year” at The Asia Legal Awards 2024
Lee & Ko Wins the Most Awards by Category and “Law Firm of the Year” at ABLJ Korea Law Awards 2023
Lee & Ko Wins the Most Awards by Category and “Law Firm of the Year” at ABLJ Korea Law Awards 2023
PIPC Announces Policy Direction for the Protection of Online Behavioral Data Used in Targeted Advert
PIPC Announces Policy Direction for the Protection of Online Behavioral Data Used in Targeted Advertising
Band 1 in 7 Practice Areas by "Chambers Global 2024"
Band 1 in 7 Practice Areas by "Chambers Global 2024"
Strategic Considerations for Korean Investors: Leveraging the Special Tax Provision for Foreign Pass
Strategic Considerations for Korean Investors: Leveraging the Special Tax Provision for Foreign Pass-Through Entities
'Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024' ranks Lee & Ko in the top tier in 15 practice areas
'Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024' ranks Lee & Ko in the top tier in 15 practice areas
KFTC proposes ex-ante regulation of platforms under the “Platform Competition Promotion Act”
KFTC proposes ex-ante regulation of platforms under the “Platform Competition Promotion Act”