Brandon (Myong-Hyon) Ryu

Practice Areas

Corporate Law

M&A

Foreign Investment

Investment Funds

Corporate Governance

Compliance

Career

Myong-Hyon (Brandon) Ryu is a senior foreign attorney at Yoon & Yang LLC, where his practice focuses on M&A, private equity, venture capital and corporate advisory. Drawing on nearly 25 years of experience, he has successfully advised on a wide range of large and complex cross-border transactions.

Mr. Ryu is widely recognized for his legal expertise. He has been named one of “Korea’s Top 100 Lawyers” by Asia Business Law Journal and is consistently ranked as a leading lawyer in the Corporate/M&A field by legal directories, including Chambers and Partners Global/Asia-Pacific, The Legal 500, asialaw Profiles, Legal Times, Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal), and PLC Which Lawyer.

He has lectured at the Judicial Research and Training Institute, Sungkyunkwan University, Konkuk University, and the Korea In-House Counsel Association. He has also authored numerous articles on M&A, corporate law, and anti-corruption, and is a frequent speaker and panelist at major domestic and international conferences hosted by organizations such as the IBA, IPBA, and IAKL.

Professional Memberships

Admitted to bar, New York (2002)

Publications

Korea Chapter, The Private Equity Review Part II, Investing, Law Business Research (Co-author, 2019, 2022)

Restriction of Share Transfer under the Shareholders’ Agreement, BFL No. 88 (Co-author, Mar. 2018)

Shareholders’ Agreement, BFL Series 13 (Co-author, May 2017)

Avoiding Breach of Trust, The Lawyer (Co-author, Sep. 2014)

Practical Issues of Shareholders’ Agreement – Focusing on Matters to Consider during Drafting of Agreement, BFL No.67 (Co-author, Sep. 2014)

Make Sure Not to Commit Breach of Trust, Journal Ed. 81-3, AMCHAM Korea (Co-author, 2014)

Helpul Tips relating to Cross-Border M&A, M&A Newsletter, KITIA (Co-author, Feb. 2014)

Invest KOREA, Preventing Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in Korea: China Eastern Airlines Case, KOTRA (Aug. 2013)

Putting the squeeze on shareholders, asialaw Korea Annual Review (2013)

Recent Crackdown on Medical Rebates in Korea, IBA Criminal Law Section News (Co-author, Mar. 2013)

Anti-Bribery Laws in Korea and Their Distinct Characteristics, Insights from the Trenches, Criminal Justice, American Bar Association (Co-author, Dec. 2012)

Putting on the squeeze, IFLR (Co-author, Nov. 2012)

Measures to Ousting Minorty Shareholders under the Commercial Act and Relevant Legal and Practical Issues, Juris No. 672 (Co-author, Sep. 2012)

Invest KOREA – Squeeze Out of Minority Shareholders Under the Amended Korean Commercial Code, KOTRA (Co-author, Sep. 2012)

Recent Amendments to the Korean Commercial Code, Infomag No.125, EUCCK (Co-author, 2011)

South Korea Special Report – A new frontier?, Asian-Counsel Ed. 8-8, Pacific Business Press (Co-author, 2010)

Work Highlights

Advised SD Biosensor and SJL Partners on acquisition of Meridian Bioscience (US listed company)

Advised KKR on acquisition attempt of MEDIT

Advised Sequoia on acquisition of a domestic fashion company Rare Market

Advised GIC on acquisition of stake in Starbucks Korea

Advised MBK on acquisition attempt of Prudential Life

Advised Baring PE on investment in Shinhan Financial Holdings

Advised Hanwha Investment & Asset Management Co. on investment in Grab Financial Group (fintech subsidiary of Grab, largest mobility platform in Southeast Asia (Series A lead investor)

Advised SKC on sale of stake in Kuwait’s PIC after split-off of its chemical business unit

Advised on acquisition of Momentive (US listed company) by the KCC-SJL Partners-Wonik Consortium

Advised CJCJ on acquisition of US-based Schwan’s Company

Advised Sequoia and GIC on investment in Woowa Brothers Corp.

Advised Sequoia and DST Global on investment in Market Kurly

Advised on sale of CJ Healthcare

Advised Novelis on sale of stake in Ulsan Plant to Kobe Steel and establishment of JV

Advised GE on sale of stake in Hyundai Capital and Hyundai Card

Advised CJ Korea Express on acquisition of Vietnam-based Gemadept Logistics Co.

Advised KKR and Affinity Equity Partners on acquisition attempt of Homeplus

Advised Hanwha Chemical on acquisition of Solarone (US listed company, currently Hanwha QCell)

Advised Mirae Asset and Fila Korea on acquisition of US-based golf product manufacturer Acushnet

Advised Lotte Group on acquisition of Buy-the-Way

Advised Lotte Shopping on Times (Hong Kong listed company)

Advised Eugene Group on acquisition of Hi Mart

Advised Carlyle on investment in HCN

Advised Lone Star on sale of Star Tower

Languages Spoken

Korean and English

Experience

2025-present Yoon & Yang LLC

2008-25 Shin & Kim LLC

2004-08 Yulchon LLC

2001-04 Yoon & Yang LLC

2000 Winstead (Dallas, Texas), Summer Associate

1999 Yoon & Partners, Summer Associate

Education

Awards