South Korea

Kim & Chang is a dominant force in dispute resolution in South Korea, with more than 200 experienced lawyers in the practice group alone. As the largest domestic firm in the country, it houses many of the market’s top litigation and arbitration specialists, and peers acknowledge the firm’s strength and deep bench across all practice areas and industry sectors. It is well suited to large-scale litigation in multiple jurisdictions, with its lawyers experienced at handling high-stakes cases and an enviable track record of achieving favorable outcomes for clients. The firm’s litigation practice covers a broad range of areas, including general commercial litigation, intellectual property disputes, antitrust and competition litigation, product liability claims, labor and employment disputes, and white-collar criminal defense. The firm is also a go-to for international clients needing representation in cross-border disputes and international arbitration proceedings. In one highlight, a team is acting for a Korean state-owned entity in a potential ICSID investor-state arbitration against a Central American government concerning a copper mining project. In another, the team represented a Korean conglomerate in an ongoing ICC arbitration against a Chinese energy company.

Client feedback

“Kim & Chang excelled in their approach to client communication, issue analysis, and litigation preparation. They maintained active and seamless communication with the client throughout the litigation process, building trust and rapport. Their thorough analysis of the key issues in the case included meticulous fact-checking, which allowed them to provide clear and precise guidance on the materials and preparations needed from the client. Additionally, they demonstrated exceptional care in preparing comprehensive and detailed litigation materials by verifying facts and maintaining consistent communication with the client. These materials were shared with the client for review and revisions, ensuring that the client’s input and intentions were fully incorporated. Kim & Chang’s reliability and professionalism were evident throughout the process, as they consistently worked in the best interests of their client. Their efforts left me highly satisfied with the overall litigation process.” – Class actions

"Kim & Chang has a solid reputation for its outstanding IP practice and strong standing in the market. Whenever we request feedback, their team is quick to respond with answers that are both helpful and tailored to our needs. They have a deep understanding of a wide range of IP issues, which means they really know their stuff in this area. The team is focused on providing advice and strategies that are specifically crafted for each client. With many years of experience, dedication, and a collaborative approach, they can handle complex matters that require detailed analysis and specialized strategies." – Intellectual property 

“Kim & Chang is our go-to choice for unprecedented cases or projects of significant importance, thanks to their team of experts and professionals. Their deep understanding of the industry and commendable application of relevant laws and regulations set them apart. They bring together experts from various departments as needed, collaborating organically to achieve the best results. Their advice and support are both adequate and polite, and they have extensive experience as attorneys for foreign companies involved in international projects and arbitration governed by Korean law. Their strengths lie in their speed, preparedness, and professionalism, which consistently deliver exceptional outcomes.” – International arbitration

Ji Yoon Jeong 

“Attorney Jeong demonstrated clear and logical judgment based on facts, providing prompt feedback that instilled a sense of trust and direction. She approached the case with unwavering dedication, actively listening to the client’s opinions and maintaining open and effective communication. Her professionalism and attentiveness made her a lawyer clients can fully rely on. If I require legal representation in the future, I will not hesitate to entrust my case to her again.”

Do Yoon Kim 

"Do Yoon is an excellent attorney who zealously defended our case before the labor authorities. He is responsive and keeps me informed of key developments on time. He understands what we need before we even tell him! For example, he expected that the authority would want us to submit a brief and he prepared the key points such that we were able to prepare well in advance. His brief was flawless. It was our first time working with Do Yoon at Kim & Chang, but I was surprised how fast he could learn about our business, products and industry as a whole. He not only listens to his client but also, he studies about the client business by himself. He studied the technical aspects about our business and products which was helpful to present our position to the authorities. It was impressive."  

Jaeha Kwon 

"She communicates well with the client, which is one of the most important attributes of a law-firm lawyer. As clients, we are informed of how the case is going, as well as understand the logic behind our case, which allows for easier internal communication. Her understanding of the arbitration procedure as well as application of such knowledge to individual cases to the advantage of the client is what makes her unparalleled."  

Lee & Ko excels across all areas of dispute resolution. Its team of talented and experienced litigators is led by 25 partners and 70 lawyers who together cover more than 40 different specialties. The disputes team frequently collaborates with an extensive roster of practice area specialists, from construction to insolvency, and employs the expertise of industry specialists such as economic analysts, international trade experts, accountants, tax specialists, patent attorneys and regulatory analysts. The firm is a known market leader for handling serious accidents punishment act matters and a specialist NFT team was recently formed to tackle clients’ increasing blockchain technology, cryptocurrency and NFT issues.

A marquee matter for the disputes team was its role in the first case clarifying the scope of personal information handlers, involving Naver Corporation and Gmarket against the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC). The Lee & Ko lawyers successfully argued that third-party sellers were independent controllers and not subject to the same regulations, leading to a significant ruling that sets a precedent in the e-commerce context. In another high-profile victory, the team defended Kakao against allegations it violated the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act. The client was accused of market manipulation during its acquisition of SM Entertainment’s management rights. Lee & Ko argued that the government's policy was essential for public welfare and successfully defended Kakao, resulting in a favorable court ruling that acknowledged the legitimacy of the acquisition.

Client feedback

"Lee & Ko is a very strong player in the Korean arbitration market. It has seen a lot of change this year in terms of team leadership, but they recently hired Dr EY Park, former co-head of the Kim & Chang team, to lead the global disputes offering, and they promoted Sanghoon Han to lead the international arbitration team - both of which are good moves. I have been appointed by them on around 4-5 commercial arbitrations and have felt well supported on all of them. They work hard and provide high quality legal representation to their clients." – Commercial arbitration 

"The overall litigation strategy is excellent, including the collection of litigation materials through effective communication with the client, well-reasoned drafting based on the collected materials, and outstanding arguments during oral hearings." – Intellectual property 

"Lee & Ko conducted a forensic investigation and provided appropriate advice on how to dismiss and remove each of the corrupt executives." – Labor and employment 

Unho Kim 

"He excels at bringing out the full potential of the entire litigation team, is skilled in managing litigation risks, and is dedicated to communication with clients. Despite being the managing partner, he is deeply involved in meetings and drafting and personally delivers arguments during oral hearings." 

Young Jin Kim 

"Young Jin is very knowledgeable and also a very strong communicator. He is able to explain complex situations in a very succinct manner, and me and the team are able to understand clearly the situation and legal implications he delivers. Attorney Kim figured out the key aspects of the company's overall situation and presented the best alternative by utilizing the latest case law on those aspects." 

Jaeheon Park 

"Mr. Park is a very diligent and conscientious lawyer who can be contacted early in the morning or late at night and is excellent at forming a team of the best experts within Lee & Ko no matter what issue arises, so he is our main point of contact. He is also a great strength in always communicating with clients with a bright expression and warm attitude. I understand that he has been selected as the best lawyer by the Korean media several times." 

Boutique arbitration law firm Rosetta Legal was established eighty years ago by Young Seok Lee. Lee is a former head of Yulchon’s international dispute resolution group. The firm is niche and composed of two partners who handle significant arbitration matters for top-end clients seeking an alternative to the Big Six. It handles domestic and international arbitration cases in an array of industry sectors, including international trade, distributorship, insurance, telecommunications, technical license, construction, engineering, infrastructure and shipbuilding. Since its inception, the Rosetta team has handled multiple international arbitration cases worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Founding partner Young Seok Lee is the firm’s key contact. He is a member of the ICC Korea international arbitration committee and has served as the chair of the Korean Council for International Arbitration, the secretary-general of Seoul International Dispute Resolution Center and the chair for the Korea International Trade Law Association. Lee is also active as an arbitrator for various arbitration institutions. Arbitration expert and partner Jeong Min Lee is another key contact. She is a member of the International Centre for Dispute Resolution Translation Committee and a member of the International Committee of the Korean Bar Association.

A recent highlight was representing a cryptocurrency company in a high-stakes dispute over a $350 million payment for services. The case centers on the plaintiffs' failure to fulfill their contractual obligations, raising important questions about accountability in the rapidly evolving cryptocurrency sector.

Client feedback

"Rosetta Legal provided hard work, accurate advice, and had a deep understanding of this case, all of which contributed significantly to our success. Rosetta Legal took over the case from another law firm in late October / early November 2023 and had to review hundreds of pages of material. They did so diligently and appeared to have a full understanding of the facts of the case and the arguments we were looking to present to the court. It also helped that the law firm is fluent in both English and Korean." – Commercial and transactions 

Jeong Min Lee 

"She is very responsive, professional, and has a good grasp of the facts of the cases, our objectives, and has the ability to construct great arguments in both English and Korean." 

Shin & Kim offers its clients an established dispute resolution offering that focuses on six core specialised litigation practice groups: administrative, tax and fair trade law; construction, real estate and project finance; capital markets and financial disputes; corporate labour and bankruptcy; intellectual property and product liability; and criminal. The team has a strong reputation for public law, construction and real estate, financial, general corporate and intellectual property disputes. The firm’s stable of clients includes Amosense, Cho Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corporation, CJ, Gilead Sciences, Helixmith, Industrial Bank of Korea, Pine Tree Partners, Regus Group, Samsung, Seoul Broadcasting System, STX Heavy Industries and Vidente Corporation. The firm was busy recently acting for Kakao Ventures against its former CEO who was seeking a performance payment. In another highlight matter, the disputes team acted for NSC Investment on its claim for damages against POSCO E&C related to the Incheon Songdo International Business District Development Project.

The disputes team at Yoon & Yang offers expertise across a variety of practice areas, with its core litigation practice focused on complex corporate, construction, finance, employment and securities matters. The team’s sector expertise includes manufacturing, construction, finance and technology. It has strong and well-regarded competition, employment, white-collar crime and product liability teams. The corporate litigation team comprises 70 former judges, 50 former prosecutors, and one former Supreme Court Justice. Apart from its litigation and arbitration services, Yoon & Yang also offers mediation and negotiation services to help clients resolve disputes. Its mediators are trained and certified by the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board and have experience across a wide range of disputes.

In a marquee highlight, the firm is representing SK Shipping in a landmark product liability case against Korea Gas Corporation over defects in LNG containment systems. The case involves significant financial implications, with damages claims amounting to approximately KRW 220 billion. The firm also represented Hahn & Company in a successful enforcement of a share purchase agreement against the owners of Namyang Dairy. The court issued multiple injunctions to prevent the sellers from disposing of shares and confirmed the validity of the agreement, leading to a favourable ruling for the client. The team also scored success in securing a victory for eight groups, including major affiliates of LG and Hyundai, in a lawsuit filed by the K-Sports Foundation regarding the non-existence of debt. The ruling clarified the legal standing of contributions made to non-profit organizations and established a precedent for the treatment of debts in similar contexts, especially following significant political events.

Key corporate clients of the firm include Audi Volkswagen Korea, British America Tobacco Korea, GE Healthcare, Keystone Food and MAN Truck Bus Korea. Core construction clients include Daehan Real Estate Investment Trust, GS Engineering & Construction, Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Korea Teal Estate Investment & Trust and Posco Engineering & Construction. Intellectual property clients include some of the world’s best-known brands, such as Amazon, BMW, Intel, L’Oréal, Merck, Microsoft, Nike and SK Hynix.

Client feedback

"Their legal advice and assessment of the case were very practical and reliable." – Commercial and transactions

"They provided rational legal advice focused on protecting the client." – Competition/antitrust

"They offered expert legal services in governmental lawsuits, international arbitration, antitrust law, and criminal cases." – Government and regulatory

"We have received significant assistance regarding corporate tax law and various legal matters related to litigation. We are always grateful for their outstanding capabilities." – Tax

Myung Ahn Kim

"She is hardworking, eloquent in advocacy, and perseveres in fighting for the client's interests. Her consistent efforts yield good results. Additionally, she builds strong client relationships."

Kyungjin Lee

"Based on his professional expertise, he has provided significant assistance in developing strategies for our company."

Seokbeom Hong

"As a legal expert in fair trade law, he clearly understands what the client wants and provides tailored solutions to ensure no legal issues arise."

Leading Korean law firm Yulchon has a roster of more than 450 professionals in its dispute resolution team alone, including more than 150 trial lawyers led by nearly 30 partners. These experienced litigators have a lengthy track record of success in representing clients in high-stakes litigation matters. In addition to legal practitioners, the group has other professionals such as accountants and industry experts to provide support to its litigators. The disputes offering covers the full spectrum of practice areas, with the market acknowledging its strengths in tax, finance, competition, construction, product liability, labor, intellectual property and white-collar crime. The firm is recognized as a pioneer in class action disputes and for its Supreme Court wins, overturning lower court decisions at a high rate. The firm has extensive experience in handling complex international disputes, and its lawyers are well versed in the rules and procedures of various international arbitration institutions.

A recent accomplishment for the Yulchon commercial disputes team was its successful representation of a consortium, including GS Engineering & Construction, Samsung C&T, and others, in a lawsuit against the Korean National Railway for unpaid construction costs related to the Metropolitan High-speed Railway (Suseo-Pyeongtaek). The firm additionally scored victory for a local chicken franchise restaurant in a high-profile dispute, claiming damages against a competitor due to alleged breaches of contract following the termination of supply agreements. The court ruled in favor of the client, affirming its claims and awarding significant damages. 

Client feedback

"Yulchon provides excellent, pragmatic legal advice and business-minded solutions for navigating difficult competition questions, particularly with respect to merger control in Korea. They are very responsive, thoughtful, and effective. We trust them with our most important matters." – Competition/antitrust

"Yulchon consistently provides concise and practical legal advice tailored to the realities of our business operations. Their expertise has been invaluable in navigating complex labour union issues. Their guidance has clarified legal uncertainties and significantly strengthened our position in labour relations, enabling us to handle sensitive matters effectively and with confidence." – Labor and employment

"Yulchon clarifies issues and identifies strong arguments to drive litigation in favour of the client. They effectively manage costs and demonstrate a strong commitment to their clients." – Labour and employment

Yong Whan Choi

"Lawyer Choi Yong-whan is highly regarded for his expertise in tax-related litigation in Korea. Our company selected him as our legal representative for various tax-related cases due to his outstanding reputation. Yulchon is renowned for its tax-related practice, and having Lawyer Choi on their team is a significant factor in their selection."

Cecil Saehoon Chung

"Cecil provides excellent legal advice and is particularly helpful to foreign firms trying to understand the sometimes-opaque workings of Korean regulators. He remains calm under pressure, leads large teams on complex matters, and stays personally involved."

Jae Woo Park

"He exemplifies the highest standards of professionalism and expertise. His profound legal knowledge, combined with meticulous attention to detail, ensures that every matter is handled with precision and care. What sets him apart is his ability to distil complex legal issues into clear, actionable solutions, always keeping the client’s best interests in mind."