Lawyers in South Korea

Paul Cho

Kim & Chang

Paul Hyun Joon Yoon

Senior Foreign Attorney

Lee & Ko

Peter In-Soo Kimm

Senior Foreign Attorney

Shin & Kim

Philip Do Youn Kim

Philip specialises in international arbitration and has expertise in the resolution of corporate (post M&A, shareholder and joint ventures), energy (construction and shipbuilding) and public international law disputes with nexus to East and Central Asia. Philip is in high demand for the most complex, high-value and novel cases, given his extensive experience and outstanding track record in landmark cases. Philip is often engaged as additional co-counsel to work with other international law firms in significant cases. Notably, the American Lawyer magazine have featured two of Philip’s cases as the “Top 10 Defense Wins” in the arbitration field internationally, which are leading authorities in public international law. Philip also acted for the Government of Korea in the first arbitration under the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement, which was successful at an early stage. In recent years, Philip advised on the most significant post M&A, commercial and investment disputes for Korea based clients, in particular London, Hong Kong or Singapore seated arbitrations (ad hoc, LCIA, SIAC, ICDR, ICC and HKIAC) and English High Court litigation. Philip has a unique client base in North and Central Asia and acts as relationship partner to Asian conglomerates, technology (in particular IT and automobiles) and healthcare companies, who entrust him with a wide range of work relating to Europe, China and South-East Asia. As a result, Philip’s practice covers non-contentious and bespoke matters, such as international restructurings and office launches, data privacy, intellectual property licensing, ESG and incentives. The directories have consistently recognised his expertise for international arbitration and dispute resolution. He is listed as an “Arbitration Future Leader” by Who’s Who Legal 2023 (Arbitration, United Kingdom) as well as one of “30 Super Lawyers” in South Korea by Asian Legal Business. In addition he is listed as a “Rising Star” by Legal 500, International Arbitration, South Korea. His Chambers & Partners, Global and Asia Pacific ranking states that “Philip Kim advises clients in commercial and investment treaty arbitrations and has particular expertise in disputes relating to Korea and Kazakhstan. One source enthuses ‘He is brilliant and he is really making waves. He is one of the best…I’ve seen.’”.

Watson Farley & Williams LLP Foreign Legal Consultant Office

Philippe Shin

Senior Foreign Attorney

Shin & Kim

Philje CHO

Partner

Lee & Ko

Pil Kyu Kim

Legal Counsel

DR & AJU LLC

Pil Sun Shim

Partner

DR & AJU LLC

Poom Jang

Partner

Jipyong LLC

Pyoung Keun Song

Partner Member of Management Committee

Lee & Ko

Rajiv Gupta

Rajiv Gupta heads Latham’s India Practice and advises Indian companies and global clients doing business in India on a full range of corporate and finance transactions. He draws on more than two decades of experience advising on capital markets transactions. Rajiv brings an unusual combination of skills to advise both issuers and underwriters on a full range of capital markets transactions, including: US IPOs and SEC-registered transactions Indian IPOs High-yield bonds Convertible securities He has developed a preeminent India practice advising on hundreds of complex, high-profile, and precedent-setting capital markets transactions. Rajiv also leverages Latham’s global platform to help clients navigate a full range of complex or cross-border corporate transactions, including: Mergers and acquisitions Private equity Restructuring Leveraged finance Rajiv served as an appointed member of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Advisory Committee. A native Hindi speaker, Rajiv has been educated in India, the US, and the UK, and has practiced in New York, Hong Kong, and Singapore, so brings a global perspective to clients’ transactions. He regularly speaks on capital markets and corporate transactions, at key industry conferences, including the Indian Banks’ Association’s conference. Rajiv’s pro bono work includes advising on the innovative Women’s Livelihood Bond series, sponsored by the Impact Investment Exchange.

Latham & Watkins LLP

Ram Chan Woo

Partner

Lee & Ko

Regina Kim

Regina Jinseo Kim advises Korean and global clients on outbound and inbound investments and corporate transactions. Regina helps global private equity firms and market-leading Korean companies on strategic transactions, including: Mergers and acquisitions Joint ventures Minority investments She draws on previous experience working at a Korean law firm, as well as working in the US, and Hong Kong. A skilled bilingual and bicultural practitioner, Regina also brings experience working on landmark multibillion-dollar mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures in South Korea and other jurisdictions. She also works closely on the ground with global Latham teams on a full spectrum of matters.

Latham & Watkins LLP

Richard Chul Kim

Richard Chul Kim is counsel in the Finance Department of Latham & Watkins Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise. He advises clients on project development and finance, and structured finance. Richard has practiced in Asia since 2008. He regularly works on transactions involving Korean, Japanese, and other international sponsors, lenders, and government agencies in the energy sector on their global financing and development needs. He also advises clients on various aspects of cross-border corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures. Richard previously served a secondment with Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI) from 2015 to 2017. Prior to his career in Asia, Richard worked as an attorney in Los Angeles and was a judicial extern to Judge Stephen V. Wilson in the US District Court for the Central District of California. Richard is qualified to practice before the California Bar and a registered foreign lawyer in Japan of the Dai-Ni Tokyo Bar Association (California Law).

Latham & Watkins LLP

Richard Watkins

Richard Watkins advises private equity and corporate clients on M&A, joint venture, and other strategic transactions with an Asia-Pacific nexus. Richard combines extensive experience across a broad range of deal types with a depth of understanding of local markets to guide clients on: Cross-border mergers and acquisitions, ranging from buyouts to minority investments, both public and private Investing and raising growth capital Consortia and joint ventures Structured and downside-protected quasi-equity investments He works closely with Latham colleagues worldwide to structure innovative solutions that utilize the latest legal technology and integrate market-leading advice from across the global platform. Richard’s experience spans both buy side and sell side in a variety of industries, particularly real estate, asset management, tech and digital infrastructure, healthcare and life sciences, and consumer goods. Drawing on his prior experience in London and Moscow, Richard provides pragmatic, commercial advice that reflects his experience guiding clients through evolving geopolitical and economic conditions. Richard serves on the firm’s Global Mentoring Committee.

Latham & Watkins LLP

Ricky Kim

Ricky has over a decade of experience on all aspects of ship financing advising financial institutions (banks, export credit agencies, private equity investors and funds) and shipping companies (owners, managers and charterers). He specialises in banking and finance matters including secured lending, syndicated and bilateral lending, corporate finance and ECA-backed finance (particularly KEXIM Guarantee, KOBC, K-Sure and Sinosure cover) as well as restructuring, works-outs, rehabilitation and loan portfolio transfers. Ricky is native Korean and has significant experience on Korean BBCHP structured financings and regularly acts for both Korean and international financial institutions on financings involving leading Korean shipowners. Ricky is qualified in both Singapore and England & Wales.

Watson Farley & Williams LLP Foreign Legal Consultant Office

Rin Ha Seo

Partner

DR & AJU LLC

Robert Song

DLA Piper

Robert Wachter

Senior Foreign Attorney

Shin & Kim

Robert Young

Senior Foreign Attorney

Shin & Kim

Ross HARMAN

Senior Foreign Attorney

Lee & Ko

S. W. Park

Choi & Kim

SB(Suakbuam) Hong

Partner

Yoon & Yang LLC

Sae Ho AHN

Partner

Lee & Ko