Written by Jad on 10 May 2018.
♦ Moves News ♦ Seoul
Global law firm K&L Gates LLP has further bolstered its global energy, infrastructure and resources practice with the addition of W. Eugene Chang as a partner in the Seoul office. Chang joins K&L Gates from the Tokyo office of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, where he was a senior counsel. He will begin his tenure with K&L Gates in the firm’s Tokyo office while completing his registration in Korea. Chang’s practice focuses on cross-border energy and infrastructure project developments, project and structured finance, and mergers and acquisitions. In the project development sphere, Chang has worked on both conventional and renewable power projects and has represented both lenders and borrowers in relation to a variety of cross-border financings, with recent experience including advising Korea Development Bank and Korea Eximbank on complex cross-border financings. Chang also has represented many major Korean developers/sponsors such as KEPCO, POSCO, SK, Hanwha, and Hyundai Heavy Industry in connection with their overseas energy projects. David Tang, K&L Gates’ managing partner, Asia, said: “Eugene enhances our Korea practice with his deep experience and knowledge of the Korea market gained over many years and enlarges our energy and projects capabilities in the Asia region.” Chang’s arrival follows the addition of nearly 20 other lawyers to K&L Gates’ energy, infrastructure and resources practice area over the past year, including Taipei partner Owen Chio in April, a five-lawyer team in Texas (partners Jeff King, Jamie Bryan, Chris Brown, Elizabeth Tiblets, and counsel Mitchell Murphy) in March, and Melbourne partners Luke Westmore and Zac Kerr, Milan partner Luca Sommariva, and London partners Jeremy Farr, Charles Lockwood, and Clare Kempkens in January, as well as other lawyers in Texas, New York, and Washington, D.C., during 2017.
Written by John on 08 September 2015.
♦ Uncategorized ♦ Seoul
The office will open with immediate effect, led by experienced energy and project finance partner Matthias Voss. Working with Matthias in Seoul will be Jean Lee, an energy and projects partner, and Counsel Kyu Bang. Commenting on the launch, managing partner of Allen & Overy's Seoul office, Matthias Voss, said: "South Korea is one of the key players in the global economy – it is ranked 13th in the world by GDP, but importantly is ranked ninth by imports and sixth by exports. The strength of inbound and outbound trade flows are why we have been working with clients here for over three decades. Establishing a presence on the ground will enable us to bring the full weight of our international network combined with our deep sector expertise and product knowledge to bear for clients located here or wishing to invest. It will also enable us to continue to broaden the scope of work we offer our clients, not just in projects, capital markets and M&A but also in areas such as such as antitrust, arbitration and IP." Wim Dejonghe, global managing partner, added: "The pivotal role South Korea plays in the global economy means we are seeing growing demand from clients for both inbound and outbound advice in this market. The crucial ingredient to opening in any market is always ensuring we have the best quality people who are able to meet the demands of our clients. The product and sector expertise offered by Matthias and Jean supported by Kyu will enable us to tap into the huge opportunities to work for Korean clients across a number of sectors, particularly energy and infrastructure." The Seoul office further strengthens Allen & Overy’s strategy and platform in Asia. The launch also underlines its commitment to supporting key clients in high growth markets such as South Korea. Under the terms of the regulatory approvals Allen & Overy will not offer local Korean law advice and looks forward to continuing to work with local relationship firms.
Written by John on 11 August 2015.
♦ Breaking BigLaw News ♦ Seoul
Global law firm White & Case LLP has announced the opening of an office in Seoul, South Korea to strengthen and expand its Korea practice. Since establishing its Korea practice more than 20 years ago, White & Case has supported the needs of clients investing in the country as well as Korean clients expanding globally. The office enables the Firm to better support long-standing project finance clients, as well as broadening its role advising on mergers & acquisitions, private equity, commercial litigation and international arbitration matters. "Asia is a strategically important region for the Firm," said Hugh Verrier, White & Case Chairman. "We've had an active Korea practice for many years, and now the office in Seoul will allow us to provide on-the-ground support for our clients in their complex, cross-border work." The office will be headed by James K. Lee, who leads the Korea practice group and will relocate to Seoul from Los Angeles. James specializes in complex cross-border commercial litigation and has been working with Korean clients for more than 15 years. He will be joined initially by Mark Goodrich, a construction practice group partner in London who will be transferring to Seoul, and Kyungseok Kim, who recently joined the Firm as a partner in the Global Mergers & Acquisitions Practice. "We are thrilled to announce the opening of our new office in Seoul," said Eric Berg, Head of Asia for White & Case. "This allows us to provide local support with UK and US law capability for our Korean clients, which include a broad spectrum of organizations and government agencies. It is a natural next step for the Firm." The establishment of the Firm's onshore presence in Korea marks the seventh location in Asia and the 39th globally.
Written by John on 10 August 2015.
♦ Moves News ♦ Seoul
O’Melveny & Myers LLP is pleased to announce YongSang Kim has joined the Firm as a counsel in the Korea and Antitrust & Competition Practices. Kim, who resides in O’Melveny’s Washington, DC, office, will join the Firm’s Seoul office as a co-representative upon receipt of approval from the Korean Ministry of Justice. Kim’s broad experience includes litigation and matters involving antitrust, anti-corruption, international trade, international arbitration and white-collar defense. He represents domestic and foreign corporations in US Department of Justice criminal investigations and in civil antitrust class actions alleging price-fixing and monopolization. He also advises corporations on the legal implications of business decisions and assists companies with disputes involving overseas operations and investments. Kim’s experience includes representing large domestic and foreign corporations in government review of mergers and acquisitions, government investigations and self-regulatory body investigations. He has represented Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration since 2008 and, most recently, he represented the Republic of Korea in its first treaty-based Investor-State dispute before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). Kim earned his JD, cum laude, from Cornell Law School, his master’s degree from Yale University Divinity School, and his BA from Yonsei University in Seoul. He served as an extern clerk for Judge Thomas J. McAvoy of the US District Court for the Northern District of New York. DC Super Lawyers recognized Kim as a "Rising Star" for antitrust litigation in 2014 and 2015, and in 2008 he was honored as the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights Coalition Pro Bono Attorney of the Year. Kim also frequently presents and writes on antitrust topics geared toward US and Korean audiences. “YongSang Kim’s unique skills will be true assets for our growing Seoul office,” said O’Melveny partner Joseph Kim, head of the Firm’s Korea Practice. “He is a great litigator who will enhance our vibrant Korea Practice and help strengthen our relationships with our clients in South Korea and worldwide.” “I am thrilled to join O’Melveny and be a part of the Korea Practice’s continuing expansion,” YongSang Kim said. “I look forward to using my experience and knowledge of the US and Korean business terrain to assist our clients.” YongSang Kim formerly was a counsel with Arnold & Porter in Washington, DC.
Written by Editor on 01 July 2015.
♦ Moves News ♦ Seoul
Johneth Chongseo Park has joined Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP as a partner in the firm's Corporate practice group, based in the firm's Seoul office. Park joins from Simpson Thacher. Park’s primary areas of concentration include capital markets, mergers and acquisitions and private equity transactions. He has extensive experience representing corporate, financial and government-affiliated clients in Korea-related work as well as work in other jurisdictions. Park is a native speaker of Korean. Park has worked on securities offerings by a wide range of Korean issuers, including The Republic of Korea, The Export-Import Bank of Korea, Korea Electric Power Corporation, Korea Hydro-Nuclear Power, Korea Western Power, Korea Midland Power, Korea East-West Power, Korea South-East Power, Korea Gas Corporation, Korea Expressway Corporation, Korea Land & Housing Corporation, Cheil Industries, Samsung Life Insurance, Shinhan Financial Group, Shinhan Bank, Hyundai Motors, Hyundai Capital Services, Hyundai Card, POSCO, POSCO Engineering & Construction, POSCO Specialty Steel, STX, SK Telecom, Gravity, WiderThan and C&M, among others, and periodic SEC reporting by KEPCO and Shinhan Financial Group. Park has also worked on a number of M&A and private equity transactions, including the sale of a controlling stake in a subsidiary by STX Offshore & Shipbuilding, investments by Goldman Sachs PIA in a number of Korean companies, investments by Citadel in a number of PRC-based companies, private equity investments into Yingli Green Energy, acquisition of MSK Corporation by Suntech, acquisition financing involving Citi and C&M, the acquisition of Andover Bancorp by Banknorth Group, and acquisitions of brokerage firm by Boston Financial Holdings, among others. "We are excited to welcome Johneth to our Seoul office. His valuable expertise in capital markets and other corporate transactions complement and supplement our current capabilities in Seoul and across our firm globally. Johneth’s deep knowledge with respect to sophisticated cross-border transactions will greatly benefit our existing Korean and other clients," said Jon W. Newby, vice chairman of Sheppard Mullin. "I am very pleased to join Sheppard Mullin. The strength and breadth of the firm’s corporate practice was very attractive to me. I was also impressed by the firm’s collegial culture, entrepreneurial spirit and thriving Seoul office," Park commented. Park received a J.D., from Georgetown University Law Center in 2000, a M.A. from Columbia University in 1995 and a B.A., cum laude, from Harvard University in 1991. Also today, Sheppard Mullin added Joe Daniels to the Corporate practice group in the firm’s New York office. Daniels joins from Loeb& Loeb. Last month, Hwan Kim joined Sheppard Mullin as a partner in the firm's Corporate practice group, based in the firm's Washington, D.C. office. Kim, who joined from Squire Patton Boggs, will also be regularly spending time in Sheppard Mullin’s Seoul office. In April, Sheppard Mullin’s Corporate practice group added partners Mike McKinnon in Orange County and Adam Ettinger in Century City. McKinnon joined from Greenberg Traurig and Ettinger joined from Strategic Counsel Corp. where he was managing partner. In March, Sheppard Mullin added Corporate partner Andy Felner in New York. Felner joined Sheppard Mullin from FDX Capital LLC/FDX Offshore LLC, where he was co-founder and managing partner of the financial advisory firm and affiliated merchant bank, and where he will remain as a board member.