新着情報

July 8, 2024
An interview with Kyungchun Kim of Lee & Ko was published in The Bell. The Bell introduced Kyungchun Kim as “a key figure in the M&A and corporate advisory sectors, having built expertise in M&A legal advisory services through participation in various deals led by major corporations and private equity funds." In the interview, Kyungchun Kim expressed his ambition to provide legal advice that can truly benefit clients through a ‘positivist approach.’

On July 2, 2024, the Korea Economic Daily reported Lee & Ko’s recruitment of Yang Ho Park, former head of the Legal Affairs Division at the Ministry of Justice (MOJ). Mr. Park is an expert in criminal law who has accumulated his expertise and experience in various criminal areas as he was in charge of special investigation and cases related to social issues in Prosecutors’ Offices throughout the nation, including the Public Investigation Department of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, Special Branch of the Ulsan District Prosecutors’ Office, Special Investigation Department of the Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office, while also in charge of customs cases in Incheon District Prosecutors' Office. He has also served in key posts at the Ministry of Justice as he was in charge of personnel business of the prosecution system and prosecutors at the MOJ’s Prosecution Service Division, enactment and amendment of civil law, review and advisory of laws regarding national institutions at the MOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel, and general management of AI legal technology policies such as legal counselling services at the MOJ’s Legal Affairs Division. Mr. Park will be responsible for legislative support to various corporate-related criminal cases and legislations in areas of corporate, finance, serious accidents, fair trade, customs etc. at Lee & Ko’s criminal group. 

On July 2, 2024, the Yonhap News reported that Lee & Ko will provide legal support to startups entering the global market with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups held a MOU and inauguration ceremony of advisory body for startups with law firms such as Lee & Ko on July 2 to establish a cooperative legal support system for startups. Law firms such as Lee & Ko plan to provide customized, free legal support regarding execution of contracts with overseas companies, protection of intellectual property rights etc. to startups by utilizing their abundant expertise in foreign law and networks such as overseas offices. 

July 1, 2024
In ‘The Bell’s League Table’ for the mergers, spin-offs, and joint ventures category announced for the first half of 2024, Lee & Ko has topped the list with 8 transactions, amounting to KRW 2.3 trillion in the aggregate transactional volume. The Bell noted, “Earlier in the first quarter of 2024, Lee & Ko reclaimed the top spot in this category for the first time in 8 years, and has successfully secured the first-place position for this quarter again.” The Bell explained, "Advising both SK Energy's spin-off of SK Enterm and EcoPro BM’s merger with EcoPro Global played a decisive role”, and added, “Lee & Ko also provided legal advice for deals including the merger through absorption of Douzone Bizon by Douzone Holdings (KRW 269.1 billion) and the merger between Woori Asset Management and Woori Global Asset Management (KRW 220.3 billion).”

On June 19, 2024, the Law Times reported that Yang Ho Park, former Director of the Legal Affairs Division of the Ministry of Justice will join Lee & Ko. The Law Times explained that Mr. Park “completed the 35th Judicial Research & Training Institute in 2006 and was appointed as a prosecutor at the Jeonju District Prosecutor’s Office”, that “he served as a deputy prosecutor at the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office, prosecution at the Ministry of Justice, head of the Jecheon branch at the Cheongju District Prosecutor’s Office after serving as the prosecutor of the Office of Legal Counsel at the Ministry of Justice”, and that “he finished his public service last month after serving as the director of the Legal Affairs Division of the Ministry of Justice since September last year”. Mr. Park is expected to work in Lee & Ko’s Criminal Defense Team. 

On June 12, 2024, the Law Times featured Lee & Ko’s Tech&AI Team. The Law Times described the team as “the largest AI team among domestic law firms, comprising approximately 100 experts, including attorneys and former regulatory agency professionals.” The article highlighted that “the team is staffed with experts in personal data protection, data management, IT, regulatory consulting, and litigation (technology disputes), enabling them to address all potential issues and challenges related to AI.”

Attorney Ko Hwan-kyoung, the team leader of Lee & Ko’s Tech&AI Team, stated, “As we are all entering this new era together, there is a high likelihood that various legal fields will become intricately intertwined.” He added, “The Lee & Ko Tech&AI Team, consisting of both attorneys and advisors, collaborates seamlessly when issues arise to provide tailored services, much like the ‘Avengers’.”]

On June 11, 2024, Legal Times featured an interview with Sang Gon Kim, Managing Partner of Lee & Ko. This month’s edition spotlighted Mr. Kim as a “lawyer whose career is a testament to his dedication to the firm, starting as an associate in 1994 and ultimately ascending to the role of managing director after 28 years.” In the interview, Mr. Kim stated, “After two years of 'homogenization' and 'rebalancing' efforts, I don't think any specific endeavors are needed in any of our teams for now,” and added, “It is noteworthy that our firm has constantly addressed our past shortcomings through these homogenization and rebalancing efforts, while successfully maintaining our robust advisory prowess in financial investments and M&A. I believe this approach has allowed us to gain a competitive edge among other firms.” Mr. Kim concluded with confidence, stating, “I anticipate that, if the advisory market rebounds to 2021 levels due to US interest rate cuts, Lee & Ko will lead in securing outstanding achievements and run at the forefront to seize this opportunity for continued expansion.”

On May 28, 2024, an article by Foreign Attorney Jaekyoung Han of Lee & Ko was published in the Tax Daily discussing a ruling by the Seoul Administrative Court on November 25, 2022 (2021Guhap68780). Ms. Han highlighted the significance of the judgment, stating, “This ruling reaffirms the principle that when there is a discrepancy between income classification under a tax treaty and domestic tax law, the tax treaty prevails in recognizing the right to taxation. However, the method of taxing such income must align with domestic tax law, unless the domestic law explicitly restricts this right, even when distinguishing between business income and personal services income.”

On May 27, 2024, the E-Daily reported that Lee & Ko attorneys Keum Nang Park and Sung Hui Yoon were selected as ‘Top 100 Women in Litigation’ and ‘Top 40 Under 40 2024’ respectively for the Asia-Pacific region as published by Benchmark Litigation. As the Co-head of Lee & Ko’s Healthcare Group, Ms. Keum Nang Park has gained experience in cases related to intellectual property rights such as pharmaceutical and biotechnology patents. As one of the key attorneys in Lee & Ko’s Construction & Real Estate Group and Environmental Safety Group, Mr. Sung Hui Yoon advises and represents client in the practice areas of construction, real estate, occupational safety and serious accidents, public-private partnership project, administrative litigation etc. 

On May 24, 2024, Jose Ilbo reported Lee & Ko’s winning of awards. Lee & Ko was awarded in four categories at the “Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific Awards 2024”. First, Lee & Ko was honored with the ‘Commercial and Transactions Firm of the Year’ and ‘Labour and Employment Firm of the Year’ awards. In addition, the firm also won two “Impact Cases of the Year” awards in recognition of its performance in the largest dispute in South Korean history of patent litigation against a global healthcare company’s global blockbuster heart failure treatment agent and an insurance claim for an accident occurred during the construction of a double-track railway public-private partnership project in Busan. 

On May 23, 2024, the Legal Times reported the participation of Sang Gon Kim, Managing Partner of Lee & Ko, in the “Bye Bye Plastic Challenge”. The Bye Bye Plastic Challenge is a national environmental protection campaign launched by the Ministry of Environment since August last year to reduce unnecessary plastic use in daily life and encourage good consumption. Mr. Sang Gon Kim, who participated in the challenge after appointment Mr. Wan Seong Kim, CEO of SK Magic, promised “Lee & Ko will also continue to pay attention to environmental problems and practice good consumption to reduce plastic use”. Mr. Sang Gon Kim recommended Mr. Chun Kyoo Park, director of the United Nations Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD), as the next challenger. 

On April 22, 2024, Lee & Ko Criminal Defense (Litigation) Team was introduced in Maeil Business Newspaper. Maeil Business Newspaper stated, “Lee & Ko Criminal Defense (Litigation) Team has led several landmark cases with huge reverberations in the legal field. The key to such achievements lies in the talented practitioners at Lee & Ko. This year, Lee & Ko recruited high-profile laterals, such as Donghyuk Kang, who previously served as Deputy Director General  for criminal trials at the National Court Administration and Head of the Sentencing Committee Support Team, as well as elite judges, including former Chief Judge Joonah Jang, Kisang Jung." Lee & Ko Criminal Defense (Litigation) Team is led by Pyoungkeun Song, the managing partner. He noted, "Due to the complexity of corporate criminal cases and the high level of expertise required, we are continuously striving to recruit and nurture outstanding individuals to maintain the highest level of competence in our Criminal Defense (Litigation) team. We also ensure meticulous management throughout the process, considering the significant impact of case results on each and every companies, and stay focused without losing attention to every minute details."