Partner
TEL |
+82-2-772-4322 |
E-MAIL |
sejoong.lee@leeko.com |
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Sejoong Lee, a partner in Corporate Group, specializes in the areas of Corporate Governance, M&A, Foreign Investment, Hostile Takeovers & Defense and Energy & Natural Resources.
Mr. Lee has represented some of the most prestigious Korean companies including Hyundai Heavy Industries Group, Dumanu, Hybe, T Map Mobility, Samsung, LG Chems, LGHH, SK, Lotte and Hyosung, as well as global corporations such as Hilton, JP Morgan, Macquarie and Straumann.
Mr. Lee is active in the legal academic community as a member of the Korean Securities Law Association and the Korean Tax Law Association.
Education
2012 |
University of Washington School of Law - LL.M. |
2007 |
University of Seoul, Graduate School of Science in Taxation |
2005 |
Korean Bar Association, Graduate Tax training course in Tax Academy |
2003 |
Judicial Research & Training Institute, Supreme Court of Korea |
2001 |
Seoul National University, College of Law - LL.B.- |
Work Experience
2007-Present |
Lee & Ko (Partner) |
2018-Present |
Yonsei University Law School Adjunct Professor - M&A Law |
2012-2013 |
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP (Hong Kong office) |
2003-2006 |
Judge Advocate |
Expertise
Mergers & Acquisitions |
Corporate Governance |
Corporate Restructuring |
Foreign Investment |
Outbound Investment |
Hostile Takeovers & Defense |
Corporate |
Energy · Natural Resources |
Start-ups |
Healthcare |
Life Sciences · Pharmaceuticals |
Entertainment |
Insurance |
Criminal Defense (Investigations) |
Criminal Defense (Litigation) |
Game · Sports · Entertainment |
Admissions
Admitted to bar, New York(2013) |
Asset Manager, Korea Financial Investment association(2005) |
Korean Lawyers' Association Tax Training Institute: (2005) |
Admitted to bar, Korea(2003) |
Member of the Korean Securities Law Association(2004) |
Member of the Korean Tax Law Association(2004) |
Languages
Representative Cases
[M&A / Foreign Investment / JV / Corporate Restructuring Transactions]
- Represented in flip/reverse flip transactions for Metascale, Washwat, and numerous venture and IT companies
- Represented in the establishment of joint venture (specializing in SME financial platform business) between Douzone Bizon and Shinhan Bank
- Provided legal advisory for EcoPro BM in its global business expansion
- Tilting Point Media’s acquisition of AN Games
- Represented TMAP Mobility in various M&A transactions
- Represented Hyundai Oilbank in its sale of shares in Hyundai Oil Terminal
- Represented Hyundai Oilbank and Koramco REITs and Trust Consortium in its acquisition of SK Networks' gas stations
- Represented Nox/Moleem's sale to TPG
- Represented Lotte Chemical's establishment of joint venture with Hyundai Oilbank
- Represented LG Household & Healthcare's establishment of joint venture
- Represented LG Household & Healthcare's acquisition of CNP Laboratory
- Represented Shinsegae Duty Free Shop (DF) in its acquisition of and merger with duty free business division
- Represented Hyundai Heavy Industries' business transfer of its business division
- Represented SK Telecom's establishment of joint venture with Seoul National University Hospital
- Represented SK Shipping, in the sale of equity interests in B&T Singapore
- Represented SK Shipping, in its acquisition of B&T and its re-sale
- Represented Amplitude in its establishment of joint venture
- Represented SK Gas in its establishment of joint venture (Deal Value: 4.5 trillion Korean won)
- Represented Hilton International Co. and HLT Conrad management LLC in its Korea closing of its global restructuring
- Represented LG Chem., Ltd., a KRX KOSPI-listed company, in its acquisition of Nano H2O, a USA company by way of reverse triangular merger
- Represented EMK (an affiliate of JP Morgan) in its acquisition of the controlling stake in KED, Vinotec and Egreen
- Represented Saram Entertainment in its Investment attraction and sale of share
- Represented BA Entertainment in its Investment attraction and sale of share
- Represented Seah Group's Deamline's structural adjustment
- Represented LG Healthcare, a KRX KOSPI-listed company, in the business transfer from Vov
- Represented Samsung CNT, a KRX KOSPI-listed company, in its acquisition of equity interests in Russian mine and harbor companies
- Represented the Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation in the sale of its controlling stake (approx. 4 billion dollars) in Woori Bank, a KRX KOSPI-listed company
- Represented CJ Media's spin-off and merger related transactions
- Represented NHN Entertainment's investment in various venture entities
- Represented Etoos's establishment of joint venture and restructuring of its corporate governance
- Represented Etoos's sale of cross-border entities
- Represented Etoos's acquisition of mock examination business along with other enterprises
- Represented Straumann, a Switzerland listed company, in its CB investment into Megagen
- Represented JB Amusement, a KRX KOSDAQ-listed company, in the joint venture investment in Vietnam
- Represented company H (listed company)'s acquisition of share of movie production company
- Represented Paradise on attempted acquisition bid of a luxury hotel
- Represented company G's business agreement/joint venture with Tensent
- Represented company J's Vietnamese investment
- Represented company S's Vietnamese investment
- Represented Posco Power's acquisition of Incheon Cogeneration Power Plant
- Represented Unison's sale of Y Wind Power Plant
- Represented LG Household & Healthcare's various acquisitions of beverage factories
- Represented Ace Group's acquisition of New York Life Insurance
- Represented Korea Development Corporation's sale of its factories
- Represented Coca Cola Korea Company, Limited, in the acquisition of the controlling stake in Korea Beverage
- Represented Macquarie's investment in company I
- Represented CJ O Shopping, a KRX KOSDAQ-listed company, in the acquisition of the controlling stake in On-Media
- Represented SK Holdings, a KRX KOSPI-listed company, in the acquisition of the controlling stake in SK E&C
- Represented Industrial Bank of Korea's termination of joint venture and share acquisition
- Represented Korea Investment Partner's spin-off and acquisition of company B
- Represented Unison's sale of K Wind Power Plant
- Represented Korea Development in the sale of DSME
- Provided legal counseling on public listing related matters for Jaystefan, Gammanu and many other listed companies
[Hostile Takeovers]
- Represented PEF K’s attempt acquisition of KMH, listed company (settled)
- Represented company N's attempt acquisition of company W
- Advised company D (automobile parts company) on management dispute related case (successfully executed defense)
- Advised entertainment company B's management dispute related case (successfully executed defense and offense)
- Advised Daesan Steam Supply and Power Generation's management dispute related case (successfully executed defense and offense)
- Advised L&L's management dispute related case (successfully executed defense and offense)
- Advised Straumann's investment and management dispute related to company M (settled)
- Advised company S's subsidiaries S,D,I,C,K on their management dispute related case (successfully executed defense and offense)
- Advised company G's Infoherb's management security and defense against hostile takeovers from company M
[Defenses against Corporate Crime Investigations/Litigations]
- Defended board members of Celrun and Hancom, a KRX KOSDAQ-listed company against the criminal charge of misappropriation in the context of the leveraged buyout of Hancom by Celrun, where the accused were ultimately found not guilty
- Defended GE Healthcare Korea and its representative director against the criminal charge of bribery, in the form of illegal rebates, to hospitals and physicians in connection with post-marketing surveillance, where the accused were ultimately found not guilty. Except my clients, all the other companies and their representative directors were found guilty.
- Defended board members of Icols, a KRX KOSDAQ-listed company against the criminal charge of embezzlement, where the accused were found not guilty
- Defended company J's against charge of price manipulation and use of non-public information, ultimately found not guilty
- Advised company N on consultation and defense against management dispute
- Advised and pleaded Jay Stefan's acquisition of Majesta case, ultimately found not guilty
- Advised and pleaded criminal case related to violation of capital market law such as LBO, embezzlement, market manipulation/unlisted information usage
Awards and Recognitions
2022 |
Selected as “Best Lawyer in M&A” by Korea Economic Daily (2022) |