Partner
TEL |
+82-2-6386-6366 |
E-MAIL |
kwan.lee@leeko.com |
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Kwan Lee is a partner in the Banking and Finance Group at Lee & Ko. His practice focuses on a wide range of cross-border finance and regulatory matters, with particular expertise in aircraft and vessel acquisitions and lease transactions, overseas project financing (including real estate), licensing and registration of financial investment businesses, and advisory on financial regulations applicable to banks and securities firms. He also has extensive experience advising on foreign exchange regulations, including general compliance matters and investigations into violations.
Mr. Lee is actively engaged in advisory work related to green shipping and offshore wind infrastructure, including LNG bunkering vessels, scrubber-equipped ships, dual-fuel propulsion vessels, and offshore wind turbine installation units. He also advises on licensing and flagging issues in the maritime and port logistics sectors, as well as various chartering and shipping contracts, including ship management agreements, time charters, consecutive voyage charters, contracts of affreightment (COAs), and single voyage charters.
In addition, he has participated in government-commissioned research projects in the fields of ESG finance and policy, including assignments from the Korea Ocean Business Corporation (KOBC) and the Financial Services Commission, bringing strong domain expertise and practical insight into government-related legal advisory work.
Education
2023 |
New York University (NYU) Law School - LL.M. |
2022 |
Seoul National University, Graduate School of Law - LL.M. (All but Dissertation) |
2014 |
Judicial Research & Training Institute, Supreme Court of Korea |
2012 |
Seoul National University – B.A. in law |
Work Experience
2017-Present |
Lee & Ko |
2023-2024 |
Norton Rose Fulbright (Asia) LLP, Senior Associate |
2014-2017 |
Public Service Advocate, Ministry of Justice |
Expertise
Financial Compliance |
Ship · Aviation Finance |
Project Finance & Infrastructure |
Capital Markets Compliance |
Aviation |
Maritime & Shipping |
Energy · Natural Resources |
Financial Disputes |
Banking |
Capital Markets |
Admissions & Qualifications
Admitted to the Korean Bar(2014) |
Passed the New York State Bar Exam(2023) |
Languages
Representative Cases
[Ship / Aircraft]
- Refinancing of two Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) bareboat chartered to SK Shipping Inc.
- Financing of a Boeing aircraft leased to and operated by Korean Air Lines (KAL)
- Financing of an LNG carrier bareboat chartered to Korea Line Corporation
- Financing of two bulk carriers bareboat chartered to H-Line Shipping
- Financing of two container carriers through HI-KEXIM Ecoship Fund for H-Line Shipping
- Refinancing of four Capesize bulk carriers (SM Tiger, SM Lion, SM Dragon, SM Puma) for Korea Line Corporation
- Japanese Operating Lease (JOL) financing for two Boeing B777-300ER aircraft operated by All Nippon Airways (ANA)
[Green Shipping & Offshore Wind Projects]
- Acquisition of a 12,500 m³ LNG bunkering vessel for POSCO Flow
- Acquisition of offshore wind turbine installation units for the Nakwol Offshore Wind Project, including installation barge (Hansan No.1) and tugs (Hanul No.1 & No.2)
- Advising on maritime regulatory licensing, vessel registration, and flagging for offshore wind fleet
- Advising on LNG carrier acquisition in connection with Qatar LNG project involving Hyundai Glovis and Woodside
- Scrubber financing in respect of Korea Ocean Business Corporation (KOBC)
[Foreign Investment in Alternative Assets]
- Note investment in The Center Office (Hongkong)
- Investment by private funds in infrastructure debts regarding Metro Ligero located in Madrid, Spain
- Investment by private funds via limited partnerships in the Timberland and Farmland Fund (Delaware)
- Investment by private funds via limited partnerships in the Infrastructure Fund (Luxembourg)
- Investment by private funds via limited partnerships in the Asset-backed Loan Fund (Cayman Islands)
- Investment by private funds in infrastructure debts regarding the Water Plant Facilities located in Australia
- Investment by private funds in senior secured loan facilities regarding the natural-gas fueled cogeneration facility located in Houston, Texas
- Recapitalization and refinancing investments in waste-to-energy portfolios located in the U.S. and U.K.
[Government Research / Financial Regulation / FX Compliance]
- Review the terms and conditions, and articles of incorporation for the Korea Ocean Business Corporation (KOBC)
- Leading a research project on improving financial penalties under the anti-money laundering framework commissioned by the Financial Services Commission
- Advising on guarantee-backed subordinated ABS issuance and customized shipowner business model design for KOBC
- Managing FX transaction reporting and regulatory filings with the Ministry of Economy & Finance, the Bank of Korea, and other authorities (on a regular basis)
- Providing general advisory on foreign exchange control regulations, including compliance matters and regulatory investigations