Recent Developments

Lee & Ko has been recognized as a top-tier law firm in Managing IP’s 2026 IP Stars rankings across several key categories, including Trademark Disputes, Patent Disputes, Copyright & Related Rights, and IP Transactions. Of particular note, the firm has maintained the highest ranking in IP Transactions for six consecutive years since the category was first introduced, further underscoring its exceptional depth of expertise in this specialized area.

In the individual rankings, nine Lee & Ko attorneys and patent attorneys were recognized as IP Stars, Rising Stars, and Notable Practitioners, reflecting their distinguished expertise and achievements in the intellectual property field.

 
 Patent Stars: Un Ho Kim, Keum Nang Park, Hwan Sung Park
 Trademark Star: Vera Eun Woo Lee
 Rising Stars: Min Soo Kim, Min Wook Kim, Sung Hoon Kim

Lee & Ko’s IP Practice Group draws on its extensive international network to provide clients with sophisticated legal services in IP-related disputes and advisory matters across the United States, Europe, Japan and other major jurisdictions. Combining a deep understanding of both technology and law, the Group consistently delivers strategic and commercially effective solutions in complex IP matters.

A recent example of the Group’s litigation capabilities is its successful defense of Samsung Heavy Industries in a patent infringement action and related invalidation proceedings initiated by a Canadian company in connection with a floating LNG project involving Samsung Heavy Industries and Cedar LNG. The favorable outcome helped the project proceed without legal impediment.

The Group also successfully defended Korean semiconductor company Eugene Technology in a patent infringement action brought by a Japanese competitor, while pursuing a robust invalidation strategy that further reinforced the firm’s strength in semiconductor-related patent disputes. In addition, the Group’s active involvement in cross-border trade secret disputes continues to enhance its reputation for global competitiveness in high-stakes IP matters.

Managing Intellectual Property, also known as Managing IP, is a leading international publication in the field of intellectual property. Each year, it publishes the IP Stars rankings based on surveys and interviews with IP professionals worldwide, identifying leading law firms by jurisdiction and practice area.

Lee & Ko has once again demonstrated its market-leading capabilities across the full spectrum of patent practice in the IAM Patent 1000 2026 rankings. The firm received the highest band ranking of Gold in both Litigation and Prosecution, and was also recognized as Highly Recommended in Transactions and Recommended in Trade Secrets. This marks the firm’s 12th consecutive year in the Gold band for Litigation and its fourth consecutive year as a Highly Recommended firm for Transactions.

Of particular note, 11 Lee & Ko attorneys and patent attorneys were named as Recommended Individuals across Litigation, Prosecution, Transactions and Trade Secrets, reflecting their outstanding expertise, technical sophistication and market-leading capabilities across all key areas of patent practice.

 
  Litigation: Un Ho Kim, Hayoun Chun, Hwan Sung Park, Hyeon Gil Ryoo, John Kim, Keum Nang Park, Boo Gyu Kwak, Yong Sup Kim
  Prosecution: Hyeon Gil Ryoo, Sungsoo (Sean) Hwang
  Transactions: Hayoun Chun, Yong Jin Cho
  Trade Secrets: Hong Seon Kim

Lee & Ko’s IP Practice Group provides sophisticated legal services across the full life cycle of patent matters, from patent prosecution and portfolio strategy to high-stakes litigation, technology transactions and trade secret disputes. Drawing on its extensive international network and deep understanding of both technology and law, the Group advises clients in Korea and across major jurisdictions, including the United States, Europe and Japan, delivering strategic and commercially effective solutions in complex cross-border IP matters.

A recent example of the Group’s litigation capabilities is its successful defense of Samsung Heavy Industries in a patent infringement action and related invalidation proceedings initiated by a Canadian company in connection with a floating LNG project involving Samsung Heavy Industries and Cedar LNG. The favorable outcome helped the project proceed without legal impediment.
The Group also successfully defended Korean semiconductor company Eugene Technology in a patent infringement action brought by a Japanese competitor, while pursuing a robust invalidation strategy that further reinforced the firm’s strength in semiconductor-related patent disputes. In addition, the Group’s active involvement in cross-border trade secret disputes continues to enhance its reputation for global competitiveness in high-stakes IP matters.

IAM is a leading global patent publication that conducts extensive research each year, including submissions, surveys and interviews with patent professionals, law firms and clients around the world. Based on this research, IAM identifies and ranks leading law firms and practitioners in the patent field by jurisdiction and practice area.

Asian Legal Business (ALB) has once again named Lee & Ko among Asia’s leading ESG law firms in its “ALB Asia Top ESG Law Firms 2026.” This marks the firm’s third recognition in this category, reaffirming Lee & Ko’s depth of expertise, market leadership and continued commitment to ESG-related legal services.

Lee & Ko provides comprehensive, one-stop advisory services through its ESG Group, which brings together dedicated professionals across key practice areas, including Environment, Occupational Safety & Health, Compliance, Corporate, and Labor & Employment. This latest recognition reflects the strength of the firm’s integrated advisory capabilities and its extensive experience in advising on a broad spectrum of ESG mandates.

Notably, Lee & Ko’s ESG Group has worked closely with the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment in shaping Korea’s green chemistry framework and advancing its pilot program, contributing to the development of a robust national system for assessing the sustainability of chemical substances. In the private sector, the Group has advised on the development of greenhouse gas reduction methodologies for agricultural projects utilizing methane-reducing microorganism technology, supporting clients in strengthening their carbon reduction strategies and ESG preparedness.

Lee & Ko has also been actively involved in a wide range of ESG-related matters, including green bond and ESG finance advisory, supply chain and human rights due diligence, and responses to greenwashing investigations. Through these engagements, the firm continues to support clients in building more sustainable, resilient and globally competitive businesses.

Asian Legal Business (ALB), a leading legal industry publication affiliated with Thomson Reuters, identifies outstanding ESG law firms across the Asia-Pacific region based on a comprehensive assessment of expertise, market reputation and client feedback from leading law firms and practitioners.

Lee & Ko has been ranked as a Tier 1 law firm in Korea in nine practice areas by ‘Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific 2026’, a leading publication focusing on dispute resolution and litigation. 

Notably, Lee & Ko was also recognized as a Recommended Firm in the newly introduced Government and Regulatory category, further demonstrating the firm’s exceptional capabilities and competitiveness across a broad range of dispute resolution and regulatory matters. 


 Commercial and Transactions  
 Competition/Antitrust 
 Construction 
 Insolvency 
 Intellectual Property 
 Labor and Employment 
 Product Liability and Recall 
 Tax 
 White Collar Crime 

In addition, 54 Lee & Ko attorneys were selected as either ‘Litigation Stars’ or ‘Future Stars’ for their outstanding achievements in their respective fields.


- Litigation Stars
 Competition/Antitrust: Jangwoo Park, Jeong-Ho Sun, Pyoung Keun Song, Miji Lee, Hwan Jeong, Suruyn Kim
 Commercial and Transactions: Won Seok Ko, Jae Heon Park, Dajoo Jung, Jin Soo Han, Chang Ho Seong, Kiri Yi
 Construction: Myung Jong Kim, Seon Tae Kim, Chanik Jang, Yang Rak Kim, Jae Sung Yoo
 Government and Regulatory: Taeyop Lee, Kwangbae Park
 Intellectual Property: Un Ho Kim, Keum Nang Park, Hayoun Chun, Heon Lee
 International Arbitration: Sang Hoon Han, Eun Young Park
 Insolvency: Wan Shik Lee, Jung Hyun Lee, Jiwoong Lim
 Labor and Employment: Young Jin Kim, Hyunseok Song, Sang Hoon Lee, Chang Soo Jin
 Tax: Tom Kwon, Sung Hwan Kim, Ok Hyun Ma, Kyung Tae Kim, Steve Minhoo Kim, Jung Ho Ryu
 White Collar Crime: Jae Deog Bae, Jin So, Taeyop Lee, Younsub Jang, Jangwoo Park

- Future Stars
 Competition/Antitrust: Byong Ki Chung
 Construction: Gangcheol Chu, Janghee Yoon, Joo Hye Hong
 Intellectual Property: Jaewoo Kwak, Hyeon Gil Ryoo
 International Arbitration: Grace Yoon
 Labor and Employment: William Kim, Se young Kang, Yong Su Oh
 Product Liability and Recall: Dajoo Jung, Soo Yeon Oh
 White Collar Crime: Ki Jung Sung, Kyeong-seop Yoon

Benchmark Litigation conducts its annual rankings based on in-depth analysis of law firm submissions, as well as interviews with legal practitioners, clients, and litigation experts.
 

Asian Legal Business (ALB) has recognized Lee & Ko attorney Kwang Bae Park as one of its “Asia Super 50 TMT Lawyers” for 2026.

For approximately 30 years, Mr. Park has advised a wide range of domestic and international clients in the areas of IT, broadcasting, telecommunications, and data privacy and security. His practice spans regulatory advice, government investigations, and litigation, and he is widely recognized for his depth of experience and strategic judgment in complex TMT matters.

Among his notable matters, Mr. Park led the overall litigation strategy in the cases arising from Korea’s largest-ever personal data breach involving three major credit card companies, overseeing the proceedings for 11 years through their final resolution in fall 2025. He also advises SpaceX’s STARLINK, the world’s largest low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications service, in connection with its entry into the Korean market, including on licensing, regulatory approvals, and compliance.

Mr. Park has been recognized multiple times in previous years as an ALB Asia Super 50 TMT Lawyer. He has also been consistently ranked since 2008 by leading international legal directories, including Chambers Asia-Pacific, Asialaw, and The Legal 500, for his outstanding capabilities. 

Published by Thomson Reuters, ALB Magazine is a leading legal publication in the Asia-Pacific region. Through its annual Super 50 TMT Lawyers survey, ALB identifies the region’s most highly recommended practitioners in the technology, media, and telecommunications sector.

Lee & Ko has been recognized once again in the 2026 Chambers Global Guide, securing Band 1 rankings in six practice areas and confirming its top-tier law firm status. As for the individual rankings, 37 attorneys of Lee & Ko have been recognized as leading lawyers for their remarkable performance in their respective practice areas.


 Banking & Finance  
 Capital Markets  
 Corporate/M&A  
 Intellectual Property 
 International & cross Border Capabilities: South Korean Firms
 International Trade 


 Banking & Finance: Yeo Kyoon Yoon, Woo Young Jung, Yong-Jae Chang, Myoung Chul Kwak, Dong Seok Woo
 Capital Markets: Hyunjoo Oh, Seunga Hyun, Jun Woo Cho 
 Capital Markets: Securitisation: Jin Hong Kwon
 Corporate/M&A: Sanggon Kim, Ho Joon Moon, Hyeong Gun Lee, Yong Joon Yoon, Daehoon Koo
 Dispute Resolution: Arbitration: Zachary Sharpe, Sanghoon Han, Grace Yoon
 Dispute Resolution: Litigation: Pyoung Keun Song, Dajoo Jung, Seon Tae Kim, Jae Heon Park
 IP: Un Ho Kim, Keum Nang Park, Hyeon Gil Ryoo, Vera Eun Woo Lee, Hankil D. Kang, Hwansung Park, Jaewoo Kwak, Hayoun Chun
 International Trade: Kichang Chung, Hyunsoo Joo, Young Gee Park, Young Jae Cho, Heysoo Kim 
 North Korea - general business law: Hyung Sub Lim (Foreign Expertise based abroad in South Korea)


Chambers Global Guide is a law firm evaluation publication released by Chambers and Partners, a leading global legal publisher based in England, which selects top law firms and top lawyers in the Asia-Pacific region each year based on a comprehensive analysis of data submitted by law firms, interviews with partner lawyers and clients, and recently accomplished work.