Recent Developments

Lee & Ko was honored with three major awards at the Asialaw Awards 2025, including the “South Korea Firm of the Year”, “Impact Deal and Case Awards”, and “South Korea Honourable Mention Lawyer (Client Choice Awards).” With these recognitions, Lee & Ko achieved the highest number of awards among Korean law firms this year. 

In the firm category, the “Client Choice Awards – South Korea Firm of the Year” is presented to the firm that receives the highest evaluation from clients, underscoring once again Lee & Ko’s strong client satisfaction and trust. Recognizing high-profile transactions that have made a significant impact on the global and regional stage, the “Impact Deal and Case Awards” honored Lee & Ko for its leading role in three major transactions: the Dangjin Phase 1 Solar Power Project (120 MW capacity) (in the energy sector); ICON Offshore's RM429 million maritime acquisition of equity interests in Vietnamese port operators (in the maritime sector); and the NAIA Airport USD1.38 billion financing (in the finance sector). In the individual category, Jaewoo Kwak, a Partner in Lee & Ko’s Intellectual Property Group, was named “South Korea Honourable Mention Lawyer (Client Choice Awards).” 

Asialaw’s latest annual rankings also distinguished Lee & Ko as an ‘Outstanding Firm’ across all 24 practice areas, reaffirming its outstanding capabilities across a broad spectrum of sectors in Korea and the wider Asia-Pacific region.

The Asialaw Awards are presented by Asialaw, an affiliate of Euromoney, the global financial publication. Each year, the awards celebrate leading law firms across 11 practice areas, 7 industries, and 20 jurisdictions throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
The awards won by Lee & Ko are as follows.
 
[Editor’s Choice Awards]
 Impact Deals and Cases
    - Dangjin Phase 1 Solar Power Project
    - ICON Offshore's RM429 Million Maritime Acquisition
    - NAIA Airport US$1.38 Billion Financing

[Client Choice Awards]
 South Korea Firm of the Year
 South Korea Honourable Mention Lawyer - Jaewoo Kwak

Lee & Ko has once again reaffirmed its position as one of Korea’s premier law firms earning six honors including “Korea Deal Firm of the Year” and “Litigation Law Firm of the Year” at the ALB Korea Law Awards 2025, hosted by Asian Legal Business (ALB), a Thomson Reuters affiliate and one of Asia’s most respected legal publications.

In the Firm Categories, Lee & Ko was recognized as “Korea Deal Firm of the Year”, “Litigation Law Firm of the Year”, and “Tax & Trusts Law Firm of the Year”, achieving its third consecutive recognition in the litigation category. These accolades highlight the firm’s sustained excellence across dispute resolution, corporate advisory, and tax practices, supported by exceptional teamwork and execution capabilities. In particular, the firm achieved significant victories in cases of broad social and economic importance, including the Pohang Earthquake Damages Appeal, the HSBC Short-Selling Criminal Case, and the SK Chemicals Humidifier Disinfectant Case. 

Beyond litigation, the firm’s transactional and advisory expertise was also recognized through its work on several landmark matters, such as LG Energy Solution’s acquisition of assets from Ultium Cells LLC, SK’s sale of SK Specialty, and Lotte Group’s VAT dispute, underscoring the firm’s depth of experience and cross-practice capabilities.

In the Deal Categories, Lee & Ko earned top honors for its exceptional advisory capabilities in M&A and Capital Markets, winning “Debt Market Deal of the Year” for advising on Hanwha Life Insurance’s Tier II Subordinated Capital Securities, “Equity Market Deal of the Year” for LG Chem, Ltd.’s issuance of exchangeable bonds due 2028, and “M&A Deal of the Year” for Korean Air Lines’ acquisition of Asiana Airlines and sale of Asiana Airlines’ cargo business.

The ALB Korea Law Awards celebrate the most outstanding achievements in Korea’s legal market, evaluating law firms and in-house teams based on submitted materials and independent research. These six awards are a testament to Lee & Ko’s unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and leadership across all practice areas.

The awards won by Lee & Ko are as follows.
[Firm Categories]
 Korea Deal Firm of the Year 
 Litigation Law Firm of the Year 
 Tax and Trusts Law Firm of the Year 

[Deal Categories]
 Debt Market Deal of the Year (Hanwha Life Insurance Tier II Subordinated Capital Securities)
 Equity Market Deal of the Year (LG Chem, Ltd. Issuance of Exchangeable Bonds due 2028)
 M&A Deal of the Year (Korean Air Lines Acquisition of Asiana Airlines and Sale of Asiana Airlines Cargo Business)

19 lawyers from Lee & Ko have been selected in the '2025 Korea’s Top 100 Lawyers' researched by Asia Business Law Journal. Yong Seok Ahn and Kyu Wha Lee have also been recognized as one of the most influential lawyers in Korea, being named an “ICON” for their ability to provide valuable insights to the legal community based on their extensive experience.
 
The lists of Korea’s Top Lawyers selected from Lee & Ko are as follows:

 Banking & Finance: Woo Young Jung, Yeo Kyoon Yoon
 Capital Markets: Jin Hong Kwon, Hyunjoo Oh
 Competition/Antitrust: Yong Seok Ahn, Hwan Jeong
 Corporate/M&A: Sanggon Kim, Ho Joon Moon, Kyu Wha Lee, Hyeong Gun Lee
 Dispute Resolution: Arbitration: Jinyoung Jung
 Dispute Resolution: Litigation: Won Seok Ko
 Employment: Sang Hoon Lee 
 Insurance: Jin Hong Kwon, Jinyoung Jung
 IP: Jae Hoon Kim, Un Ho Kim
 Projects & Energy: Hun Ko, Dong Eun Kim
 Shipping: Jinyoung Jung, Woo Young Jung
 TMT: Hwan Kyoung Ko, Kwang Bae Park

Asia Business Law Journal (ABLJ), an Asian regional law magazine, conducts research on thousands of domestic and foreign in-house counsel as well as lawyers at international law firms to select the Top 100 lawyers in Korea every year.
 

Lee & Ko hosted its 11th M&A Forum on October 30, 2025, marking another successful year of this annual event. 

Since its inception in 2015, the Lee & Ko M&A Forum has served as a platform for introducing the latest issues in the M&A field and sharing Lee & Ko’s accumulated expertise with professionals in the industry. This year, the event once again received an enthusiastic response, with more than 500 M&A practitioners and corporate representatives participating both online and offline.

In Session 1 of the Forum, Partner Attorneys Dajoo Jung and Sejoong Lee presented on the topic of “Recent Trends in Corporate Control Disputes and Amendments to the Commercial Code.” They outlined the growing trend of control disputes arising amid the spread of shareholder activism and examined the potential impact of the recent amendments to the Commercial Code on such disputes, while also presenting practical strategies for corporate responses. By linking the highly discussed topic of the Commercial Code reform with corporate control disputes, the session drew strong attention and positive feedback from participants.

Session 2 featured Partner Attorney Hyung Soo Lee and Foreign Attorney Seung Hyo Baek, who presented “Recent Trends and Key Issues in Overseas Investment: Focus on Brownfield and Greenfield Projects.” They discussed recent developments in cross-border M&A, reviewing overseas investment trends over the past five years by distinguishing between Brownfield and Greenfield investments, and highlighting their respective characteristics and key considerations. The session concluded with additional presentations by Yun A Kang, Head of Lee & Ko’s Beijing Office, Jae Hoon Choi, Head of the Japan Team, and Woongryol Baek, Head of the Vietnam Office, who shared updates on regulatory trends and practical responses in the U.S., EU, China, Japan, and Vietnam, drawing strong interest from participants engaged in or preparing for cross-border M&A transactions.

Now in its 11th year, the remarkable attention and response that the Lee & Ko M&A Forum continues to receive from M&A professionals stem from our clients’ appreciation of the Forum’s well-prepared, insightful, and timely discussions led by the Lee & Ko M&A team.

Looking ahead, Lee & Ko’s Corporate Practice Group will continue its efforts to ensure that the M&A Forum remains a meaningful and insightful platform for M&A practitioners and corporate professionals in Korea.

On 27 October 2025, Lee & Ko successfully hosted a seminar titled ‘The First 100 Days After A Dispute Arises: Settlement, Evidence, Forums, and Strategy’ during the Seoul ADR Festival 2025. Recognizing that early moves during the first 100 days of a cross-border dispute can determine the trajectory of the entire case, the seminar brought together seasoned dispute resolution specialists to share tactical insights on how parties can put their case on the strongest footing and seize the initiative before momentum is lost.

The seminar commenced with Opening Remarks and an Introduction by Dr. Eun Young Park, Head of the Global Disputes Group at Lee & Ko. The program featured two insightful panel discussions that explored key issues arising in the early stages of cross-border disputes.

In the first session, a panel discussion was held under the theme “Early Leverage: Emergency Relief and Settlement Strategies.”  The discussion was moderated by Zac Sharpe (Lee & Ko) and featured a panel consisting of Julian Bailey (Jones Day), Nakul Dewan KC (Twenty Essex), Hyunyang Koo (Lee & Ko), and Young Shin Um (KCAB). The panel shared meaningful insights on the practical viability of seeking early emergency relief in arbitral proceedings through courts and emergency arbitrators, the use of various methods of dispute resolution including consultations and mediation, as well as early settlement tactics taking into consideration factors such as the possibility of adverse cost awards and differing positions on without-prejudice privilege between jurisdictions. 

The second session, titled “Laying the Groundwork: Evidence, Strategy, and Tribunal Formation,” was moderated by Dr. Eun Young Park (Lee & Ko), and featured a panel consisting of Elodie Dulac (King & Spalding), Peter Turner KC (39 Essex Chambers), Han-Earl Woo (Lee & Ko), and Bami Yoo (Lee & Ko). This session addressed the necessary qualities of an arbitrator and the relationship between an arbitrator’s legal background and legal reasoning from the perspective of both counsel and arbitrator. The panelists also discussed practical tips and protocols for document retention, evidence gathering and the application of privilege with particular emphasis on the Korean context. 

The seminar was well received by in-house counsel and foreign law firm practitioners, as it offered practical perspectives on various early-stage strategies that parties can effectively utilize when a dispute arises.

Lee & Ko has once again reaffirmed its position as Korea’s leading law firm, being recognized as a top-tier firm across all 24 industry sectors and practice areas in Asialaw Profiles 2025. This marks the fifth consecutive year that Lee & Ko has achieved this distinction, an accomplishment unmatched by any other domestic law firm, many of which received top rankings only in select areas.

This recognition reflects Lee & Ko’s breadth of expertise, market-leading capabilities, and client trust across all key areas of legal practice in Korea and the Asia-Pacific region.

In addition, 44 Lee & Ko professionals were honored as Senior Statesman, Elite Practitioner, Distinguished Practitioner, Notable Practitioner, or Rising Star, highlighting the firm’s depth of individual talent and professional excellence.


Industry Sectors 
 Aviation and Shipping
 Consumer goods and Services
 Industrials and Manufacturing
 Insurance
 Pharmaceuticals and Life sciences
 Technology and Telecommunications
 Banking and Financial services
 Energy
 Infrastructure
 Media and Entertainment
 Real estate

Practice Areas
 Banking and Finance
 Competition/Antitrust
 Corporate and M&A
 Intellectual Property
 Labour and Employment
 Regulatory
 Tax
 Capital Markets
 Construction
 Dispute Resolution
 Investment Funds
 Private Equity
 Restructuring and Insolvency


 Banking and Financial services: Woo Young Jung, Yeo Kyoon Yoon, Yong-Jae Chang, Hyunjoo Oh, Seunga Hyun, Myoung Chul Kwak
 Banking and Finance: Woo Young Jung, Yeo Kyoon Yoon, Yong-Jae Chang, Myoung Chul Kwak, Samsung Kim, Min Ha Song
 Capital Markets: Hyunjoo Oh, Seunga Hyun
 Competition/Antitrust: Yong Seok Ahn, Hwan Jeong, Hyun Chul Kim, Jeong-Ho Sun, Jeong Yoon Choi, Suruyn Kim
 Corporate and M&A: Kyu Wha Lee, Sanggon Kim, Ho Joon Moon, Hyeong Gun Lee
 Dispute Resolution: Won Seok Ko, Saemee Kim
 Energy: Dong Eun Kim, Hun Ko, Insoo Kim
 Infrastructure: Dong Eun Kim, Hun Ko, Insoo Kim, Samsung Kim, Min Ha Song
 Insurance: Gidon Nam, Jinyoung Jung, Jin Hong Kwon
 Intellectual Property: Jae Hoon Kim, Un Ho Kim, Keum Nang Park, Jaewoo Kwak, Heon Lee
 Labour and Employment: Sang Hoon Lee, Chang Soo Jin, Hyunseok Song , William Kim
 Media and Entertainment: Kwang Bae Park
 Real estate: Jung Hwan Lee
 Restructuring and Insolvency: Wan Shik Lee, Eunjai Lee, Jung Hyun Lee
 Shipping: Jinyoung Jung , Gidon Nam
 Tax: Ok Hyun Ma, Sung Hwan Kim
 Technology and Telecommunications: Kwang Bae Park, Hwan Kyoung Ko, Samuel (Soon-Yub) Kwon, Yong Seok Ahn

Asialaw Profiles is published annually by Asialaw, an affiliate of the global financial journal Euromoney. Asialaw Profiles ranks law firms and individual practitioners across the Asia-Pacific region based on law firm submissions, client and peer interviews, and independent market research.