最新消息

April 15, 2026
Money Today reported on the news of the expansion and restructuring of Lee & Ko’s Management Control Disputes Team. Regarding the restructuring, Money Today highlighted, “The expansion reflects the increasing demand for corporate management defense and governance responses, as the corporate environment is undergoing significant changes with the implementation of the revised Commercial Act, alongside the growing involvement and influence of minority shareholders driven by activist funds.” It added, “With experts from various fields including attorneys specialized in management control disputes and shareholder activism from the Corporate Advisory Group as well as members from the Litigation Team, ESG Team, and others, all coming together under the name ‘Management Control Disputes Team,’ we expect to demonstrate a unique synergy that sets us apart from competing law firms.”
 

On April 13, 2026, The Korea Economic Daily reported on the recruitment of Mr. Seokchun Yun by Lee & Ko.

The article introduces Mr. Yun (37th class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute) as a veteran in international arbitration and litigation, having honed his expertise in handling international disputes at law firms including Bae, Kim & Lee, Kim & Chang, and U.S.-based Kobre & Kim.

The Korea Economic Daily further highlighted his diverse career spanning both legal practice and institutional management, noting his previous roles as the leader of the Legal & IP team at 42dot and as the Deputy Secretary General of KCAB International.

A graduate of Seoul National University School of Law (holding both a Bachelor’s and a Master's degree in Law) and Harvard Law School (LL.M.), Mr. Yun also possesses a degree in Business Administration. The report emphasized that his comprehensive perspective, bridging both legal and business domains, serves as a key strength in resolving complex international commercial disputes.

April 10, 2026
Korea Herald Business featured the M&A league table rankings for South Korea published by Bloomberg. In its report, Korea Herald highlighted that “Lee & Ko has shown exceptional performance in the domestic M&A legal advisory market during the first quarter of this year." It further stated, “With 25 legal advisory cases completed in Q1, Lee & Ko claimed the top position in deal volume surpassing Kim & Chang, which held the lead during the same period last year.” The report analyzed, “The success of Lee & Ko in the first quarter can be attributed to the 'One-Team' operational model of its corporate advisory group, which specializes in M&A. The firm's distinctive and integrated organizational culture has driven such outstanding results.”

On April 10, 2026, Sisa Journal featured Lee & Ko’s proprietary AI solution “eLK.” The article highlighted that “Lee & Ko has achieved zero external network connectivity through its bespoke eLK system on self-hosted GPU servers, a design choice that provides a competitive security advantage over cloud-based alternatives.” It further noted, “Despite accelerating technology adoption across Korean law firms, strict boundaries remain around legal judgment. Lee & Ko also strongly exemplifies this stance, with AI functioning as an auxiliary tool only while final legal judgments are reserved exclusively for human professionals.”

April 9, 2026
The Monthly Labor Law featured a report by attorneys Hyunseok Song and Yoonji Lee of Lee & Ko. In the report titled "Practical Issues of the Yellow Envelope Act in M&A Transactions," they stated, "As the amended Labor Union Act (the 'Yellow Envelope Act') has expanded the scope of labor disputes to include management decisions that affect workers' status and working conditions, concerns are growing regarding the potential impact of the Yellow Envelope Law on M&A transactions.” They explained, “Regarding the demand for collective bargaining by the labor unions of the parties involved in the transaction, issues arise such as whether the subject matter is eligible for bargaining, whether a demand for collective bargaining can be made during the validity period of the bargaining, and whether the status of the representative bargaining union is recognized. In relation to the collective bargaining demands of subcontractor labor unions, the question arises as to whether matters like employment succession fall within the scope of collective bargaining." They further emphasized, "In cases where labor unions demand collective bargaining during the M&A transaction process, employers need to take proactive measures, such as requesting the union to specify the agenda for bargaining and the basis for their demands."

April 9, 2026
A comment from attorney Hyuk Jung Kim was featured in the Aju Business Daily. “Defense products, which had gained popularity in Europe, are also expanding their presence in the Middle East, leading to an increase in corporate advisory.” Regarding Aju’s report, he noted, “While exports were previously concentrated in countries such as Poland and Norway, the proportion of exports to the Middle East has grown following the Iran conflict. In many cases, we now prepare the initial draft ourselves during the contract stage.”

April 9, 2026
Aju Business Daily reported on Lee & Ko’s ‘Middle East Task Force (TF)’ along with comments from attorney Hyuk Jung Kim. Aju Business Daily stated, “As the conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran continues to escalate, the activities of Korean companies in the Middle East are becoming increasingly urgent.” The report mentioned, “To respond promptly to this situation, Lee & Ko has established the ‘Middle East Task Force (TF),’ composed of experts in defense, corporate advisory, overseas construction, project financing, insurance, maritime law, and other areas. Through close interdepartmental collaboration, the TF provides customized solutions tailored to clients’ needs.” The report also noted, “The most noticeable change following this situation has been in the defense industry.” Regarding this, attorney Hyuk Jung Kim emphasized, “There will be tangible security threats regardless of whether the war ends, and demand from countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar will continue to rise. As domestic companies have secured supply volumes for the next 10 to 15 years, long-term legal support is essential.”

On April 8, 2026, Asia Business Daily featured the Fair Trade Group of Lee & Ko.

According to the report, “Lee & Ko operates a 67-member Antitrust & Competition Group co-headed by attorneys Hwan JEONG (24th class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute) and Jeong-Ho SUN (37th class),” adding that “in 2015, Lee & Ko became the first domestic law firm to establish an economic consulting group, CECG, thereby providing in-house economic analysis services.”

The article further noted that “the firm also operates a litigation team led by Attorney Su Jin JUNG (32nd class), a former judge of the Antitrust & Competition Division of the Seoul High Court, as well as a fair trade criminal defense team spearheaded by Attorney Hoo Gon KIM (25th class), former Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office,” and added that “Lee & Ko successfully secured a decision of no charges in the Apple–Samsung abuse of market dominance case.”

March 31, 2026

Yonhap Infomax reported that Lee & Ko ranked second in the M&A legal advisory market for the first quarter of 2026. According to Yonhap Infomax, Lee & Ko advised on a total of 23 deals with the total transaction value reaching KRW 8.19 trillion during the first quarter, maintaining its second-place standing. The firm’s role in advising the French company Air Liquide on its acquisition of DIG Airgas had a significant impact, and the firm also provided advisory services to the target side in CJ CheilJedang’s multi-trillion-won sale of CJ Feed & Care.

Lee & Ko’s Criminal Practice Group was featured in the JoongAng Ilbo on March 31, 2026. It reported that “Lee & Ko recruited Hoo Gon Kim, a lawyer (25th class of Judicial Research and Training Institute) who served as the Chief of Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office, as managing partner in September last year, followed by a series of top experts from prosecution and police.” It added that “Through these lateral hires, Lee & Ko has significantly expanded its expertise across corporate and financial investigations, serious accidents and labor matters, international criminal cases, and compliance.”

On March 26, 2026, The Korea Economic Daily covered a seminar presentation by Attorney Suhhee Han of Lee & Ko. At the seminar on "Structural Changes in Capital Markets and Regulatory Challenges Following the Legislation of Tokenized Securities," hosted by the Korea Blockchain Industry Promotion Association (KBIPA), Attorney Han noted that Korea should look to the growing global tokenized securities market as a reference point in reforming its domestic regulatory framework.

On March 17, 2026, The Seoul Shinmun published a feature examining, “As criminal investigations have increasingly gravitated toward the police and away from the prosecution after the realignment of investigative authority, a shift is now rippling through the legal profession.” In support of this observation, it further mapped the current footprint of former law enforcement across the five largest law firms in Korea, with approximately 140 former officers now in practice, led by Kim & Chang at roughly 60, followed by Lee & Ko at 25, Yulchon at 22, Bae, Kim & Lee at 18, and Shin & Kim at 17.