Lee & Ko Secures Full Victory for Korean Entertainment Company in SHIAC Arbitration against Chinese Firm

Lee & Ko successfully represented a prominent Korean entertainment company in an international arbitration administered by the Shanghai International Arbitration Center (“SHIAC”) against a Chinese software company, securing a full award in favor of the client. The dispute arose from a licensing agreement under which the Korean entertainment company granted the Chinese firm the right to develop games utilizing the intellectual property of its affiliated artists. The case involved complex factual and legal contentions, centered primarily on the attribution of liability for significant development delays and the fulfillment of contractual conditions for termination.

As the governing law of the contract was Chinese law, the case demanded a meticulous and nuanced analysis of the local legal framework and contract law principles. Furthermore, because both the seat of arbitration and the arbitral institution were located in China, the proceedings required extensive experience and strategic expertise in navigating the specific procedural nuances of Chinese international arbitration.

Leveraging its deep track record of handling high-stakes disputes in China, Lee & Ko’s International Arbitration Team acted as sole counsel throughout the proceedings. The team successfully led all written submissions and hearing proceedings against local Chinese counsel, ultimately securing a "complete victory" for the client. This outcome underscores Lee & Ko’s dominant capability in China-related disputes and its proven ability to deliver favorable results in challenging foreign jurisdictions.