Expertise

Environmental Civil & Class Action Litigation
We represent clients in civil liability litigation involving personal injury and property damage resulting from environmental accidents. Our expertise extends to defending against subrogation claims by the state for relief benefits, as well as resolving disputes between corporations regarding environmental liability and remediation costs.

• Litigation regarding personal injury caused by heavy metals, de-icing agents, and oil leaks and groundwater/soil contamination.
• Defense against government subrogation claims for reimbursement under the Act on Liability for Environmental Damage and Relief Thereof
• Disputes involving damages and contract interpretation related to cost-sharing for waste disposal and landfill operations
• Representation in an action for declaratory judgment on the non-existence of liability regarding noise and vibration and National Environmental Dispute Resolution Commission proceedings

Regulatory Compliance, Permitting & Environmental Criminal Defense
From permitting risks under tightened environmental regulations to criminal investigations, we provide a seamless, integrated defense from the initial investigation stage through to trial. We develop strategic defense arguments for severe administrative sanctions—such as suspension of operations and administrative fines—through revocation lawsuits and administrative appeals. Furthermore, we handle critical criminal matters that threaten corporate viability, including unauthorized pollutant discharge, tampering with Tele-Monitoring Systems (TMS), and falsification of post-environmental impact assessment reports.

• Administrative appeals and revocation lawsuits against suspension of operations and improvement orders arising from violations of the Water Environment Conservation Act and the Clean Air Conservation Act.
• Litigation seeking the revocation of dispositions rejecting waste treatment business plans and post-environmental impact assessment completion reports.
• Defense against investigations by the Environmental Special Judicial Police and the Prosecution regarding unauthorized discharge of pollutants and failure to install non-point source pollution reduction facilities
• Specialized administrative litigation, including challenges to supervisory orders for PPP(Public-Private Partnership) projects and the revocation of environmental label certifications.

Emerging ESG & Climate Change Disputes
We provide proactive legal risk management for emerging environmental issues, including greenwashing (violations of the Environmental Technology and Industry Support Act) and carbon emission credits. We closely assist clients from the pre-notification stage of administrative dispositions related to environmental marketing and ESG disclosures, effectively mitigating the risk of legal sanctions. Furthermore, we provide clear solutions for complex legal disputes arising from the introduction of new regulatory frameworks, such as administrative litigation involving carbon emissions and environmental label certifications, as well as cost-sharing for recycling environmental impact assessments.

• Defense against violations of the Environmental Technology and Industry Support Act regarding carbon emission-related advertisements, and submission of legal opinions during the pre-notification stage of administrative dispositions
• Litigation seeking to revoke the cancellation of environmental label certifications and related applications for a stay of execution
• Litigation over the allocation of costs, such as recycling environmental impact assessment costs arising from amendments to the Wastes Management Act and other related regulations