Banking

"When it comes to quality of service, Bae, Kim & Lee are one of the best in Korea. Very satisfied with the quality of legal advice, efficiency of service and overall support from the group."

- The Legal 500 Asia Pacific

Overview

BKL has a leading banking advisory team that counsels clients based on deep industry expertise developed through a preeminent track record of global deal experience. Our Finance Group provides our domestic and international banking clients with optimal solutions that combine deep insights in the latest developments in financial services laws and regulations and integrated advice on other areas related to their business operations such as labor, tax and fair trade.

BKL’s Finance Group brings to bear comprehensive resources and a deep bench of top practitioners to advise on all matters related to banking operations. Our team consists of not only attorneys who have extensive experience in a broad range of financial transactions but also specialists with experience at the supervisory authorities in Korea such as the Financial Services Commission, the Financial Supervisory Service, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance and the Korea Exchange who offer their unique insight to identify and resolve regulatory concerns. This enables us to identify legal issues, provide practical solutions tailored to each client’s specific situation and manage complex transactions in a seamlessly integrated manner.

BKL has extensive experience and market know-how in advising domestic and foreign clients on the most complex regulatory and transactional banking matters. We counsel clients in all stages of the transactions from structuring to issue solving, documentation, negotiation and closing to achieve the commercial objectives of clients.

Our expertise in financial services has been consistently recognized by global legal publications such as Chambers and IFLR, and we have received numerous awards from Asian Legal Business, the American Lawyer and Asian-mena Counsel.

Key Services

Structuring of credit transactions and deal documentation
Advise on structuring of new transactions
Draft and negotiate deal documentation
Advise on government approval and reporting requirements (such as foreign exchange reports)
Establishment of banks and M&A
Advise on the establishment of banks, including foreign banks’ Korean branches, and on mergers and acquisitions of banks
Advise on, and process applications for, regulatory approvals, permits and reports in relation to limitation of share ownership, mergers and acquisitions and business transfers
Conduct due diligence and advise on implications in relevant areas such as banking, fair trade and tax
Audits and investigations by supervisory authorities
Provide guidance on preparations
Advise on defense strategies
Litigation and dispute resolution
Represent banks in litigation, mediation and arbitration proceedings resulting from regulatory audits and investigations or in relation to product and service offerings or mergers and acquisitions

Representative Cases

Advised on the financing of Macquarie Korea Opportunities Management’s acquisition of shares in LG CNS
Advised Kakao Bank on the acquisition of a specialized internet bank license
Advised a domestic bank on its response to regulatory sanctions against incomplete sale of DLF products
Structuring of credit transactions and deal x-documentation
Advised on the financing of Macquarie Korea Opportunities Management’s acquisition of shares in LG CNS
Advised on the financing of SKC’s acquisition of KCF Technologies
Advised on the financing of JKL Partners’ acquisition of Lotte Insurance
Advised on the financing of MBK Partners’ acquisition of CJ CGV’s Southeast Asia business
Advised on Polaris Shipping’s ship finance of five vessels
Advised on DS Hannam’s financing of the NineOne Hannam luxury residential complex development project in Seoul
Advised on Shinhan REITS Management’s financing of the Pangyo Alphadom City 6-4 mixed-use development project
Advised on British Airlines’ B777-300ER aircraft financing
Advised the Export-Import Bank of Korea in relation to the UAE Barakah nuclear power project
Advised on Korea Southern Power’s financing of and investment into the Yeongnam LNG combined cycle power plant
Advised the Korea Development Bank, the Export-Import Bank of Korea, Kookmin Bank and SMBC on credit extension to domestic and foreign companies
Establishment of banks and M&A
Advised on obtaining regulatory approvals for the incorporation of The K Insurance as a subsidiary of Hana Financial Group
Advised Kakao and Korea Investment Value Asset Management in relation to acquisition of Kakao Bank shares in excess of regulatory ownership limits
Advised Kakao Bank on the acquisition of a specialized internet bank license
Audits and investigations by supervisory authorities
Advised banks on their responses to regulatory sanctions in relation to sale of mutual funds
Advised a domestic bank on its response to regulatory sanctions against incomplete sale of DLF products
Litigation and dispute resolution
Represented numerous banks in lawsuits involving KIKO contracts
Represented a resort developer in a KRW100 billion damages claim lawsuit involving land ownership
Represented the Financial Services Commission or financial institutions in cases involving designation of insolvent financial institutions and cancellations of capital increase orders