Sangchul Kim

  • Partner
  • T. +82-2-3404-6404
  • F. +82-2-3404-7306
  • E. sangchul.kim@bkl.co.kr

Overview

Sangchul Kim is a partner at Bae, Kim & Lee LLC  with a particular focus on international litigation, overseas legal advice, domestic and international arbitration. Mr. Kim has considerable experience and expertise in disputes involving, among others, construction, project finance, insurance, nuclear power plants, semiconductor, pharmaceuticals, and license.

Dually qualified as a Korean attorney and a solicitor of England and Wales, Mr. Kim has been involved, and proactively advocated on behalf of his clients, in negotiations of contracts and disputes with foreign counterparties across the globe, spanning from the Anglo-American and European countries to the Middle East and North Africa, Southeast Asia, Central and South America, and Africa.

Mr. Kim earned a bachelor's and a master's degree in Electrical Engineering from KAIST and has been acknowledged by leading legal publications: Global Arbitration Review, the world's leading international arbitration journal, introduced him as a thoughtful attorney adept at technical and legal arguments, armed with great communication skills , while Thomson Reuters' Asian Legal Business selected him among Asia Super 50 Disputes Lawyers 2023, recognizing his expertise accumulated through years of experience in various construction projects and further amplified by his successful completion of MSc in Construction Law and Dispute Resolution at King's College London in England.

Aside from a stint as a researcher at Telecom SudParis, France, Mr. Kim worked at Samsung C&T Corporation as in-house counsel for five years prior to joining BKL. He has since then authored numerous publications and lectures while serving on various committees, including his role as specialist mediator of Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC), member of the Inter-Government Export Contract Review Committee of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), and member of the International Arbitration Rules Revision Committee of the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB). 

Representative Experience

2017-Present Bae, Kim & Lee LLC
2012-2017 In-House Counsel, Engineering & Construction Group, Samsung C&T Corporation
2008 Institut National des Télécommunications (Télécom SudParis), France
See More
2023-Present Specialist Mediator, Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC)
2022-Present Committee Member, Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB) International Arbitration Rules Revision Committee
2021-Present Inter-Government Export Contract Review Committee Member, Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA)
2013-Present Member, Research Council on International Construction Energy Law

Representative Matters

Represented a large domestic construction company in a SIAC arbitration between the construction company and a European company related to a power generation project in the Middle East
Represented a major Korean contractor in an ICC arbitration in New York involving a large-scale refinery construction project in Latin America
Represented a major Korean contractor in an ad hoc arbitration in Canada involving a large-scale bridge construction project in Canada
Represented a major Korean banking and financial holding company in ICC arbitration arising from global investment fund's sale of shares in a major Korean commercial bank
Represented a mid-sized domestic construction company in an investment arbitration between the construction company and a North African country
Represented a Korean company in an arbitration case by the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board between a public electric power corporation and a wire manufacturer with respect to a Korean submarine cable project
Represented a large Korean construction company in a SIAC arbitration case between the construction company and a Singaporean company with respect to a power generation project in Malaysia
Represented a large domestic construction company in a SIAC arbitration between the construction company and a European company related to a power generation project in the Middle East
Represented a major Korean contractor in an ICC arbitration in New York involving a large-scale refinery construction project in Latin America
Represented a major Korean contractor in an ad hoc arbitration in Canada involving a large-scale bridge construction project in Canada
Represented a major Korean banking and financial holding company in ICC arbitration arising from global investment fund's sale of shares in a major Korean commercial bank
Represented a mid-sized domestic construction company in an investment arbitration between the construction company and a North African country
Represented a Korean contractor in a dispute related to the construction of a combined cycle power plant in Saudi Arabia; handled settlement negotiations with the owner and off-takers on behalf of the Korean contractor; advised on strategy for securing payments
Represented a Korean in negotiating contracts related to the design, construction and commissioning of an ethane process plant in the U.K; advised the Korean contractor in relation to issues concerning adjudication process
Advised a Korean contractor on court proceedings in Australia involving an iron ore project in WA, Australia
Advised a Korean contractor on disputes related to the design and construction of a wind farm in Canada; handled settlement negotiations on behalf of the Korean contractor
Represented a Korean contractor (as a joint venture) in negotiating a contract related to the design, construction and commissioning of a LPG terminal in Thailand; advised the Korean contractor on disputes against the owner and other members of the joint venture
Represented a Korean contractor in negotiating contracts related to the design and construction of a power station in Malaysia; represented the Korean contractor in negotiating a purchase agreement with a major international gas turbine supplier
Represented a Korean contractor in disputes involving a major combined cycle power station in Singapore
Advised a Korean contractor on an ICC arbitration brought by a security and communication system supplier in connection with a LNG terminal project in Singapore
Advised a Korean contractor on a warranty claim brought by the owner of a combined cycle power plant in UAE; handled settlement negotiations on behalf of the Korean contractor
Represented a Korean contractor in negotiating contracts related to the design, construction and commissioning of a power and water treatment station in Qatar; represented the Korean contractor in negotiating a related consortium agreement; advised the Korean contractor on claims against the owner
Advised a Korean contractor on court proceedings in Qatar against a Qatar-based agency company in connection with the road/bridge construction project in Qatar
Represented a Korean contractor in negotiating a contract involving the design, construction and commissioning of a phosphate rock process plant in Morocco; advised the Korean contractor on claims against the owner
Represented a Korean contractor in negotiating a contract related to the construction of metro lines and stations in Singapore
Represented a Korean contractor in negotiating a contract and a consortium agreement related to the construction of a major railway in UAE; advised and represented the Korean contractor in a dispute against a consortium member
Represented a Korean contractor in negotiating a contract related to the engineering of cryogenic storage tanks and terminals in Greece
Advised a Korean contractor on court proceedings involving tax issues in Texas, U.S
Represented a Korean contractor in a dispute against a major gas turbine supplier in the U.S; handled settlement negotiations on behalf of the Korean contractor including drafting ancillary x-documentation related to technical issues
Advised a Korean contractor on a dispute related to the construction of a combined cycle power station project in Algeria

Education

2020 King's College London (M.Sc., Construction Law and Dispute Resolution)
2012 Yonsei University Law School (J.D.)
2009 Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) (M.S.)
2003 Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) (B.S.)

Selected Activities

Publications
Country Comparative Guides – South Korea: International Arbitration (Co-author, Legal 500, 2023)
Country Comparative Guides – South Korea: Construction (Co-author, Legal 500, 2023)
Emerging Trends in Renewable Energy Arbitration in Korea (Co-author, Chambers Expert Focus, 2023)
Investor-State Mediation: Are We Prepared? (Co-author, Chambers Expert Focus, 2023)
Enforcement of Judgments in South Korea (Co-author, Thomson Reuters, 2022)
Enforcement of Arbitral Awards in South Korea (Co-author, Thomson Reuters, 2022)
A Practical Guide to U.S. Litigation for Korean companies, Bae, Kim & Lee LLC (Co-author, Pakyoungsa, 2022)
Activity
Lectured on overseas construction disputes and international arbitration in Incheon International Airport Corporation's job training course (2023)
Lectured in Samsung C&T global commercial at Sungkyunkwan University Graduate School of Law (2017-Present)
Lectured at Korea University Graduate School of Global Construction Engineering (2018)
Awards
Asian Legal Business - ALB Asia Super 50 Disputes Lawyers (2023)
Joongang Ilbo/Korea In-house Counsel Association - Outstanding Lawyer, International Disputes∙Overseas Legal∙Arbitration (2023)

Qualifications

2021 Solicitor of England and Wales
2012 Korea