Woojae Kim

  • Partner
  • T. +82-2-3404-6589
  • F. +82-2-3404-7306
  • E. woojae.kim@bkl.co.kr

Overview

Woojae Kim is a partner at Bae Kim & Lee LLC’s (BKL) international arbitration and cross-border litigation practice group.

Mr. Kim focuses his practice on complex international arbitration and cross-border litigation in various sectors, including general corporate matters, post-M&A, and energy, with a particular emphasis on large-scale construction arbitration cases. He also has experience in dealing with a wide set of institutional rules, including ICC, ICSID, KCAB, LCIA, SIAC, and VIAC, as well as ad hoc arbitrations. 

Mr. Kim has extensive experience handling investor-state disputes (ISD). In particular, he has been recognized for his key role in the multi-billion dollar cases that BKL has represented in recent years, including the ISD filed by Lone Star Funds against the Korean government.

Mr. Kim is also an experienced litigator representing clients in complex cross-border and enforcement cases in Korean courts. He also advises clients in overseeing energy projects, acting as project counsel for Korean contractors in their renewable and hydrogen development projects worldwide.

Mr. Kim is consistently recognized by legal directories for his work, including Chambers and Partners, Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal. Recently, Mr. Kim was praised by his clients in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific as an advocate who “stands out for his depth of knowledge and strategic vision. His experience and insights have been instrumental in navigating complex legal scenarios, consistently driving successful outcomes.”

Mr. Kim completed his studies at Yonsei University (LL.B.) and Stanford University of Law School (LL.M.) and his training at the Judicial Research and Training Institute (2009). He worked as a judge advocate for three years and as an attorney at another major Korean law firm before joining BKL in 2013. Mr. Kim is admitted to practice in Korea (2009) and the State of New York (2021).

Mr. Kim is a native Korean speaker and works in both English and Korean.

Representative Experience

2023-Present International Arbitrator, KCAB International
2018-2019 LimNexus LLP
2013-Present Bae, Kim & Lee LLC
2012-2013 Lee & Ko
2009-2012 Judge Advocate for Public Service, Ministry of Justice

Representative Matters

Represented the Korean government in an ICSID arbitration filed by Lone Star Funds
Represented a Korean contractor in an ICC arbitration against a U.S. real estate investment company in connection with the Songdo development project
Represented a Korean financial institution in an ICC arbitration against a Chinese insurance company in connection with a dispute over a share purchase agreement
Represented a Korean power company in a LCIA arbitration against its construction subcontractor in connection with a nuclear power plant project in the Middle East
Represented a Korean contractor in a SIAC arbitration against a foreign project owner in connection with an EPC-based power plant construction project in the Philippines
Investor State Disputes
Represented the Korean government in an ICSID arbitration filed by Lone Star Funds
Represented the Korean government in an ad hoc investment treaty arbitration filed by Schindler Holding AG
Represented the Korean construction company in an ad hoc investment treaty arbitration against a North African government
International Arbitration Cases involving General Corporate Matters, Post-M&A and Energy Issues
Represented global private equity funds in an ICC arbitration against an owner of a major Korean insurance company in connection with a put option dispute
Represented a Korean contractor in an ICC arbitration against a U.S. real estate investment company in connection with the Songdo development project
Represented a Korean financial institution in an ICC arbitration against a Chinese insurance company in connection with a dispute over a share purchase agreement
Represented the Korean government in a KCAB arbitration against a foreign defense contractor in connection with a radar supply agreement
Represented a Korean LNG supplier against an Australian counterparty in a LNG price dispute
International Construction Arbitration and Claim Management
Represented a Korean power company in a LCIA arbitration against its construction subcontractor in connection with a nuclear power plant project in the Middle East
Represented a Korean contractor in a VIAC arbitration against a foreign counterparty in connection with a power plant project in South East Asia
Represented a Korean contractor in an ICC arbitration against a foreign counterparty in connection with an infrastructure project in South America
Represented a Korean contractor in an ICC arbitration against a foreign project owner in connection with a large-scale mining and refinery project in Africa
Represented a Korean contractor in an ICC arbitration against a foreign project owner in connection with a power plant construction project in the Middle East
Represented a Korean contractor in a SIAC arbitration against a foreign project owner in connection with a hotel construction project in Central Asia
Represented a Korean contractor in a SIAC arbitration against a foreign project owner in connection with an EPC-based power plant construction project in the Philippines
Acted as project counsel for various Korean contractors and developers in their renewable and hydrogene projects in Europe, Canada, South America and Australia
Cross-Border Litigation and Enforcement
Advised a leading Korean mining company in Australian court proceedings against a foreign counterparty in connection with a dispute over a coal supply agreement
Advised multiple Korean contractors in English court proceedings against foreign project companies in connection with disputes over bond calls and project delay / disruption issues
Represented Korean and foreign clients in Korean court proceedings in connection with enforcement of complex arbitral awards and foreign court judgments
Represented foreign clients in Korean courts in connection with asset recovery proceedings involving sanction issues

Education

2018 Stanford University Law School (LL.M.)
2009 Judicial Research and Training Institute, Supreme Court of Korea
2005 Yonsei University (LL.B.)

Selected Activities

Awards
Chambers Asia-Pacific - Leading Lawyer (2024)
Who's Who Legal - Leading Practitioner (2024)
The Legal 500 - Next Generation Lawyers (2018)
Expert Guides - Commercial Arbitration: Rising Star (2018)

Qualifications

2021 New York
2009 Korea

Awards and Recognition

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Awards and Recognition