We identify clients’ compliance needs based on our extensive experience and expertise in compliance & anti-corruption matters and offer customized solutions. Our group and leading practitioners have been recognized for superior legal representation by domestic and international clients.
As Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”) issues are becoming key business priorities for many global and domestic companies, establishing an appropriate internal compliance system has emerged as an essential element of strategic business management. We help each client to build an optimal compliance system to address its needs based on our vast experience in evaluating, analyzing and designing compliance programs of multinational as well as public companies, on a wide variety of regulatory issues including environment, labor and fair trade.
We have advised a number of Korean and global financial institutions, energy companies, motor companies, pharmaceutical companies and medical device companies on their complex compliance issues, helping such clients prevent or minimize occurrence of risks related to their business activities. We provide legal services tailored to each client’s industry and specific issues, leveraging our experienced and talented professionals in relevant practice, industry and regional groups.
BKL’s Antitrust and Competition Group offers unmatched excellence across the full spectrum of antitrust matters ranging from government investigations, merger filings, and antitrust compliance to administrative, civil and criminal litigation.
Comprised of over 70 lawyers and advisors, including former senior officials of the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC), with a proven track record of successfully advising clients on complex antitrust matters, the Antitrust and Competition Group is able to provide seamless and integrated services to efficiently and effectively address the most pressing needs and challenges faced by clients. By drawing on the combined experience and expertise of its members, the Antitrust and Competition Group is able to provide exceptional insight and practical guidance tailored to each client’s specific business and industry.
In addition to traditional antitrust regulatory advice, we offer comprehensive and practical solutions to effectively address the myriad of issues and challenges arising from an antitrust investigation, including criminal prosecution, follow-on damages claims and tax issues. In particular, our Antitrust Risk Assessment Task Force, consisting of specialists in criminal, litigation and forensic investigations provide clients with a holistic approach necessary to successfully navigate the increasingly complex competition law environment by identifying potential risks areas and providing preventive solutions using forensic technology in criminal investigations and private litigation.
BKL’s Automobile & Mobility group, with its team of professionals who have extensive experience in the automotive industry and have worked in close collaboration with relevant authorities, organizations and experts, offers comprehensive legal services tailored to individual clients, ranging from dealing with regulatory authorities to dispute resolution.
Our practice specializes in not only traditional business models of internal combustion engine automobiles and license-oriented transportation service industries, but also new business models using cutting edge technology in the smart mobility industry. Such technology include electronic vehicles, autonomous vehicles, unmanned vehicles and so on. The Automobile & Mobility group provides in-depth legal analysis and insight into Korea’s automobile and smart mobility space, the latest material developments in regulation and policy of this rapidly evolving area, and this is coupled with the Firm’s first-rank expertise in every adjacent practice area, including corporate, fair competition, environmental, data security and government relations, along with a top litigation practice.
As counsel to a vast spectrum of automobile and related businesses, both Korean and overseas, we aim to support and guide industry stakeholders in order to bring about sensible and balanced changes in government regulation as it affects these new and evolving industries.
BKL’s Corporate Restructuring Practice Group has market leading expertise in this area. The group built its extensive experience in the practice area by handling numerous insolvency cases (corporate restructuring, rehabilitation and bankruptcy among others) for decades in the wake of Asian and global financial crises. The group’s rich experience in a wide variety of matters has built deep institutional knowledge of insolvency matters, including a remarkable ability to detect pre-crisis symptoms and post-response capability. The practice group is constituted by a diversity of excellent professionals with a team of lawyers, CPAs and dedicated researchers. The combination of excellent individual lawyers, and the team’s collective capabilities allows the group to offer preemptive and preventive solutions for each case and phase in restructuring and insolvency cases.
BKL’s Corporate Restructuring Practice Group is unique in the market for its combination of legal expertise with the associated skills, and has been providing its clients with multi-dimensional solutions through organic collaboration with experts with extensive hands-on experience, and professionals who have experience and knowledge of the insolvency proceedings after long years’ tenure of office at government agencies and regulatory authorities.
Mere legal interpretation of relevant law or the preparation of good pleadings alone does not guarantee successful advisory and litigation services. In fact, in order to successfully conduct bankruptcy and corporate restructuring cases, a broad range of skills and experience are necessary: including an in-depth understanding of a company’s operating and financial structures, corporate accounting, the regulations and practice of capital market financial investment system, and the practice of judicial and governmental authorities, which only BKL’s Corporate Restructuring Practice can provide in the market.
The practice group has around 20 professionals, including attorneys, certified public accountants and dedicated researchers, and is renowned for its remarkable experience and incomparable expertise in bankruptcy and corporate restructuring practice – which were accumulated through exclusively handling bankruptcy and corporate restructuring cases for more than 25 years. This exclusive experience has allowed the group to develop expertise that is only available to them in the market.
With such experience and expertise, BKL’s Corporate Restructuring Practice Group provides domestic clients with legal services in respect of all issues involved with bankruptcy and corporate restructuring process. Legal services provided include establishing restructuring plans or rehabilitation plans for financially distressed companies and implementation thereof by means of asset disposals, business transfers, M&A, transfer of NPLs and debt collections, providing advice on the Corporate Restructuring Promotion Act and representing in bankruptcy or corporate restructuring proceedings.
Through its extensive international practice, the practice group has built a strong network with law firms across the world by cooperating in cross- border insolvency matters over the last three decades. As such, BKL’s Corporate Restructuring Practice enjoys a strong reputation in cross-border insolvency and corporate restructuring practice.
BKL has a market leading capital markets practice in Korea, covering the full spectrum of capital markets transactions such as IPOs in Korean and foreign capital markets and other equity, debt and equity-linked securities offerings by various issuers. Our Finance Group is at the forefront of regulatory developments and advises clients on optimal solutions to complex issues based on a deep understanding of the applicable laws and regulations and how they are applied by the regulatory authorities
We are familiar with market trends and have the business acumen to understand the client’s business goals. BKL’s Finance Group is uniquely positioned to deliver sophisticated advice and address the needs of each client based on our deep technical expertise and extensive market experience in the increasingly sophisticated and globally integrated capital markets.
We have been engaged in the largest and most highly publicized equity offerings in Korea, including IPOs on the Korea Exchange by Big Hit Entertainment, SK Biopharm, Kakao Games, Samsung Biologics, Doosan Bobcat and Cheil Industries (currently Samsung C&T Corporation). BKL is undisputedly the go-to firm for foreign companies’ Korea Exchange listings and is the pioneer in regard to securities offerings that require innovative legal solutions such as REITs’ IPOs and debt securities offerings conducted as part of alternative investment structures
We also help clients raise funds through the more traditional capital markets transactions such as program set-up and takedowns, convertible/exchangeable bond offerings, green bond offerings, block trades, and floating rate and other traditional note offerings.
In addition to the prominent track record of capital markets transactions, our Finance Group has a deep bench of specialists with significant experience from private and public sectors who work together to provide clients with practical solutions. To ensure that clients have access to BKL’s fully integrated services and to deliver seamless legal services across multiple jurisdictions, our Finance Group draws upon the Firm’s diverse range of practice areas and utilizes our extensive network of foreign counsels on an as-needed basis.
Since its establishment in 1997 as the Korea’s first legal advisory group specializing in China, BKL’s China Practice Group has been providing a one-stop legal service on a wide range of China-related legal matters. In 2004, BKL became the first Korean law firm to open an office in Beijing and a few years later, also opened offices in Shanghai and Hong Kong in 2008 and 2013, respectively, in order to better meet the needs of clients.
Pioneer in assisting Korean companies in their investments in China
The China Practice Group has delivered unparalleled results in advising Korean companies in many landmark China-bound investments involving partnership/joint venture projects, high-profile and complex M&A transactions, pre-IPO placements, negotiation with the Chinese government and fair trade. The transactions BKL has advised since 2018 amount to a deal value of more than USD 7 billion. BKL’s China Practice Group has advised on a significant proportion of the major outbound projects and transactions of Korean companies into China.
Responding to diverse demands with proactive approach
BKL offers comprehensive legal services to Korean companies in diverse fields of Chinese law such as HR/labor, general corporate, M&A, fair trade, intellectual property, trade, liquidation/exit and dispute resolution. We pride ourselves on our ability to proactively advise clients on ever-changing legal landscape and to seamlessly coordinate with local law firms to provide efficient, cost-effective services. In addition, our ability to advise on sweeping changes in the legal landscape and complex legal issues has been relied upon by major Korean governmental agencies, including the Korean Embassy in China, Korea Chamber of Commerce in China, KOTRA, Korean International Trade Association and Korea Copyright Commission in support of important governmental decisions.
Partner and defender of Chinese companies in entry into the Korean market
Drawing upon our capabilities and extensive experience of advising cross-border matters, we provide customized legal advice to Chinese companies on diverse Korean laws in connection with foreign investments such as acquisition of Korean companies, listings on the Korea Exchange, investments in real estate and establishment of Korean subsidiaries and joint ventures with Korean partners. We have also defended Chinese clients from wrongful allegations by Korean business partners and delivered successful results in civil, administrative and criminal lawsuits in Korea. In addition, we provide tailored government relations services to Chinese clients in response to the Korean government’s heightened monitoring of Chinese companies based on their expanded presence and increasing investments in Korea.
Leading China desk in Korea
BKL’s China Practice Group has market-leading depth and expertise of China practice-devoted professionals among law firms in Korea. Chinese clients are also served by legal practitioners in our Beijing and Shanghai office, who bridge the physical distance between the professionals in our Seoul office and the clients.
Our China Practice Group differentiates itself from other China desks in Korea with our first-hand experience in China-related legal matters. Many of Korean attorneys in our China Practice Group have practiced in China for over 10 years and gained understanding of the Chinese legal and business landscape. Conversely, our Chinese attorneys have previously worked for major Chinese law firms or Korean conglomerates in cross-border matters involving both China and Korea. We utilize such experiences in helping our clients navigate the legal and commercial complexities of cross-border transactions between Korea and China, and we believe our ability to understand the subtle legal and business nuances involving China matters is unmatched by other Korean law firms.
BKL, as the first law firm to specialize in the construction and real estate law practice in Korea, is a recognized leader with unparalleled understanding of the complex legal issues and experiences in this area.
Unrivaled Experience and Expertise
Construction, development projects and transactions involving real estate, are often affected by diverse and complicated legal issues. BKL’s dedicated practice group can deploy the specialized expertise that our clients need to defend their interests in these complex disputes.
Market leaders – as judged by our clients
BKL’s Construction & Real Estate Practice Group has been ranked number 1 in the construction and real estate field in the “Best Law Firm” survey of Law Times Korea and Korean In-house Counsel Association for many years.
We advise corporate clients around the world and offer multifaceted corporate practice based on our extensive knowledge and experience. The hallmark of our corporate practice is our commitment to providing pragmatic solutions and multidisciplinary service that address the unique needs of each client.
We regularly advise our corporate clients on the entire spectrum of transactions, from designing the optimal corporate governance structure, planning investments and responding to disputes to conducting day-to-day business operations. Our diverse client base includes Korean and international companies of all sizes across all industry sectors, and the breadth and depth of our practice enable us to regularly assist emerging companies with a comprehensive range of services.
Our attorneys collaborate seamlessly across practice areas as diverse as antitrust, employment and labor, tax, intellectual property, regulatory and dispute resolution, and draw on our many strengths and expertise across the firm. This integrated approach enables us to develop practical solutions to our clients’ immediate business challenges and opportunities.
We have strong business acumen combined with legal expertise and prioritize thoroughly understanding our clients’ business and commercial objectives to provide client-focused legal services. This enables our attorneys to go beyond providing corporate law advice and to ultimately offer customized solutions to achieve clients’ objectives
We have received numerous accolades for our dedication and ability to tailor work to client needs, and our corporate practice is consistently recognized by global publications such as Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500 and Asian Legal Business.
BKL’s Customs & International Trade Practice Group provides comprehensive solutions that satisfy clients’ needs in response to rapid changes to the customs/trade environment that create risks arising from the increasing numbers of free trade agreements, cross-border intercompany transactions by multinationals, new businesses such as virtual assets, intensified customs audits, and increased protectionism of domestic industries in trade policies.
Changes in international/domestic customs/international trade environments
Recently, while experiencing a rapid shift from the WTO system to FTA’s open trade system, the world trade economy is facing a very confusing and uncertain environment due to the weakening multilateralism system and intensified inclination to pursue national interests. Moreover, the main risks and enforcement actions in the areas of customs and international trade are changing quickly as multinationals increase cross-border intercompany transactions, new types of businesses emerge, and major trading partner countries become interested in introducing trade safety systems to prevent dumping and terror. Accordingly, the Korean customs authorities have been increasing the scope of their audits in response to the rapidly changing environment. To efficiently manage such risks, it is necessary to have an in-depth understanding of the relevant industries, business environment, and the overall economy. In addition, it is vital for customs experts to have abundant experience and knowledge in the interpretation of laws and regulations, government policies, as well as customs authorities’ actual enforcement.
Unrivaled experience and expertise
The Customs & International Trade Practice Group consists of a group of professionals with the capacity to analyze and understand recent global/domestic trade environmental changes, the customs authorities’ policies and market trends, and to provide clients with solutions based on expertise and know-how based on unrivalled experience in the relevant areas. In addition to a group of experienced tax attorneys specializing in customs and international trade, our Group has experts in different areas that are related to customs and international trade, including CPAs, former government officials and senior advisors who have previous worked at the Korean Customs Service. Further, our Group is uniquely situated to provide fully integrated and comprehensive solutions to any cross-border customs and international trade issue in close cooperation with leading law firms outside of Korea.
BKL’s Data Protection and Privacy Practice Group provides effective and timely solutions to meet clients’ needs based on our market-leading expertise and practical understanding of the regulatory environment. We routinely advise companies on data protection and privacy compliance in relation to a wide range of service launches both in Korea and abroad, as well as data breach and regulatory investigations. Our experience in this area has been unparalleled and our understanding of the complex framework of both domestic and global legal requirements has been recognized by awards from the leading domestic and overseas legal media, regulatory authorities and client satisfaction surveys. Our clients come from all industries including IT, retail and distribution, pharmaceuticals, video gaming, streaming services, e-commerce and financial services.
BKL conducts evaluation and assessment of data protection and privacy risks based on comparative analysis and our working knowledge of both domestic and overseas personal data regulatory systems, and provides regulatory and compliance advice to produce optimized solutions based on such risk assessment. With the heightened regulatory requirements for data protection and privacy in both the EU and the US, which have global reach and thus practical implications for companies directing their services towards EU and California residents regardless of where the company is located, effective legal advice in today’s highly connected world of business requires the understanding of both the domestic and overseas legal requirements applicable to the handling of personal data.
BKL also provides services to help companies build an efficient governance system for big data, AI and Mydata while minimizing the legal risks. The new opportunities made possible by big data are accompanied by myriad issues of data protection and privacy requiring thorough legal review and effective risk controls and response measures.
BKL also provides advisory services in connection with administrative measures and investigations by relevant administrative agencies in accordance with laws and regulations related to personal information.
Moreover, BKL provides prompt advice in case of personal information infringement incidents and data breaches, and dedicated representation in civil and criminal litigation based on profound expertise and vast experience.
A complex set of unique laws, administrative rules and customs apply to government contracts including those with the State, local governments and public agencies, as well as the defense industry. Navigating the regulatory environment requires not only specialized expertise but also practical experience. BKL guides our clients through all phases of the procurement process, including bidding, the execution and performance of contracts, and management of post-contractual relations.
To effectively identify and resolve the myriad legal issues relating to government contracts we work alongside our clients on every issue that they encounter and at every stage of the process, including bidding announcement, selection of winning bidders, single-source contracts, damages for delay, warranties and unfair sanctions. Our expertise is founded on a depth of understanding of the rules and policies of government agencies developed over many years of practice, and extends from advisory to dispute resolution, litigation and arbitration.
BKL’s Defense Industry & Public Contracts Practice Group combines our outstanding lawyers with industry leading experts who have served in senior positions with various government agencies such as the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, and the Board of Audit and Inspection. Our awareness of and sensitivity to critical drivers in the industry empowers us to successfully represent our clients in high-stake lawsuits and on a wide range of public and defense contracts. In particular, BKL has advised many clients on international procurement, which has recently been of increasing importance.
Recognized as a leading firm in litigation, we provide superior legal representation in domestic litigation. We resolve complicated and demanding dispute matters efficiently, leveraging our resources and unmatched expertise and experience in litigation, across a wide range of areas, including civil, criminal, construction & real estate, securities & finance, insurance & maritime, corporate & M&A, constitutional & administrative, product liability & consumer claims, HR & employment and private clients & estate.
We assemble the best team of attorneys based on the specific issues and relevant industries of each case in order to achieve the best outcome for the client. Notably, we have a litigation support team for a large-scale and complex case, including former Supreme Court justices and chief judges, and the litigation support team provides guidance at all stages of the litigation process. We strive to fully utilize our vast pool of resources for each client to ensure a favorable outcome in dispute matters.
In 1994, a BKL attorney handled what was possibly the earliest commercial domain name dispute in Korea between bona fide claimants, namely a U.S. telecom and a Korean dial-up ISP. Since that time, BKL’s e-commerce group has advanced swiftly in step with the fast-evolving technology and practices of online businesses, which is particularly noteworthy in light of the new found demand on e-commerce created by COVID-19.
Our e-commerce practice offers specialized, state-of-the-art advice on the full spectrum of issues affecting internet B2B service providers, retailers and auction marketplaces, and hosting sites. Our team regularly advises on commercial tie-ups and other contracts that underpin many online businesses, including advertising, portal and partnership arrangements, as well as forms of “clickwrap” licenses and consumer purchase contracts. In addition, we provide in-depth advice on the regulatory aspects of online commerce, including registration and disclosure requirements, data privacy and storage, consumer protection rules, and copyright and trademark issues. In the financial area, we have advised several insurer clients on online marketing, as well as telemarketing, of their insurance products.
As counsel to a number of the leading online retailing operations and portal sites in Korea, we monitor and advise on the latest material developments in regulation and policy, as well as judicial precedents in these rapidly evolving areas of law. The Firm has itself been at the forefront, among Korean law firms, in helping to guide efficient, sensible changes in government regulation as it affects e-commerce.
BKL’s Energy and Infrastructure Practice Group is at the forefront of modern energy and infrastructure projects in Korea. Working closely with developers, sponsors and suppliers at every stage from market entry to project inception, development and operation, our team focuses on enabling our global clients to understand and resolve the unique challenges that are encountered in the course of energy and infrastructure projects in Korea.
Our clients benefit from the range of skills and experience of our lawyers, including some of the foremost practitioners of energy and infrastructure law in Korea, former senior officials of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and foreign attorneys with years of experience at leading global firms. We have exceptional knowledge of the Korean regulatory framework, having contributed to the development of the rules and regulations in some cases.
As well as acting for global developers and sponsors engaging in energy and infrastructure projects in Korea, we act extensively for Korean energy and infrastructure businesses throughout the world wherever they operate, from North America, Europe and South America to the Asia-Pacific region.
Our depth of expertise extends to energy and infrastructure projects of all kinds, including:
The successful development of projects in Korea involves negotiation and liaison with a number of stakeholders in different capacities, which can include both national and local government authorities, local landholders and residents, local partners and project managers, EPC contractors, suppliers and financing sources. We work with clients at each step of the way from preparation and negotiation of project agreements and financing agreements, acquisition of permits and licenses, to financial closing and commercial operation. We bring to bear our experts in regulatory consulting, corporate governance, finance, regulation, arbitration and disputes to provide clients with a complete service.
BKL’s Entertainment, Sports & Game Practice Group is comprised of industry experts with extensive experience and knowledge of the industry, and provides comprehensive advice and services on all aspects of the clients’ day-to-day business needs in this highly competitive and global industry.
Legal Advisor to Leaders in the Entertainment and Sports Industry
Entertainment business is a field where intangible assets, such as brand value, need be monetized to the fullest extent. Based on aggressive investments and high-quality local content production capabilities, K-Contents, fueled by the Hanryu phenomenon, has become an integral part of the global entertainment business and, as a result, Korea is fast becoming one of the rising centers for global content production, especially, in the areas of TV drama series, feature films and music. BKL has abundant experience and expertise in both Korea-bound and overseas-bound projects relating to acquisition, production and distribution of contents involving the latest IT technology and media, and our work in this area includes advising our clients through all stages of their projects, from financing, formation, distribution, business operations, M&As, establishing joint ventures, and securing content rights.
BKL has unparalleled experience in the field of sports as we have served as the legal advisor for major international sporting events, including the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games. In more recent years, our practice in this area has expanded into e-Sports, which is one of the fastest growing sectors within the sports/gaming industry.
Customized Legal Service Based on Extensive Experience in Video Gaming Industry
The gaming industry is an area where creative ideas converge with the latest IT technology, storytelling and artistic The gaming industry is an area where creative ideas converge with the latest IT technology, storytelling and artistic expressions, and such unique characteristic of the industry entails legal implications in relation to the use of intellectual property rights, gaming regulations and user data protection including personal data protection. Our Entertainment, Sports & Game Group is comprised of industry experts with in-depth knowledge of the industry, who work together seamlessly to advise global gaming companies on all aspects of their day-to-day legal issues relevant to the gaming industry, including industry-specific regulations, business operations, game publishing and licensing, and game user data protection.
BKL’s Environment Practice Group provides our clients with comprehensive regulatory, transactional and litigation support on Environment, Health and Safety issues.
We have built an organic cooperative system that brings together experts with a complementary range of skills and experience, led by our attorneys alongside former judges and prosecutors, as well as senior advisors who have previously served in the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation, KATRI, and the Korea Customs Services.
We provide in-depth, tailored legal counseling and advocacy for both domestic and multinational clients on a wide array of environmental issues encompassing air pollution, water quality, waste discharge, soil contamination, noise/vibration, odorous emissions, chemical substances, environmental impact assessments, energy projects, greenhouse gases, RECs and climate change. We assist clients with legal risk assessment, due diligence, licensing and approvals, project development and compliance review, as well as civil, criminal and administrative proceedings and other, alternative means of dispute resolution.
BKL’s Europe Practice Group provides one-stop legal services for European clients operating in Korea across the full spectrum of legal issues, including general corporate, cross-border transactions, tax, labor & employment, data protection, compliance, antitrust, competition, IP, dispute resolution and international trade. Our dedicated experts have practiced in various European jurisdictions and are proficient in Korean, English and many other languages.
BKL is widely recognized for our expertise and strong track record in advising multinational companies headquartered in Europe and Korean companies investing in Europe. With decades of experience in commercial transactions between Korean and European partners, we work closely with our clients to achieve their business objectives, and to resolve complex disputes faced by multinationals in Korea.
Experience, Language and Cultural Familiarity
BKL’s Europe Practice Group includes attorneys and other professionals who have educational backgrounds or work experience in Europe. The European experience, cultural familiarity and foreign language capability of our professionals enable us to communicate with our European clients and provide them with clear guidance on how to fulfil their commercial goals in Korea.
German Practice Unit
Our German Practice Unit is led by a German-qualified, native German-speaking attorney, which is leveraged by our clients’ headquarters in Germany and German-speaking countries, as well as giving our German Practice Unit exceptional insight into the German legal and business environment.
Teamwork
Our European Practice Group works in seamless collaboration with other professionals at BKL, who offer experience-driven assistance and provide a complete range of support to our European clients.
Alternative Investments
We extensively advise Korean clients on alternative investments in European assets such as infrastructure and real estate. In particular, we have recently covered important real estate investments in European jurisdictions, such as:
Cross-Border M&As
We act for Korean and European clients in inbound and outbound M&A transactions. We regularly assist our clients as lead counsel in M&A deals across multiple jurisdictions, supported by our global network with local law firms. With our connections in Europe and rich history of advising on important M&A transactions, we deliver efficient and cost-effective service to meet our clients’ needs.
BKL’s Finance Group is a market-leading team of experts with a preeminent track record of global deal experience ranging from traditional types of financings to alternative financings that utilize innovative structures and techniques.
BKL has significant experience in all aspects of international and domestic finance and an extensive track record across a broad array of transactions, including loan transactions, securities issuances, acquisition financings, project financings, ship financings, aircraft financings, securitizations, structured financings, foreign direct investments and overseas investments. Our services are comprehensive in scope, encompassing the structuring, negotiation and execution of transactions as well as post-closing management.
We are also a primary driver of the development of innovative transaction structures and cutting-edge techniques in financing transactions. We focus on providing clear analyses of current legal frameworks and responding to cutting-edge market trends in order to provide clients with creative solutions that address their rapidly evolving needs.
Our Finance Group is regularly recognized for its expertise and capabilities, and we are consistently ranked by leading global industry journals such as Chambers, IFLR and Legal500.
As the regulatory landscape continues to evolve, keeping up with market trends and comprehending their impacts on the various services and products offered by clients have become a matter of paramount importance. BKL’s Finance Group consists of attorneys who are well versed in various market segments and extensive experience from other key jurisdictions, former officials from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Financial Services Commission, the Financial Supervisory Service and the Korea Exchange, as well as specialists with deep expertise from banks and financial investment companies, all of whom work together seamlessly to provide clients with an integrated service and practical solutions.
BKL’s Finance Group consists of experts who stand ready to respond to every legal need of financial institution clients. Our dedication to client service is evidenced by the high degree of satisfaction of our financial institution and other corporate clients, including our international clients, and BKL is often the first port of call for clients for groundbreaking deals such as Korea’s first overseas nuclear power plant financing and Korea’s first REIT listing.
Financial institution clients routinely turn to BKL for sophisticated and creative solutions to legal issues that arise from their day-to-day operations and other significant transactions. We advise clients on the full range of transactional and regulatory matters based on our deep expertise and broad experience in the financial services industry, and our strong emphasis on client-oriented service produces superior results in dispute resolution.
Financial institutions are highly regulated from their establishment to daily business activities, and navigating the complex regulatory landscape can be challenging. BKL’s Finance Group advises a broad spectrum of global financial institution clients, including financial holding companies, banks, financial investment companies (such as securities companies and asset management companies), specialized credit financing companies and insurance companies, on both transactional and regulatory matters in all areas pertinent to financial institutions, including financial transactions, procurement of licenses and approvals, registrations, regulatory oversight, internal compliance, response to inspections and investigations, and mergers and acquisitions. We actively monitor the regulatory environment and latest developments in the financial services industry in order to adapt and provide preemptive solutions tailored for each client.
When it comes to legal advice related to financial institutions, it is important to understand not only the applicable laws and regulations but also the nature of the specific industry and the regulatory hurdles clients face. Our Finance Group brings together not only finance lawyers widely recognized as experts in their respective specializations but also specialists with experience from local regulators such as the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Financial Services Commission, the Financial Supervisory Service and the Korea Exchange, as well as specialists formerly with financial companies such as commercial banks and financial investment companies. Our Finance Group is also closely integrated with BKL’s broader platform and collaborates with market-leading experts in related fields such as legislative support, tax and accounting, fair trade, labor and FinTech, which enables us to address clients’ diverse needs in a seamless manner.
Our multidisciplinary team of experts is dedicated to providing sophisticated and creative solutions to respond to clients’ legal needs, and our dedication to client service is highly acclaimed by our financial institution clients in Korea and overseas.
BKL’s Financial Regulation Group has the experience and expertise to help clients navigate through legal challenges that they face in the increasingly complex regulatory landscape of the financial services industry. Well versed in a broad range of financial regulatory issues, our team goes above and beyond to provide comprehensive advice relating to financial regulation and compliance.
We have extensive experience and deep expertise gained from advising clients in the financial sector on all aspects of financial regulations, compliance to regulatory approvals, legislative consulting, responses to inspections and sanctions, and new developments such as FinTech.
Our Financial Regulation Group includes attorneys with broad experience and ex-officials at the Financial Services Commission, the Financial Supervisory Service, the Korea Exchange, and other financial regulatory agencies. We consider each matter carefully and tailor our team composition to provide balanced advice to deliver optimal results for clients.
We are consistently recognized by financial professionals as one of the most reliable law firms in the field of financial regulation and have been highly rated by internationally renowned legal publications such as Chambers & Partners, IFLR, Legal 500 and ALB.
BKL provides comprehensive legal services to international and domestic clients in the fields of medical service, pharmaceutical products, medical device, animal drugs, food and beverage and cosmetics and personal care products. We have experts with extensive knowledge and experience in related fields, including pharmaceutical and healthcare regulations, patents and licensing, dispute resolution, government investigations, fair trade, M&A and initial public offerings, who work closely with one another to deliver the best results for clients.
Our Healthcare & Life Sciences Group regularly advises pharmaceutical companies and medical institutions on the full spectrum of issues they face during the course of their business operations in and outside of Korea. Our practitioners are well-versed not only in the laws and regulations but also in the characteristics of the industry, and we provide strategic advice on a broad range of business initiatives and transactions such as M&A, IPO, global expansion, technology licensing and new business models in order to proactively address clients’ business objectives. We have advised clients on strategic alliances and M&A deals that are core to their business strategy, as well as on the largest cross-border out-licensing deal by a Korean pharmaceutical company as licensor.
BKL has a long history of assisting pharmaceutical companies and medical institutions in dealing with constantly evolving healthcare regulations and various compliance issues. BKL provides expert guidance on product approvals and reimbursement listing and has a proven track record of successfully representing pharmaceutical companies in complex litigations over the government’s pricing reductions and other administrative actions. The number of disputes has grown with respect to use of sensitive personal information, artificial intelligence, telemedicine and drug development, and we provide pharmaceutical companies and medical institutions with tailored advice to help them address increased regulatory complexities in the healthcare sector.
Our Healthcare & Life Sciences Group takes a multidisciplinary approach and works closely with firm experts in other related fields such as intellectual property, privacy and data protection and fair trade regulations to advise pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers and other healthcare related companies and institutions on a wide range of regulatory issues such as product liability and recalls, personal information protection, advertisement and distribution practices in the industry (which may have fair trade implications) and contacts with healthcare professionals.
BKL opened our office in Hong Kong in 2015 as part of our strategic international growth plan and expansion of services to our clients based in Hong Kong’s global financial hub. We operate in Hong Kong as a registered foreign law firm to provide the full range of Korean law advice and draw on our extensive network and long-standing relationships with international and Hong Kong law firms to cooperate on multi-disciplinary and large scale cross-border work.
Our lawyers in Hong Kong work closely with, and tap into the wide resources of, our office in Korea to advise international clients on inbound matters that involve managing their Korean operations, including complex regulatory issues, high-stakes investigations and dispute resolution, and investing in Korean markets and businesses. Our Hong Kong office also serves as an access point to Hong Kong's financial markets for leading Korean financial institutions and corporations on outbound matters such as their overseas direct investments and M&A transactions, financing transactions and ventures into new markets as well as international arbitration cases. We also actively advise our Korean clients that use Hong Kong as a gateway for their investments in China and our Chinese clients that invest and conduct their business in Korea via Hong Kong.
We believe our Hong Kong presence is a decisive plus. These days it is simpler than ever to handle work long distance, but, in terms of actively supporting our clients and outreach, it is vital to be in Hong Kong in person.
BKL advises leading global and domestic insurers and reinsurers on complex insurance transactions, disputes, governance, licensing and investigations by regulatory authorities in Korea. We work with clients across the world on transactions, governance and contentious issues.
Our clients benefit from our sector expertise and collaboration between attorneys and other professionals with practical experience in insurance regulation, product development, accounting and insurance policy.
We are committed to a thorough understanding of our clients’ businesses and developments in the industry. As well as major global and domestic insurers and reinsurers, we serve insurance federations, insurance development institutes and associations of insurance agents of Korea.
In addition to advising private insurance businesses, BKL’s expertise extends to trade insurance provided by Korea Trade Insurance Corporation, Korea Post’s postal savings insurance and other mutual-aid projects. We have close working relationships with Financial Services Commission and Financial Supervisory Service and provide advice on interpretation of regulations affecting the industry as well as research and policy consultations.
BKL’s IP Practice Group is well-equipped to serve our clients to their satisfaction by prioritizing the client’s business interests, innovation, growth and success. Drawing upon our extensive experience in protection of intellectual property rights, we provide creative and effective solutions to meet the needs of our clients that are unparalleled in quality.
Trusted Partner for IP Protection and Monetization
In the age of digital information, a company’s business data, knowledge, technology and content are the company’s key proprietary assets and important sources of new revenue. In today’s highly competitive business world, the success of a business depends on the ability to maximize the monetization of such IP assets, and disputes abound both within and outside Korea involving various cutting-edge technologies that are subject to multiple layers of regulatory environment.
BKL’s advice is based on our in-depth understanding of the client’s business and IP assets, including such assets’ economic and social impact, and we strive to provide creative and innovative solutions for our clients while setting new legal precedents along the way. We take great pride in being an integral part of our clients’ future business success.
One-Stop Legal Service
BKL provides a fully integrated, one-stop legal service on all aspects of intellectual property, including patent and trademark prosecution, copyright, trade secrets, data protection and privacy, and enforcement and transactions involving intellectual property. In today’s highly competitive technology environment, we provide strategic advice to ensure timely and proactive procurement and protection of the client’s IP assets.
Customized Legal Service based on Unparalleled Experience and Seamless Integration of Expertise
BKL’s IP Practice Group is comprised of experts with various legal and technical backgrounds, including attorneys-at-law, foreign-qualified attorneys, patent and trademark prosecution attorneys, of counsel consultants, and ex-regulatory officers, allowing us to call upon a specialized team of experts for any matter we handle. Our access to such a wide range of IP expertise enables us to provide a seamlessly integrated expertise-based legal advice, as evidenced by our unparalleled experience in handling IP matters, including administrative trial cases before KIPO’s Intellectual Property Tribunal and the Patent Court, as well as complex IP infringement litigations and our advice on IP transactions and licensing. We have been recognized for our expertise by the leading practice publications such as Chambers & Partners, Managing Intellectual Property, and Asian Legal Business.
BKL was the first law firm in Korea with a fully dedicated, specialist international arbitration practice since 2002. Now combining a globally recognized international arbitration team with our leading cross-border litigation specialists, BKL has formed a preeminent disputes practice group deeply focused on resolving some of the most complex and cutting-edge issues faced by our clients, regardless of forum, seat of arbitration, and governing law.
Ranked every year as one of the top global arbitration practices, our arbitration team has represented hundreds of clients engaged in a range of industries in disputes across all major continents, including Asia, Europe and North America. In addition to our broad commercial disputes practice, we differentiate ourselves in the market with specialisms in industry-focused dispute practices in construction, energy and technology. We also handle some of the most significant investor-state disputes, having led the first ever investor-state dispute in Korea in 2012. Recognized as a “pioneer in arbitration in Asia” by Who’s Who Legal, the arbitration team continues to lead the market.
Consistent with our cross-border disputes strategy, BKL has established a team of top litigators in Korea with extensive experience in in-bound and out-bound litigation. Our litigators are former members of the Korean judiciary, former US judicial clerks and lawyers trained in a wide range of legal systems, and they bring together the depth of experience unparalleled by our peers in and outside the courtroom that our clients regularly demand and depend on as they face new challenges in both established and frontier markets across multiple jurisdictions.
When it comes to contentious matters, our bottomline is simple—we are relentless about winning for our clients.
BKL’s Japan Practice Group consists of Japanese-speaking professionals who are experienced in a wide range of legal matters such as corporate, HR and labor, fair trade, intellectual property and tax. Its members understand Japan’s cultural nuances with their experience of living in Japan, studying at Japanese universities or working at prestigious Japanese law firms.
Capacity to advise in Japanese with cultural understanding
BKL’s attorneys, patent attorneys and accountants have acquired Japanese fluency and cultural understanding from their experience of studying at Japanese universities or training at Japanese law firms, patent firms or accounting firms. Having operated a Tokyo office for 5 years from 2002 to 2007, we have exceptional insight in how to help our clients navigate through the cultural intricacies involved with cross-border transactions.
Long-standing experience of advising Korean and Japanese companies and close cooperation with other practice groups
BKL’s Japan Practice Group seamlessly coordinates with BKL’s other practice groups to provide one-stop legal services for Japanese firms doing business in Korea or with Korean businesses. BKL’s comprehensive Korean law advice extends from inbound investment from Japan to Korea to the ongoing relationships and joint ventures between Japanese and Korean businesses, as well as a diverse range of legal matters of all other kinds, including provisional attachment and preliminary injunction for recovery of claims, civil lawsuits and compulsory enforcement, introduction of technologies, establishment, dissolution and liquidation of subsidiaries, M&A, fair trade and international tax. The Japan Practice Group also cooperates with BKL’s in-house patent firm to assist Japanese clients with preparing and filing applications for registration of intellectual property rights (such as patents and trademarks), infringement litigation and license acquisition.
The professionals in our Japan Practice Group have also been a trusted legal source for Japanese companies’ subsidiaries in Korea on matters such as general corporate, HR and labor, compliance, fair trade, tax, real property and visa applications for such subsidiaries’ resident employees.
Broad network with highly reputable Japanese law firms
The Japan Practice Group has developed close relationships with small- to large-sized Japanese law firms in order to provide quality legal services in a cost-efficient manner, especially for high-profile litigations and arbitrations that are held in Japan. Depending on the individual client’s needs, we have also acted as the control tower of local law firms in many cross-border transactions involving Japan and Korea.
The Labor and Employment Practice Group prides itself on offering commercial, practical solutions to the issues that our clients face, founded on a thorough understanding of our clients’ businesses, the regulatory framework and the practices of regulatory authorities. Serving both domestic and international clients in a broad range of labor and employment issues, the Labor and Employment Practice Group has consistently received the highest recognition within both domestic and global legal markets.
Our Professionals
BKL brings together an exceptionally qualified group of labor specialists with experience from a diverse range of backgrounds, numbering Korean and foreign-qualified lawyers, former judges, certified labor consultants, and former Ministry of Employment and Labor officials.
Our Expertise
BKL has on many occasions negotiated or litigated successful outcomes in contentious cases, representing major domestic and multinational corporations. We have also accumulated rare experience in achieving successful outcomes in the Supreme Court of Korea. Our clients appreciate BKL’s practical advice and guidance on issues such as corporate workforce restructuring, drafting and reviewing compliant employment policies, collective bargaining, union disputes, regulatory investigations and safety and health violations. BKL’s high caliber of representation and advisory work is reflected in its consistent placement as one of the top labor and employment practices by major legal publications, including Chambers and Partners.
BKL’s Latin America Task Force Team is composed of attorneys with vast experience, cultural and legal knowledge, as well as key local contacts and native fluency in Spanish and Portuguese that no other law firm in Korea can offer.
Our Latin America TFT attorneys have ample expertise stemming from a diverse range of projects in the region including construction, joint-ventures, project finance, mergers and acquisitions, dispute resolution (arbitration/litigation), and tax and other regulatory matters. In addition, our key attorneys have lived in Latin America and worked at top law firms in Brazil and Mexico, thus also being able to provide valuable and difference-making advice and important cultural insights.
We have close relationships with top law firms throughout Latin America. Moreover, BKL is a member of World Law Group (an invitation-only global network of top independent full-service law firms established in 1988), and we have collaborated with leading firms in Latin America in the past on several landmark projects.
For each project, our Latin America TFT collaborates closely with BKL’s other practice groups in order to provide high-quality and comprehensive advice to our clients in a variety of transactions in the region ranging from general corporate advice and contract review to complex investment structuring and project finance operations. Our clients include public and private companies, private equity firms and financial sponsors, investment banks, government entities, as well as other institutions and individuals.
Based on its wide experience and expertise, Bae, Kim & Lee, LLC (“BKL”) provides effective solution for all issues arising in the maritime industry.
BKL’s professionals with outstanding expertise based on profound understanding in the overall marine, air and transportation industries as well as wide experiences in closely connected fields including insurance and international trade provide proper and efficient legal services in order to exceed clients’ expectations.
BKL is one of the very few firms in Korea with strong capability to handle not only traditional maritime cases such as charterparty disputes, cargo dispute of Bill of lading disputes but also a wider range of disputes extending to major accidents involving ships, VLFSs and port facilities, taking preservative measures and dealing with criminal or coast guard’s investigation. It advises major domestic banks on ship finance, shipyards and shipping companies. It is highly recognized in the market for its success in various LMAA arbitration cases representing Korean shipowner and shipyards.
It advises trading/ordering/contracting companies and opening/negotiating/intermediary bank on trades connected to marine and air transportation and documentary credit/standby letter of credit used in large-scale projects and long-term constructions. And it also takes charge of dispute settlements.
Maritime claims usually involve litigation (arbitration) and it could become an international case with multiple interested parties involving governing law issues. In such cases, establishing prompt and appropriate strategy at the initial stage of the case is most important as many cases may be found to be subject to short-term extinctive prescription or statute of limitations. BKL has wide experiences in these kinds of international cases and dispute resolutions and provides the best service by its long-standing relationships with world’s leading international law firms in relevant areas.
BKL is a leading law firm in Korea for corporate and M&A transactions. We have represented clients in matters ranging from landmark M&A deals to investments in middle market business enterprises and startup companies. With our broad understanding of corporate transactions and extensive experience covering a range of industries and sectors, we are able to provide carefully tailored legal services and advice to each client and deliver high-quality and business-focused advice.
We have handled a wide range of transactions including mergers and acquisitions, investments, business transfers, divestures and spin-offs, and have extensive experience in all types of inbound/outbound transactions. We advise clients from the beginning of a transaction to the closing and post-closing integration of the transaction by guiding them through various issues, including regulatory matters, labor and employment matters, fair trade and tax.
We draw upon attorneys from different industry practice groups, including finance, energy, environmental, pharmaceutical, medical, IT and media, to effectively serve the clients who are situated in, or are looking to make investments in, the relevant industries. We have one of the most experienced teams of transactional lawyers among Korea’s top law firms who are geared to provide individualized services to clients and can advise and structure transactions in the most efficient and effective manner.
Our M&A Group ranks Tier 1 on Chambers & Partners, Legal 500 and Asia Legal Business and has been recognized by clients across industries for having the expertise and ability to assist the clients in complex transactions seamlessly and efficiently.
With the opening of our Dubai office in 2015, BKL became the first Korean law firm to establish a permanent presence in the Middle East, and has been providing high-quality legal advice and close assistance to Korean companies that have made their way into the Middle East and African region. In particular, BKL is committed to providing practical advice for clients against the backdrop of ever-changing local systems and circumstances and the lack of accessibility to project sites and publicly available information.
Our Middle East & Africa Practice Group has extensive experience in all aspects of corporate legal matters involving the Middle East and Africa, including cross-border M&As and construction/energy projects. As a pioneer in support of our clients in the region, we have also successfully advised clients in their entry into countries such as UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Oman and Turkey, where the local laws, systems and customs are not always familiar.
Our team includes attorneys with relevant local experience, such as a former general counsel of a subsidiary in Dubai (who managed a development project in Iraq) and a former president of the Korean Society of Islamic Law.
BKL provides specialized advice on unification and inter-Korean relations at the level of policy and legal analysis, as well as large-scale inter-Korean economic cooperation projects, joint management and joint ventures with North Korean companies, independent investment projects, inter-Korean trade, inter-Korean toll manufacturing businesses, inter-Korean tourism and cultural cooperation projects, inter-Korean cooperation insurance, and sanctions against North Korea, among others. BKL was the first law firm in Korea to form a team dedicated to North Korea matters in 2002 and our experts have developed a sensitivity to the issues over many years of advising the Korean government, domestic and international businesses. Our expert team is led by Wook Yoo, widely recognized for his expertise in North Korea matters, and Chan Ho Lee, formerly with the Ministry of Unification for over 20 years where he gained exceptional hands-on experience with inter-Korean matters.
Unification and Inter-Korean Relations
BKL advises the Korean government, public and private institutions, interest groups, and individuals on the inter-Korean relations and unification matters, spanning the Constitution, the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act, the Development of Inter-Korean Relations Act, the North Korean Human Rights Act, the North Korean Refugees Protection and Settlement Support Act, and the National Security Act. We also provide specialized research and legal advice with respect to the consolidation of inter-Korean laws in furtherance of closer inter-Korean relations.
Large-Scale Infrastructure Projects for Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation
In order to facilitate and promote large-scale infrastructure projects as part of inter-Korean economic cooperation, it is essential to ensure that both South and North Koreas implement a robust legal infrastructure, establish joint management agencies or jointly managed companies, create large special economic districts, and modernize railways and roads connecting the two Koreas. BKL has a long history of advising the Korean government and private businesses in connection with the Gaeseong Industrial Complex and tourism projects at Mount Kumgang. The new economic map of the Korean Peninsula poses new challenges, such as the creation of inter-Korean special economic districts, the formation of special tourist zones, connection of railroads and roads, and cooperation between ports, and our North Korea experts are committed to working with our clients on these unique and exciting opportunities.
Business Projects in North Korea
Inter-Korean economic cooperation projects via joint management or joint ventures with a North Korean entity, independent investment in North Korea or establishment of an entity in any form in North Korea require compliance with the laws of both Koreas. In addition, legal review is needed on the composition and operation of the board of directors, repatriation of operating profits from the North to the South, and tax issues. We provide guidance to domestic and international entities investing or planning investments in North Korea.
Private Inter-Korean Cooperation Projects
With respect to private inter-Korean cooperation projects (such as inter-Korean trades, inter-Korean toll manufacturing businesses, and inter-Korean tourism and cultural cooperation projects) based on the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act and the Inter-Korean Basic Agreement, BKL works closely with our clients throughout the entire business process from business planning to negotiations with North Korean authorities, obtaining government approval and permission, and closing of the projects.
Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation Insurance and Sanctions against North Korea
The Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund Act established the inter-Korean economic cooperation insurance system as a safety valve in inter-Korean economic cooperation. As the UN and individual countries maintain sanctions against North Korea, corporations and individuals participating in inter-Korean economic cooperation projects must examine closely whether their projects and the North Korean counterparties are subject to such sanctions. Our services encompass in-depth advice on issues relating to Inter-Korean economic cooperation insurance and sanctions against North Korea.
The regulatory and legal environment is creating more business challenges than ever, leading to profound impacts on business operations and commercial decision-making. We are uniquely placed to guide clients through these challenges and provide comprehensive services tailored to client needs, from helping them engage in the policy and law making process to offering strategic advice to shape existing laws and policies through alternative dispute resolution.
Our group includes leading practitioners with extensive experience in dispute resolution and in-depth legal knowledge across a number of different fields as well as former senior government officials from the National Assembly, government agencies and supervisory authorities, bringing deep understanding of political and regulatory landscape.
We have the capabilities and resources to help clients effectively address legal and practical challenges in the government affairs, areas of tremendous complexities and constant change. With a deep understanding of the relevant laws and regulations and the decision-making process of the National Assembly, government agencies and supervisory authorities, we provide comprehensive, strategic and reasonable solutions tailored to clients’ desired goals.
We provide a superior legal service in a wide variety of public policies and legislative matters based on the expertise and experience of our professionals. Many of our attorneys have government experience directly related to registration and administration from working in the National Assembly and the executive branch. We also have former senior government officials and other professionals who have broad policy making and administrative experience in the major government agencies and supervisory authorities including the Board of Audit and Inspection, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Fair Trade Commission and the Financial Services Commission. We bring together these professionals with government-specific knowledge and expertise in all engagements to successfully resolve sensitive matters for the clients
BKL, as the first law firm in Korea to launch a practice group integrating construction and real estate, boasts a rich pool of experts capable of advising on myriad transactions and issues. BKL’s Real Estate Practice Group offers specialized advice across the comprehensive range of real estate advisory services, as well as other integral practice areas. At the core of our real estate practice are complex domestic and global commercial real estate transactions and development projects, real estate collective investment schemes, offshore real estate investments and real estate financing.
BKL has long advised on a complete range of inbound and outbound transactions (sales and acquisitions), investments and development projects, covering commercial, residential and greenfield developments, property including offices, retail facilities, hotels/resorts, theme parks, logistics facilities, data centers and rental housing. Our professionals offer tailored, in-depth advice to clients in all areas of the real estate industry, including high-profile cross-border development projects – for example, the development of the Songdo International Business District in the Incheon Free Economic Zone (Gale Company and POSCO E&C), a new city in Bismayah, Iraq (Hanhwa E&C), and a new city in South Saad Al Abdullah, Kuwait (Korea Land and Housing Corporation).
BKL has worked extensively with REITs since the enactment of the Real Estate Investment Company Act back in 2001, and has gained unsurpassed expertise and experience advising on the establishment, operation and use of REITs. Our experience includes major public offerings of REITs beginning with Shinhan Alpha REIT in 2018 and continuing on with Lotte REIT and NH Prime REIT in 2019, and Mirae Asset Maps I REIT, Koramco Energy Plus REIT and JR Global REIT in 2020. In response to the increasing global trend toward the use of alternative investment vehicles, we offer asset management companies and securities companies comprehensive services encompassing the establishment and operation of real estate funds and REITs, the acquisition of requisite approvals and licenses and compliance with real estate and finance laws and regulations.
From 2016 through 2020, BKL has continuously ranked first with respect to our real estate/construction practices in the annual surveys for in-house counsel conducted jointly by the In-House Counsel Forum (IHCF) and the Law Times. BKL’s Real Estate Practice Group has also ranked top on a global level – notably, Asia Pacific Legal 500, Chambers & Partners, Asian Legal Business and other media with international authority. Recently, BKL won the Real Estate Deal of the Year category at the 2019 ALB Korea Law Awards for its Renaissance Hotel transaction, and the Most Innovative National Firm-South Korea category at the 2020 IFLR Asia Pacific Awards for the establishment and public offering/listing of Lotte REIT. These domestic and international recognitions are testament to BKL’s consistently client-oriented services.
BKL’s Southeast Asia Practice Group has been at the forefront of the ever deepening Korean presence in the Southeast Asian markets since the early 2000s. With lawyers and offices strategically positioned across major cities in Southeast Asia, we combine strong global networks and local expertise to provide clients with comprehensive legal services and on-the-ground support.
Our success in Southeast Asia is continually reflected in ratings media, including the Acquisition Deal of the Year at the Vietnam M&A Forum each year from 2016 to 2020 consecutively and the Best M&A Advisor at the Vietnam M&A Forum in 2019 and 2020.
Highly rated team with in-depth and extensive experience
We have a tight grasp of the local culture, business practices and languages, and the most extended legal network of any Korean firm in Southeast Asia. Our lawyers are qualified in Vietnam, Myanmar, Korea and the US, and have extensive experience over many years across a number of jurisdictions in Southeast Asia. In order to support our clients’ needs for legal services in Southeast Asia, we opened offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in 2015, and Myanmar in 2016. In addition, since 2018, we have been operating a Korea desk in association with a top tier law firm in Indonesia. We strive to navigate and build cooperative working relationships with major firms in other Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia and Laos, allowing us to provide comprehensive legal services across the entire region.
A wealth of experience in Southeast Asia
We have successfully advised on many major projects and transactions across Southeast Asia, including Hana Bank’s strategic investment in BIDV, one of the top listed banks in Vietnam, LG Display’s establishment of OLED display module production plants and investment in Vietnam, and KB Bank’s acquisition of Prasac Microfinance Institution in Cambodia.
Leveraging our lawyers in headquarters and global platform with comprehensive knowledge and resources to provide integrated legal services
We leverage the expertise of our Seoul offices and attorneys globally to provide advisory services on the different facets of the transactions, such as cross-border issues, regulatory compliance, financing, real estate and construction, competition and antitrust issues, tax structuring as well as industry-specific issues.
Our Tax Group provides our clients with comprehensive and diverse legal services ranging from tax advice on a discreet matter to representation in tax litigations, relating to different tax issues that our clients face in the course of conducting their business activities, including M&A and other corporate restructuring, investment projects, trades and transactions, asset transfers and capital transactions, and other tax issues such as inheritance planning and gift transfers.
In order to provide our clients with effective and efficient solutions to different tax issues, our Tax Group consists of a team of attorneys with extensive experience in tax law, certified tax accountants having accumulated hands-on experience at the National Tax Service and other governmental agencies, and certified public accountants with in-depth experience in providing tax advice. Our Tax Group has experience in advising clients on tax-efficient strategies and successfully representing clients in various appeals proceedings, including litigation at the Tax Tribunal. Our Tax Group also works closely with the attorneys and professionals in other practice groups to provide comprehensive solutions on general tax, international tax, and transfer pricing matters.
BKL’s Technology, Media & Telecom (TMT) Group, formed in 1988, was the first Korean law firm team to focus on telecom infrastructure, information technology and broadcast regulation. Over the past 30 years, our practice has expanded rapidly with the proliferation of laws governing information flows in Korea, making it a highly regulated jurisdiction in this regard. Throughout, BKL has been at the leading edge of Korean legal services, in every relevant area of industry, financial and data privacy regulation.
TMT Group specializes in telecom, online services and media, with focal areas including connectivity rules and data security. It also offers comprehensive regulatory advice in areas of new technology, such as mobility, blockchain, and AI. With our dedicated team of former government and industry professionals, we have unsurpassed expertise in regulatory know-how. Commonly, telecom and broadcast enterprises, as well as online and smartphone based services, must navigate significant license or registration requirements in Korea. Key agencies include the Ministry of Science and ICT, Korea Communications Commission (KCC), Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC), and Financial Services Commission (FSC). In testament to BKL’s standards, we are often consulted by the regulators themselves for policy comment and issues of first impression. BKL has guided hundreds of clients through the requisites – often including technical and organizational standards – of the regulatory process.
We serve a wide spectrum of Korean and foreign-headquartered businesses, ranging from multinationals and local market leaders – major telecoms, broadcasters, financial institutions, online/app service providers – to mid-size innovators and fast-growing startups. TMT Group delivers, and our expertise builds on, intensive regulatory and transactional advice for a large cross-section of the media, online and app-driven space in Korea.
Technology
Our technology work serves many of the most innovative device makers and service providers in the world. For regulatory advice and transactional guidance, as well as top-tier litigation support, TMT Group has represented major smartphone and wireless appliance makers, as well as developers of leading edge technology such as 5G, “connected cars,” Big Data, FinTech, blockchain, software and open source, AI and robots, virtual reality, mobility and so on. We have extensive experience assisting financial institutions and online and app service providers on issues ranging from facility and data security, to user terms and business partner contracts. In recent years, members of TMT Group have been active in crisis management as well, advising online service clients in response to major data breach incidents and investigations.
Media
BKL’s track record in broadcast media is unsurpassed. TMT Group has been advisor to a “Big 3” TV broadcast network in Korea for over 20 years, and has assisted many broadcast companies and multiple system operators, in operating within the extensive range of regulation in this sector. Inter-system conflicts (among terrestrial, cable, satellite, IPTV), including those with and among new hybrid areas including OTT services, and broadcast and retransmission constraints, frequently give rise to issues tackled by our group. In particular, with regard to new media services, we offer support to our clients in legislative process participation and complicated regulatory compliance. With a robust understanding of the business environment and commercial norms, we have also handled a large volume of transactional work in this sector, ranging from negotiation of inter-operator fees to joint ventures for news, sports, entertainment and home-shopping channels. TMT Group offers comprehensive expertise across the range of transactional tasks, including without limitation program licensing, channel distribution, advertising sale, and has assisted clients coordinate outbound broadcast-sector investments in the Asia region, including China.
Telecommunication
TMT Group is expert in every aspect of telecom regulations in Korea, having long advised all of the “Big 3” telecom infrastructure companies, together with many telecom-based service providers. We have handled a wide span of issues arising in the regulatory framework, including operating and investment restrictions, licensing hurdles and user protection rules, under the Telecommunications Business Act, Telecom Networks Act and related regulations. In addition to traditional telecom issues such as spectrum allocation and facility compliance, in recent years the focal areas of our practice have included the expansion in LTE service, 5G service, data center installation and transfer, cloud computing, subsea cable investment, and other frontier infrastructure projects. In the transactional sphere, BKL is widely recognized for its leading part in telecom sector M&A deal work over the past 20 years.
We have successfully represented and advised multinational and Korean corporate clients and financial institutions as well as individuals on high-profile cases and investigations. We build upon strengths and breadth of experience across multiple disciplines within BKL to properly address complexities of any given issue.
Our group includes a number of former prosecutors, such as a former Prosecutor General, former police officers, and other former high-ranking regulators. In recognition of ever-increasing importance of accurate and timely analysis of digital materials, we also have invested significantly in our in-house discovery capabilities with top technology and full-time discovery professionals with requisite knowledge of rapidly developing digital forensics and in-depth investigation experience. Together with our forensics experts and our other renowned practice groups, we advise in all aspect of white collar and regulatory enforcement matters from strategic consultation and advice to mitigate or avoid potential criminal matters to successful defense and remedial measures.
Our group also has extensive experience in working with foreign law firms on multijurisdictional investigations and enforcement actions by regulatory authorities in the United States and other nations.