The Legal 500

Editorial sections

Other

All countries

Other countries

Recently viewed firm rankings

The Legal 500 The Legal 500
The Legal 500 The Legal 500

Recently viewed firm profiles

" was created by a merger between Yoon & Yang and Kim Shin & Yu. Yoon & Yang itself had been created through a merger between Yoon & Partners and Roh and Yang. Yoon & Partners was a leading Korean law firm founded in 1989 with a strong antitrust, corporate, intellectual p..." read more
" Cho & Partners was established in 2002 by two senior attorneys who decided to leave a large firm environment to create a more focused, efficient and responsive practice. Based on the reputation and capabilities of the founding members, as well as the established trust and loyalty of their clien..." read more

Recently viewed lawyer profiles

Overview

South Korea has relatively few lawyers considering the size of its economy, with only a few outstanding practitioners possessing significant cross-border expertise and the strong language skills to advise foreign clients.

Foreign firms are currently not allowed to operate in South Korea, and many American and English firms tend to staff Korean engagements from Hong Kong, Tokyo or Singapore. Foreign firms are also prohibited from merging with a domestic player and from opening offices in the jurisdiction. The US-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed in June 2007 is still pending ratification by both countries but, if approved, would allow US law firms to open branches in Seoul with their lawyers being allowed to practise US law as foreign legal consultants. Foreign law firms will also be able to undertake joint projects with Korean lawyers and law firms two years after the FTA comes into effect, and after five years will be able to enter into joint ventures. The European Union is in negotiation with Korea over a similar treaty.

Leading Korean firms are preparing to face stronger competition in the next few years as a result of the opening of the market. However, domestic firms that specialise in areas such as litigation, intellectual property and shipping do not regard international competitors as a threat, because foreign firms will not be able to offer Korean law expertise.

Kim & Chang outweighs other Korean firms, both in terms of number of lawyers and reputation. It fields over 420 practitioners, and it is widely regarded as a ‘leader in the market’, excelling across practice areas and industries. Its closest competitors are Bae, Kim & Lee LLC, Lee & Ko, Shin & Kim and the increasingly successful firm Yulchon, which boasts strong expertise in real estate, dispute resolution, M&A, antitrust and capital markets. Also, Jisung Horizon Attorneys at Law is the noteworthy product of a September 2008 merger between Horizon Law Group and Jisung Law Offices.

Press releases

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to

Legal Developments worldwide

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to
  • Labour & Employment

    1 What are the main statutes and regulations relating to employment? The main statutes relating to employment are the Portuguese Employment Code (approved by Law 7/2009 of 12 February 2009) and the Regulation of the Employment Code (Law 35/2004 of 29 July 2004) which is still in force notwithstanding the fact that parts have been revoked with the entry into force of the new Employment Code. Within the Employment Code, the vast majority of the rules are mandatory and, therefore, can only be modified by agreement of the parties and only if such amendment is intended to improve the position or rights of the employees.
    - F. Castelo Branco & Associados
  • Real Estate/ Property/ Infrastructure

    Norms for highway projects pact changed
    - Seth Dua & Associates
  • Projects, Energy & Natural Resources

    Power
    - Seth Dua & Associates
  • Litigation and Dispute Resolution

    Case Laws
    - Seth Dua & Associates
  • Intellectual Property Rights

    Amendments in Information Technology Act, 2000 The Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008 has come into force from October 27, 2009. Some key amendments in the Information Technology Act, 2000 (“IT Act”) are highlighted below:
    - Seth Dua & Associates
  • Cross Border Investments & Transactions

     
    - Seth Dua & Associates
  • Capital Markets/ Securities

    Amendments in (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 1997
    - Seth Dua & Associates
  • Trade Laws and WTO Matters

    Certain important and recent legal developments in this area are set out below.
    - Seth Dua & Associates
  • Taxation – Direct Taxes

    Income-tax (Dispute Resolution Panel) Rules, 2009
    - Seth Dua & Associates
  • Indirect Taxes

    Goods and Service Tax
    - Seth Dua & Associates

Press releases

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to
  • KF Fastigheter develops the trade area Mobilia in Lund

    KF Fastigheter has acquired parts of the trade area Mobilia in Lund, and will together with Arne Paulssons Byggnads AB develop the area, including i.a. a Coop supermarket. KF Fastigheter has in connection herewith sold a larger property in central Lund to Paulssons. Mannheimer Swartling advised KF Fastigheter.
    Mannheimer Swartling
  • Kaul and Capol sold to Riverside

    Mannheimer Swartling has advised the owners in the sale of Kaul GmbH and UK-affiliate, Capol UK Ltd., to The Riverside Company.
    Mannheimer Swartling
  • Proventus establishes vehicle for investments in corporate loans and bonds

    Mannheimer Swartling has advised Proventus in connection with the establishment of Proventus Capital Partners – a co-investment vehicle focusing on corporate loans and corporate bonds. The investment strategy for this vehicle also allows direct loans to companies and the ambition is to contribute with financing to mid-sized companies in need of capital for growth or restructuring when these companies are unable to secure traditional bank financing.
    Mannheimer Swartling
  • Protego Real Estate Investors selling Swedish retail properties

    Protego Real Estate Investors has been advised by Mannheimer Swartling on the sale of twelve retail properties situated throughout Sweden for a total value of approximately SEK 210 million.
    Mannheimer Swartling
  • Teracom divests its broadband business

    Mannheimer Swartling has advised the Teracom Group in the divestiture of its subsidiary Comet Networks to CSIT. Comet Networks operates the Group's broadband business, currently reaching more than 650,000 households and 80,000 businesses in approximately 50 municipalities in Sweden.
    Mannheimer Swartling
  • Södra Timber acquires Trivselhus

    Mannheimer Swartling has advised Södra Timber in connection with its acquisition of Ittur Prefab Industrier AB, the parent company of the Trivselhus Group, one of Sweden’s leading producers of prefabricated homes. Closing is expected to take place on 1 October 2009. The transaction is subject to inter alia competition clearance.
    Mannheimer Swartling
  • Varian Medical Systems selected for new proton therapy centre

    Mannheimer Swartling has assisted Varian Medical Systems in entering into agreements for delivery of a proton therapy system to Skandionkliniken. The agreements include supply of an estimated USD 60 million in products. Varian Medical Systems will also have a five year service agreement valued at approximately USD 25 million. Skandionkliniken is the first clinical centre for proton therapy in Scandinavia and will have a capacity of treating 1,000 – 2,500 cancer patients per year. Varian Medical Systems is the world’s leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer.
    Mannheimer Swartling
  • Wallhamn, Sweden’s largest private port, gains approvals for expansion

    Mannheimer Swartling has advised Wallhamn AB on matters related to gaining approval for expansion of the port’s fairway to facilitate access for larger cargo ships. The port, owned by the Italian-based Grimaldi Group, is used for RoRo cargo, mainly in relation to the import and export of vehicles. The matter involved negotiations and permitting approval from, among others, the Swedish Transport Agency as well as other authorities and concerned parties. The firm recently also advised the Grimaldi Group on its acquisition of 50 per cent of port Wallhamn from EUKOR Car Carriers Inc, making the Grimaldi Group the sole owner of port Wallhamn.
    Mannheimer Swartling
  • Stena Bulk in joint venture with Asahi Tankers

    Mannheimer Swartling has advised Stena Bulk AB in its new joint venture with Japanese shipping company Asahi Tankers. The joint venture company, Asahi Stena Tankers, will be owned 50/50 by the parties and will invest in tonnage of varying sizes, initially focusing on Suezmax tankers for global transportation of crude oil.
    Mannheimer Swartling
  • Skandia Liv signs asset management agreement with DnB NOR

    Mannheimer Swartling has advised Skandia Liv on an agreement with DnB NOR to manage a portfolio of assets valued at approximately SEK 80 billion. The agreement replaces a previous asset management agreement between the parties and covers DnB NOR’s continued management of a portfolio of Swedish shares and interest and includes a number of special mandates, amongst others in tactical allocation and advice on “socially responsible investing.”
    Mannheimer Swartling