Leading Individuals

Shipping: foreign firms in South Korea

Stephenson Harwood

Stephenson Harwood  is sought after for its special expertise in shipbuilding, and the team frequently advises clients such as Korean global corporates, international banks, and shipping and shipbuilding trading companies in this sphere. Practice head Michael Kim has extensive experience in ship finance and offshore mandates, as well as in general commercial litigation with a nexus to the industry. The group also includes Stuart Burrell, who acts for clients such as shipowners and shipbuilders in multi-jurisdictional litigation and international arbitration, and Stuart Beadnall, who is a shipping and energy specialist with particular expertise in contract negotiation. Sean Gibbons, who is regularly instructed to defend fraudulent cargo claims made against shipowners, and shipping and offshore financing specialist Gregg Johnston are also key contacts.

Practice head(s):

Michael Kim


Other key lawyers:

Stuart Burrell; Stuart Beadnall; Sean Gibbons; Gregg Johnston


Testimonials

‘Stephenson Harwood are well known to Korean clients for their shipping and shipbuilding practice. They have extensive experience and expertise in the industry, and they also know the Korean market well. Among the foreign law firms that have opened their offices in Korea, Stephenson Harwood are known to be one of the most successful offices.’

‘They have good knowledge of the industry, market, and law. They are well-armed with legal principles, but they always provide practical and prompt solutions.’

‘Their connection with local offices is very concrete and cooperation between the lawyers is well performed without delay. Their speedy replies to answers and good understanding of local culture and good cooperation with local lawyers reassure a client.’

‘Michael Kim deals with any dispute with the client’s best interest at heart.’

‘The key partner we have been working with is Michael Kim – he thoroughly knows the shipping industry as well as the Korean market, and based on his experience and expertise, he understands the clients’ needs well and provides effective and practical solutions. He is always ready and willing to assist and satisfy clients’ needs, which can be urgent at times.’

‘Michael Kim is a very trustworthy lawyer who has sufficient experience for various matters. He knows practices very well and is a creative lawyer who can present a reasonable solution.’

Key clients

Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd


Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering


Korea Line Corporation


Hanwha General Insurance Co Ltd


The Import-Export Bank of Korea


KB Insurance Co., Ltd


Chevron International Pte Ltd


The Standard Club


HJ Shipbuilding & Construction Co., Ltd


Hyundai Merchant Marine


Pan Ocean Co., Ltd


Sungdong Shipbuilding


Daehan Shipbuilding Co., Ltd


Sinokor Merchant Marine Co.,Ltd


Japan P&I Club


SPP Shipbuilding Co., Ltd


Eukor Car Carriers. Inc


Macon Charter B.V.


SK Shipping Co., Ltd.


H-Line Shipping Co.,Ltd.


DB Insurance Co., Ltd


Feen Marine Scrubbers Inc.


HHIC-PHIL KOREA


Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Co., Ltd


KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH


Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.


SC Engineering Co., Ltd.


Seil Textile Co., Ltd.


You Chang Trading Corp


MULTI ASSET GLOBAL INVESTMENTS CO.,LTD.


LATTICE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


WILLIAM FRY


NOVEL GROUP OÜ


BHI CO., LTD


Work highlights


  • Assisted Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank with the senior secured financing of five very large ore carriers for Polaris Shipping.
  • Advising Société Générale on the financing of an LNG Bunkering Vessel.

Reed Smith LLP

Reed Smith LLP fields a broad shipping practice, and regularly handles a wealth of matters relating to casualty and admiralty, dry shipping, ship finance, and international arbitration. Practice head Alex Andrews has a ‘very deep understanding of the shipping business‘, with a specialist focus on shipbuilding, infrastructure and offshore disputes, and frequently receives instruction from shipbrokers and ship managers. The team also includes Marjorie Holmes, who is a competition expert in a range of sectors including marine, and Alexander Sandiforth, who specialises in related commercial litigation and dispute resolution.

Practice head(s):

Alex Andrews


Other key lawyers:

Marjorie Holmes; Alexander Sandiforth


Testimonials

‘I have strong trust in Reed Smith’s ability to provide the required legal assistance. Their depth and breadth of experience is incomparable with other firms. As a full-service law firm, they can provide top class legal advice on not only traditional shipping issues but all issues arising in relation to the shipping and trade business.’

‘Reed Smith is the first pick law firm for shipping matters and maritime law issues where the governing law is English law. We have acted in lots of cases such as collision, grounding, charterparty and bill of lading with Reed Smith and received valuable legal advice on the English law.’

‘Reed Smith offers their clients a timely, extensive and comprehensive legal service based on years of experience and expertise, and they have earned a strong reputation for contentious and non-contentious maritime matters. They are recognised as a specialist advisor.’

Watson Farley & Williams LLP

Watson Farley & Williams LLP fields a ‘highly specialised’ shipping practice, with particular expertise in restructurings involving shipping companies, and shipping disputes. The practice is co-headed by Ricky Kim, who oversees the assets and structured finance side, and Philip Do Youn Kim who is in charge of dispute resolution. The team also includes Madeline Leong, who is highly knowledgeable in finance matters relating to the maritime sector, and Christoforos Bisbikos, another ship finance specialist with experience in  a wide range of shipping projects, such as acquisitions of fleets and joint ventures in the maritime space.

Practice head(s):

Ricky Kim; Philip Do Youn Kim


Other key lawyers:

Madeline Leong; Christoforos Bisbikos


Testimonials

‘Watson Farley & Williams LLP has a strong presence in shipping finance in multiple maritime centers in Asia, such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and Seoul. The people are all more experienced than other firms and highly specialised, which leads to high efficiency in deal executions and in general communication with industry players.’

‘Madeline Leong, Christoforos Bisbikos and Ricky Kim are all outstanding lawyers with many years experience in shipping. They are great listeners, have wide networks on both the finance and client side, and are very responsive in addressing queries or comments.’

Key clients

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Singapore Branch


Korea Development Bank


Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank


Work highlights


  • Advised Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation on the financing of a 174,000 cubic metre newbuild LNG carrier.
  • Advised The Korea Development Bank, Seoul Branch, on the refinancing of two large gas carriers.
  • Advised Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank on the financing of two newbuild LPG carriers for SK Shipping.