Kim & Chang’s market leading team has ‘very strong knowledge and expertise across the full range of tax and customs matters’, with unparalleled experience in both transactions and litigation. Jointly led by Woo Hyun Baik and Byung-Moon Jung, the team advises on international corporate tax planning, M&A, financial derivatives, and contract negotiations. Certified public accountant Tae-Yeon Nam focuses on international taxation, in addition to representing clients in tax audits and disputes, while Hae Ma Joong Kim advises on contentious mergers and shareholder issues. Former judge Sang Woo Lee regularly represents clients before the National Tax Tribunal.
Tax: local firms in South Korea
Kim & Chang
Practice head(s):
Woo Hyun Baik; Byung-Moon Jung
Other key lawyers:
Tae-Yeon Nam; Hae Ma Joong Kim; Sang Woo Lee
Testimonials
‘The team at Kim & Chang has very strong knowledge and expertise across the full range of tax and customs matters. Top-notch talent.’
‘The team has excellent problem-solving skills.’
‘K&C is the premier law firm. K&C is able provide guidance related to tax issues that are unique to our industry.’
‘The team and Kim & Chang have an exceptional depth and breadth of expertise.’
Key clients
Goldman Sachs
LG Electronics Inc.
Citibank
CJ
Morgan Stanley
Hyundai Motor Company
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Oracle Korea
SK Hynix
National Oilwell Varco
Work highlights
- Advised Ford Motor Company on tax structuring of $13.2 billion joint venture with SK Innovation.
- Advised Hahn & Company in its sale of Hahn & Co. Cement Holdings, the largest shareholder of Ssangyong C&E, through a first-ever continuation fund established in Korea.
Lee & Ko
With demonstrable expertise in contentious tax appeals and litigation, Lee & Ko’s market leading team represents major Korean retailers and companies, providing the full range of advisory and consulting service, and handling inbound and outbound investments and transactions. Ok Hyun Ma leads the team alongside Tom Kwon, with the latter advising on international tax planning, domestic and cross-border acquisition structuring, and a wide range of cross-border transactions. Litigation and disputes specialist Byeong Jun Son handles corporate income tax and value-added tax matters, while esteemed litigator Sung Hyun Ryu regularly presents cases to national tax appeal tribunals. Kyung Tae Kim is also recommended.
Practice head(s):
Ok Hyun Ma; Tom Kwon
Other key lawyers:
Byeong Jun Son; Sung Hyun Ryu; Kyung Tae Kim
Testimonials
‘Lee & Ko have superior market leading abilities.’
‘Kyung Tae Kim has deep tax expertise and provides excellent customer service skill.’
‘The team is very professional in their field.’
Key clients
LG Household & Health Care
Korea Land & Housing Corporation
Korea Racing Authority
Intergraph Korea
Lotte Shopping Co. Ltd., Lotte Hi-Mart, Lotte Datviet Home Shopping Co., Ltd., AK Plaza Department Store
Saint Gobain Korea
Korea Ocean Business Corporation
OK Savings Bank and six other savings banks
Daishin Securities Company and other 11 Securities Companies
IGIS Asset Management
RPX Corporation
Hotel Lotte Co., Ltd. and 7 other companies engaged in duty free business
Hanwha Resort
Work highlights
- Representing Korea Land & Housing Corporation on appeal for refund of corporate income tax and VAT in the amount of USD 500 million.
- Representing RPX Corporation, a defensive patent aggregation service provider, for refund of USD 40 million in withholding taxes in relation to membership agreements and patent contribution agreements with Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and SK Hynix.
- Represented Intergraph Korea in appeal regarding the appropriate tax characterisation of consideration for use of industrial software.
Yulchon
Yulchon’s team regularly advises major Korean and multinational clients in high-stakes tax disputes and litigation. Managing partner Seok Hoon Kang and Dong Soo Kim jointly lead the practice, and Kyu Dong Kim focuses on international tax matters, in addition to the tax elements of cross-border M&As. In a stand out case, Yun Heui Cho and Ki Seon Shin led a team which represented Samsung SDS on the largest royalty withholding tax case in Korean history, seeking the appeal of a corporate tax assessment of $114m. On the advisory side of the practice, US certified accountant Tae Hyoung Kim advises on tax due diligence and risk assessments, while providing support on tax audits and appeals.
Practice head(s):
Seok Hoon Kang; Dong Soo Kim
Other key lawyers:
Yun Heui Cho; Ki Seon Shin; Tae Hyoung Kim
Testimonials
‘Yulchon’s tax team boasts deep professional knowledge and collaboration with other practice areas, always achieving great results.’
Key clients
Amazon
Microsoft
Qualcomm
Corning
Cadence Design Systems
Koch Industry Group
PTC
Airbnb
Netflix
Agoda
Shutterstock
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Goldman Sachs
TPG capital
Macquarie
Morgan Stanley
L’Oréal International
UPS
Meritz Alternative Investment Management
Hyundai Asset Management
Mirae Asset Global Investments
Coupang
British American Tobacco
Samsung Electronics
SK Hynix
LG Energy Solutions
Lotte Group
IGIS Asset Management
KTB Investment & Securities
Prudential
Kayak (Hotels Combined)
Société Générale
JP Morgan Chase Bank
Mastern Investment Management
ARA Korea Asset Management
Trescal
Agilent
Certa Insurance Partners
Work highlights
- Successfully represented Samsung SDS in a lawsuit seeking cancellation of a KRW 149 billion corporate income tax assessment.
- Successfully represented Renesas Electronics in a Tax Tribunal appeal and re-audit of a transfer pricing related tax assessment and obtained a 90% tax refund.
- Assisted Japan Korea Joint Smelting Co., Ltd. in tax efficient restructuring of a USD 800 million JV.
Bae, Kim & Lee LLC
With demonstrable experience in tax tribunal appeals and litigation, Bae, Kim & Lee LLC’s team handles tax and legislative advisory work, particularly on overseas alternative investments. Dong Hyun Kim heads the practice and former judge Il Young Cho boasts considerable experience in tax-related administrative and criminal litigation. Senior foreign attorney Maria Chang advises foreign clients across structuring, tax planning, and cross-border transactions, and Seog Kyoo Kang is another key contact in the group.
Practice head(s):
Dong Hyun Kim
Other key lawyers:
Il Young Cho; Maria Chang; Seog Kyoo Kang
Testimonials
‘The BKL tax team was very effective and efficient. They grasped our case very quickly and approached the authorities and decision makers with diagrams.’
Key clients
ABB AS
Ardian
Celltrion
Hyundai Mobis
Industrial Bank of Korea
KB Kookmin Bank
KEB Hana Bank
Korea Exchange
SK hynix
Standard Chartered
Work highlights
- Represented about 10 large domestic companies (Samsung, Hyundai, LG, GS, Hanwha affiliates) in their disputes over the converted tax method of local income tax and resulting economic losses.
- Represented Celltrion Pharm in a lawsuit filed against the tax authority to cancel the corporate tax in regard to the merger with Hanseo Pharm.
- Represented ABB AS in a tax litigation concerning the cancellation of value-added tax on the part of the service provided to the Korean shipyard by ABB AS dispatching engineers to a place of business in Korea.
Shin & Kim
Shin & Kim’s ‘highly reputable’ full-service tax practice has ‘extensive international experience’, advising on a wide range of tax consulting mandates, cross-border transactions, and business planning and modelling strategies. Team head Je Heum Baik is highly experienced in contentious tax work, handling corporate tax litigation and tribunals for major domestic and international financial clients. Hyeon-Jin Kim leads the advisory and investigatory side of the practice, while international tax attorney Sun Young (Sunny) Kim handles financial and strategic, and inbound and outbound transactions for major international clients.
Practice head(s):
Je-Heum Baik
Other key lawyers:
Hyeon-Jin Kim; Sun Young (Sunny) Kim
Testimonials
‘Shin & Kim LLC is a highly reputable law firm that possesses expertise and experienced professionals in legal and business matters, such as taxation and corporate accounting.’
‘Hyeon-Jin Kim is a trustworthy legal professional, with expertise spanning law, fair trade practices, capital market regulations, and tax and accounting.’
‘Shin & Kim’s attorneys possess a global perspective, with extensive international experience and education. Secondly, they demonstrate a remarkable ability to adapt swiftly to the evolving business landscape and actively deliver the most modern and efficient solutions to clients.’
‘The attorneys at Shin & Kim bring unique expertise and a global perspective, delivering exceptional results and displaying excellent collaboration and customer-centric attitudes.’
‘Hyeon-Jin Kim instils confidence in clients through this profound expertise and clear communication. His outstanding capabilities and team-oriented approach significantly contribute to Shin & Kim’s success.’
‘The team members possess a high level of expertise in tax laws and regulations, enabling them to provide accurate and comprehensive services to us. This expertise and experience instils confidence in us, as we receive trustworthy advice and tailored tax optimisation strategies.’
‘Hyeon-Jin Kim instils confidence in clients through his profound expertise and clear communication. His outstanding capabilities and team-oriented approach significantly contribute to Shin & Kim’s success.’
‘The practice stands out for its unique combination of specialised expertise, customer-centricity, and innovative approaches.’
Key clients
Samsung Biologics
Oracle Korea
SD Biosensor
Kyobo Life Insurance
Chubb Limited
KCC Corporation
GE Capital
Landing Entertainment Korea
AIG
Woori Bank
KT&G Corporation
IGIS Asset Management
LaSalle Investment Management
SK E&S
Kendall Square Asset Management
Paju Energy Service
Kangwon Land
InvestigationSubway International B.V.
Joongang Holdings
SK Energy
DR & AJU LLC
The tax practice at DR & AJU LLC handles local, international and customs tax matters, with additional experience in criminal investigations and litigation. Former judge Kyu Chul Lee leads the team, which recently expanded with the arrival of Sung Hee Han in January 2023, former commissioner of the National Tax Service. Shin Hee Kim specialises in corporate, inheritance, and gift tax litigation, and Heon Goo Kang is another key contact in the group.
Practice head(s):
Kyu Chul Lee
Other key lawyers:
Sung Hee Han; Shin Hee Kim; Heon Goo Kang
Key clients
Ki Jin Jeong
Head of Yeongdeungpo District Tax Office
Head of Mapo District Tax Office
Work highlights
- Represented a group of individuals and corporations who paid the comprehensive real estate tax in a class action seeking the revocation of the imposition of comprehensive real estate tax by claiming the unconstitutionality of the Comprehensive Real Estate Holding Tax Act.
- Represented an individual in a case where the tax authority imposed the tax two weeks before the expiration of the imposition limitation period whereas Client already transferred real estate in 2013 and reported and paid transfer income tax that same year.
- Represented the head of tax authority in a case where client imposed VAT on the interest income that KB Financial Group Inc. received from its subsidiary.
Yoon & Yang LLC
Yoon & Yang LLC’s tax practice handles a broad range of matters, including compliance, audits and international taxation, in addition to litigation and disputes. Experienced litigator Jae Woong Jeong leads the team and Wankyu Jeon litigates general administrative matters. Jung Yeol Lee’s practice focuses on customs disputes and advisory work, while associate Young Woong Park focuses on cross-border M&A, and overseas tax planning and strategy mandates.
Practice head(s):
Jae Woong Jeong
Other key lawyers:
Wankyu Jeon; Jung Yeol Lee; Young Woong Park
Key clients
Hyundai Motors Company Group
Hyundai Motors Company
Hyundai Rotem Company
POSCO Holdings
Samsung Life Insurance
Rolex Korea Limited
Korea Railroad
Korea Real Estate Investment & Trust
Hydis Technologies Co., Ltd.
Hanhwa Solution Corp
Work highlights
- Advised the plaintiff in a USD 1.4 million tax (administrative) litigation case to set aside a disposition imposing corporate tax on transfer pricing transactions.