DR & AJU LLC > Seoul, South Korea > Firm Profile
DR & AJU LLC Offices
8 F DONGHOON TOWER, 317 TEHERAN-RO
GANGNAM-GU
SEOUL 06151
South Korea
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DR & AJU LLC > The Legal 500 Rankings
South Korea > Antitrust and competition: local firms Tier 3
Well-versed in antitrust issues, such as the enforcement of the Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act, DR & AJU LLC is a popular choice for businesses from sectors including telecoms and healthcare. Practice head Sang Mo Koo has deep experience in investigations and litigation regarding the Fair Transactions in Franchise Business Act. Jeong Ran Lee is embedded in antitrust cases pertaining to fair trade. Ki Sung Lee and Min Jeong Kwon are further names to note.Practice head(s):
Sang Mo Koo
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘They help customers make decisions easily because they present practical and realistic prospects.’
Key clients
Korea Association of Travel Agents (KATA)
Aekyung Industrial Co., Ltd.
POSCO
LG Household & Health Care (LG H&H)
LG Electronics
POSCO Engineering & Construction (POSCO E&C)
Well Farm Co., Ltd.
Signtelecom Co., Ltd.
Work highlights
- Represented Korea Association of Travel Agents (KATA) in filing a complaint to the Korea Fair Trade Commission against International Air Transport Association (IATA).
- Represented Aekyung Industrial in an administrative lawsuit challenging the Korea Fair Trade Commission’s disposition for violating the Act on Fair Labelling and Advertising.
- Represented POSCO in a damage claim against logistic companies involved in collusion on POSCO contracts.
South Korea > Dispute resolution: local firms Tier 3
The team at DR & AJU LLC is noted for its expertise in civil disputes. Practice head Soo Hyung Kim advises on administrative procedures, and tax and criminal defense litigation, while managing partner Tae Kyung Kim handles contentious IP matters, with demonstrable experience in the construction and real estate industries. Yong Ki Cho, who specialises in criminal defense and administrative procedure litigation, is another key contact in the group.Practice head(s):
Soo Hyung Kim
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Woori Bank
Republic of Korea (Korea Railway Corporation)
Work highlights
- Advised Woori Bank in all three trials for a claim for commitment against Sambu Construction.
- Advised Korea Railway Corporation (KORAIL) on a dispute over the adjudication on expropriation for the construction of an elevated highway.
South Korea > Projects and energy: local firms Tier 3
DR & AJU LLC advises Korean sponsors, lenders, and EPC and O&M contractors on a broad range of projects, from renewable energy and LNG to mining, power generation (IPP) and infrastructure. According to one client, the team’s ‘unique approach and strengths make them an ideal choice for potential clients seeking top-notch services and unparalleled expertise’. Practice leader Mihyun Melissa Park, who is dual qualified in New York and Australia, handles energy and infrastructure project financing mandates, while foreign attorney Heejin Kim acts for Korean strategic investors on international projects. Specialising in renewable energy disputes, Sohyun Yoon is another key member of the team.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team is comprised of precise and commercially-minded lawyers.’
‘Mihyun Melissa Park is the most intelligent lawyer in the field. She always ensures a deeper understanding on the matter of the legal issue at hand.’
‘Heejin Kim shows great pro-activeness, thoroughness, insightful approaches and guidance based on extensive experience.’
‘Mihyun Melissa Park stands out for her expertise, quality of work, and attention to detail.’
‘DR & AJU LLC is truly exceptional and stands out in the industry. Their unique approach and strengths make them an ideal choice for potential clients seeking top-notch services and unparalleled expertise.’
‘Mihyun Melissa Park is the most competent lawyer in the field. Her professionalism and genuine care for the clients makes every interaction a delight. Her unwavering commitment to achieving results truly sets her apart.’
‘The team is unique in terms of its capability to deliver not only legal results, but to collaborate in all aspects of a transaction from financial to commercial negotiations.’
‘The team as a whole is highly capable of providing legal advice and guidance on both solving clients’ problems or deterring potential issues before arising.’
Key clients
LG Chem Ltd.
SK E&S Co., Ltd.
Daol Investment & Securities Co., Ltd.
Meritz Asset Management Co., Ltd.
Hi Investment & Securities Co., Ltd.
Lotte Insurance Co., Ltd.
Posco International
NH Investment & Securities Co., Ltd.
Work highlights
- Acting for the major Korean investors (Hyundai Asset Management, Kookmin Bank, Hyundai Motor Securities, Hana Financial Investment and Lotte Non-Life Insurance) as a legal and transaction adviser in relation to the restructuring of the portfolio comprising 21 solar farms with a total capacity of 97MW.
- Acting for the Korean investors (Grand Third, Grand Fourth and NH Investment & Securities) to recover the outstanding loan facilities for five photovoltaic power plants in Romania.
- Advised LG Chem on construction of its hydrogen production plant with a production capacity of 50,000 tonnes per year and 56,000 Nm3/hr in Korea.
South Korea > Tax: local firms Tier 3
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:
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.
South Korea > Intellectual property: local firms Tier 4
The IP practice group at DR & AJU LLC, which is led by Jong Sun Choi, has experience representing large companies in trademark transfer and licence negotiations cases. The team advises on personal data, trade secrets, and unfair competition matters, with strength in the IT, entertainment, and sports sectors. Jeong Eun Kim and Shin Jeong Lee are key members of the IP division, and regularly lead on the firm’s most prominent cases.Practice head(s):
Jong Sun Choi
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘DR & AJU LLC is one of the top 10 major law firms in South Korea. With professionals of various disciplines working together, DR & AJU LLC provides accurate and quick legal services.’
‘DR & AJU LLC exhibits efficient communication skills and fast comprehension of legal cases, which proves valuable in responding quickly to lawsuits.’
‘We have been working with Jong Sun Choi and Jeong Eun Kim, both of whom are partners at DR & AJU. Above all, we appreciate their flexibility and consideration in communication, as we can easily contact them at any time and quickly receive feedback by either email or phone, whichever is more convenient for us.’
Key clients
Orange Engineering Co., Ltd.
Songho Golf Design Co., Ltd.
Nikka Ltd.
Fugenbio Co., Ltd.
Extreme
Sunhae F&S Co., Ltd.
JW Household & Health Care
Work highlights
- Represented Orange Engineering and Songho Golf Design Co., Ltd. in a lawsuit seeking copyright infringement and compensation for damages against a screen golf program seller.
- Represented Nikka Ltd. in applying for an injunction and filed a civil lawsuit on the merits against a domestic company which manufactures and sells products that infringe on Client’s patent right.
- Advised Fugenbio Co., Ltd. in a patent infringement claim.
South Korea > Shipping: local firms Tier 4
DR & AJU LLC has expertise in resolving legal disputes related to bills of lading and air waybills, letter of credit transactions, traditional and international maritime accidents, and charter contracts. Practice head Sang Bong Lee continues to support domestic and international shipping clients and provide ESG-related services.Practice head(s):
Sang Bong Lee
Other key lawyers:
Woo Run Sung; Hee Kyung Jeong; Young Ho Oh
Key clients
Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Government of the Republic of Korea
Employee of Korea Water Resources Corporation
Ulsan Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries (Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries)
Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority
Daesan Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries (Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries)
Incheon Port Authority
Administrator of Busan Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries (Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries)
JF Hillebrand Korea
Namhae Chemical Corp.
HYUNDAI GLOVIS CO., Ltd.
Work highlights
- Represented the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in a case where the 150,000-ton container ship Milano Bridge contacted gantry crane 85 and the berthed container ship Seaspan Ganges before colliding with cranes 81 and 84 while entering the Busan New Port Terminal.
- Represented employees of the Korea Water Resources Corporation in a case where a ship owned by the Korea Water Resources Corporation which was carrying ten people sank at Daegok Dam in Ulsan, causing one fatality.
- Represented the Ulsan Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries in a case where a vessel sanctioned by the UN Security Council was denied entry at a Korean port.
DR & AJU LLC > Firm Profile
Established in a merger between Daeryook and AJU in 2009, DR & AJU LLC is a leading full-service law firm in South Korea. Quick to adapt to legal trends and known for its creative and practical solutions to address rapidly evolving legal needs, DR & AJU’s is recognized as one of the most innovative, responsive, and client-oriented law firms in the Korean legal industry.
The firm draws on the collective experience and expertise of over 250 Korean and foreign attorneys and 130 qualified experts and highly specialized advisors to provide effective legal and consulting services on a comprehensive range of practice areas. The firm especially shows strong performance in tax, antitrust and competition, corporate restructuring and insolvency/bankruptcy, finance, energy and infrastructure, and elections, with experienced staff and prominent practitioners leading each practice area, including new recruits, Mr Sung Hee HAN, a former commissioner of the National Tax Service with experience as the director general of the Investigation Bureau and International Tax Bureau; Mr Young Ku LEE, a former chief judge and a highly renowned attorney in the field of restructuring and insolvency.
As the first major Korean law firm to establish a subsidiary office in Washington D.C., DR & AJU also works closely with D&A Advisory, Inc., to provide timely global risk and security advisory to its clients.
Practice groups
Antitrust and competition: DR & AJU’s antitrust and competition practice Group comprises experienced lawyers and experts who have worked at the Korean Fair Trade Commission (KFTC), including the former vice chairman of the KFTC, who can provide an insider’s perspective regarding government policies. The practice group provides customized one-stop services that cover all stages of dispute resolution, including responding to on-site investigations by the KFTC, proposing the most effective risk management plan for legal violations, and litigation against complaints, but specializes in establishing precautionary processes. With a comprehensive understanding of various industries, the practice group listens to clients’ concerns and offers insightful and optimal solutions, making remarkable achievements in the meantime.
General civil disputes: DR & AJU’s civil litigation practice group provides a full range of dispute resolution services involving virtually all types of civil litigation and arbitration, striving to secure clients’ rights by making strategic decisions based on extensive field experience.
International practice: DR & AJU’s international practice group continuously expands in its role as experts in inbound and outbound international transactions to provide up-to-date and effective legal solutions.
Energy and infrastructure: DR & AJU’s energy and infrastructure practice group provides experienced and comprehensive legal advice to clients in the energy sector, such as renewable energy, gas, oilfield, mineral, and resource development, in order to satisfy the clients’ global endeavors in energy projects.
Tax: DR & AJU’s tax practice group provides a full range of tax-related legal advisory services, such as national tax, local tax, international tax, and customs, with the nation’s eminent tax experts active in various fields with many years of practical experience, encompassing competent lawyers and certified public accountants who worked at the National Tax Service, Korea Customs Service, and Tax Tribunal.
Africa practice: DR & AJU’s Africa practice group is led by a South African partner and works closely with the South African Chamber of Commerce in Korea. The group has firmly distinguished itself as the single most esteemed group of its practice in Korea. In particular, DR & AJU signed an MOU with the statutory institution Korea-Africa Foundation under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to jointly support domestic companies seeking expansion into Africa. The group advises public, private, and multinational companies and joint ventures from African countries expanding into the Korean market and from Korea into the South African and Sub-Saharan African region. Working closely with its public and private network in Africa and delegations in Korea, the group covers investment, infrastructure and energy projects, mining, disputes, project development and finance, construction, M&A, PE, technology, TMT, IP & patents, and general trade and logistics.
Shipping and aviation: DR & AJU’s renowned shipping and aviation practice group offers a full range of professional services to resolve legal disputes related to B/L and air waybills; L/C transactions; traditional maritime accidents such as ship collision, fire, and sinking; loss or damage in international transport; charter contracts; ship constructions; bankruptcy of shipping/shipbuilding companies; ship financing and port affairs; and water leisure crafts. The team comprises specialized professionals with extensive experience in their fields, including a former navigation officer, and was officially appointed the sole domestic legal advisory group for the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in 2019.
Corporate finance and restructuring : DR & AJU’s Corporate Finance and Restructuring Practice Group with expertise in M&A practice has an outstanding history of credentials of successfully restructuring Korea’s major companies from different industries, including airline, automobile, construction, and golf clubs.
Criminal defense litigation: DR & AJU’s criminal litigation practice group helps our clients with highly complex criminal defense issues, including investigations, white-collar matters, and election and government regulation-related allegations.
Notable achievements: DR & AJU spent a particularly remarkable year in 2023 after consolidating its total capacity through the successful internal integration last year with a two-fold increase in the number of its Korean lawyers and a growth rate of 21.1%, which was the highest of the top ten Korean law firms. Some of its achievements are:
- Became the first Korean major law firm to provide proxy advisory services with the launch of the AJU Research Institute of Corporate Management in 2022. As of 2023, DR & AJU advised on 1,402 matters for the shareholder meetings of 226 listed companies.
- Established the Serious Accidents Punishment Act (SAPA) Compliance Certification, which is a certification system that verifies whether a company’s safety and health management system complies with regulations and supports companies in meeting such requirements. DR & AJU has provided certification services to a total of 110 companies since the service was launched last December.
- Became the first Korean law firm to introduce and actively utilize an AI legal search and analysis solution for legal research, establishing a legal resource database that allows attorneys to quickly and efficiently find relevant documents to provide clients with quality advisory and representation services.
- Signed an MOU with Nexus AI for the joint development and operation of an AI legal consultation chatbot. DR & AJU is currently working on building a dataset of legal advisory for the development of this Large Language Model (LLM) based program to provide free legal services to the public.
- Launched the Election Law Practice Group, comprised of former presiding judges of the Election Department at Seoul Central District Court. This practice group not only provides customized legal services for various cases, such as response to investigations by the National Election Commission or legal representation in criminal investigations and trials, but it also offers devoted legal consulting for election campaign candidates.
- Established the Corporate Data Protection Center, a center dedicated to preventing industrial information leakage and ensuring the protection of corporate technology and information security. Based on its strategic partnership with the domestic patent law firm DAE-A Intellectual Property Consulting, DR & AJU also plans to implement a one-stop legal service for Patent, Trademark, and IP consulting.
- First major Korean law firm to create a metaverse youth counselling center that provides free legal support to victims of school violence via 1:1 direct message.
Lawyer Profiles
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 240+Languages
English Korean Chinese Japanese Russian Dutch AfrikaansInternational Capabilities
DR & AJU LLC has expanded its legal expertise and capabilities in global operations by working closely with Taylor Wessing LLP as it’s official associated firm since 2014. Taylor Wessing is an international law firm with over 1,100 lawyers in 29 offices across 17 jurisdictions in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Pursuant to the association agreement between the two firms, DR & AJU is licensed to use the phrase “in association with Taylor Wessing LLP.” DR & AJU and Taylor Wessing currently provide integrated legal services to their international clients. In particular, DR & AJU has provided legal services to Korean corporations together with Taylor Wessing LLP in jurisdictions in the UK, Germany, Poland, France and Dubai, where Taylor Wessing have offices. DR & AJU has also provided legal services to European and US clients together with Taylor Wessing LLP in Korea.
Additionally, DR & AJU opened its Washington office, D&A Advisory, Inc. in May 2022 to safeguard people, assets, and facilities of both multinational companies operating in the Asia-Pacific arena and Asia-based companies operating internationally. It reinforces its capability to blend international standards with Asian expectations through the close communication between its Washington headquarters and branches in Seoul and tailors its services to provide clients with expertise and cultural insight previously unavailable in South Korea, assisting clients in fulfilling their targeted security requirements and achieving their operational objectives in Asia and internationally.
D&A Advisory’s key strength lies in the collective power of its experienced consultants that provide timely and relevant advisory for a vast range of cross-country investment projects and operations and its closely-knit international network that gives coverage for the entire continuum of corporate security risk management, which is comparable to previous methods of risk management where companies assemble an assortment of providers that do not have established communication channels. D&A has been providing Crisis Management support to many Fortune 500-type companies that are operating in Asia and Europe and have also managed outsourced security programs integrating personnel, process, and technology.
Client Testimonials
CLIENT: Hong-joong LEE (Managing director)
COMPANY/FIRM: H Asset Management Co., Ltd.
TESTIMONIAL: In the first quarter of 2021, I worked with DR & AJU Kyong Kook KANG on an M&A case regarding Hyundai Heavy Industries Power Systems Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Hyundai Heavy Industries Group. Our company was in charge of the acquisition of Hyundai Heavy Industries Power Systems as the general partner of a private equity fund. We were very pleased with the content of work and advisory services. I plan to work with DR & AJU’s M&A team again for other future M&A projects, and would highly recommend Mr. KANG to anyone looking for M&A advisory.
CLIENT: Jeong-gun KIM
COMPANY/FIRM: Celebrity Golf & Resort Co., Ltd.
TESTIMONIAL: Hello. I am Kim Jeong-gun, the managing director of Celebrity Golf & Resort Co., Ltd.
In the first half of 2022, I worked with DR & AJU Wan Min LEE and Jung Dong KIM for the acquisition of Golden Bay Golf & Resort (GC) from Hanwha Group. I was very satisfied with the quality of their advisory on legal due diligence, negotiations with the seller, contract signing, etc. I look forward to working with DR & AJU again for future projects.
CLIENT: Hyun Min OH (Secretary General)
COMPANY/FIRM: Seoul Association of Social Welfare Centers
TESTIMONIAL: Young Kyu KIM provided us with advisory services on serious accidents in the last quarter of 2022.
I asked him to review the Manual for the Serious Accidents Punishment Act published by the Seoul Association of Social Welfare Centers. I was fully satisfied with the content of review opinion and advisory services provided by DR & AJU.
I would like to work with him again for another advisory projects and I would recommend Young Kyu KIM and DR & AJU to anyone in need of a law firm and lawyer for advisory in the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.
CLIENT: Yang Seon MOON
COMPANY/FIRM: Korea Land & Housing Corporation. (Legal office)
TESTIMONIAL: I worked with DR & AJU Young Kyu KIM on a Personal Information Protection Act violation case in the second quarter of 2022.
At that time, the legal office I belonged to was in charge of the defense and response process for investigations. The outcomes, including defense, advisory, etc., made by DR & AJU was very professional and sophisticated.
Mr. Kim is one of the most professional lawyers that I have worked with, thus I highly recommend him to anyone looking for a law firm or an attorney for criminal defense on the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.
CLIENT: Seong Ik KIM
COMPANY/FIRM: Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO)
TESTIMONIAL: In 2022, I worked with DR & AJU Chang Uk LEE and Young Bin LIM and received legal advisory services on industrial accidents.
I recall being impressed with the content and quality of their legal advisory.
I would highly recommend DR & AJU’s Serious Accidents Practice Group to anyone in need of legal advisory and look forward to working with the team again for future projects.
CLIENT: Ki-bae KIM
COMPANY/FIRM: Esang Networks, a KOSDAQ listed company. (CEO)
TESTIMONIAL: I worked with Byung Chang LEE on a restructuring case regarding the 2022 lease agreement for the Exhibition Hall near Suwon Station.
We received advisory on a case against KCC Co., Ltd. Both our company and our subsidiary, Suwon Messe, thought that the level of advisory work conducted by DR & AJU was very high in quality.
If there is a related project in the future, I would like to work with the relevant team of DR & AJU again. If you are looking for advice on a related project, I would like to recommend Mr. LEE.
CLIENT: Jung-Nam LEE
COMPANY/FIRM: Tradestone Co., Ltd. (CEO)
TESTIMONIAL: I worked with Byung Chang LEE of DR & AJU in the second half of 2022 to establish a corporation in the US and prepare an important exclusive agency contract with a US local corporation.
The stellar quality of advisory provided by DR & AJU resulted in the successful conclusion of the exclusive agency contract and included provisions in our company’s best interests recommended by DR & AJU.
I wish to work with DR&AJU again for future projects, and if you are looking for advice on a related project, I strongly recommend Byung Chang LEE.
Notable Cases
DR & AJU successfully represented Samsung SDS Co., Ltd. in a lawsuit against the Republic of Korea to claim full compensation for providing service. Samsung SDS Co., Ltd. obtained and completed an order for the C4I improvement project from the government-affiliated Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). However, the DAPA refused to pay about KRW 7.4 billion (approximately USD 6.1 million), which is equivalent to the liquidated damages for delay in delivery. Accordingly, Samsung SDS filed a lawsuit against the Republic of Korea to claim full compensation for its services. In this lawsuit, fierce arguments continued over who was responsible for the delay in delivery. A detailed understanding of the C4I improvement project and the relevant technologies was required to evaluate the responsibility for the delay as a wide range of high technologies was integrated in the project.
DR & AJU proved in various ways that the reason for the delay in delivery was due to the complex contents of the project and successfully persuaded the Court that the DAPA was responsible for the delay. Although the Republic of Korea appealed, DR & AJU represented Samsung SDS in the appellate trial and prevailed in court on May 25, 2022.
Spotlights
SOUTH KOREA
Established through a merger between law firms Daeryook and AJU in 2009, DR & AJU LLC is a leading full-service law firm in South Korea. Based on strong fundamentals created by the collective experience and expertise of over 250 Korean and foreign attorneys and 130 qualified experts and advisors, DR & AJU offers clients highly specialized legal advisory and representation services in a comprehensive range of practice areas.
Moreover, DR & AJU actively conducts research, seminars, and lectures on new legal issues, such as blockchain, cryptocurrency, IoT, and ESG, allowing it to quickly adapt to legal trends. As the first Korean law firm to adopt AI, DR & AJU is known for its creative and optimal solutions to address rapidly evolving legal needs and is currently recognized as one of the most innovative, responsive, and client-oriented law firms in the Korean legal industry.
Working closely with its subsidiary office in Washington D.C., D&A Advisory, Inc., DR & AJU continues to expand its local and global network to provide clients with timely services and advisory of the highest caliber.
Committed to grow and exceed expectations, DR & AJU saw a two-fold increase in the number of its Korean lawyers and a growth rate of 21.1%, which was the highest of the top ten Korean law firms.