DR & AJU LLC > Seoul, South Korea > Firm Profile

International 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.