Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton’s corporate and M&A practice boasts extensive expertise in both buy-side and sell-side transactions, excelling in high-end, complex cross-border matters across diverse sectors. Its work encompasses advising Korean corporate and private equity buyers on outbound deals, assisting global and regional private equity and corporate buyers on inbound investments, and supporting Korean and international clients in the sale of businesses and portfolio companies. Key individuals include the head of the team, Sang Jin Han, recognised for his strength in corporate and private equity M&A, particularly in cross-border transactions. Ji-Won Lim is noted for her deep experience in private and public M&A and corporate governance. Jae Sung Kim brings extensive M&A transaction expertise, while Ki Won Ahn specialises in corporate and financial transactions.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Sang Jin Han is an extremely attentive and hard-working M&A lawyer with 20 + years of experience. His team is quick in response. They are willing to take the leading role in coordination efforts across the border, from tax and structuring to accounting and hands-on approach in fact-finding, analysing and devising solutions.’
‘Sang Jin Han is one of the landmark figures in the Korean M&A market. His associate Ki Won Ahn is growing rapidly and has become a reliable lawyer.’
Key clients
- Blackstone Group
- CBC Group, Mubadala, GS Holdings and IMM Investments
- CJ Group companies
- GIC Private Equity
- Hahn & Company and its portfolio companies
- Hanwha Group companies
- MBK Partners and its portfolio companies
- Naver Corporation
- Palantir Technologies Inc.
- POSCO Group companies
- Samsung Group companies
- Sequoia Capital
Work highlights
Represented POSCO Future M (formerly POSCO Chemical) in connection with the second phase expansion of its Ultium CAM joint venture with General Motors. Cleary represented POSCO in the formation of the Ultium CAM joint venture in July 2022. This was an approximately $1 billion investment to increase the joint venture’s production capacity of cathode active material (CAM) and integrate precursor materials production in Quebec, Canada.
Represented a consortium of MBK Partners and UCK Partners from a US law perspective in connection with the consortium’s tender offer to purchase all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Osstem Implant Co. Ltd. and acquisition of the Osstem founder’s shares in Osstem and its Korean and U.S. subsidiaries.
Representing Hahn & Company in the definitive merger agreement with Cynosure and its sponsor-owner Clayton Dubilier & Rice for a strategic combination of Cynosure and Lutronic Corporation, a Hahn & Co. portfolio company – this strategic combination will create a global leader in medical aesthetic systems with a commercial presence in over 130 countries.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Sang Jin Han
Other key lawyers
Ji-won Lim; Jae Sung Kim; Ki Won Ahn