Baker McKenzie & KL Partners Joint Venture Law Firm is turned to by domestic and international companies, with the team handling international disputes and cross-border litigation. Beomsu Kim, oversees the team, focusing on commercial arbitration and investor-state disputes. Sunyoung Kim has extensive experience in arbitration cases before the ICC, SIAC, and KCAB, as well as in ad-hoc arbitrations. David Kim covers a varied stream of matters, with experience acting in commercial disputes relating to construction, shipping, military contracts, and natural resources. Sung Woo (Sean) Lim – previous co-head of arbitration at Lee & Ko – joined the team in December 2024.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The arbitration team is small but punches above its weight. They have long experience in the Korean market and have handled many large and complex cases, including some of the most widely known cases such as the Lone Star ICSID case.’
‘Beomsu Kim is the firm's founder and leads the arbitration practice. David Kim is a partner who handles mostly construction arbitrations and is very experienced. The addition of Sunyoung Kim to the team gives the team depth and breadth, as she is an excellent advocate. ’
‘International arbitration practice team at BM & KL Partners in Seoul is made up of top-notch lawyers with superior knowledge of Korean law and international arbitration practice’
‘Sung Woo (Sean) Lim is thorough and focused in overseeing the case. He gives careful attention to all possible aspects of the dispute and demonstrated a great deal of patience and skill in communicating members of co-counsel so that the final result is whole-heartedly supported by all of the lawyers working on the case’
- ‘Sunyoung Kim is bilingual and she is licensed both in Korea and in a US jurisdiction. She is very efficient and she produces very high-quality work. She is entirely reliable. Her clients can have confidence that they are provided with the highest quality legal service in the area of international arbitration.’
Key clients
- Lotte Engineering & Construction
- LSF-KEB Holdings and others
- Mason Capital and Mason Management
- POSCO Engineering & Construction
Work highlights
Representing Dr. Shin in ICC arbitration proceedings concerning a 2012 shareholders' dispute valued at approximately USD 1.5 billion over put option exercise by a consortium of financial investors in Kyobo Life Insurance Company.
Representing Lone Star in this significant ICSID arbitration since 2012, including the recently concluded annulment hearings following the 2022 award.
Represented Dr. Chang-Jae Shin in two landmark ICC arbitrations regarding a put option dispute over a minority shareholding in Kyobo Life Insurance, one of Korea's leading life insurance companies.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
David Kim
Sean (Sungwoo) Lim
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Sunyoung Kim
Practice head
Beomsu Kim
Other key lawyers
Sunyoung Kim; David Kim; Sung Woo (Sean) Lim