Joonki Yi is a distinguished legal professional who began his career with BKL in 1996, after completing his military service as a judge advocate and graduating from Seoul National University School of Law. Currently serving as the head of BKL's Corporate Practice Group, Mr. Yi is renowned for his expertise in Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A). He has played a pivotal role in several groundbreaking transactions, including the high-profile Samsung Group and Hanwha Group defense and petrochemical sector deal, the acquisition of Kumho Tires by China's Qingdao Doublestar, the purchase of Spanish water treatment company Inima by GS Engineering & Construction, and the restructuring of Korea Electric Power Corp in the power sector. With 28 years of dedicated service, Mr. Yi has been instrumental in driving BKL's growth and has earned a stellar reputation within the firm.
In conjunction with the appointment of the new managing partner, BKL has also appointed Seongsoo Kim as Chief Financial Officer and Hyun Beom as Chief Operating Officer, forming the new executive management team that will lead the firm into the year 2024. Mr. Kim, who joined BKL in 2017, brings 19 years of judicial experience and is currently the head of BKL's Labor & Employment Practice Group. Mr. Beom, who began his career at BKL in 2001, is recognized as an expert in the fields of construction and real estate. He holds a degree from Korea University School of Law.
With approximately 800 professionals, BKL is a full-service law firm and holds the second position in Korea's legal industry rankings, with a gross revenue of approximately KRW 395 billion (Approx. USD 312 million) in 2022. The firm has consistently featured in The Global 200 list published by ALM, which ranks the world's largest law firms. In 2022, BKL was ranked 173rd globally in terms of gross revenue. In addition to its headquarters in Seoul, BKL operates offices in eight cities across five countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Yangon, and Jakarta (Korea Desk).
The firm anticipates significant growth through enhanced synergy between its overseas offices and the Seoul headquarters, with a particular focus on the Singapore office, where the majority of clients are Asia-Pacific headquartered multinational corporations based in Singapore.