Capital Markets
Asia-Pacific Guide 2025 : South Korea
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+82 2 772 4000About
Provided by Lee & Ko
Lee & Ko’s Capital Markets Practice Group, comprising of more than 70 dedicated professionals, provides legal services on a wide range of matters related to asset management, capital markets transactions and disputes, capital markets regulations & compliance, derivatives, initial public offering (IPO), private equity, venture capital and other special purpose investment funds and securities in both domestic and cross-border contexts.
Our clients take great comfort in the fact that our lawyers in the Group have devoted their career to the capital markets practice and with support from former in-house legal counsel and governors and officials of the capital market regulatory bodies, and that we are able to provide pragmatic yet in-depth and insightful advice which adds real value to our clients’ business. In addition, we work closely with reputable foreign law firms in various transactional and regulatory projects.
Recently, we have been advising on many cases pushing the boundaries of the Korean capital market involving enhanced compliance environment, more ESG products, various fintech products including STO and many other innovative products such as hybrid securities. Also, our practice covers highly specialized areas of regulatory compliance including IT compliance and capital markets disputes involving strengthened investor protection issues.
Chambers Review
Lee & Ko fields a highly reputed capital markets teamwithstrong capabilitiesin major debt offerings, advising on significant domestic and overseas issuances. It also covers hybrid products and derivatives workcombined withnotableexperience in structured finance. The team has strong expertise in securitisation, including asset-backed bonds and non-performing loans. It is additionally instructed on IPOs and delisting work, acting for domestic and foreign issuers' listing in Korea. Lee & Ko is known for advising on regulatory compliance mandates and derivatives regulations. Its offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City allow the team to advise Korean clients on entry into the Vietnamese market. The firm is recently very active on sustainability bond issuances.
Work Highlights
- Lee & Ko advised LG Chem on the issuance of USD1 billion 1.25% Exchangeable Bonds due 2028 and USD1 billion 1.60% Exchangeable Bonds due 2030, which are exchangeable into common shares of LG Energy Solution, a subsidiary of LG Chem.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Their team is very responsible with high service levels."
"They have in-depth knowledge and insight into the market."
"Lee & Ko's attorneys are very knowledgeable in their field of practice and the partners are very hands-on."
"Their team is very responsible with high service levels."
"They have in-depth knowledge and insight into the market."
"Lee & Ko's attorneys are very knowledgeable in their field of practice and the partners are very hands-on."
Notable Practitioners
Oh Hyun Joo is held in high esteem for her debt capital markets expertise and also advises on a range of securitisation and derivatives transactions. Her experience attracts instructions from many corporations and securities firms.
"She is a trusted legal adviser."
Kwon Jin-Hong is a well-recognised capital markets lawyer with a focus on securitisation. He is experienced at advising on a range of matters, including receivables-backed bonds and non-performing loan sales.
Cho Jun Woo is active in the equity capital markets space, regularly handling IPOs for high-profile clients from sectors including technology and real estate.
Hyun Seung-A is recognised for his debt capital markets expertise, and regularly advises government-affiliated entities, corporates and major Korean banks on debt issuances. He is particularly active in fixed-rate bond and floating-rate note issuances of late.
"A very strong attorney."
Ranked Lawyers at
Lee & Ko
South Korea
Members
Provided by Lee & Ko
Je Won Lee
Jun Woo Cho
Sangmin Kim
Seung Hoon Choi
Sun Young Yang
Wonkyu Han