Capital Markets
Asia-Pacific Guide 2024 : 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 team with strong capabilities in major debt offerings, advising on significant domestic and overseas issuances. It also covers hybrid products and derivatives work combined with notable experience 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. BNP Paribas, KB Kookmin Bank and Export-Import Bank of Korea are among its roster of clients.
Work Highlights
- Lee & Ko represented KB Kookmin Bank in its issuance of IDR equivalent of up to USD240 million social bonds due 2025.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Lee & Ko has abundant experience in underwriting various kinds of bonds and commercial paper. When we face new issues, the firm helps us creatively."
"Lee & Ko tries hard to evaluate risk levels in the options and it helps us to choose the optimal solutions."
"The Lee & Ko team is very diligent, and can provide solutions to the clients and navigate them through complicated legal issues."
"Lee & Ko has abundant experience in underwriting various kinds of bonds and commercial paper. When we face new issues, the firm helps us creatively."
"Lee & Ko tries hard to evaluate risk levels in the options and it helps us to choose the optimal solutions."
"The Lee & Ko team is very diligent, and can provide solutions to the clients and navigate them through complicated legal issues."
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.
"Hyunjoo Oh has always been the go-to person for any Korean capital markets transactions. She has excellent client-networking capabilities as well."
"Ms Oh has the insight, knowledge and experience to resolve issues for the clients in a variety of matters efficiently and effectively. She has been excellent to work with and I would not hesitate to work with her again."
"Hyunjoo has a very strong market share. She is very client-oriented and nice to work with."
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.
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.
"He has great in-depth expertise and is a hard-working 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