About

Provided by Shin & Kim

Our Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group has extensive experience assisting domestic and foreign companies, strategic investors and, more recently, start-ups and unicorn companies on all types of mergers and acquisitions.

The Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group provides tailored advice for each individual transaction in consideration of the clients’ end-goals, utilizing our deep understanding of the relevant laws and market practice in Korea. Its expertise covers matters such as management right transfer transactions, minority interest/mezzanine investments and solicitation, mergers and splits, share exchanges and business transfers. It also utilizes the full-service nature of Shin & Kim by drawing on expertise from other groups to provide solutions to various issues that may arise in the course of an M&A process.

The Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group is consistently ranked the highest in the industry and recognized for providing timely and sophisticated legal advice each step of the way, from reviewing transaction structures, conducting legal due diligence and negotiations to obtaining M&A related licenses, approvals and permits.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers
Corporate/M&A - South Korea
1
Band 1
What the team is known for

Shin & Kim's robust corporate team routinely assists clients with a wide variety of corporate activities, including cross-border mergers and acquisitions, investments, joint ventures, restructuring and private equity deals. It is also well placed to handle spin-off matters. The team acts as counsel on large multi-jurisdictional transactions and specialises in advising Korean clients looking to make outbound investments. It serves clients in a variety of sectors including finance, manufacturing and technology. Key clients include Chubb Limited, Mando Corporation and CJ Group.

Work Highlights

Provided by Shin & Kim
  • Shin & Kim advised SD Biosensor on its acquisition of shares in Meridian Bioscience, an Ohio company listed on NASDAQ, by way of a reverse triangular merger.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers
Jae Young Chang
1
Jae Young Chang
Head of Corporate/M&A
1
Band 1

Chang Jae Young moves into the top band this year after winning plaudits. He is a co-head of the Shin & Kim corporate/M&A practice and is well recognised for his experience in a range of M&A transactions. His expertise is in high demand among Korean corporations and private equity houses.

"Jae Young Chang is regarded as one the best M&A and corporate lawyers in Korea. He has outstanding capabilities in terms of understanding fundamental aspects of the problems, and always offers creative solutions."

"He has been involved in many landmark transactions in Korea and always delivers high-quality outcomes."

"One of the most skilled, experienced, and service-minded lawyers I've worked with."

"He is a technical and street-smart lawyer."

"He is very well known and has been working in this field for a long time. He is rather prominent."

Tong-Gun Lee
1
Tong-Gun Lee
Head of Corporate/M&A
1
Band 1

Lee Tong-Gun maintains a commanding position in the table supported by widespread compliments from clients. He advises on a range of matters including acquisitions and divestments for a range of domestic corporate clients and private equity houses.

"Absolute go-to lawyer in M&A. Tong-Gun is the most experienced M&A lawyer in town."

"Lee Tong-Gun is a very sophisticated and experienced M&A lawyer. He is intellectually strong and curious, and practical and commercial on difficult issues."

"He is also a strong negotiator and well versed in market practices as well as technical details. He is our go-to M&A lawyer in Korea."

"I enjoy working with Tong-Gun. He brings a lot of experience to the transaction and his advice is always clear and on-point."

"Lee Tong-Gun is regarded as one the best M&A and corporate lawyers in Korea. He is very client-oriented and demonstrates strong capabilities in providing solutions for complex issues."

Brandon (Myong-Hyon) Ryu
2
Brandon (Myong-Hyon) Ryu
2
Band 2

Brandon Ryu (Ryu Myong-Hyon) is particularly focused on cross-border transactions, regularly acting for Korean corporations. He is also skilled in handling private equity mandates.

"Brandon Ryu is a stable hand and very client-friendly. He explains Korean legal concepts well."

"He is always very responsive and dedicated to the work. He pays attention to details and explains complex issues to me and our team in an easy-to-understand way."

Chung-In Anthony Choi
3
Chung-In Anthony Choi
3
Band 3

Chung-In Anthony Choi is active on a variety of matters and has experience handling cross-border mergers and acquisitions. He regularly handles mandates from leading private equity clients, assisting with inbound investments into the Korean market.

"Chung-In Anthony Choi very actively engages in client management, and is able to cope with our needs. It has been a pleasant journey working with him."

Hae Sung Jeong
3
Hae Sung Jeong
3
Band 3

Jeong Hae Sung's client roster features conglomerates and PE houses. He has expertise in private equity deals, leveraged buyouts and corporate governance.

"Jeong Hae Sung is an extremely smart and reliable young partner available in the Korean legal field."

"He is very solid all round."

Joongil Cho
4
Joongil Cho
4
Band 4

Cho Joongil focuses on corporate governance matters, M&A and private equity transactions. He counts prestigious domestic and international conglomerates among his clientele.

"Based on his strong knowledge of the legal matters, he is very responsive and diligent during the assignments."

"Joongil provides very fast and accurate feedback."

Stephanie H. Kim
4
Stephanie H. Kim
4
Band 4

Stephanie Kim is considered an experienced lawyer when it comes to cross-border acquisition and investment transactions. She regularly works with Korean and foreign entities in the financial services and TMT sectors.

"Stephanie is an extremely dedicated and analytically fluent lawyer."

Ranked Lawyers at
Shin & Kim

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

South Korea

Corporate/M&A

Jae Young Chang
1
Jae Young Chang
Head of Corporate/M&A
1
Band 1
Tong-Gun Lee
1
Tong-Gun Lee
Head of Corporate/M&A
1
Band 1
Brandon (Myong-Hyon) Ryu
2
Brandon (Myong-Hyon) Ryu
2
Band 2
Chung-In Anthony Choi
3
Chung-In Anthony Choi
3
Band 3
Hae Sung Jeong
3
Hae Sung Jeong
3
Band 3
Joongil Cho
4
Joongil Cho
4
Band 4
Stephanie H. Kim
4
Stephanie H. Kim
4
Band 4

Members

Provided by Shin & Kim

Byung Tae Kim

Dong Jun Park

Hae Seong Ahn

Jae Young Chang

Jae Young Chang

Head of Department

Jiwon Kang

Soo Kyun Lee

Stephanie H. Kim

Tong-Gun Lee

Tong-Gun Lee

Head of Department

Clients

Provided by Shin & Kim

Affinity Equity Partners

Asiana Airlines, Inc.

Baring Private Equity

CJ Group

Chubb Group of Insurance Companies

GIC

Hahn & Co

Hanwha Group

IMM Private Equity

KCC Group

KDB Bank

KKR

Kakao Corporation

Lotte Group

MBK Partners

Mando Corporation

Meritz Securities

Mirae Asset Global Investments

PAG Advisors

Posco

SD Biosensor, Inc.

SJL Partners

SK Group

Sequoia Capital

Shinhan Financial Group

Stonebridge Capital

The Export-Import Bank of Korea

Well to Sea Investment

Woori Financial Group

Industries

Provided by Shin & Kim

Automobiles & Parts

Banks

Bio, Healthcare

Chemical

Consumer Product Manufacturing

Energy

Financial Services

Industrial Engineering

Insurance

Private Equity

Retail

Technology, Hardware & Electronics

Telecommunications

Transportation