Brandon (Myong-Hyon) Ryu

Practice Areas

Myong-Hyon (Brandon) Ryu’s practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions with a particular emphasis on cross-border (both inbound and outbound) transactions. He also has extensive experience in private equity transactions, joint ventures, corporate restructurings, and corporate governance. Mr. Ryu has represented both major Korean and foreign industrial and financial companies as well as private equity firms.

Mr. Ryu devotes a portion of his practice to advising clients in anti-corruption (including anti-corruption due diligence in M&A transactions), FCPA/internal investigations, transnational white collar crime defenses and other compliance matters.

Mr. Ryu has been distinguished as one of the leading corporate/M&A lawyers by Chambers Global, Chambers Asia-Pacific, Legal 500, IFLR 1000, Asialaw Profiles, Legal Times and PLC’s Which Lawyer? He was commended in the Legal 500 (Asia Pacific) for “always trying to find the right solutions and exceed client’s expectations in all respects.” He is also described by Chambers Asia-Pacific as “a very bright and pragmatic team leader who is involved in many of the firm’s most prominent recent deals” and someone who “understands the corporate world very well and tries to make things as straightforward as possible.” He is a regular contributor to various international journals as well as a speaker at international and domestic conferences covering the areas of his expertise. He has been interviewed and quoted by newspapers and magazines for his knowledge and expertise in mergers and acquisitions.

Mr. Ryu has worked on many of the most high-profile M&A transactions in recent years including representation of Affinity Private Equity and KKR in their proposed acquisition of Homeplus from Tesco Plc.

He recently represented CJ CheilJedang Corporation, Korea’s No. 1 food company, on its acquisition of Schwan’s Company, a U.S.-based frozen food company.

He also recently represented SJL Partners, KCC and Wonik consortium in their acquisition of Momentive, US based global silicone and quartz producer, the 3rd largest out-bound M&A in Korean history with the deal value of USD 3 billion.

He represented Mirae Asset Private Equity, the largest private equity in Korea, in its acquisition (together with Blackstone and Fila Korea) of Acushnet Company, one of the largest golf equipment companies in the world. The transaction was named “Consumer M&A Deal of the Year” by M&A Advisor, “Korea Deal of the Year” by FinanceAsia, and “Deal of the Year” by Asian Counsel.

Mr. Ryu also represented Hanwha Chemical in all stages of its strategic equity investment in Solarfun Power Holdings (renamed Solarone Power Holdings), a NASDAQ-listed vertically integrated PRC manufacturer of silicon ingots, wafers and photovoltaic cells and modules, as well as a share purchase from two major shareholders, Good Energies and Yonghua Solar Power Investment Holdings. This deal was the first instance of a Korean company acquiring a NASDAQ-listed energy company. This transaction was awarded “Deal of the Year (Honorable Mention)” by Asian Counsel and nominated for “M&A Deal of the Year” by IFLR Asian Awards .

Mr. Ryu advised Lotte Shopping in its acquisition and privatization of Times, Ltd. a Cayman Islands company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. This transaction was nominated for “M&A Deal of the Year” by both ALB Hong Kong Awards and IFLR Asian Awards and awarded 2010 “China Deal of the Year” by China Business Law Journal.

Career

Senior Foreign Attorney, Shin & Kim; Foreign Legal Consultant, Yulchon (2004-2008); Foreign Legal Consultant, Yoon & Yang (2001-2004)

Professional Memberships

New York Bar

Publications

The Private Equity Review (11th edition) Part II, Investing - "Korea" chapter, Law Business Research, 2022; The Private Equity Review (8th edition) Part II, Investing - "Korea" chapter, Law Business Research, 2019

Personal

[Accolades] "Leading Individual" for Corporate/M&A, Chambers Global/Chambers Asia "Recommended Lawyer” for M&A, Legal500; Leading lawyer, PLC which Lawyer.

Education