John Kim

Practice Areas

Capital Markets, Fair Trade, Finance, Franchise, Health Care, Intellectual Property, Labor and Employment, Mergers & Acquisitions, Sports / Entertainment

Career

Insurance & Reinsurance – Coverage and Dispute Resolution

• Lead German Reinsurer: Represent and defend a leading German reinsurer in a coverage dispute involving product recall of lithium-ion batteries with global exposure in the Seoul Central District Court

• Lead French Reinsurer: Act as coverage counsel in various product recall claims on behalf of a French reinsurer which include an array of contractual, legal and technical aspects surrounding the insuring clause, exclusions, follow-the-fortunes, etc.

• Multinational Company: Co-counsel with a global Singaporean law firm in the review and coverage counsel on behalf of the excess reinsurers in respects of the explosions occurring at the Lotte Chem as a first party claimant and LG Chem as a third party claimant at their respective plants in Daesan under a “Package Insurance Policy”

Insurance & Reinsurance – Regulatory

• Coalition of insurers and Reinsurers: Counseled and supported in insurer/reinsurer licensing for Allianz Global and Corporate Specialty Korea Branch; Pacific Life Re, Korea Branch; Asia Capital Re, Korea Branch; AIG Korea

• Admitted Foreign Insurer: Advised on investment and asset management strategy for a foreign insurer including advise on permitted investments and amounts in compliance with South Korean law

• AIG Global Services Korea Office: Led the closure of AIG Global Services Korea office and handled all regulatory tasks and filings with the financial regulators, tax office and court to conclusion

Insurance & Reinsurance – Mergers & Acquisitions and other Transactions

• Marsh & McLennan Cos.: Acted as lead local counsel on behalf of Marsh & McLennan Cos. In its acquisition of Jardines Lloyds Thomson Korea (JLT)

• AXA S.A.: Assisted AXA in the due diligence and transaction documents of its acquisition of Ergo Daum Direct for US$44 million

• AXA S.A.: Supported in the formation of the tri-parte joint venture between and among AXA, BNP Paribas General Insurance and Shinhan Life

Employment & Labor

• Global EOR Company: Advised a leading global Employer of Record business in South Korea to review all contractual arrangements with service providers, its clients and external employees and conducted an overall legal compliance review of its operations

• Marsh Korea: Led the workforce harmonization for Marsh Korea following the acquisition of JLT Korea including assisting in the notification procedures, severance packages, unifying the rules of the two companies, etc.

• Robert Walters Korea: Provide annual HR Training Compliance Training Seminar for 5+ years also covering Data Protection and Privacy Law Compliance Seminar covering workplace and sexual harassment, industrial accidents, workers with disabilities, and other related topics

Hospitality and Hotels, Resorts and Casinos

• International Hotel Chain: Counseled an international hotel chain in its Seoul hotel with respect to a criminal investigation related to potential violations of the Food Sanitation Act

• Hospitality Group: Advised leading luxury hotel in labeling and disclaimer wording for certain hotel products in accordance with the requirements under South Korean law

• US Based Bakery: Represented a leading celebrity bakery chain in its claims against large Korean conglomerate for breach of contract in arbitration under SIAC rules

Government Relations and Public Policy

• Global Human Resources Company: Counsel and represent a global human resources company in legitimizing its business under the current employment and labor framework in South Korea with the Ministry of Employment and Labor and other stakeholders

• Las Vegas Sands Corporation and MGM: Supported law firm team and the clients in government and public relations in support of effort to allow limited and strictly regulated entry to casinos by local South Koreans while contributing to the drafting of a legislative bill presented into the National Assembly

• Uber Technologies: Advised and supported in affecting changes to the Passenger Transport Act of South Korea on behalf of Uber Technologies

Professional Memberships

New York State Bar Association

Pennsylvania State Bar Association

New Jersey State Bar Association

Publications

AML and CFT Compliance for Financial Institutions, Cryptocurrencies and NFTs, Global Legal Group, 2022

Insurance Litigation, Global Practice Guide, Chambers & Partners, 2021

Insurance & Reinsurance, Global Practice Guide, Chambers & Partners, 2020

Trends & Developments in Insurance for South Korea, Chambers & Partners, 2019

Insurance & Reinsurance Comparative Guide, Legal 500 with the In-House Lawyer, 2019

KORUS FTA, Implications on the Korean Insurance Industry, Kim & Chang, 2012

Anti-Money Laundering in South Korea, Kim & Chang, 2011

Languages Spoken

English, Korean

Awards