Myung-Ahn Kim

Practice Areas

International Arbitration ∙ Litigation, Maritime · Aviation, Construction, Insurance, Overseas Construction

Career

Myung-Ahn Kim is Head of Yoon & Yang’s International Arbitration/Dispute Resolution Team at Yoon & Yang.

Before Joining the firm, she garnered specialized professional expertise at the Bank of Korea, California Department of Justice/Attorney General’s Office, and a UK-based global law firm, respectively. Ms. Kim has successfully represented domestic and international entities in ICC, SIAC, DIS, LMAA, HKIAC, and KCAB arbitrations (including complex cross border enforcement procedures). She has also acted as counsel for the Republic of Korea in an investor-state dispute (ISD) related to an expropriation of land claim under the Korea-US FTA and obtained victory on behalf of the state. Ms. Kim is consistently lauded as Leading Individual in international arbitration by Chambers & Partners, Legal500, Benchmark, WWL et al., and serves on the panel of international arbitrators for the KCAB, HKIAC and LICA. She is a member of the California Bar since 2006.

Professional Memberships

Admitted to bar, California (2006)

Publications

Lexology Panoramic: Investment Treaty Arbitration (Co-author, London, 2024)

The Investment Treaty Arbitration Review 8th Edition: Parallel Proceedings in the Context of ISD Arbitration (Co-author, London, 2023)

International Arbitration Review 14th Edition (Co-author, London, 2023)

Chambers Global Practice Guide 2023:Product Liability & Safety (Co-author, London, 2023)

Chambers Global Practice Guide 2021:Product Liability & Safety (Co-author, London, 2021)

The Investment Treaty Arbitration Review 6th Edition: Parallel Proceedings in the Context of ISD Arbitration (Co-author, London, 2021)

IFLR Corporate Insolvency & Restructuring Report 2020: COVID-19 Special Focus (Co-author, 2020)

Chambers Global Practice Guide 2019: International Arbitration Trends and Developments (Co-author, 2018)

Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) Seoul Conference “Damages in International Arbitration: Contemporary Principles and Practices” (2018)

Holman Fenwick Willan LLP Commodities Bulletin: "On Demand Guarantee or Not: When is a Guarantee an Autonomous or On Demand Guarantee as Opposed to an Orthodox See to it Guarantee"(Co-author, London, 2016)

Lee & Ko/Holman Fenwick Willan LLP Joint Seminar on “Practical Concerns in Insurance Industry: D&O Insurance and Exclusions” (2015)

Holman Fenwick Willan LLP / Seoul International Arbitration Center Joint Seminar on “Practical Issues in International Arbitration and Transaction” (2014)

Lee & Ko/Lawrence Graham LLP Joint Seminar on “Common Insurance Issues in Korea and the United Kingdom” (2013)

Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA) Conference on “Bankruptcy in Shipping Industry” (2013)

Introduction to English Law of Contract, Tort and Evidence, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (2011)

Languages Spoken

Korean and English

Work Highlights

Represented an Indian shipbuilder against a Qatar ship-owner in a shipbuilding dispute at the London Maritime Arbitration Association (LMAA) involving platform supply vessels in lieu of USD 115 million

Represented Korean management company in an overseas hedge fund restructuring dispute amounting to approx. USD500 million via HKIAC arbitration

Represented the Republic of Korea (ROK) in an ISDS arbitration arising from a claim under the US-ROK FTA regarding the ROK government’s land expropriation process

Represented trading companies in arbitration proceedings in Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), German Institution of Arbitration (DIS) and International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) for damages in respect of the breach of various sale and purchase contracts for iron ore fines, wood pellets and coal, etc.

Represented a local public enterprise in an ICC arbitration involving request for payment of a put option purchase price under an international joint venture agreement

Represented a leading regional insurer in its subrogation claim for damaged project cargo against a member of an UK-based P&I Club

Represented a Korean bank against a major Greek shipping company in a year-long trial before the Court of First Instance in Piraeus, Greece; obtained a complete defense award on all claims including breach of contract for USD 35 million and an award of attorney’s fees and costs for the client

Advised on various product liability claims filed in the United States against the insured (analysis of the reinsurance policy, review of evidence of the losses/damages, reservation of rights in lieu of conditional advance, etc.)

Advised Singapore based charterers against a Saudi Arabian owner regarding a time charter dispute on an amended Supplytime 2005 form and the settlement agreement supplementing the charter; recovered the full amount of guaranteed sum corresponding to the charter claim under an on-demand bank guarantee to the satisfaction of the client

Advised a Korean shipyard regarding the assessment of a constructive total loss of a tuna purse seiner vessel and the respective scope of liabilities

Advised a major Malaysian bank against a European financial institution on LC discrepancy issues under UCP 600 and the bank-to-bank reimbursement obligations

Advised on maritime, aviation and trade disputes

Assisted domestic and foreign airlines based on the Warsaw and/or MC99 Convention.

Represented a leading Korean insurer in an arbitration at the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) against a major reinsurer in London, England

Experience

2018-present: Yoon & Yang LLC

2024-present: Member, Commission on Arbitration and ADR, ICC

2024-present: Chair, Women’s Interest Committee, Korea Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB)

2023-present: Member, International Committee, Korean Bar Association

2023-present: Director, International Association of Korean Lawyers (IAKL)

2022-present: Empaneled Mediator, Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC)

2022-present: Member, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Korea International Arbitration Committee

2022-present: Registered International Arbitrator, London International Arbitration Centre (LCIA)

2022-present: Member of the International Arbitration Rules Revision Deliberation Committee, Korea Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB)

2021-present: International Arbitrator, Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC)

2021-present: Head of International Arbitration & Dispute Resolution Committee, International Association of Korean Lawyers (IAKL)

2021-present: Member of Executive Committee, Korean Counsel for International Arbitration (KOCIA)

2020-present: International Arbitrator, Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB)

2014-18: Holman Fenwick Willan LLP, Singapore

2011: Adjunct Professor, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies

2006-14: Lee & Ko

2005: Extern, California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General

2004: Law Clerk, Legal Aid Foundation, Los Angeles, CA

Education

Awards