Hall Of Fame

Leading Partners

Next Generation Partners

Leading Associates

Capital markets: foreign firms in South Korea

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton’s market-leading team is recognised for its depth of experience across the full spectrum of capital markets matters, representing both issuers and underwriters on a range of public and private sector transactions. Led by Jinduk Han, the team also handles high-value, cross-jurisdictional debt and equity market mandates. Based in the Seoul office, Jay Hoon Choi advises on hybrid securities offerings of Korean issues, with demonstrable experience in the construction and telecommunications industries. Senior foreign legal consultant Insoo Park often acts as transaction consultant, while Anne Saehee Kim has extensive experience in advising government-owned corporations on debt capital markets. Another key team member of the team is JungAh Kim.

Responsables de la pratique:

Jinduk Han


Autres avocats clés:

Jay Hoon Choi; Insoo Park; Anne Saehee Kim; JungAh Kim


Les références

‘The team was always available and ready to give a quick, appropriate answer.’

‘Jinduk Hahn gives the best insight and solutions, covering all the variables and legal aspects.’

‘Strong track records and professional staffing.’

Principaux clients

The Export-Import Bank of Korea


Kakao Corp


Korea Development Bank


Korea National Oil Corporation


LG Group Companies


NAVER


POSCO


Republic of Korea


Samsung Group companies


SK Group companies


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised The Korea Development Bank in its $2 billion SEC-registered dual-tranche notes offering.
  • Advised LG Chem in its $300 million Reg S/Rule 144A green bond offering.
  • Advised POSCO in its $2 billion Reg S/Rule 144A triple tranche notes offering.

Linklaters

Linklaters is well-equipped to advise on the full range of capital market transactions, including debt and equity offerings. The team also advises consortiums of multi-jurisdictional investment banks led by Daniel Kwon, while senior US associate Shawn Yoon is trusted counsel for international lenders. Managing associate Jun Park is experienced in corporate trust, derivatives and structured products, as well as equity and debt capital markets. Other key members of the team include associate Danny Na, who joined in September 2022 from Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, and William Fong.

Responsables de la pratique:

Daniel Kwon


Autres avocats clés:

Shawn Yoon; Jun Park; Danny Na; William Fong


Principaux clients

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited


Citigroup Global Markets Limited


Merrill Lynch International


Credit Suisse


BNP Paribas


Crédit Agricole


UBS AG


Société Générale Asia Limited


Morgan Stanley


J.P. Morgan Securities plc


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising an international banking group and a multinational investment bank and financial services corporation on Korea Housing Finance Corporation, the Korean real estate mortgage loans, housing finance credit company’s establishment of a US$15bn Global Covered Bond Programme.
  • Advising a consortium of multinational investment banks on the Export-Import Bank of Korea’s issue of US$1bn 4.875% Notes due 2026, US$1.5bn 5.000% Notes due 2028 and US$1bn 5.125% Blue Notes due 2033.
  • Advising a multinational investment bank and financial services corporations on the US$2.5bn multi series issue of 6.250% Notes due 2026, 6.375% Sustainability-Linked Notes due 2028 and 6.500% Green Notes due 2033 by SK Hynix Inc.

Paul Hastings LLP

Paul Hastings LLP is well-equipped to advise international investment banks, as well as domestic corporations, in advisory and regulatory matters. The team is led by managing partner Dong Chul Kim, who advises on convertible bond issuing in the manufacturing sector, as well as underwriting work in across various industries. Co-leading partner Iksoo Kim also handles multi-jurisdictional IPOs and debt mandates.

Responsables de la pratique:

Dong Chul Kim


Autres avocats clés:

Iksoo Kim


Les références

‘Their feedback is realistic, and they have in-depth experience.’

‘Dong Chul Kim and Iksoo Kim are the best lawyers in Korea when it comes to capital market.’

Principaux clients

Samsung Group


Credit Suisse


Citigroup


Goldman Sachs


HSBC


J.P. Morgan


CJ Group


Morgan Stanley


Nomura


UBS


Lotte Group


Hanwha Group


Korean Investment Corp


Kakao Bank


Hana Bank


Krafton, Inc.


Hyundai Heavy Industries


LG Energy Solution


Korea Investment & Securities


NH Investment & Securities


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised L&F, a leading manufacturer of cathode materials, in its issuance of US$500 million 2.50% Convertible Bonds, due 2030.
  • Advused Hanwha Energy USA Holdings Corporation on its issuance of US$300 million 4.125% Senior Green Bonds due 2025, guaranteed by Export-Import Bank of Korea.
  • Advised the managers on Hana Bank’s issuance of €600 million 3.750% SME Empowerment Social Covered Bonds due 2026 under its US$5 billion Global Covered Bond Programme.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett Hong Kong

Lauded as a ‘top-tier experts’ with ‘in-depth industry knowledge’ of the Korean market, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett Hong Kong works across the full range of advisory work, particularly in the energy industries. Jin Hyuk Park leads the practice from Hong Kong, working with underwriters and lenders on securities transactions. Promoted to counsel in January 2023, ‘technically skilledJoongwon Park has significant experience in sovereign debt offerings and other debt offerings by the Republic of Korea. Another key member of the team is William Son.

Responsables de la pratique:

Jin Hyuk Park


Autres avocats clés:

Joongwon Park; William Son


Les références

‘Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP are top-tier experts, with in-depth industry knowledge in respect of the Korean capital markets practice. They frequently advise Korean and global corporations, including financial institutions.’

‘Joongwon Park is a professional and technically skilled lawyer. He is a great communicator, very approachable, and good at managing his team.’ 

Principaux clients

Bank of America Merrill Lynch


BNP Paribas


Citigroup Global Markets Inc


Crédit Agricole CIB


Credit Suisse


Goldman Sachs


J.P. Morgan


Korea Electric Power Corporation


Mizuho


Morgan Stanley


Nomura


Shinhan Financial Group


Shinhan Bank


Société Générale


Standard Chartered Bank


The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised underwriters in Shinhan Bank’s US$8 Billion GMTN Program Update and US$500 million 4.5% senior unsecured gender equality social notes offering.
  • Advised Korea Electric Power Corporation’s US$3 billion GMTN Programme Update and US$500 million and US$300 million green bond senior unsecured notes offerings.
  • Advised underwriters in Korea Electric Power Corporation’s US$500 million and US$300 million green bond senior unsecured notes offerings under its US$11 Billion GMTN Programme.

Tiang & Partners

Praised as a ‘go-to firm for cross-border securitisations’, Tiang & Partners advises on a broad range of advisory and regulatory financial services mandates. Securitisation expert Michelle Taylor leads the team from Hong Kong, while Kevin Tsang and the practice focus on future and loan receivables, as well as working on complex floating and fixed rate notes. Another key team member is senior solicitor David Law.

Responsables de la pratique:

Michelle Taylor


Autres avocats clés:

Kevin Tsang


Les références

‘The team is well-experienced in the Korean ABS transaction space, and transactions with this team are usually efficient and well-organised.’

‘Michelle Taylor is highly knowledgeable when it comes to Korean ABS transactions, and is great with adapting transaction documents to the relevant change in structure.’

‘This team is the go-to firm for Korean cross-border securitisations and have worked on the vast majority of the deals originating from Korean credit card companies, auto-loan financiers and airlines in the last 20 years. The team is extremely knowledgeable, commercial, easy to work with and very efficient on deal execution.’