The ‘top-notch‘ practice at Kim & Chang is led by Byung-Chol Yoon, who is recommended for his extensive expertise in ICC and investment treaty arbitrations. The ‘stellar‘ Sae Youn Kim is a ‘first class advocate‘ known for representing Korean clients in SIMC mediations with her strong focus on international and commercial law issues. Chul-Won Lee has broad knowledge of LMAA and KCAB arbitrations, often representing Korean clients within the pharmaceutical and logistics sectors, while Joel Richardson leads the firm’s North American arbitration group, often acting as an arbitrator and a mediator. Matthew Christensen is well-versed in commercial disputes and cases involving international defense and construction projects, and Shul Park primarily focuses on transactional disputes relating to joint ventures and insurance.

Housing a team of ‘true arbitration experts’, Lee & Ko is active across the energy and defence sectors, often handling a range of post-M&A and investment-related cases. Praised for his ‘strategic thinking and meticulous attention to detail’, practice head Sanghoon Han is noted for handling cases before the SIAC and ICSID, often utilising his experience in corporate governance and M&A. ‘True superstar‘ Saemee Kim is well-known for her expertise in arbitrations arising across the life sciences, telecoms, and construction sectors, often appearing before the ICC, KCAB, and LCIA. Elizabeth Shin is a key name for investment treaty arbitrations, while Hyunyang Koo is recommended for her broad knowledge of disputes concerning software license agreements and military projects. Han-Earl Woo is noted for his expertise in investment treaty cases.

Praised for its ‘exceptional expertise, dedication, and collaborative spirit‘, the offering at , is co-led by Tony Dongwook Kang and Woojae Kim, who is recommended for his broad knowledge of ICSID cases and ICC arbitrations, particularly in relation to energy sector issues. Junu Kim handles the full range of multi-party and post-M&A cases with ‘real mastery', while Hongjoong Kim has extensive knowledge of the aerospace, healthcare, and retail sectors. Sangchul Kim and Hangil Lee are both key names within the team noted for their ‘broad and excellent experience'. Changwan Han joined the group from the International Disputes Settlement Division of the Ministry of Justice in June 2023.

Jointly led by ‘leading figures in the international arbitration market in Korea' Dana Kim and Mike McClure KC, the team at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP routinely acts for a diverse range of state owned companies, Chaebols, and private equity firms. In Hong Kong, Kim is noted for her ‘strategic acumen‘, and her broad knowledge of TMT sector disputes, often representing Asian clients. In London, McClure is known for his longstanding experience in international disputes spanning the energy and natural resources, financial services, and construction sectors.

‘Super star’ Kevin Kim and John Bang jointly lead the ‘outstanding‘ team at arbitration boutique Peter & Kim. Kim routinely utilises his prior experience having acted as an arbitrator to assist with commercial and investment arbitrations, while Bang has extensive knowledge of disputes spanning various jurisdictions. Yunsoo Shin is an expert in international commercial disputes, in addition to acting as a specialist mediator, while Seokchun Yun’s workload consists of international trade and taxation related disputes. Mino Han is recommended for his specialism in engineering and construction cases across the MEA region and Latin America. Dual qualified in New York and Korea, Jennifer Yoo is well-versed in private international law and enforcement of international arbitral awards, while Ara Cho focuses on real estate development issues and investment treaty arbitrations concerning tax matters.

Shin & Kim represents a diverse client roster of power, construction, and investment clients. Practice head Young Suk Park draws on his experience as a KCAB arbitrator to act in commercial arbitrations, areas in which Jae Min Jeon has longstanding expertise. Praised for his ‘incredibly sharp and quick-thinking mind‘, Youngwon Yoon is an expert in investor-state disputes and construction cases. Jae Hee Kim is a key name for WTO disputes and multi-party HKIAC cases. Robert Wachter joined the group from Lee & Ko in June 2024; having joined the group in March 2024, Brandon Bang contributes his knowledge of reinsurance, and IP and licensing cases.

Baker McKenzie KLP JV is well-equipped to handle a broad range of arbitrations, representing an array of financial institutions, real estate companies, and construction clients. Practice head Beomsu Kim is known for his longstanding knowledge of investor-state disputes and commercial arbitration. Both David Kim and Sunyoung Kim joined the team from Lee & Ko in December 2023 and May 2024 respectively; David Kim is particularly adept at handling international construction disputes, while Sunyoung Kim routinely appears before the ICC, SIAC, and CIETAC, in addition to ad-hoc arbitrations. The team further expanded with the hire of the highly regarded Sean (Sungwoo) Lim who joined from Shin & Kim in December 2024.

Jointly led by John Rhie from Hong Kong, and ‘world-class advocate’ Duncan Watson from Singapore, the team at Quinn Emanuel is known for representing private equity firms and asset management companies. Rhie is recognised for his extensive expertise in white-collar crime issues and multi-jurisdictional disputes, while Watson (who is dual qualified in both Australia, and England and Wales) regularly represents an array of Korean infrastructure, financial services, and energy clients. Singapore’s Tom Brebner is an expert in private equity related cases who often acts in LCIA and SIAC arbitrations, and Hong Kong’s Lillian Li is recommended for her strong knowledge of investment treaty arbitrations and HKIAC arbitrations.

White & Case LLP (Foreign Legal Consultant Office) houses a team known for its strong capabilities in acting for private equity and venture capital firms, and clients active within the liquid natural gas and offshore wind industries. Matthew Secomb leads the team from Singapore with his vast experience in representing Major Korean companies in energy sector disputes. David Robertson works out of the London office, utilising his deep knowledge of construction law to handle disputes concerning offshore wind, power, and oil & gas projects.

Yoon & Yang LLC is well-equipped to handle arbitrations arising out of global transactions, in addition to energy and infrastructure mandates. Practice co-head Myung-Ahn Kim routinely handles HKIAC and ISDS arbitrations, and co-head Sam Kim, hailed by clients as a ‘star in the Korean arbitration world‘, is recommended for his strong knowledge of construction and trade secret-related cases. Managing partner Junsang Lee is noted for his expertise in commercial and real estate disputes.

David MacArthur, who joined the group from Anderson Mori & Tomotsune in March 2024; Eun Nyung (Ian) Lee, who joined from legacy firm KL Partners in August 2023, and Jeonghye Sophie Ahn all jointly lead the team at Yulchon. MacArthur is well-known for representing shipbuilding and telecoms clients, while Lee is noted for his knowledge of post M&A and private equity-related disputes. Ahn is particularly experienced in handling arbitration-related court proceedings concerning the enforcement of awards. Yun Jae Baek, dual qualified in both New York and Korea, is recommended for his longstanding experience in international disputes concerning aviation, and M&A matters. Woo Suk Jung left the frim in September 2023.

The team at Clifford Chance is well-placed to advise on multi-jurisdictional disputes involving Korean clients. The 'superb' Thomas Walsh leads the team from Hong Kong, and is noted for his vast knowledge of tech, private equity, and post-M&A disputes. Walsh also leads the firm's Greater China international arbitration practice. In Singapore, Paul Sandosham is recommended for his broad experience in disputes concerning energy and infrastructure projects, having acted in proceedings governed by ICC, SIAC, and ICSID rules. Hyo Jeong Kwon works out of the London office, and is a key name for Korean clients.

The team Jipyong LLC is noted for its distinctive focus on US litigation; Jinhee Kim leads the group's global dispute resolution practice, and regularly appears before both state and federal courts in California, in addition to tribunals before the SIAC, HKIAC, and KCAB. Gee Hong Kim  leads the firm's antitrust and competition group, representing both Korean and overseas clients. Yong Ik Lee utilises his broad knowledge of antitrust and competition law to assist clients with cross-border litigation and international arbitrations, while Somin Jun is a key name for fair trade disputes, often representing healthcare providers. Bernard K. Ham left the firm in February 2024.

Mayer Brown is recommended for its broad expertise in disputes involving the oil & gas, renewables, and natural resources industries across the ASEAN region. Yu-Jin Tay leads the team from Singapore, and acts as head of the firm’s Asian international arbitration group, leveraging his longstanding expertise to assist clients with post-M&A disputes, in addition to energy and infrastructure cases. Kay-Jannes Wegner has longstanding expertise in handling international disputes, particularly in relation to power projects and pharmaceuticals.