Established in 1980, Bae Kim & Lee is one of the leading full-service law firms in South Korea with approximately 750 professionals and offices across Asia and the Middle East including Seoul, Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Yangon and Dubai.
The firm is also a member of the World Law Group, an invitation-only international network consisting of 20,000 lawyers from law firms around the world.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm is best known for its M&A work where it has one of the largest corporate teams in the country, and it is very active in restructuring and insolvency, capital markets, finance and project development.
Key clients
Key clients of the firm include Affinity Equity Partners, BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, Emart, KB Securities, HSBC, KB Kookmin Bank, Keppel Capital, Korea Development Bank and Export-Import Bank of Korea.
Research period review:
33rd edition (2022/2023)
During the research period, the firm was active across practice areas including banking and finance, capital markets, M&A, private equity, restructuring and project development.
In the banking sector, the firm was very active providing legal services regarding general banking mandates as well as financing transactions such as asset financing and project financing. The team was particularly active in acquisition financing and advised both borrowers and lenders. Partner Sung Won Park and expert adviser Namsu Kim joined the firm’s banking and finance team in 2022.
The capital markets team was preoccupied by a number of domestic and overseas IPOs advising issuers and underwriters. The team also assisted clients in share capital increase, block trade and share swap. In debt capital markets, the firm was also busy advising on asset-backed securities and green bond issuance.
The corporate team continues to be busy with public and private acquisitions, financial investments and joint ventures advising both buy and sell side. The team was also active advising private equity and venture capital companies on all stages of the investment cycle. The firm expanded its corporate team by adding partner Su Gu Kang and senior adviser Sungnam Lim.
In the project space, the firm continues to be active in offshore wind and overseas infrastructure sectors. Partner Kwangmin Rhy joined the project team in 2022.
Deal highlights: 33rd edition (2022/2023)
Meritz Securities’ $8.5 billion financing for the acquisition of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice’s Wm Morrison Supermarkets.
Peak Bio's $180 million Nasdaq listing.
09Women’s W22.4 billion ($17 million) Kosdaq listing.
Lotte Chemical’s W2.7 trillion acquisition of Iljin Materials.
Keppel’s W770 billion acquisition of Eco Management Korea Holdings.
Client feedback: 33rd edition (2022/2023)
Banking and finance
“Quick response with detailed explanation.”
Project finance
“Responsive and delivers on time.”
Annie Eunah Lee
“Understands customer's issues well and provides appropriate response.”
Dongha Lee
“Responsive and good in explaining details re Korean law.”
Sae Young Hong
“Met customer's timeline.”
