FINALISTS*

We are pleased to announce the first set of finalists ALB Korea Law Awards 2022.

INDIVIDUAL CATEGORIES

Dealmaker of the Year

Daniel Kim  - O’Melveny & Myers
Eun Joo Kang - Kim & Chang  
Ho Joon Moon - Lee & Ko
H. Young Shin - Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom  
Jaewoo Lee - Ropes & Gray (Foreign Legal Consultant Office)
Jinduk Han   - Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
Joongil Cho - Shin & Kim 
Mok H. Kim - Bae, Kim & Lee 
Sangman Kim - Yoon & Yang  

Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year

Byung Hoon Kwak - Kim & Chang  
Jae Min Jeon - Shin & Kim 
Jin Guk Shi - Yoon & Yang 
Kap-You (Kevin) Kim - Peter & Kim
Mike McClure - Herbert Smith Freehills  
Pyoung Keun Song - Lee & Ko 
Seong Soo KIM - Bae, Kim & Lee 
Yong Pyo Yeom - Yulchon 

Foreign Lawyer of the Year

Frank Shyn  - Lee & Ko  
Jin Hyuk Park - Simpson Thacher & Bartlett 
John H. Choi - Shin & Kim 
John P. Bang - Peter & Kim  
Ken Nam - Herbert Smith Freehills    
Kwon Lee - Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, 
Kyungseok (KS) Kim - Bae, Kim and Lee 
Mihyun (Melissa) Park - DR & AJU 
Sam Kim - Yoon & Yang 
Tehyok Daniel YI - Yulchon 

In-House Lawyer of the Year

Chung Jin Chung - Korea Gas Corporation
Kang Hyuk Lee - Mirae Asset Securities
Liz (Kyo-Hwa) Chung - Netflix
Moses Sye - Ocean Winds Korea 

Managing Partner of the Year 

Dongwoo Seo - Bae, Kim & Lee 
Jinsu Jeong - Yoon & Yang 
Jong-Han Oh - Shin & Kim 
Kap-You (Kevin) Kim - Peter & Kim
Kye Sung Chung - Kim & Chang  
Kyu Chul Lee - DR & AJU 
Seok Hoon Kang - Yulchon

Woman Lawyer of the Year 

Anna Chung - Shearman & Sterling 
Dana Kim - Herbert Smith Freehills 
Dr. Yunsoo Shin - Peter & Kim
Eunjin Jeon - Bae, Kim & Lee 
Hyunjoo Oh - Lee & Ko  
Jeong Ran Lee - DR & AJU 
Jeonghye Sophie Ahn - Yulchon 
Sue Yeon Woo - Yoon & Yang 
Younghee Chung - White & Case
Yunjoh Lee - Kim & Chang

Young Lawyer of the Year

Ara Cho - Peter & Kim
Bo Yen KIM - Bae, Kim & Lee 
Eung Moon Yi - Yulchon  
Gu Beom Kwon - Lee & Ko  
Heesung Anh - Kim & Chang  
Hyungsoo Kim - Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
Kayoung Kim - Yoon & Yang 
Matthew (Hyung Kyun) Kwon - Mirae Asset Securities
Woo Rin Sung - DR & AJU 

IN-HOUSE CATEGORIES

Innovative In-House Team of the Year

Hanmi Pharmaceutical
Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering
Mirae Asset Securities
Samsung SDS
SeAH Holdings

ESG In-House Team of the Year

Hanmi Pharmaceutical
Ocean Winds Korea
SeAH Holdings
Veolia

Korea In-House Team of the Year

Hanmi Pharmaceutical
Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering
LG Display
LG Electronics Inc
McDonald's Korea
Mirae Asset Securities
Novo Nordisk Korea
Samsung SDS
Wework

FIRM CATEGORIES

Banking and Financial Services Law Firm of the Year

Bae, Kim & Lee 
Kim & Chang
LAB Partners
Lee & Ko
Shin & Kim
Yoon & Yang
Yulchon 

Boutique Law Firm of the Year 

GAON Law Group
Kang & Partners 
LAB Partners
Peter & Kim
VEAT Law Firm
Yoon & Lee International Patent & Law Firm

Construction and Real Estate Law Firm of the Year

Bae, Kim & Lee 
Herbert Smith Freehills
Kang & Partners
Kim & Chang
Lee & Ko
Shin & Kim
Yoon & Yang
Yulchon 

ESG Law Firm of the Year

Bae, Kim & Lee 
Kim & Chang
Lee & Ko
Yoon & Yang 
Yulchon 

Energy and Resources Law Firm of the Year

Bae, Kim & Lee 
DR & AJU 
Herbert Smith Freehills
Kim & Chang
Lee & Ko
Shin & Kim
Yoon & Yang

Insurance Law Firm of the Year

Bae, Kim & Lee 
Kim & Chang
Lee & Ko
Shin & Kim
Yoon & Yang
Yulchon 

International Arbitration Law Firm of the Year

Herbert Smith Freehills
O’Melveny & Myers
White & Case 

International Deal Firm of the Year

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton 
Latham & Watkins
O'Melveny & Myers
Paul Hastings
Ropes & Gray
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton 
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom

Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year - International

Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner,
Ropes & Gray
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton 

Korea Deal Firm of the Year 

Bae, Kim & Lee 
Kim & Chang
LAB Partners
Lee & Ko
VEAT
Yoon & Yang
Yulchon 

Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year - Domestic

Bae, Kim & Lee 
Kim & Chang
Lee & Ko
Shin & Kim
Yoon & Lee International Patent & Law Firm
Yoon & Yang
Yulchon 

Korea Practice Foreign Law Firm of the Year 

Al Tamimi & Company
Ashurst
Beijing Cyan Law Firm
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
Steptoe & Johnson

Labour and Employment Law Firm of the Year 

Bae, Kim & Lee 
DR & AJU 
Kim & Chang
LAB Partners
Lee & Ko
Shin & Kim
Yoon & Yang
Yulchon 

Litigation Law Firm of the Year 

Bae, Kim & Lee 
DR & AJU 
Herbert Smith Freehills
Kim & Chang
Lee & Ko
Peter & Kim
Shin & Kim
Yoon & Yang
Yulchon 

Maritime Law Firm of the Year

Bae, Kim & Lee 
DR & AJU
Kim & Chang
Lee & Ko
Yoon & Yang

Overseas Practice Law Firm of the Year

Bae, Kim & Lee 
DR & AJU 
Kim & Chang
Lee & Ko
Yulchon 
Yoon & Yang

Regulatory and Compliance Law Firm of the Year

Bae, Kim & Lee 
Kim & Chang
Lee & Ko
Yoon & Yang
Yulchon 

Restructuring and Insolvency Law Firm of the Year

Bae, Kim & Lee 
DR & AJU 
Kim & Chang
Lee & Ko
Shin & Kim
Yoon & Yang
Yulchon

Tax and Trusts Law Firm of the Year

Bae, Kim & Lee 
DR & AJU 
GAON Law Group
Kim & Chang
Lee & Ko
Shin & Kim
Yoon & Yang
Yulchon 

Technology, Media and Telecommunications Law Firm of the Year 

Bae, Kim & Lee 
Kim & Chang
Lee & Ko
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton 
Shin & Kim
Yoon & Yang
Yulchon 

Korea Law Firm of the Year 

Bae, Kim & Lee 
Kim & Chang
LAB Partners
Lee & Ko
Yoon & Yang
Yulchon 

DEAL CATEGORIES

Debt Market Deal of the Year

Hanwha Life's Tier II Subordinate Securities
Law firms: Greenberg Traurig; Latham & Watkins; Shin & Kim 

Hyundai Capital Services' GMTN Programme
Law firms: Paul Hastings; Lee & Ko 
Banks: BNP Paribas; Citigroup Global Markets; Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank; J.P. Morgan Securities; Merrill Lynch International; Société Générale; Standard Chartered Bank; The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation; UBS AG (Hong Kong Branch)

KEXIM Issuance of US Bonds
Law firms: Bae, Kim & Lee; Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton; Latham & Watkins 

KIS' Issuance of Unsecured Notes
Law firms: Linklaters; Yulchon 

LG Chem's 2026 and 2031 Notes Due
Law firms: Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton; Lee & Ko; Linklaters 
Banks: BNP Paribas; Citigroup Global Markets; Merrill Lynch International; Standard Chartered Bank; The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation; The Korea Development Bank;

NongHyup Bank's Issuance of ESG Certified Bonds
Law firms: Bae, Kim & Lee; Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton

POSCO's Zero Coupon Green Convertible Bonds 
Law firms: Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton; Kim & Chang; Lee & Ko; Linklaters 
Banks: BNP Paribas Securities (Asia); J.P. Morgan Securities; The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation 

Republic of Korea's Issuance of Foreign Exchange Stabilization Bonds 
Law firms: Bae, Kim & Lee; Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton; Kim & Chang; Linklaters  

Shinhan Bank’s GMTN Programme Update 
Law firms: Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Shin & Kim 

Equity Market Deal of the Year

Aphrodite Acquisition Holdings' Acquisition of Hugel
Law firms: Kim & Chang; Lee & Ko 

Biogen Therapeutics Sale of Shares to Samsung BioLogics
Law firms: Kim & Chang; Lee & Ko; Ropes & Grey 

ESR Kendall Square's REIT 
Law firm: Shin & Kim 

KakaoBank's IPO 
Law firms: Bae, Kim & Lee; Linklaters; Paul Hastings; Shin & Kim 

Krafton's IPO 
Law firms: Bae, Kim & Lee; Cleary Gottlieb, Steel & Hamilton; Kim & Chang; Paul Hastings 
Banks: Credit Suisse; Citigroup; J.P. Morgan; Mirae Asset Securities; NH Investment & Securities 

LG Energy's IPO 
Law firms: Bae, Kim & Lee; Kim & Chang; Paul Hastings; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett 

Lotte Rental's IPO 
Law firm: Yulchon  

Megazone Cloud Corporation Issuance of Series C Shares 
Law firms: Kim & Chang; Lee & Ko 

POSCO's Zero Coupon Green Convertible Bonds 
Law firms: Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton; Kim & Chang; Lee & Ko; Linklaters 

Re-organization of Kakao Group 
Law firm: Shin & Kim 

M&A Deal of the Year

Acquisition of LINA Life Insurance of Korea, Cigna Korea and LINA Financial Service 
Law firms: Baker & McKenzie; Kim & Chang; Shin & Kim; Sullivan & Cromwell; Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz 

Aphrodite Acquisition Holdings Acquisition of Hugel
Law firms: Kim & Chang; Lee & Ko 

Biogen Therapeutics’ Sale to Samsung BioLogics
Law firms: Kim & Chang; Lee & Ko; Ropes & Gray 

Chubb’s Acquisition of Cigna's Selected Operations 
Law firm: Sullivan & Cromwell; Kim & Chang  

DL Chemical Acquisition of Kraton 
Law firms: King & Spalding; O’Melveny & Myers 
Banks: Goldman Sachs; J.P. Morgan 

Emart Acquisition of EBay Korea
Law firms: Bae Kim & Lee; Kim & Chang; Ropes & Gray; Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz 

KKR’s Investment in SK E&S 
Law firms: Kim & Chang; Shin & Kim; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett 

RES Méditerranée Acquisition by Hanwha 
Law firms: Bae, Kim & Lee; Linklaters; McDermott Will & Emery 

Sale of Daewoo E&C to Jungheung Group 
Law firms: Bae, Kim & Lee; Lee & Ko 

Sales of Hanssem to IMM Private Equity 
Law firms: Kim & Chang; Yoon & Yang  

Project Finance Deal of the Year

Acquisition Financing for E Mart
Law firms: Bae, Kim & Lee; Lee & Ko 

Hanwha EU Energy Solutions Financing
Law firms: Linklaters; Shin & Kim 

KEXIM and ANOC Financing Facility
Law firms: Allen & Overy; Shearman & Sterling 

Largest Greenfield Infrastructure PPP Transaction
Law firms: Allens; Clayton Utz; Herbert Smith Freehills; Lee & Ko 

Loan Financing for LNG Combined Cycle Power Plant
Law firms: Kim & Chang; Shearman & Sterling; White & Case 

Project Financing for 200MW combined thermal power 
Law firms: Bae, Kim & Lee; White & Case 

Project Financing for Busan Geoje PPP Project
Law firm: Lee & Ko 

Project Financing for Combined Cycle Power Plant in Yeouju
Law firms: Kim & Chang; Shin & Kim 

Project Financing for Incheon-Gimpo Expressway
Law firms: Lee & Ko; Lim, Chung & Suh; Shin & Kim 
Banks: Consus Asset Management; MKIF; NongHyup Life Insurance; PineStreet Asset Management; Shinhan Bank

Project Financing for INSPIRE Entertainment Resort 
Law firms: Bae, Kim & Lee; Carmody Torrance Sandak and Hennessey; Ince Gordon Dadds; Kim & Chang; Updike, Kelly & Spellacy 

Real Estate Deal of the Year

Acquisition of 6 Logistics Facilities Located in Korea 
Law firm: Shin & Kim 

Acquisition of Alpharium Towers I and II by Mastern Investment Management 
Law firms: Bae, Kim & Lee; Yulchon 

Acquisition of Emart's Headquarters and Redevelopment 
Law firms: Bae, Kim & Lee; Lee & Ko 

Acquisition of Millennium Hotel
Law firms: Kim & Chang; Shin & Kim 

Development of INSPIRE Entertainment Resort
Law firms: Bae, Kim & Lee; Updike, Kelly & Spellacy 

Forward Purchase of Logistics Center 
Law firms: Kim & Chang; Lee & Ko 

Forward Purchase of Magok CP4 Complex
Law firm: Shin & Kim 

Sale of 25% interest in Lotte World Tower & Mall
Law firms: Lee & Ko; Yulchon 

Technology, Media and Telecommunications Deal of the Year

Acquisition of DANAWA & Sale of Koreacenter
Law firms: Kim & Chang; Shin & Kim; Yulchon 

Acquisition of Delivery Hero Korea
Law firms: Bae, Kim & Lee; Kim & Chang; Lee&Ko 

Acquisition of Endeavor Content
Law firms: Latham & Watkins; O’Melveny & Myers; Shin & Kim 

Investment in Yanolja by Softbank 
Law firms: Bae, Kim & Lee; Kim & Chang 

Joint Venture Investment between Dunamu and HYBE 
Law firms: Bae, Kim & Lee; Kim & Chang 

Kakao’s Acquisition of Croquis 
Law firms: Bae, Kim & Lee; Shin & Kim  

KakaoPay’s IPO 
Law firms: Bae, Kim & Lee; Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton; Kim & Chang; Paul Hastings 

Krafton's IPO
Law firms: Bae, Kim & Lee; Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton; Kim & Chang; Paul Hastings 
Banks: Credit Suisse; Citigroup; J.P. Morgan; Mirae Asset Securities; NH Investment & Securities 

Sale of Yogiyo by Delivery Hero 
Law firms: Bae, Kim & Lee; Kim & Chang; Latham & Watkins; Lee & Ko; Linklaters 

YANOLJA's Issuance of New Shares and Sale of Existing Shares to SVF-II CRYSTAL SUBCO
Law firms: Bae, Kim & Lee; Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton; Kim & Chang 

IPO Deal of the Year

KakaoBank's IPO 
Law firms: Bae, Kim & Lee; Linklaters; Paul Hastings; Shin & Kim 

KakaoPay’s IPO 
Law firms: Bae, Kim & Lee; Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton; Kim & Chang; Paul Hastings 

Krafton's IPO 
Law firms: Bae, Kim & Lee; Cleary Gottlieb, Steel & Hamilton; Kim & Chang; Paul Hastings
Banks: Credit Suisse; Citigroup; J.P. Morgan; Mirae Asset Securities; NH Investment & Securities 

LG Energy's IPO 
Law firms: Bae, Kim & Lee; Kim & Chang; Paul Hastings; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett 

 

COMPLETENESS AND ACCURACY OF INFORMATION**

Please note that the inclusion of banks and legal advisors in the transactions essentially reflects the information provided by nominating organizations. Therefore, any omission of a party involved in any of these transactions should not be taken as a commentary on the role assumed by that party. For queries about the shortlist, please email Joyce at joyce.luk@thomsonreuters.com.

* The above list will be regularly updated until final.