Bio
Profile
Experience
Kim & Chang (2017-Present)
Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A. (2014-2017)
New Jersey Superior Court, Union Vicinage - Hon. Kenneth Grispin (2013-2014)
United States District Court of New Jersey - Hon. Freda Wolfson (2012)
Representative Mattersshow
- Counseled private and public clients on environmental liability risks in business transactions, site remediation projects, redevelopment projects, and other industrial operations
- Advised multinational corporations on various environmental regulations (e.g., K-REACH, Chemicals Control Act, K-BPR, Wastes Control Act, Act on Safety Control of Hazardous Substances, Framework Act on Resources Circulation, Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources, etc.)
- Involved in representing commercial real estate developers and local municipalities in securing grants, permits and approvals of governmental agencies
- Co-counseled in an international arbitration case, which involved the acquisition of a manufacturing factory in Korea, and other associated civil litigations
- Participated in administrative and criminal proceedings on violations of various environmental laws in Korea
- Engaged in environmental & ESG due diligence in numerous M&A transactions.
- Advised multinational trading/petrochemical companies on carbon emission regulations and trading of carbon emission credits
- Assisted a battery manufacturer with filing a notification under the Regulation of Hazardous Substances (RoHS)
- Advised multinational corporations on applicable safety and health-related laws (e.g., Occupational Safety and Health Act, Serious Accidents Punishment Act, etc.)
- Prepared safety and health policies & guidelines applicable to workplaces in various industries
- Assisted clients with filing workplace accident reports in accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act
- Managed dozens of gap analysis projects for multinational corporations to assess the status of compliance with the Serious Accidents Punishment Act
- Assisted a telecommunication service provider with establishing a safety and health management system and minimizing a potential risk associated with the operation of data center
- Advised multinational corporations, including medical device manufacturer, energy/petrochemical company, manufacturer of vertical transportation systems, and fashion retailer, in the administrative/criminal investigation under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, Serious Accidents Punishment Act, the Korean Criminal Code, etc.
- Advised a pipeline utility company and merchant generators on federal, state and local municipality permitting issues in the United States
- Negotiated terms of service agreements for solar and other onsite generation projections
- Advised leading investment companies and lenders on federal and state requirements for investment in New Jersey solar energy facilities, and state solar energy incentives
- Co-counseled in a siting dispute for major grid-supply solar projects
- Counseled international investors on renewable energy regulations in Korea
- Advised numerous clients on renewable energy projects (e.g., solar projects, offshore/onshore wind projects, etc.)
- Participated in M&A transactions involving renewable energy projects
- Counseled various international blue/green hydrogen producers on the Clean Hydrogen Power Auction Market and hydrogen-related laws and regulations
- Advised a telecommunication service provider on regulatory requirements under the Special Act on Activation of Distributed Energy
- Conducted internal investigations for multinational corporations in connection with violations of Korean Criminal Code (e.g., embezzlement, breach of trust, bribery, etc.), Anti-Graft Act, and/or internal procedures/policies, and supported associated criminal proceedings
- Assisted multinational corporations with responding to the United States federal government’s investigations in connection with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
- Provided supports for on-site investigations by Korean investigative authorities
Representative Activitiesshow
Publications/Activities
- Counsel for Asian Product Safety & Regulatory Committee, International Carbon Black Association (2024.8-Present)
- Carbon Markets Working Group & Sustainable Finance Committee, Asia Securities Industry & Financial Markets Association (2022-Present)
- International Comparative Legal Guide to Environmental, Social & Governance 2023: Korea Chapter (Co-author, Global Legal Group, 2022-2023)
- Chambers Global Practice Guides - Energy: Oil & Gas 2022: Korea Chapter (Co-author, Chambers and Partners, 2022)
- Lexology Getting the Deal Through - ESG & Impact Investing 2022: Korea Chapter (Co-author, Law Business Research, 2021)
- Q&A: purpose-driven companies in South Korea (Co-author, Law Business Research, 2021)
- Korea Environmental Legal Update (Autumn 2020) (Co-author, Law Business Research, 2020)
Education
Lewis & Clark Law School (J.D., 2013)
New York University School of Law (Visiting Scholar, 2013)
Harvard University (Ph.D., Organismic & Evolutionary Biology, 2010)
Seoul National University (M.S., Behavioral Ecology, 2005)
Seoul National University (B.S., Forestry, 2002)
Qualifications
Admitted to bar, New York and New Jersey, 2014
Languages
Korean and English