Matthew J. CHRISTENSEN

Bio

Matthew Christensen is a senior foreign attorney in Kim & Chang’s International Arbitration & Cross-Border Litigation Practice.

Throughout his career, Mr. Christensen has acted for a broad range of private and public sector clients in dozens of substantial international arbitration cases under the rules of major arbitral institutions.

Prior to joining Kim & Chang, Mr. Christensen was a senior foreign attorney at Bae, Kim & Lee LLC, where he was responsible for coordinating the firm’s international construction arbitration practice. Mr. Christensen has also worked in the New York office of a magic circle firm, where he specialized in project finance.

Mr. Christensen currently serves as Chair of the International Construction Projects Committee of the Inter-Pacific Bar Association and is also a member of the SIAC Users’ Council. For his contributions to the practice of international arbitration in Korea, Mr. Christensen received a special commendation from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) in 2015.

Mr. Christensen has been recognized as one of the leading dispute resolution practitioners in Korea by Chambers Asia-Pacific and Legal 500, and is recommended by Who’s Who Legal in the areas of Arbitration, Construction and Mediation. According to Chambers Asia-Pacific, “Matthew Christensen is frequently sought out by clients to advise on construction and engineering disputes. Market commentators call him ‘a very capable writer and thoughtful advocate,’ praising his fluency in Korean, while clients report that he is ‘hard-working, responsive and easy to work with’” (Chambers and Partners, 2018). Who’s Who Legal has described Mr. Christensen as “a leading figure in the field who is described as ‘intelligent, hardworking and highly ethical’” (Who’s Who Legal - Arbitration, 2018), while Legal 500 has called him “a key figure for construction disputes […] who is praised for his ‘strong advocacy and effective cross-examination style.’” (Legal 500, 2018).

In addition to his work as arbitration counsel, Mr. Christensen frequently lectures and speaks on international arbitration and construction-related topics, including from time to time in Korean.

Mr. Christensen received his law degree from Harvard Law School in 2002. He also holds an A.M. degree in East Asian Regional Studies from Harvard University (1995) and an Honors B.A. in English Literature from the University of Utah (1992).

Mr. Christensen is admitted to the New York bar.

Mr. Christensen speaks Korean fluently and also has a basic working knowledge of Japanese.

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Profile

Experience

Kim & Chang (2020-Present)

Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb)

Member, International Committee, Korean Bar Association (2023-Present)

NITA Advocate, National Institute for Trial Advocacy (USA) (2021-Present)

Chair, International Construction Projects Committee, IPBA (2019-2023)

London School of Mediation, Certificate of Training as an Accredited Mediator (2019)

Certificate of Completion, ICC Advanced Arbitration Academy for Asia (2018-2020)

Certificate of Completion, SIMC Specialist Mediator Workshop (2018)

Member, SIAC User’s Council (2015-Present)

Korea Country Representative, Asia-Pacific Forum for International Arbitration (AFIA) (2018-Present)

Panel of Arbitrators, Borneo International Centre for Arbitration and Mediation (BICAM) (2023-Present)

Panel of Arbitrators, Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (2012-Present)

Vice Chair, International Construction Projects Committee, IPBA (2014-2018)

Chair, Council of International Arbitration, Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (2014-2017)

Member, Executive Committee, Seoul International Dispute Resolution Center (2012-2018)

Bae, Kim & Lee LLC (2007-2019)

Shin & Kim (2004-2007)

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP (2002-2003)

Representative Mattersshow

Disputes Involving Construction, Shipbuilding, Power Plant, and Engineering Projects

Represented the project owner in an ICC arbitration seated in Singapore involving disputes over a new city development project in Korea.
Represented insurers in arbitrations seated in Seoul involving alleged defects in power plants in Korea.
Represented the EPC contractor in an ICC arbitration seated in Seoul involving alleged defects in a power and water installation in the Middle East.
Represented the EPC contractor in a SIAC arbitration seated in Singapore involving a multi-fuel combustion engine power plant in the Middle East.
Represented the EPC contractor in an ICC arbitration seated in London arising from an oil and gas project in the Caribbean.
Represented the contractor in a SIAC arbitration seated in Singapore involving a high-rise building project in Central Asia.
Represented the EPC contractor in a KCAB arbitration seated in Seoul involving a power plant project in Korea.
Represented the contractor in an ICC arbitration seated in Toronto involving a mining and processing project in Africa.
Represented the EPC contractor in an ICC arbitration seated in London involving a power plant in the Middle East.
Represented a Korean contractor in an ad hoc investment treaty arbitration against a state in North Africa relating to multiple municipal construction projects.

Post-M&A Disputes

Represented the sellers in an ICC arbitration seated in Singapore arising from a post-M&A dispute involving claims for rescission and damages for alleged breaches of representations and warranties.
Represented the seller in an ICC arbitration seated in Singapore arising from a post-M&A dispute involving claims for damages for alleged breaches of representations and warranties.
Represented a US-based group of investment funds in an ICC arbitration seated in Singapore arising from a post-M&A dispute involving claims for rescission and damages.
Represented a Korean bank in an ICC arbitration seated in Singapore involving claims from its majority shareholder for contribution in relation to claims paid to a third party in a separate post-M&A dispute.
Represented an automaker in liquidation in ICC arbitrations seated in Paris and Singapore arising from a post-M&A dispute involving claims for indemnification for vehicle recalls and third-party litigation in numerous countries.

Disputes Involving Joint Ventures and Shareholder Claims

Represented the contractor in an ICC arbitration seated in Singapore involving disputes between joint venture parties in relation to a new city development project in Korea.
Represented a supplier of welding consumables in an ICC arbitration seated in Singapore involving a dispute arising out of a joint venture agreement.
Represented a consortium led by a major shipbuilder in an ICC arbitration seated in Paris involving a dispute arising under a shareholders agreement for control of an oil refining and marketing company. This arbitration was named “Arbitration in of the Year” for 2011 by Global Arbitration Review.

Disputes Involving Purchase and Distribution Agreements

Represented a Middle East-based defense contractor in a KCAB arbitration seated in Seoul against the defense procurement agency of the Republic of Korea.
Represented a European defense contractor in an ICC arbitration seated in Seoul against the defense procurement agency of the Republic of Korea.

Disputes Involving Defense Procurement Contracts

Represented a Middle East-based defense contractor in a KCAB arbitration seated in Seoul against the defense procurement agency of the Republic of Korea.
Represented a European defense contractor in an ICC arbitration seated in Seoul against the defense procurement agency of the Republic of Korea.

Cross-Border Litigations and Enforcement Proceedings

Regularly advise Korean and foreign clients in connection with Korean and foreign court proceedings, including civil claims, bankruptcy and liquidation proceedings, applications for provisional attachments or injunctions, bond calls, actions for enforcement of foreign court judgments, actions to set aside arbitral awards and actions for recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards.

Representative Activitiesshow

Awards

Leading Individual, Chambers Asia-Pacific, Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (Chambers and Partners, 2009-2024)
Leading Individual, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific: International Arbitration (Legalease, 2020-2024)
Leading Individual, Chambers Global, Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (Chambers and Partners, 2010-2024)
The A-List: Korea’s Top 100 Lawyers, Asia Business Law Journal (Vantage Asia, 2021-2023)
Leading Lawyer, Who’s Who Legal: Commercial Mediation (Who’s Who Legal, 2023)
Thought Leader, Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders - Construction (Who’s Who Legal, 2021-2023)
Litigation Star, Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific: International Arbitration (Euromoney, 2020-2023)
Leading Lawyer, Who’s Who Legal: Korea, Arbitration (Who’s Who Legal, 2019-2023)
Leading Lawyer, Who’s Who Legal: Korea, Commercial Mediation (Who’s Who Legal, 2019-2023)
Leading Lawyer, Who’s Who Legal: Korea, Construction & Real Estate (Who’s Who Legal, 2019-2023)
Leading Lawyer, Who’s Who Legal: Construction (Who’s Who Legal, 2018-2023)
Leading Lawyer, Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration (Who’s Who Legal, 2015-2024)
Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy Commendation (for contributions to the practice of international arbitration in Korea) (2015.3.)
Excellence in Advocacy Award (Singapore International Arbitration Academy, 2013.11.)

Publications/Activities

“Non-FIDIC Standard Form Construction Contracts,” The GAR Guide to Construction Arbitration (Edition 5) (Lead author, Law Business Research, 2023)
“Legal Defences to Claims,” The Investment Treaty Arbitration Review (Editions 6, 7, and 8) (Co-author, Law Business Research, 2021-2023)
“Korea at 20: A Brief Retrospective on its First Two Decades as a Model Law Jurisdiction,” Who’s Who Legal Korea Guide (Co-author, Who’s Who Legal, 2019)
“South Korea: Construction,” Legal 500 Country Comparative Guide (Co-author, The Legal 500, 2019)
Chapter 1: “Introduction” and Chapter 3: “Arbitration Agreement,” Arbitration Law of Korea: Practice and Procedure (Contributing author, Juris, 2012)
“South Korea,” PLC Dispute Resolution Multi-Jurisdictional Guide 2012/13 - Dispute Resolution, Volume 2: Arbitration (Co-author, Thomson Reuters, 2012.8.)