Skip Navigation
Menu

Hyungkeun LEE Attorney

Hyungkeun LEE Attorney
Hyungkeun LEE Attorney

Hyungkeun LEEAttorney

T.+82-2-3703-5949 F.+82-2-737-9091/9092 E.hyungkeun.lee@kimchang.com

Areas of Expertise

Bio

Hyungkeun Lee is a senior member of Kim & Chang’s international arbitration and cross-border litigation practice who specializes in representing clients in a broad range of international disputes. Mr. Lee also advises clients on issues relating to outbound investment and economic sanctions.

Throughout his career, Mr. Lee has been actively involved in many high-profile disputes including two investment treaty arbitration cases brought against the Republic of Korea, and commercial arbitrations and litigations covering energy, construction and engineering, joint ventures, sales of goods and intellectual property licensing.

Prior to joining Kim & Chang, Mr. Lee was a partner at a major Korean law firm practicing primarily in the areas of international arbitration, cross-border litigation and international trade. He also worked at the Korean Ministry of Justice where he focused on matters relating to trade agreement, investment treaty, private international law and legal services market.

Mr. Lee is regularly invited to speak at conferences hosted by various international organizations and arbitral institutions, including UNCITRAL, ADB, IBA, IPBA, SIAC, HKIAC, KCAB and SIDRC, and recognized by legal publications, such as Chambers, Who’s Who Legal and Expert Guides, as one of the leading arbitration practitioners of his generation in Korea.

Mr. Lee received an LL.M. from Stanford Law School in 2014, and his LL.B. (magna cum laude) from Seoul National University College of Law in 2000. He is licensed to practice in Korea and New York.

Profile

Experience

Vice Chair, KCAB International Arbitration Rules Revision Committee (2022-Present)

Kim & Chang (2020-Present) 

Member, Steering Committee, KCAB Next (2019-2020) 

Director, International Association of Korean Lawyers (IAKL) (2019-Present) 

Director of Planning & Coordination, Korean International Trade Law Association (2019-2020) 

Visiting Legal Scholar, Steptoe & Johnson LLP, Washington D.C. Office (2014-2015) 

Advisor, Advisory Board on Investor State Dispute, Ministry of Justice (2011-Present) 

Yulchon LLC (2008-2020) 

Public Service Advocate, State Litigation Division, Ministry of Justice (2007-2008) 

Public Service Advocate, International Legal Affairs Division, Ministry of Justice (2005-2007)

Representative Mattersshow

  • Represented the Korean government in a treaty arbitration under the Iran-Korea bilateral investment treaty. 
  • Represented the Korean government in a treaty arbitration under the Korea-Malaysia bilateral investment treaty. 
  • Represented a Korean local government in an ICC arbitration regarding the concession agreement for a public-private partnership project with a foreign joint venture. 
  • Represented a multinational liquid cargo distribution company in an ICC arbitration regarding a management dispute of a joint venture established in Korea. 
  • Represented a Korean telecommunications company in an ICC arbitration regarding sale of shares in a joint venture established between the Korean company and a Southeast Asian media company. 
  • Represented a Korean construction company in an ICC arbitration regarding an expressway construction project between the Korean company and a Central Asian government agency. 
  • Represented a Korean automotive parts manufacturer in an ICC arbitration regarding a management dispute of a joint venture established in Korea. 
  • Represented a Korean construction company in an ICC arbitration involving a construction agreement between the Korean company and a Korean subsidiary of a Southeast Asian logistics company. 
  • Represented a Korean heavy electric machinery manufacturer in an ICC arbitration involving a distributorship agreement between the Korean company and a North American distributor. 
  • Represented a Korean trading company in an SIAC arbitration regarding coal supply between the Korean company and a European supplier. 
  • Represented a Korean broadcasting company in an ad hoc arbitration regarding a license agreement between the Korean company and a European solutions provider. 
  • Represented a European design solutions provider in an ad hoc arbitration regarding a services contract with the developer of an offshore renewable energy project in Korean. 
  • Represented a multinational energy technology company in a KCAB arbitration regarding a supply agreement between the multinational company and a Korean independent power producer. 
  • Represented a Korean construction company in a KCAB arbitration regarding the construction agreement between the Korean company and a Middle Eastern construction company. 
  • Represented a Korean cosmetics manufacturer in a KCAB arbitration regarding a distribution agreement between the Korean company and an East Asian distributor. 
  • Represented a multinational defense company in a Korean court proceeding against the Korean government involving a fighter jet systems upgrade project. 
  • Represented a multinational braking systems provider in a Korean court proceeding against a Korean railroad equipment manufacturer involving an exclusive supply agreement. 
  • Represented a multinational industrial manufacturing company in a Korean court proceeding against a Korean insurance company involving a restitution claim over a power plant outage. 
  • Represented a European aircraft leasing company in a Korean court proceeding against an East Asian airline involving lease payment. 

Representative Activitiesshow

Awards

  • Litigation Star, Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific: International Arbitration (Euromoney, 2023)
  • The Investment Treaty Arbitration Review (Edition 7): Legal Defences to Claims (Co-author, Law Business Research, 2022)
  • Leading Lawyer, Who’s Who Legal: Korea, Arbitration (Who’s Who Legal, 2021, 2023) 
  • Future Leader, Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration (Who’s Who Legal, 2018-2021) 
  • Leading Individual, Chambers Asia-Pacific, Disputes Resolution: Arbitration (Chambers and Partners, 2017-2020) 
  • Rising Star, Expert Guides (Euromoney, 2016-2021) 

Publications/Activities
    • Lexology Panoramic - Arbitration : Korea Chapter (Co-author, Law Business Research, 2022-2024)
    • The Investment Treaty Arbitration Review (Edition 8): Legal Defences to Claims (Co-author, Law Business Research, 2023)
    • The Investment Treaty Arbitration Review (Edition 7): Legal Defences to Claims (Co-author, Law Business Research, 2022)
    • Handbook on Domestic Arbitration Procedures (Co-author, KCAB, 2018)
    • Principle of Lex Fori Concursus and Choice of Law Rules in Cross-Border Insolvency, Yulchon Case Studies (Co-author, Pakyoungsa, 2016)
    • A Korean Perspective on Privilege in International Arbitration, Korean Arbitration Review Vol.2 (Co-author, KCAB, 2013)
    • Investor-State Dispute Settlement Under Korea-US Free Trade Agreement: Focus on Potential Introduction of Appellate Mechanism, Legal Issues in FTA (Seoul Bar Association, 2012)
    • Seoul High Court Declines to Enforce California Judgment Providing for Specific Performance, Korean Arbitration Review Vol.1 (KCAB, 2012)
    • Overview of FCC Regulations on Net Neutrality, Law & Technology Volume 7, Issue 1 (Co-author, Center for Law & Technology of Seoul National University, 2011)

Education

    Stanford Law School (LL.M., Law, Science and Technology, 2014) 

    Judicial Research and Training Institute of the Supreme Court of Korea (2005) 

    Graduate School of Law, Seoul National University (Completed Coursework, LL.M., 2003) 

    Seoul National University (LL.B., magna cum laude, 2000)

Qualifications

    Admitted to bar, Korea, 2005; New York, 2017

Languages

Korean and English

Insights

Search Professionals

EXPERTISE RESET SEARCH

EXPERTISE

Close

EXPERTISE

레이어 닫기

Share

Close
  

Hyungkeun LEE
Attorney


T. +82-2-3703-5949      
F. +82-2-737-9091/9092
     


  




Hyungkeun Lee is a senior member of Kim & Chang’s international arbitration and cross-border litigation practice who specializes in representing clients in a broad range of international disputes. Mr. Lee also advises clients on issues relating to outbound investment and economic sanctions.

Throughout his career, Mr. Lee has been actively involved in many high-profile disputes including two investment treaty arbitration cases brought against the Republic of Korea, and commercial arbitrations and litigations covering energy, construction and engineering, joint ventures, sales of goods and intellectual property licensing.

Prior to joining Kim & Chang, Mr. Lee was a partner at a major Korean law firm practicing primarily in the areas of international arbitration, cross-border litigation and international trade. He also worked at the Korean Ministry of Justice where he focused on matters relating to trade agreement, investment treaty, private international law and legal services market.

Mr. Lee is regularly invited to speak at conferences hosted by various international organizations and arbitral institutions, including UNCITRAL, ADB, IBA, IPBA, SIAC, HKIAC, KCAB and SIDRC, and recognized by legal publications, such as Chambers, Who’s Who Legal and Expert Guides, as one of the leading arbitration practitioners of his generation in Korea.

Mr. Lee received an LL.M. from Stanford Law School in 2014, and his LL.B. (magna cum laude) from Seoul National University College of Law in 2000. He is licensed to practice in Korea and New York.






    Vice Chair, KCAB International Arbitration Rules Revision Committee (2022-Present)

    Kim & Chang (2020-Present) 

    Member, Steering Committee, KCAB Next (2019-2020) 

    Director, International Association of Korean Lawyers (IAKL) (2019-Present) 

    Director of Planning & Coordination, Korean International Trade Law Association (2019-2020) 

    Visiting Legal Scholar, Steptoe & Johnson LLP, Washington D.C. Office (2014-2015) 

    Advisor, Advisory Board on Investor State Dispute, Ministry of Justice (2011-Present) 

    Yulchon LLC (2008-2020) 

    Public Service Advocate, State Litigation Division, Ministry of Justice (2007-2008) 

    Public Service Advocate, International Legal Affairs Division, Ministry of Justice (2005-2007)






  •   Represented the Korean government in a treaty arbitration under the Iran-Korea bilateral investment treaty. 
  •   Represented the Korean government in a treaty arbitration under the Korea-Malaysia bilateral investment treaty. 
  •   Represented a Korean local government in an ICC arbitration regarding the concession agreement for a public-private partnership project with a foreign joint venture. 
  •   Represented a multinational liquid cargo distribution company in an ICC arbitration regarding a management dispute of a joint venture established in Korea. 
  •   Represented a Korean telecommunications company in an ICC arbitration regarding sale of shares in a joint venture established between the Korean company and a Southeast Asian media company. 
  •   Represented a Korean construction company in an ICC arbitration regarding an expressway construction project between the Korean company and a Central Asian government agency. 
  •   Represented a Korean automotive parts manufacturer in an ICC arbitration regarding a management dispute of a joint venture established in Korea. 
  •   Represented a Korean construction company in an ICC arbitration involving a construction agreement between the Korean company and a Korean subsidiary of a Southeast Asian logistics company. 
  •   Represented a Korean heavy electric machinery manufacturer in an ICC arbitration involving a distributorship agreement between the Korean company and a North American distributor. 
  •   Represented a Korean trading company in an SIAC arbitration regarding coal supply between the Korean company and a European supplier. 
  •   Represented a Korean broadcasting company in an ad hoc arbitration regarding a license agreement between the Korean company and a European solutions provider. 
  •   Represented a European design solutions provider in an ad hoc arbitration regarding a services contract with the developer of an offshore renewable energy project in Korean. 
  •   Represented a multinational energy technology company in a KCAB arbitration regarding a supply agreement between the multinational company and a Korean independent power producer. 
  •   Represented a Korean construction company in a KCAB arbitration regarding the construction agreement between the Korean company and a Middle Eastern construction company. 
  •   Represented a Korean cosmetics manufacturer in a KCAB arbitration regarding a distribution agreement between the Korean company and an East Asian distributor. 
  •   Represented a multinational defense company in a Korean court proceeding against the Korean government involving a fighter jet systems upgrade project. 
  •   Represented a multinational braking systems provider in a Korean court proceeding against a Korean railroad equipment manufacturer involving an exclusive supply agreement. 
  •   Represented a multinational industrial manufacturing company in a Korean court proceeding against a Korean insurance company involving a restitution claim over a power plant outage. 
  •   Represented a European aircraft leasing company in a Korean court proceeding against an East Asian airline involving lease payment. 





Awards

  •   Litigation Star, Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific: International Arbitration (Euromoney, 2023)
  •   The Investment Treaty Arbitration Review (Edition 7): Legal Defences to Claims (Co-author, Law Business Research, 2022)
  •   Leading Lawyer, Who’s Who Legal: Korea, Arbitration (Who’s Who Legal, 2021, 2023) 
  •   Future Leader, Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration (Who’s Who Legal, 2018-2021) 
  •   Leading Individual, Chambers Asia-Pacific, Disputes Resolution: Arbitration (Chambers and Partners, 2017-2020) 
  •   Rising Star, Expert Guides (Euromoney, 2016-2021) 

Publications/Activities

  •   Lexology Panoramic - Arbitration : Korea Chapter (Co-author, Law Business Research, 2022-2024)
  •   The Investment Treaty Arbitration Review (Edition 8): Legal Defences to Claims (Co-author, Law Business Research, 2023)
  •   The Investment Treaty Arbitration Review (Edition 7): Legal Defences to Claims (Co-author, Law Business Research, 2022)
  •   Handbook on Domestic Arbitration Procedures (Co-author, KCAB, 2018)
  •   Principle of Lex Fori Concursus and Choice of Law Rules in Cross-Border Insolvency, Yulchon Case Studies (Co-author, Pakyoungsa, 2016)
  •   A Korean Perspective on Privilege in International Arbitration, Korean Arbitration Review Vol.2 (Co-author, KCAB, 2013)
  •   Investor-State Dispute Settlement Under Korea-US Free Trade Agreement: Focus on Potential Introduction of Appellate Mechanism, Legal Issues in FTA (Seoul Bar Association, 2012)
  •   Seoul High Court Declines to Enforce California Judgment Providing for Specific Performance, Korean Arbitration Review Vol.1 (KCAB, 2012)
  •   Overview of FCC Regulations on Net Neutrality, Law & Technology Volume 7, Issue 1 (Co-author, Center for Law & Technology of Seoul National University, 2011)





Education

    Stanford Law School (LL.M., Law, Science and Technology, 2014) 

    Judicial Research and Training Institute of the Supreme Court of Korea (2005) 

    Graduate School of Law, Seoul National University (Completed Coursework, LL.M., 2003) 

    Seoul National University (LL.B., magna cum laude, 2000)


Qualifications

    Admitted to bar, Korea, 2005; New York, 2017


Languages
  •    Korean and English





International Arbitration & Cross-Border Litigation ,  International Practice ,  International Trade & Customs ,  Economic Sanctions