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Sue Hyun LIM Attorney

T.+82-2-3703-5778 F.+82-2-737-9091/9092
Sue Hyun LIM Attorney
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Sue Hyun LIM Attorney

Sue Hyun LIMAttorney

T.+82-2-3703-5778 F.+82-2-737-9091/9092 E.suehyun.lim@kimchang.com

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Areas of Expertise

Bio

Sue Hyun Lim is an attorney at Kim & Chang, who specializes in international arbitration and cross-border litigation matters. 

During her 17+ years of career as an arbitration practitioner, she has represented international and domestic clients in diverse industries, including manufacturing, energy, sales and distribution, banking, insurance, pharmaceutical, construction, online gaming, information technology, etc. She draws her expertise from a wealth of experience in managing international disputes and advocating on behalf of clients in different forums. Over the years, she has worked as arbitration counsel, dispute advisor, arbitrator, and has overseen the international case management work at KCAB INTERNATIONAL, the international division of the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB). 

Prior to joining Kim & Chang, Ms. Lim served as the first Secretary General of KCAB INTERNATIONAL, where she was in charge of the arbitral institution’s international arbitration case management process and activities promoting Seoul as an international arbitration hub. Before that, Ms. Lim led a career in private practice, working in one of the major law firms in Korea as well as the New York office of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. 

Ms. Lim has advised and represented clients in international disputes, leading roles in over 45 international arbitration matters seated in locations throughout Asia, Europe, and the US, under rules of various arbitral institutions (including the ICC, SIAC, JCAA, and KCAB) in disputes involving a range of subject areas such as investment arbitration, post-M&A disputes, shareholders disputes, international construction, distributorship/technical licensing disputes, and intellectual property. 

As a Korean licensed attorney, Ms. Lim has significant experience in appearing and arguing before Korean courts, often representing international clients in matters that involve Korean law. She also regularly provides advice on Korean court procedures such as enforcement of arbitral awards and foreign judgments in Korea, assisting with service of process and evidence taking, and application for injunction or attachment on assets in Korea. Ms. Lim’s advice has helped numerous foreign litigants successfully navigate through the otherwise unfamiliar litigation system in Korea. 

Another important category of her practice involves litigation assistance for Korean companies in foreign courts. In a market where not many Korean-licensed lawyers offer direct, and fully bilingual, services with full appreciation of and familiarity with differences in legal systems, Ms. Lim stands out when it comes to assisting clients in prosecuting or defending litigation outside of Korea, helping clients with identifying the right legal counsel, developing case strategies, preparing evidence, managing document collection and overseeing production compliance, and advising on settlement options. 

In recognition of her contribution to the promotion of the Korean arbitration industry, Ms. Lim received the Commendation from the Minister of Justice in 2020. She was also awarded the Outstanding Attorney Award by the Korean Bar Association in 2018. 

Featured in Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration Future Leaders 2019 and on WWL Korea 2019, Ms. Lim has actively and continuously spearheaded efforts to promote international arbitration of Korea. She has written and co-written a number of published pieces, and is a contributing author to Arbitration Law in Korea: Practice and Procedure (Juris Publishing, 2012), the 2016 edition of Arbitration, Practice and Law (Parkyoungsa, 2016), and most recently the Global Practice Guide for Litigation in South Korea (Chambers and Partners, 2017). 

Ms. Lim graduated from Korea University (LL.B.) and Seoul National University (Completion of Masters Course, no degree), and she received an LL.M. at the New York University School of Law (2011). She attended the Judicial Research and Training Institute of the Supreme Court of Korea upon passing the Korean state bar examination in 1999. 

Ms. Lim is a native Korean speaker and is fluent in English. Having lived in South America during her formative years, she is also conversationally fluent in Portuguese and Spanish. She has been a member of the Korean Bar Association and the Seoul Bar Association since 2002, and was admitted to the New York State bar in 2012. 

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Profile

Experience

Kim & Chang (2022-Present) 

Secretary General, Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (2018-2021) 

Debevoise and Plimpton LLP, New York (2011-2012) 

Bae, Kim & Lee LLC (2005-2010, 2012-2018) 

Kim, Shin & Yu (2002-2005) 

 

Member, KCAB International Women’s Interest Committee (2022-Present) 

Arbitrator, Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (2021-Present) 

Member, ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR (2019-Present) 

Member, Korean In House Counsel Association, Arbitration Subcommittee (2019-2023) 

Member, IBA Subcommittee on International Arbitration Case Law (2019-Present) 

Member, Culture, Environment, and Education Commission, Korean Sports and Olympic Committee (2018-2020) 

SIAC, Reserve Panel of Arbitrators (2018-Present) 

Director of External Affairs, Korean Society of Law (2017-2022) 

Member, International Investment & Intellectual Advisory Committee, Ministry of Justice (2015-2021) 

Member, YSIAC (2014-2016) 

Member, IBA Arbitration Committee, Arb40 (2014-2016) 

Representative Mattersshow

  • Represented a former Korean automobile manufacturer in an ICC arbitration seated in Paris against the largest US automobile manufacturer in a dispute over transfer of business assets. 
  • Represented a Korean manufacturer of automobile parts in a SIAC arbitration held in Singapore against a German manufacturer of similar automobile parts in connection with multiple transaction agreements. 
  • Represented a foreign invested company in Korea in an ICC arbitration against one of the largest petrochemical companies in Korea in connection with a post M&A-dispute. 
  • Represented a prominent computer on-line game company in a JCAA arbitration held in Japan against a Japanese computer game company in connection with a licensing agreement. 
  • Advised the largest Korean telecommunications company in a dispute with a foreign government over the foreign government's attempt to expropriate a joint venture company in which telecommunication country held investment interests. 
  • Represented (by way of providing litigation assistance) two of the largest Korean commercial banks in a lawsuit involving allegations of aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duties, litigated in the US District Court, Southern District of New York. The litigation lasted six years, went through three motion applications and finally settled in 2010. 
  • Represented a Korean manufacturer in a foreign court proceeding seeking to vacate an arbitral award where the seat of arbitration was Singapore. 
  • Represented one of the largest mobile phone keypad manufacturers in Korea in a lawsuit at the Singapore High Court filed by a former distributor/agent in a claim for damages. 
  • Represented a Korean government-affiliated public organization in an ICC arbitration seated in New York against one of Korea’s largest conglomerates and two other large non-Korean companies in connection with the sale of a prominent life insurance company in Korea. 
  • Represented the world’s largest shipping company in an ICC arbitration held in Singapore against, among other respondents, a prominent oil company from the Middle East in a shareholders dispute involving an oil refinery in Korea. This case was successfully concluded and was awarded the GAR Win of the Year the following year. 
  • Represented Korea’s largest telecommunications research institute in an ICC arbitration seated in Seoul against a UK based company regarding a dispute arising from a collaborative research agreement. 
  • Represented a consortium of private equity funds against a global private equity fund and a major bank in Korea (among others) in an ICC arbitration seated in Singapore regarding a dispute from the sale of shares in a Korean credit card company. 
  • Represented a Korean automobile manufacturer in liquidation in an ICC arbitration seated in Paris in post-M&A dispute over certain indemnification agreements. 
  • Represented (by way of providing litigation assistance) a major Korean conglomerate in a English litigation in a post M&A dispute following the purchase of a desalination plant in North Africa from a European construction company. 
  • Represented a Korean construction company regarding an EPC contract dispute (ICC, London) in the Middle East. 
  • Represented a Korean construction company involved in an ICC arbitration matter related to unpaid contract price and extension of time in a refinery construction project in Africa. 
  • Advised a Korean company regarding potential arbitration against a JV partner regarding unpaid dividends and winding down of a JV company in West Africa. 
  • Advised a Korean company regarding a potential dispute involving a construction contract for a hotel project in Central Asia. 
  • Represented a Korean shareholder in a shareholders dispute (ICC) involving call option rights exercisable against an international industry leader in the area of industry air dryers and desiccants. 
  • Represented an industrial cables and connector tube manufacturing company in a dispute (KCAB) with a distributor in the EU regarding the termination of the distributorship and portfolio compensation. 
  • Served in the counsel team for the Korean government in its first investor-state dispute under the ICSID Rules. This matter was one of the largest and high-profile case involving an investment into the banking sector by a well-known foreign equity fund. 
  • Represented a financial company from the EU in a post M&A disputes (ICC, Hong Kong) with Korea buyer over sale of shares in an insurance company. 
  • Provided Korean law assistance to Hong Kong based private equity fund in a complex commercial litigation in the Hong Kong courts involving a post M&A dispute following the client’s divesting from a South Korean manufacturing company. 
  • Advised and provided litigation support for a Korean ATM manufacturing in handling an investigation matter in front of the International Trade Commission in the US. 
  • Represented a Korean pharmaceutical company in an ICC matter involving a dispute with its European distributor over a sale and purchase agreement. 
  • Represented a Korean financial company against a construction company in one of the biggest value construction cases in Vietnam over unpaid construction work involving the tallest building in Hanoi. 
  • Advised a top Korean company in the travel retail industry in a US litigation against one of its largest foreign competitor over a bid for airport duty free concessions. 
  • Served as arbitrator in matters under the ICC International Arbitration Rules and the KCAB Arbitration Rules. 

Representative Activitiesshow

Awards

  • Leading Lawyer, Lexology Index: Korea, Arbitration (Lexology Index, 2024)
  • Leading Lawyer, Who’s Who Legal: Korea, Commercial Mediation (Who’s Who Legal, 2023-2024)
  • Global Elite Future Leaders - Partners, Who's Who Legal: Thought Leaders Global Elite - Arbitration (Who's Who Legal, 2023)
  • Most Highly Regarded Individual, Who’s Who Legal: Korea (Who’s Who Legal, 2021)
  • Commendation from the Minister of Justice (2020)
  • Outstanding Attorney Award (Korean Bar Association, 2018)
  • Future Leaders - Partners, Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration (Who’s Who Legal, 2018-2019, 2021, 2023-2024)
  • Leading Individual, Chambers Global, Dispute Resolution - South Korea (Chambers and Partners, 2018)

Publications/Activities
    [Publications] 
     
    • Balancing the Protection of Foreign Investors and States’ Responses in the Post-Pandemic World: A Korean Perspective (Contributing Author, Kluwer Law International, 2022)
    • Enforcement of Arbitral Awards Incompatible with the Korean Procedural Framework, Journal of Arbitration Studies Vol.30 No.3 (Korean Association of Arbitration Studies, 2020)
    • Global Practice Guide for Litigation in South Korea (Co-author, Chambers and Partners, 2017)
    • Arbitration and Practice (Revised Edition) (Co-author, Pakyoungsa, 2016)
    • Arbitration Law of Korea: Practice and Procedure (Co-author, Juris Publishing, 2011)

Education

    New York University, School of Law (LL.M., 2011) 

    Graduate School of Law, Seoul National University (Completed LL.M. Coursework, 2005) 

    Judicial Research and Training Institute of the Supreme Court of Korea (2002) 

    Korea University (LLB, 1997)

Qualifications

    Admitted to bar, Korea, 2002; New York, 2012

Languages

Korean, English, Portuguese (Conversational) and Spanish (Conversational)

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Sue Hyun LIM
Attorney


T. +82-2-3703-5778      
F. +82-2-737-9091/9092      
  




Sue Hyun Lim is an attorney at Kim & Chang, who specializes in international arbitration and cross-border litigation matters. 

During her 17+ years of career as an arbitration practitioner, she has represented international and domestic clients in diverse industries, including manufacturing, energy, sales and distribution, banking, insurance, pharmaceutical, construction, online gaming, information technology, etc. She draws her expertise from a wealth of experience in managing international disputes and advocating on behalf of clients in different forums. Over the years, she has worked as arbitration counsel, dispute advisor, arbitrator, and has overseen the international case management work at KCAB INTERNATIONAL, the international division of the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB). 

Prior to joining Kim & Chang, Ms. Lim served as the first Secretary General of KCAB INTERNATIONAL, where she was in charge of the arbitral institution’s international arbitration case management process and activities promoting Seoul as an international arbitration hub. Before that, Ms. Lim led a career in private practice, working in one of the major law firms in Korea as well as the New York office of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. 

Ms. Lim has advised and represented clients in international disputes, leading roles in over 45 international arbitration matters seated in locations throughout Asia, Europe, and the US, under rules of various arbitral institutions (including the ICC, SIAC, JCAA, and KCAB) in disputes involving a range of subject areas such as investment arbitration, post-M&A disputes, shareholders disputes, international construction, distributorship/technical licensing disputes, and intellectual property. 

As a Korean licensed attorney, Ms. Lim has significant experience in appearing and arguing before Korean courts, often representing international clients in matters that involve Korean law. She also regularly provides advice on Korean court procedures such as enforcement of arbitral awards and foreign judgments in Korea, assisting with service of process and evidence taking, and application for injunction or attachment on assets in Korea. Ms. Lim’s advice has helped numerous foreign litigants successfully navigate through the otherwise unfamiliar litigation system in Korea. 

Another important category of her practice involves litigation assistance for Korean companies in foreign courts. In a market where not many Korean-licensed lawyers offer direct, and fully bilingual, services with full appreciation of and familiarity with differences in legal systems, Ms. Lim stands out when it comes to assisting clients in prosecuting or defending litigation outside of Korea, helping clients with identifying the right legal counsel, developing case strategies, preparing evidence, managing document collection and overseeing production compliance, and advising on settlement options. 

In recognition of her contribution to the promotion of the Korean arbitration industry, Ms. Lim received the Commendation from the Minister of Justice in 2020. She was also awarded the Outstanding Attorney Award by the Korean Bar Association in 2018. 

Featured in Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration Future Leaders 2019 and on WWL Korea 2019, Ms. Lim has actively and continuously spearheaded efforts to promote international arbitration of Korea. She has written and co-written a number of published pieces, and is a contributing author to Arbitration Law in Korea: Practice and Procedure (Juris Publishing, 2012), the 2016 edition of Arbitration, Practice and Law (Parkyoungsa, 2016), and most recently the Global Practice Guide for Litigation in South Korea (Chambers and Partners, 2017). 

Ms. Lim graduated from Korea University (LL.B.) and Seoul National University (Completion of Masters Course, no degree), and she received an LL.M. at the New York University School of Law (2011). She attended the Judicial Research and Training Institute of the Supreme Court of Korea upon passing the Korean state bar examination in 1999. 

Ms. Lim is a native Korean speaker and is fluent in English. Having lived in South America during her formative years, she is also conversationally fluent in Portuguese and Spanish. She has been a member of the Korean Bar Association and the Seoul Bar Association since 2002, and was admitted to the New York State bar in 2012. 






    Kim & Chang (2022-Present) 

    Secretary General, Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (2018-2021) 

    Debevoise and Plimpton LLP, New York (2011-2012) 

    Bae, Kim & Lee LLC (2005-2010, 2012-2018) 

    Kim, Shin & Yu (2002-2005) 

    Member, KCAB International Women’s Interest Committee (2022-Present) 

    Arbitrator, Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (2021-Present) 

    Member, ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR (2019-Present) 

    Member, Korean In House Counsel Association, Arbitration Subcommittee (2019-2023) 

    Member, IBA Subcommittee on International Arbitration Case Law (2019-Present) 

    Member, Culture, Environment, and Education Commission, Korean Sports and Olympic Committee (2018-2020) 

    SIAC, Reserve Panel of Arbitrators (2018-Present) 

    Director of External Affairs, Korean Society of Law (2017-2022) 

    Member, International Investment & Intellectual Advisory Committee, Ministry of Justice (2015-2021) 

    Member, YSIAC (2014-2016) 

    Member, IBA Arbitration Committee, Arb40 (2014-2016) 






  •   Represented a former Korean automobile manufacturer in an ICC arbitration seated in Paris against the largest US automobile manufacturer in a dispute over transfer of business assets. 
  •   Represented a Korean manufacturer of automobile parts in a SIAC arbitration held in Singapore against a German manufacturer of similar automobile parts in connection with multiple transaction agreements. 
  •   Represented a foreign invested company in Korea in an ICC arbitration against one of the largest petrochemical companies in Korea in connection with a post M&A-dispute. 
  •   Represented a prominent computer on-line game company in a JCAA arbitration held in Japan against a Japanese computer game company in connection with a licensing agreement. 
  •   Advised the largest Korean telecommunications company in a dispute with a foreign government over the foreign government's attempt to expropriate a joint venture company in which telecommunication country held investment interests. 
  •   Represented (by way of providing litigation assistance) two of the largest Korean commercial banks in a lawsuit involving allegations of aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duties, litigated in the US District Court, Southern District of New York. The litigation lasted six years, went through three motion applications and finally settled in 2010. 
  •   Represented a Korean manufacturer in a foreign court proceeding seeking to vacate an arbitral award where the seat of arbitration was Singapore. 
  •   Represented one of the largest mobile phone keypad manufacturers in Korea in a lawsuit at the Singapore High Court filed by a former distributor/agent in a claim for damages. 
  •   Represented a Korean government-affiliated public organization in an ICC arbitration seated in New York against one of Korea’s largest conglomerates and two other large non-Korean companies in connection with the sale of a prominent life insurance company in Korea. 
  •   Represented the world’s largest shipping company in an ICC arbitration held in Singapore against, among other respondents, a prominent oil company from the Middle East in a shareholders dispute involving an oil refinery in Korea. This case was successfully concluded and was awarded the GAR Win of the Year the following year. 
  •   Represented Korea’s largest telecommunications research institute in an ICC arbitration seated in Seoul against a UK based company regarding a dispute arising from a collaborative research agreement. 
  •   Represented a consortium of private equity funds against a global private equity fund and a major bank in Korea (among others) in an ICC arbitration seated in Singapore regarding a dispute from the sale of shares in a Korean credit card company. 
  •   Represented a Korean automobile manufacturer in liquidation in an ICC arbitration seated in Paris in post-M&A dispute over certain indemnification agreements. 
  •   Represented (by way of providing litigation assistance) a major Korean conglomerate in a English litigation in a post M&A dispute following the purchase of a desalination plant in North Africa from a European construction company. 
  •   Represented a Korean construction company regarding an EPC contract dispute (ICC, London) in the Middle East. 
  •   Represented a Korean construction company involved in an ICC arbitration matter related to unpaid contract price and extension of time in a refinery construction project in Africa. 
  •   Advised a Korean company regarding potential arbitration against a JV partner regarding unpaid dividends and winding down of a JV company in West Africa. 
  •   Advised a Korean company regarding a potential dispute involving a construction contract for a hotel project in Central Asia. 
  •   Represented a Korean shareholder in a shareholders dispute (ICC) involving call option rights exercisable against an international industry leader in the area of industry air dryers and desiccants. 
  •   Represented an industrial cables and connector tube manufacturing company in a dispute (KCAB) with a distributor in the EU regarding the termination of the distributorship and portfolio compensation. 
  •   Served in the counsel team for the Korean government in its first investor-state dispute under the ICSID Rules. This matter was one of the largest and high-profile case involving an investment into the banking sector by a well-known foreign equity fund. 
  •   Represented a financial company from the EU in a post M&A disputes (ICC, Hong Kong) with Korea buyer over sale of shares in an insurance company. 
  •   Provided Korean law assistance to Hong Kong based private equity fund in a complex commercial litigation in the Hong Kong courts involving a post M&A dispute following the client’s divesting from a South Korean manufacturing company. 
  •   Advised and provided litigation support for a Korean ATM manufacturing in handling an investigation matter in front of the International Trade Commission in the US. 
  •   Represented a Korean pharmaceutical company in an ICC matter involving a dispute with its European distributor over a sale and purchase agreement. 
  •   Represented a Korean financial company against a construction company in one of the biggest value construction cases in Vietnam over unpaid construction work involving the tallest building in Hanoi. 
  •   Advised a top Korean company in the travel retail industry in a US litigation against one of its largest foreign competitor over a bid for airport duty free concessions. 
  •   Served as arbitrator in matters under the ICC International Arbitration Rules and the KCAB Arbitration Rules. 





Awards

  •   Leading Lawyer, Lexology Index: Korea, Arbitration (Lexology Index, 2024)
  •   Leading Lawyer, Who’s Who Legal: Korea, Commercial Mediation (Who’s Who Legal, 2023-2024)
  •   Global Elite Future Leaders - Partners, Who's Who Legal: Thought Leaders Global Elite - Arbitration (Who's Who Legal, 2023)
  •   Most Highly Regarded Individual, Who’s Who Legal: Korea (Who’s Who Legal, 2021)
  •   Commendation from the Minister of Justice (2020)
  •   Outstanding Attorney Award (Korean Bar Association, 2018)
  •   Future Leaders - Partners, Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration (Who’s Who Legal, 2018-2019, 2021, 2023-2024)
  •   Leading Individual, Chambers Global, Dispute Resolution - South Korea (Chambers and Partners, 2018)

Publications/Activities

[Publications] 
 
  •   Balancing the Protection of Foreign Investors and States’ Responses in the Post-Pandemic World: A Korean Perspective (Contributing Author, Kluwer Law International, 2022)
  •   Enforcement of Arbitral Awards Incompatible with the Korean Procedural Framework, Journal of Arbitration Studies Vol.30 No.3 (Korean Association of Arbitration Studies, 2020)
  •   Global Practice Guide for Litigation in South Korea (Co-author, Chambers and Partners, 2017)
  •   Arbitration and Practice (Revised Edition) (Co-author, Pakyoungsa, 2016)
  •   Arbitration Law of Korea: Practice and Procedure (Co-author, Juris Publishing, 2011)





Education

    New York University, School of Law (LL.M., 2011) 

    Graduate School of Law, Seoul National University (Completed LL.M. Coursework, 2005) 

    Judicial Research and Training Institute of the Supreme Court of Korea (2002) 

    Korea University (LLB, 1997)


Qualifications

    Admitted to bar, Korea, 2002; New York, 2012


Languages
  •    Korean, English, Portuguese (Conversational) and Spanish (Conversational)





International Arbitration & Cross-Border Litigation ,  International Practice ,  International Trade & Customs Litigation ,  Foreign Direct Investment ,  Litigation ,  Mergers & Acquisitions