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Chul-Won LEE Attorney

T.+82-2-3703-1574 F.+82-2-737-9091/9092
Chul-Won LEE Attorney
Chul-Won LEE Attorney

Chul-Won LEEAttorney

T.+82-2-3703-1574 F.+82-2-737-9091/9092 E.cwlee@kimchang.com

Areas of Expertise

Bio

Chul-Won Lee is an attorney in Kim & Chang’s International Arbitration & Cross-Border Litigation Practice, Litigation Practice, Shipping Practice, and Insolvency & Restructuring Practice. He regularly advises clients from Europe and in the shipping industry. 

Mr. Lee represents diverse clients from various jurisdictions in international arbitration proceedings under the rules of the ICC, LCIA, LMAA, SIAC, AAA and KCAB on matters involving post-M&A disputes, shipbuilding, shipping, international trade, reinsurance and general contractual disputes. 

He has extensive experience in a wide range of shipping laws, including those regarding maritime and environmental casualties, charterparty and bills of lading disputes and shipbuilding disputes. He is experienced with the arrest of a vessel or lifting the arrest of a vessel, as well as the public sale of a vessel in Korea and in a foreign jurisdiction. He has also advised Korean shipowners and shipbuilders on rehabilitation proceedings. 

Furthermore, he has been involved in complicated cross-border litigation involving product liability cases. He has represented a tobacco company in defending health care cost recovery action before a Korean court, and has successfully defended international seed companies for several product liability cases.  

Prior to joining Kim & Chang, Mr. Lee served as a judge in the Seoul Central District Court and the Seoul Southern District Court from 2002 to 2006. He also worked in the London office of Addleshaw Goddard from 2011 to 2012 and the London office of Holman Fenwick Willan in 2011. 

Mr. Lee is actively engaged in academic activities. He was appointed as the director of international affairs of the Korean Maritime Law Association, Korean Insurance Law Association and Korean Private International Law Association. He is a frequent speaker at seminars involving issues on shipping, shipbuilding, insurance and international arbitration.

Mr. Lee received an LL.M. from University College London in 2011 and from the Graduate School of Law, Seoul National University in 2006. He received his LL.B. from the College of Law, Seoul National University in 1997, and attended the Judicial Research and Training Institute of the Supreme Court of Korea in 1999. Mr. Lee is admitted to the Korean bar and is admitted to practice in England and Wales.

Profile

Experience

Commentary Panel, KMST Precedents Committee, Korea Maritime Safety Tribunal (2019-2021) 

Arbitrator, Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (2013-Present) 

Addleshaw Goddard, London Office (2011-2012) 

Holman Fenwick Willan, London Office (2011) 

Kim & Chang (2006-Present) 

Judge, Seoul Southern District Court (2004-2006) 

Judge, Seoul Central District Court (2002-2004) 

Judge Advocate, Republic of Korea Air Force (1999-2002)

Representative Mattersshow

  • Represented a Korean client in an ICC arbitration with the amount of USD 3 billion regarding the acquisition of a life insurance company. This remains one of the largest ever international arbitrations involving a Korean party. 
  • Represented a Korean shipbuilder in a LMAA arbitration against a Norwegian shipowner for the cancellation of a shipbuilding contract with the amount of USD 600 million. 
  • Represented an international tobacco company before Korean court for healthcare cost recovery action. 
  • Represented the Korean government in an ICSID arbitration involving taxation. 
  • Represented a Norwegian P&I club in an oil spill case which was the biggest oil pollution case that occurred in Korean waters. 
  • Represented a Korean reinsurer in a KCAB arbitration against a Ukrainian reinsurer involving a refund guarantee issue. 
  • Represented a US equity fund in an ICC arbitration against a Korean government corporation involving the return of the dividend in relation to the NPL asset disposal. 
  • Represented a Korean client in several disputes before foreign courts including Thailand, Kazakhstan, Canadian, US, Indian, and German courts. 
  • Represented various shipowners in rehabilitation proceedings which Korean shipping companies and/or Korean shipbuilders have commenced.

Representative Activitiesshow

Awards

  • Leading Individual, Chambers Global, Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (Chambers and Partners, 2024)
  • Leading Individual, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific: Dispute resolution (Legalease, 2024)
  • Leading Individual, Chambers Asia-Pacific, Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (Chambers and Partners, 2024)
  • Leading Lawyer, Who’s Who Legal: Korea, Arbitration (Who’s Who Legal, 2023)
  • Leading Lawyer, Who’s Who Legal: Korea, Product Liability Defence (Who’s Who Legal, 2023)
  • Leading Lawyer, Who’s Who Legal: Korea, Transport - Shipping (Who’s Who Legal, 2023)
  • South Korea Lawyer of the Year, Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific Awards (Euromoney, 2023)
  • Litigation Star, Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific: International Arbitration, Shipping (Euromoney, 2023)
  • Stand-out Lawyer - Independently Rated Lawyers (Thomson Reuters, 2023)
  • Leading Lawyer, Who’s Who Legal: Product Liability Defence (Who’s Who Legal, 2022-2023)
  • Leading Lawyer, Asialaw Leading Lawyers: Shipping (Euromoney, 2020-2023)
  • Leading Individual, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific: Shipping (Legalease, 2019-2024)
  • Leading Individual, Chambers Asia-Pacific, Shipping (Chambers and Partners, 2018-2024)

Publications/Activities
    • The Investment Treaty Arbitration Review (Edition 8): Legal Defences to Claims (Co-author, Law Business Research, 2023)
    • Global Arbitration Review - The Guide to M&A Arbitration: Korea Chapter (Co-author, Law Business Research, 2020-2021)
    • A Guide to International Arbitration for Korean Companies (in Korean), Revised Edition (Co-author, Ministry of Justice of Republic of Korea, 2014.12.)
    • A Guide to International Arbitration for Korean Companies (in Korean) (Co-author, Ministry of Justice of Republic of Korea, 2013.8.)
    • Review of English Case Laws on SAJ Shipbuilding Contract Form, The Journal of Korea Maritime Law Association Vol. 35, No. 1 (Korea Maritime Law Association, 2013.4.)
    • Arbitration in Korea, International Commercial Arbitration in Asia 3rd Edition (Co-Author, Juris Publishing, 2013)
    • Inherent Vice of Nature of the Subject Matter Insured under Marine Cargo Insurance, Business Finance Law, No. 56 (Center for Financial Law, Seoul National University, 2012.11.)
    • Lis Pendens Rule under EU Regulation and Its Implication upon Korean Law, The Journal of Korea Maritime Law Association, Volume 34, No. 2 (Korea Maritime Law Association, 2012.11.)
    • The Treatment of Fraudulent Insurance Claim under English Law, Korean Insurance Law Journal Vol. 6, No. 1 (Korean Insurance Law Association, 2012.6.)
    • A Study on Account Receivable Finance and Avoidance in Bankruptcy Code (Edition of Master Thesis of Graduate School of Law, Seoul National University, 2006.2.)
    • Key practice of Maritime Lawyer, Presentation at the conference hosted by Korea University Maritime Law Center (2013.3.)
    • Shipbuilding Contracts and the Governing Law/Arbitration, Presentation at the conference co-hosted by KCAB, Korea University Maritime Law Center (2012.9.)

Education

    University College London (LL.M., 2011) 

    Graduate School of Law, Seoul National University (LL.M., 2006) 

    Judicial Research and Training Institute of the Supreme Court of Korea (1999) 

    Seoul National University (LL.B., 1997)

Qualifications

    Admitted to bar, Korea, 1999

    Solicitor, Admitted to practice in England & Wales, 2012

Languages

Korean, English and Japanese

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Chul-Won LEE
Attorney


T. +82-2-3703-1574      
F. +82-2-737-9091/9092
     


  




Chul-Won Lee is an attorney in Kim & Chang’s International Arbitration & Cross-Border Litigation Practice, Litigation Practice, Shipping Practice, and Insolvency & Restructuring Practice. He regularly advises clients from Europe and in the shipping industry. 

Mr. Lee represents diverse clients from various jurisdictions in international arbitration proceedings under the rules of the ICC, LCIA, LMAA, SIAC, AAA and KCAB on matters involving post-M&A disputes, shipbuilding, shipping, international trade, reinsurance and general contractual disputes. 

He has extensive experience in a wide range of shipping laws, including those regarding maritime and environmental casualties, charterparty and bills of lading disputes and shipbuilding disputes. He is experienced with the arrest of a vessel or lifting the arrest of a vessel, as well as the public sale of a vessel in Korea and in a foreign jurisdiction. He has also advised Korean shipowners and shipbuilders on rehabilitation proceedings. 

Furthermore, he has been involved in complicated cross-border litigation involving product liability cases. He has represented a tobacco company in defending health care cost recovery action before a Korean court, and has successfully defended international seed companies for several product liability cases.  

Prior to joining Kim & Chang, Mr. Lee served as a judge in the Seoul Central District Court and the Seoul Southern District Court from 2002 to 2006. He also worked in the London office of Addleshaw Goddard from 2011 to 2012 and the London office of Holman Fenwick Willan in 2011. 

Mr. Lee is actively engaged in academic activities. He was appointed as the director of international affairs of the Korean Maritime Law Association, Korean Insurance Law Association and Korean Private International Law Association. He is a frequent speaker at seminars involving issues on shipping, shipbuilding, insurance and international arbitration.

Mr. Lee received an LL.M. from University College London in 2011 and from the Graduate School of Law, Seoul National University in 2006. He received his LL.B. from the College of Law, Seoul National University in 1997, and attended the Judicial Research and Training Institute of the Supreme Court of Korea in 1999. Mr. Lee is admitted to the Korean bar and is admitted to practice in England and Wales.






    Commentary Panel, KMST Precedents Committee, Korea Maritime Safety Tribunal (2019-2021) 

    Arbitrator, Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (2013-Present) 

    Addleshaw Goddard, London Office (2011-2012) 

    Holman Fenwick Willan, London Office (2011) 

    Kim & Chang (2006-Present) 

    Judge, Seoul Southern District Court (2004-2006) 

    Judge, Seoul Central District Court (2002-2004) 

    Judge Advocate, Republic of Korea Air Force (1999-2002)






  •   Represented a Korean client in an ICC arbitration with the amount of USD 3 billion regarding the acquisition of a life insurance company. This remains one of the largest ever international arbitrations involving a Korean party. 
  •   Represented a Korean shipbuilder in a LMAA arbitration against a Norwegian shipowner for the cancellation of a shipbuilding contract with the amount of USD 600 million. 
  •   Represented an international tobacco company before Korean court for healthcare cost recovery action. 
  •   Represented the Korean government in an ICSID arbitration involving taxation. 
  •   Represented a Norwegian P&I club in an oil spill case which was the biggest oil pollution case that occurred in Korean waters. 
  •   Represented a Korean reinsurer in a KCAB arbitration against a Ukrainian reinsurer involving a refund guarantee issue. 
  •   Represented a US equity fund in an ICC arbitration against a Korean government corporation involving the return of the dividend in relation to the NPL asset disposal. 
  •   Represented a Korean client in several disputes before foreign courts including Thailand, Kazakhstan, Canadian, US, Indian, and German courts. 
  •   Represented various shipowners in rehabilitation proceedings which Korean shipping companies and/or Korean shipbuilders have commenced.





Awards

  •   Leading Individual, Chambers Global, Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (Chambers and Partners, 2024)
  •   Leading Individual, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific: Dispute resolution (Legalease, 2024)
  •   Leading Individual, Chambers Asia-Pacific, Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (Chambers and Partners, 2024)
  •   Leading Lawyer, Who’s Who Legal: Korea, Arbitration (Who’s Who Legal, 2023)
  •   Leading Lawyer, Who’s Who Legal: Korea, Product Liability Defence (Who’s Who Legal, 2023)
  •   Leading Lawyer, Who’s Who Legal: Korea, Transport - Shipping (Who’s Who Legal, 2023)
  •   South Korea Lawyer of the Year, Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific Awards (Euromoney, 2023)
  •   Litigation Star, Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific: International Arbitration, Shipping (Euromoney, 2023)
  •   Stand-out Lawyer - Independently Rated Lawyers (Thomson Reuters, 2023)
  •   Leading Lawyer, Who’s Who Legal: Product Liability Defence (Who’s Who Legal, 2022-2023)
  •   Leading Lawyer, Asialaw Leading Lawyers: Shipping (Euromoney, 2020-2023)
  •   Leading Individual, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific: Shipping (Legalease, 2019-2024)
  •   Leading Individual, Chambers Asia-Pacific, Shipping (Chambers and Partners, 2018-2024)

Publications/Activities

  •   The Investment Treaty Arbitration Review (Edition 8): Legal Defences to Claims (Co-author, Law Business Research, 2023)
  •   Global Arbitration Review - The Guide to M&A Arbitration: Korea Chapter (Co-author, Law Business Research, 2020-2021)
  •   A Guide to International Arbitration for Korean Companies (in Korean), Revised Edition (Co-author, Ministry of Justice of Republic of Korea, 2014.12.)
  •   A Guide to International Arbitration for Korean Companies (in Korean) (Co-author, Ministry of Justice of Republic of Korea, 2013.8.)
  •   Review of English Case Laws on SAJ Shipbuilding Contract Form, The Journal of Korea Maritime Law Association Vol. 35, No. 1 (Korea Maritime Law Association, 2013.4.)
  •   Arbitration in Korea, International Commercial Arbitration in Asia 3rd Edition (Co-Author, Juris Publishing, 2013)
  •   Inherent Vice of Nature of the Subject Matter Insured under Marine Cargo Insurance, Business Finance Law, No. 56 (Center for Financial Law, Seoul National University, 2012.11.)
  •   Lis Pendens Rule under EU Regulation and Its Implication upon Korean Law, The Journal of Korea Maritime Law Association, Volume 34, No. 2 (Korea Maritime Law Association, 2012.11.)
  •   The Treatment of Fraudulent Insurance Claim under English Law, Korean Insurance Law Journal Vol. 6, No. 1 (Korean Insurance Law Association, 2012.6.)
  •   A Study on Account Receivable Finance and Avoidance in Bankruptcy Code (Edition of Master Thesis of Graduate School of Law, Seoul National University, 2006.2.)
  •   Key practice of Maritime Lawyer, Presentation at the conference hosted by Korea University Maritime Law Center (2013.3.)
  •   Shipbuilding Contracts and the Governing Law/Arbitration, Presentation at the conference co-hosted by KCAB, Korea University Maritime Law Center (2012.9.)





Education

    University College London (LL.M., 2011) 

    Graduate School of Law, Seoul National University (LL.M., 2006) 

    Judicial Research and Training Institute of the Supreme Court of Korea (1999) 

    Seoul National University (LL.B., 1997)


Qualifications

    Admitted to bar, Korea, 1999

    Solicitor, Admitted to practice in England & Wales, 2012


Languages
  •    Korean, English and Japanese





Litigation ,  International Arbitration & Cross-Border Litigation ,  Maritime ,  Shipping Litigation ,  Insolvency & Restructuring ,  Europe ,  Insurance Litigation