Maria HAJIYEROU - Kim & Chang

Bio

Maria Hajiyerou is a senior foreign attorney at Kim & Chang with over 16 years of experience advising multinational and domestic clients on complex regulatory and compliance matters in Korea. Her practice focuses on antitrust and competition law, copyright, and data privacy and cybersecurity. Her practice also encompasses general regulatory issues, particularly in the food & beverage and sports & luxury sectors.

As a member of the Antitrust & Competition Practice, Ms. Hajiyerou has extensive experience handling cross-border merger reviews before the Korea Fair Trade Commission (“KFTC”), including high profile transactions in the software, food, chemical and healthcare industries. She also advises clients in KFTC investigations involving cartels, unfair trade practices and franchise-related matters. Notably, she assisted a team that successfully overturned a 2017 KFTC decision against a US-based advanced materials company, marking the first Korean Supreme Court ruling finding that non-pricing vertical restraints are legal under Korean competition law.

In the area of data privacy and cybersecurity, Ms. Hajiyerou regularly advises clients on managing data breach incidents and ensuring compliance with personal information protection laws. Her experience extends to handling cross-border data leakage cases and related regulatory investigations.

Ms. Hajiyerou has developed significant industry expertise in the food & beverage and consumer products sectors, assisting global brands with market entry and exit strategies, distribution structures, regulatory compliance and ongoing business operations in Korea.

Beyond her regulatory practice, Ms. Hajiyerou provides specialized counsel on copyright matters across industries, particularly in the area of digital copyright and emerging technologies.

Ms. Hajiyerou is a member of the New York Bar.

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Profile

Experience

Co-chair, Legal Affairs Committee, American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (2024-Present)

Kim & Chang (2010-Present)

Shin & Kim (2009-2010)

Hanwha Group (2007-2009)

Office of Korean Affairs, United States Department of State (2002-2003)

Representative Mattersshow

Antitrust & Competition

Worked with a multinational manufacturer of electronic design automation software in a merger filing for its acquisition of a multinational manufacturer of engineering simulation software.
Worked with a multinational retail platform company in a merger filing for its acquisition of another multinational retail platform.
Worked with a multinational automaker in a cartel case before the KFTC.
Worked with a multinational financial services firm in cartel cases before the KFTC.
Worked with a multinational global materials science company in an unfair trade practice case before the KFTC.
Worked with a multinational life sciences and biotechnology company in a merger filing for its acquisition of a biopharma business before the KFTC.
Worked with a multinational design and engineering software maker in an abuse of dominance and unfair trade practice case before the KFTC.
Worked with a multinational investment bank and financial services firm in a cartel case before the KFTC.
Worked with a multinational life sciences manufacturer in a merger filing for its acquisition of another life sciences company before the KFTC.
Worked with a multinational manufacturer of HDD, SDD and data center solutions in a merger filing for its acquisition of another maker of HDD and storage solutions before the KFTC.

Data Privacy & Cybersecurity

Worked with a multinational retail brand in a data breach investigation.
Worked with a multinational F&B company in Korean privacy law compliance.
Worked with a multinational medical device company in Korean privacy law compliance.
Worked with a multinational retail platform company in Korean privacy law compliance.

Representative Activitiesshow

Awards

Future Leaders, Lexology Index: Competition Future Leaders - Partner (Lexology Index, 2026)
Leading Lawyer, Lexology Index: Korea, Franchising (Lexology Index, 2026)
Client Choice Awards - Franchising (Lexology, 2026)
Leading Lawyer, Lexology Index: Korea, Franchising (Lexology Index, 2025)
Leading Lawyer, Asialaw Leading Lawyers: Competition/Antitrust (Delinian, 2024)
Leading Lawyer, Lexology Index: Competition (Lexology Index, 2024)
Global Elite Thought Leader, Lexology Index: Thought Leaders Global Elite - Competition_Under 45 (Lexology Index, 2024)
Leading Lawyer, Asialaw Leading Lawyers: Competition/Antitrust (Delinian, 2021-2024)
Leading Lawyer, Lexology Index: Korea, Competition (Lexology Index, 2019-2022, 2024)
Future Leader, Lexology Index: Competition (Lexology Index, 2018, 2021-2023, 2025)

Publications/Activities

GCR Know-How: "Antimonopoly & Unilateral Conduct - Korea" (GCR, 2015)
The Essentials of Merger Review, chapter 32, Korea (Co-author, ABA, 2013)
Antitrust Year in Review: "Korea" chapter (Co-author, ABA, 2012)
ABA International Antitrust Law Committee: "Antitrust Year in Review: South Korea" (ABA, 2011, 2020-2025)