Sang Yoon LEE - Kim & Chang

Bio

Sang Yoon Lee is an attorney focusing on litigation, international arbitration, and cross-border disputes, with particular experience in commercial litigation involving international transactions and distributorships, mergers and acquisitions, product liability, public-private partnerships, IT, and securities-related disputes. He has represented clients across a range of industries, including semiconductors, financial services, manufacturing, construction, defense, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods.

Prior to joining Kim & Chang, Mr. Lee served as a judge in district and appellate courts for 15 years and as a professor at the Judicial Research and Training Institute of the Supreme Court of Korea. He also served on the Ministry of Justice Advisory Committee on the Enactment of the Securities-Related Class Action Act and was the first Counselor for Judicial Affairs at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the United States (2006-2008).

Mr. Lee received an LL.M. from the University of Chicago Law School (1999) and an LL.M. from the Seoul National University Graduate School of Law (1994). He graduated from the Judicial Research and Training Institute of the Supreme Court of Korea (1991) and received an LL.B. from the Seoul National University College of Law (1987). He was admitted to the Korean bar in 1991.

He advises and represents domestic and multinational clients in complex disputes in Korea and in cross-border matters.

View All

Profile

Experience

Kim & Chang (2009-Present)

Chief Presiding Judge, Chuncheon District Court (2008-2009)

Counselor for Judicial Affairs, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the United States. (2006-2008)

Presiding Judge, Chuncheon District Court (2006)

Judge, Seoul High Court (2004-2006)

Professor (Judge), Judicial Research and Training Institute of the Supreme Court of Korea (2002-2004)

Member, Ministry of Justice Advisory Committee on the Enactment of the Securities-Related Class Action Act (2001-2004)

Judge, Yeoju Branch of Suwon District Court (2001-2002)

Judge, Miryang Branch, Changwon District Court (1998-2001)

Judge, Eastern Branch, Seoul District Court (1996-1998)

Judge, Suwon District Court (1994-1996)

Judge Advocate, Republic of Korea Air Force (1991-1994)

Representative Mattersshow

Cross-Border Litigation and Enforcement Proceedings

Advised a Korean company in US court proceedings involving international private law issues.
Advised multinational companies in US court proceedings involving the Hague Convention and evidence-taking in Korea.
Represented US, German, French, and Korean companies in enforcement proceedings in Korea.
Represented a US private equity fund in proceedings to set aside an ICC arbitral award.

Disputes Involving International Transaction, Purchase, Distribution, and Agency Agreements

Represented and advised US, UK, German, Japanese, and Swiss companies in disputes involving international transaction and distribution and agency agreements, including litigation and preliminary injunction proceedings.

Infrastructure Public-Private Partnership (“PPP”) Project Disputes

Represented a Canadian private investment vehicle in preliminary injunction proceedings in connection with a light rail project.
Represented private investment companies in litigation and arbitration arising out of PPP infrastructure projects, including disputes concerning refinancing, total project costs, and operation/management consignment operation agreements for bridge, port, dormitory, and cargo terminal.

Corporation Law, Capital Market Act, and M&A-related Disputes

Represented companies in civil, criminal, and preliminary injunction proceedings relating to shareholders’ meetings, split-offs and mergers, directors’ compensation, directors’ liability, and stock options.
Represented companies in civil, criminal, and preliminary injunction proceedings relating to M&A disputes.
Represented companies and individuals in civil and criminal matters involving alleged accounting fraud, stock price manipulation, and misrepresentation.

Class Action Law for Securities Transactions

Represented an industrial company in a securities-related class action.
Represented global financial institutions in securities class actions involving derivative-linked securities.
Represented a construction company in a securities-related class action involving alleged accounting fraud and misrepresentation.

Defense Industry Disputes

Represented and advised US, UK, German, Swedish, and French defense contractors in civil and administrative disputes concerning product defects and procurement contracts with Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

Product Liability and Defect Disputes

Represented global medical device and pharmaceutical companies in product liability litigation.
Represented and advised global companies in the consumer goods and industrial sectors in civil litigation and criminal proceedings relating to alleged product defects.

Privacy and Data Security Litigation

Represented global IT companies in litigation involving privacy and data security issues.
Represented companies and individuals in criminal proceedings and civil litigations under the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) and the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection (Network Act).

Antitrust & Competition Litigation

Represented manufacturers and service providers (including elevators, beverages, electricity meters, construction, and airlines) in civil, criminal, and administrative proceedings relating to alleged price fixing.
Represented a beverage manufacturer in civil and administrative proceedings relating to alleged obstruction of business.
Represented a multinational company in nationwide administrative litigation under the Large-Scale Distribution Business Act.

Representative Activitiesshow

Publications/Activities

Due Process in the Class Action Act for Securities Transactions (2005)
The Binding Effect and the Finality of Judgment in Class Actions (2004)
Role-Play as the Professional Legal Training of Inns of Court School of Law (2004)