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Image: Jong Han Kim

Jong Han Kim

Partner, Litigation Department

Overview

Jong Han Kim is a partner of Paul Hastings and is the chair of the firm’s Seoul office. He practices in the fields of complex cross-border litigation, mergers and acquisitions and international joint ventures.

NOTICE:  Mr. Kim does not represent individuals in cryptocurrency fraud cases

Recognitions

  • Recognized as one of the leading lawyers (Band 1) for Corporate and M&A practice in South Korea by Chambers Asia Pacific (2012)

Education

  • Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 1989 (cum laude)
  • Georgetown University, B.S.F.S., 1986 (magna cum laude)

Representations

Mr. Kim’s practice includes representation of Korean companies in their investments in the United States and China and representation of international institutions in their investments in Korea. Mr. Kim’s representative transactions include:

  • Fila Korea in its acquisition of the Fila global brand.
  • Wal-Mart in its US$882 million sale of its Korean operations to Shinsegae, one of Korea’s largest retail conglomerates.
  • Samsung Electronics in its sale and joint venture of AST Research.
  • Samsung Life in its joint venture with Air China Group to form a joint venture life insurance company in China.
  • Samsung SDI in its proposed US$200 million joint venture in Hungary with KOC Group of Turkey.
  • SK Telecom in its US$440 million joint venture with Earthlink to form Helio mobile phone company in the US.
  • Morgan Stanley Private Equity in its asset acquisition of Jinbang Steel.
  • Morgan Stanley Private Equity in its minority equity investment in Hyundai Rotem, a Hyundai Motor Group company in Korea.
  • Morgan Stanley Private Equity in its acquisition of a controlling interest in KEB Commerz Investment Trust Management.
  • Integrant in connection with the sale of the company to Analog Devices.
  • FCI in its US$90 million sale to Silicon Motion Technology Corporation.
  • A Korean retail conglomerate in its attempted bid for Godiva Chocolate in the US.
  • E-Land Fashion China in its proposed initial public offering and listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
  • Woongjin Coway in its GDR offering.
  • Pixelplus in its Nasdaq IPO.
  • J.P. Morgan in a US$97 million ADR offering and Nasdaq listing for Webzen.
  • J.P. Morgan in a US$101 million GDR offering and Luxembourg Stock Exchange listing for INI Steel.
  • J.P. Morgan in a GDR offering and Luxembourg Stock Exchange listing for Kumgang Korea Chemical.
  • Aetos in the sale of Mesa Building in downtown Seoul to Shinsegae Group of Korea.
  • Merrill Lynch in its real estate joint venture with Mirae Asset Maps to develop Center One Building in downtown Seoul.
  • GE Capital in its acquisition of more than 45 commercial buildings in Seoul and in the establishment of Korea’s first cross-border corporate restructuring real estate investment trust.

Mr. Kim also frequently advises leading Korean corporations on strategies regarding complex cross-border litigation. Mr. Kim’s representation includes:

  • Kolon Industries in connection with trade secrets and anti-trust litigation in the US.
  • Korean Air in connection with anti-trust class action litigation in the US.
  • LG Display in its US anti-trust litigation.
  • Honam Petrochemical in connection with trade secrets litigation in the US.
  • Korea Exchange Bank in Bernie Madoff feeder funds litigation brought by Fairfield Sentry.
  • NCSoft, the world’s largest online game company in Korea, in relation to a trade secret theft case in China.
  • Samsung Corporation in its dispute in relation to an ownership of copper mine in Kazakhstan against Dalex, a Russian company.

Engagement & Publications

  • Columnist for the largest English daily in Korea: his column, “A View From Abroad,” appears frequently in The Korea Herald
  • Author of “The Kumgangsan Dam and International Law,” published in the Korean Journal of International Law

Involvement

  • Foreign Investment Advisor, Minister of State for Trade of the Republic of Korea
  • Advisor, 1998 and 1999 Korean parliamentary delegations to Washington

Practice Areas

Litigation

Mergers and Acquisitions

Corporate

Antitrust and Competition

Technology

Securities and Capital Markets

Trade Secrets

Intellectual Property

Class Actions

Asia

Korea


Languages

Korean

English


Admissions

California Bar


Education

Georgetown University Law Center, J.D. 1989

Georgetown University, B.S.F.S. 1986