Overview
An undisputed premier firm, Lee & Ko holds steady in the rankings as a fool-proof choice for its impressive roster of offshore and onshore clients. Its renowned finance practice wins plaudits from peers and clients that acknowledge its frequent role in representing lenders. Lee & Ko’s traditional dominance in debt capital markets helped it maintain a steady flow of debt deals. Managing partner Yong Seok Ahn is recognised for his corporate and competition expertise.
The firm has continued to evolve its practice areas through strategic hiring and internal changes. In the dispute resolution sector, Lee & Ko strengthened its team with key hires, including partners Young Su Kang, Tai Han Ha and Eun Pyo Hong in March 2025, and Eun Young Park in October 2024. The competition practice was bolstered by the addition of senior advisor Moo Jin Choi from the Korea Fair Trade Commission in March 2025.
The firm has bolstered its intellectual property practice with a key partner-level hires in the past year. Hankil D. Kang joined the firm as a partner in May 2024, from Bae, Kim & Lee. These strategic appointments underscore Lee & Ko's commitment to expanding its IP capabilities, particularly in healthcare-related fields.
Client feedback
"Accurately understand the context of the case, thoroughly analyse the evidence, and have strong legal logic." - Competition/antitrust
"Deep understanding of the business and excellent and frank communication skills." -Competition/antitrust
"One of Lee & Ko’s greatest strengths is its ability to understand the client’s business and provide advice that is both legally sound and commercially practical. Rather than focusing solely on legal theory, the firm consistently takes into account the broader business implications of its recommendations, which makes its advice particularly valuable.
The firm also excels in communication and client service. The team is accessible, responsive, and proactive in keeping clients informed of important developments. Complex issues are explained in a clear and concise manner, allowing management to quickly understand risks and make informed decisions.
Another notable strength is the firm's ability to coordinate multidisciplinary expertise when required. Whether legal, regulatory, technical, or commercial issues are involved, Lee & Ko is able to assemble the right team and provide seamless support. This integrated approach improves efficiency and helps clients address complex matters more effectively.
In our experience, Lee & Ko combines strong technical capability with a practical, solution-orientated mindset, making them a trusted advisor for significant and challenging matters.” - Construction
"They possess not only outstanding legal expertise but also a significantly higher understanding of the construction industry compared to other law firms. Consequently, they are able to communicate quickly and in-depth regarding the various issues arising in the construction industry, thereby presenting the most effective solutions." - Construction
"Thorough legal review and prompt feedback." – Corporate and M&A
"Lee & Ko is very knowledgeable on the subject matter and related laws and regulations. What I meant by 'knowledgeable' does not mean that they know the law, but rather that they truly understand how the laws operate and are interpreted when conflicts or risk events occur. Lee & Ko effectively advise on the risk type and profile so that we can make the right decision on the level of risk we are taking for the business. Also, I appreciate that their advice is always based on strong legal principles and legal precedents which make us comfortable in taking their legal advice." - Corporate and M&A
"In-depth legal expertise." - Corporate and M&A
"Lee & Ko consistently demonstrates a high level of professionalism, technical expertise, and commercial awareness. The firm combines deep knowledge of Korean law with a strong understanding of international business and dispute resolution practices. The team is responsive, pragmatic, and solution-orientated, providing advice that is both legally sound and commercially practical. Particularly noteworthy are the firm's ability to manage complex matters efficiently, coordinate seamlessly across practice groups, and communicate clearly with clients. The lawyers are proactive in identifying issues, responsive to urgent requests, and effective at explaining sophisticated legal concepts in a practical and accessible manner. Their commitment to client service and their strong understanding of our business objectives distinguish them from many other firms.” - Dispute resolution
"Lee & Ko has the best knowledge about trade insurance, and we always respect Lee & Ko's opinions. And also, Lee & Ko has excellent staff and attorneys to support/manage legal issues and litigations when the issues become disputes." - Insurance
"Regarding the review of the reinsurance contract, Lee & Ko did not only thoroughly review the provisions of the contract but also gave opinions on the terms and conditions of the contract, especially in comparison with other companies' reinsurance contracts." - Insurance
"In-depth knowledge and experience with the insurance sector." - Insurance
"Lee & Ko is highly responsive, provides clear and practical advice tailored to our business, and demonstrates strong expertise in trademarks, designs, and unfair competition matters." - Intellectual property
"Lee & Ko has a strong understanding of what matters from an investor’s perspective and what key issues drive investment decisions. They are able to focus their advice on the points that are most relevant for commercial and strategic decision-making." - Investment funds
"Lee & Ko demonstrates strong expertise in cross-border real estate transactions, particularly in structuring complex investments across multiple jurisdictions. They stand out for their ability to advise on intricate legal, regulatory, and tax matters, including fund and SPV structuring, jurisdiction-specific requirements, and cross-border tax considerations.
Throughout the transaction process, they provide clear, practical, and actionable guidance, supporting legal due diligence, as well as the drafting and negotiation of key transaction documents. The team is proactive, responsive, and highly detail-orientated, with a strong commercial mindset that ensures legal solutions are aligned with our investment objectives while facilitating efficient execution and effectively managing legal and regulatory risks.” - Investment funds
"Lee & Ko is an exceptionally reliable legal partner. Their key strengths are:
Seamless Teamwork: They provide efficient, one-stop solutions across different legal departments.
Strong Litigation: They have a highly experienced team that delivers excellent results in disputes.
Practical Advice: They offer clear, actionable guidance, especially in data privacy and labour issues.
Complex Problem Solving: They are highly effective at handling difficult corporate challenges.” - Labour and employment
"Lee & Ko always prioritises our needs and demonstrates an unwavering commitment to delivering top-tier legal counsel in every assigned matter." - Labour and employment
"Offered counsel from both legal and business perspectives and delivered timely advice.” - Labour and employment
"They can meet deadline and give practical alternative options." - Labour and employment
“Highly attentive to client needs and able to show expertise in all related fields of advisory.” - Real estate
"Compared to other firms or teams, their members tend to stay longer, so they retain a clear record of the fund’s long-term history and provide comprehensive and practical advice tailored to that over the full life of the fund." - Real estate
"Lee & Ko has numerous lawyers, accountants, and experts in related fields, and our professionals do their best for clients in their respective areas." - Real estate
"Ability to draft documents quickly and accurately, a long-standing team that works together without turnover, and reasonable legal fees." - Regulatory
"They provide professional and practical advice.” - Shipping
“Lee & Ko demonstrates deep expertise in ship finance and financial structuring, coupled with excellent execution and highly effective handling of complex transactions.” - Shipping
"Responding to transfer pricing through close communication with the region office and responding to tax audits through skilled partners, managers and assistants." – Tax
"Lee & Ko is a top-tier Korean law firm highly recognised for its elite tax expertise and deep regulatory insights. They excel in VAT proxy-payment rectification claims by securing major tax refunds through flawless statutory interpretation and strong economic substantiation. Furthermore, they provide world-class transfer pricing (TP) documentation that effectively minimises audit risks." - Tax
"Lee & Ko consistently approaches matters from the client’s perspective and demonstrates a high level of commitment. This client-orientated mindset is, in my view, the key reason we continue to place our trust in the firm and entrust it with important work. While Lee & Ko is well-rounded across practice areas, it delivers particularly outstanding results in intellectual property and tax matters." - Tax
“As a premier, top-tier law firm, Lee & Ko excels exceptionally well in navigating South Korea’s tightening regulatory environment, particularly under the Subcontract Act. They provide flawless contract reviews, robust KFTC defence strategies, and proactive risk management tailored perfectly to the complex dynamics of multi-vendor IT/SI projects. Their swift, meticulous legal counsel makes them an indispensable strategic partner in ensuring our compliance and protecting our business operations.” - Technology and telecommunications
Sae Ho Ahn
"Sae Ho has a strong understanding of what matters from an investor’s perspective and which issues are most important for decision-making. His advice is practical, commercially focused, and well aligned with the client’s priorities."
Sunghee Chae
"Diligent and highly professional, they strive to provide realistic and constructive solutions by fully considering the client's needs."
Sundo Choi
"They are incredibly diligent, meticulous, and highly responsible. As the project extended beyond the original timeline, new points requiring feedback continued to arise, yet they willingly provided everything needed."
Jin Soo Han
"Based on his extensive experience as a former judge, he has a deep understanding of legal principles across diverse areas and actively proposes practical solutions."
Sanghoon Han
"Sanghoon is an exceptionally skilled international arbitration lawyer who combines deep legal expertise with a strong understanding of the commercial and technical realities of complex construction and infrastructure projects. He consistently provides practical, business-orientated advice rather than purely theoretical legal analysis, enabling clients to make informed decisions in high-stakes situations.
His strengths include strategic thinking, thorough preparation, and the ability to identify key issues quickly and efficiently. He has a sophisticated understanding of international arbitration procedures and construction disputes, and he is particularly effective at developing persuasive case strategies, managing complex factual and technical issues, and coordinating with multiple stakeholders across different jurisdictions.
In addition, Sanghoon is highly responsive, dependable, and client focused. He communicates clearly, remains calm under pressure, and can explain complicated legal matters in a practical and accessible manner. His dedication, professionalism, and commitment to achieving the best possible outcome for clients make him a trusted advisor and an invaluable member of any dispute resolution team."
Byung Tak Hwang
"He has deep and comprehensive expertise in all aspects of ship finance, particularly in complex financing structures, and consistently delivers innovative and practical solutions. Among the ship finance lawyers I have worked with, he is the most trustworthy and dependable professional."
Chang Soo Jin
"They are highly knowledgeable in the law and skilled at explaining neutral, unbiased options clearly, helping us make well-informed decisions."
Yikang Kang
"Yikang Kang is one of the most promising rising-star lawyers under the age of 40. She demonstrates exceptional enthusiasm as well as strong and highly professional expertise in her core practice area of intellectual property. She is also a qualified patent attorney in Korea and has handled numerous complex legal matters and litigations.
Her meticulous approach enables her to identify potential issues that may not be readily apparent to the client. Thanks to her dedication and attention to detail, I was able to manage the project smoothly and with confidence."
Jee In Kim
"Highly knowledgeable in the respective field and accessible in communication."
"She has a strong understanding of the client’s situation and specific needs, and senior-level members are consistently involved. She provides comprehensive and practical advice tailored to that over the full life of the fund in a very responsible manner."
"Jee In demonstrates deep technical expertise in cross-border real estate transactions, particularly in advising on complex structuring, legal, and regulatory matters. She is highly responsive, proactive, and detail-orientated, consistently providing clear and actionable advice. In addition, they exhibit a strong commercial understanding, ensuring that legal solutions are practical and aligned with our investment objectives, while supporting efficient execution and effective risk management."
Steve Minhoo Kim
"Achieved the desired outcome through close communication with the Region Office, and professional knowledge was utilised to address the investigator's requirements regarding any areas of improvement."
"Steve Minhoo Kim is a highly skilled legal professional recognised for his exceptional expertise in international tax and transfer pricing. He excels at successfully defending multinational clients in complex tax and resolving high-stakes cross-border disputes. Additionally, his strong strategic leadership and clear communication make him a highly trusted advisor for foreign-invested enterprises."
Sae Um Kim
"She has expertise in work, provides very meticulous and quick legal advice, and advises on unquestioned but possible issues."
Seon-Tae Kim
"Attorney Seontae possesses the highest level of expertise in the fields of real estate construction and development in Korea. Through this knowledge, he provides the best legal services for the legal disputes facing our company."
"Clear, practical legal advice."
So Young Kim
"Transparent communication."
Un Ho Kim
"Un Ho Kim is highly responsive, business‑minded, and provides clear, practical advice that is easy for internal stakeholders to act on. He communicates complex IP issues in an organised way."
Jin Hong Kwon
"Jin Hong demonstrates a strong ability to understand and anticipate client needs, providing practical and well-tailored advice. He communicates clearly, responds promptly, and consistently delivers high-quality work."
Miji Lee
"Miji’s greatest attributes lie in her profound understanding of the IT and tech-driven industry, combined with an acute grasp of our specific corporate structure and operational dynamics. Drawing upon her extensive legal experience, she consistently delivers highly customised, practical solutions that address our core business challenges. What truly sets Miji apart is her impeccable timing; she anticipates regulatory and compliance risks well in advance, providing decisive and strategic counsel exactly when the company needs it most to secure a competitive edge."
Sejoong Lee
"He always does his best to meet the client objective rather than simply providing legal advice. This makes the deal process very enjoyable."
San Ha Na
"Based on his deep understanding of the construction industry, he always communicates actively with clients, precisely grasps the issues without requiring separate explanations, and provides the best solutions."
Kwang Bae Park
"Client-friendliness, flexibility, responsiveness and network."
Chang Ho Seong
"Chang Ho is an exceptional litigation leader. His key positive attributes and strengths include:
Strategic Vision: He excels at seeing the big picture in complex disputes and consistently crafts highly effective, winning strategies.
Strong Courtroom Presence: He commands immense respect in court and demonstrates outstanding advocacy and persuasion skills before judges.
Client-Centric Communication: He is brilliant at breaking down complicated legal risks into clear, actionable, and business-friendly advice.
Effective Leadership: As a team leader, he seamlessly coordinates Lee & Ko's extensive litigation resources to deliver swift and powerful results."
"He is trying to think from the customer's point of view and come up with a solution."
Hyunseok Song
"Accurately identifies legal issues and proposes practical solutions and communicates effectively.”
Jeong-Ho Sun
"Extensive experience.”
"Deep knowledge of the regulations and industry & swift responses."
Jang Hee Yoon
"Jang Hee is a highly capable and reliable lawyer with strong expertise in handling complex disputes. He demonstrates excellent legal analytical skills and is able to quickly grasp both the legal and factual issues of a case, even in highly technical and document-heavy matters.
One of his key strengths is his ability to combine legal precision with practical, commercially sensible advice. He consistently provides clear and well-structured guidance, which helps clients make informed decisions in a timely manner.
He is also very responsive and proactive in managing the case, ensuring that deadlines are met and that key developments are communicated effectively. His calm and focused approach under pressure is particularly valuable in contentious proceedings.
Overall, Jang Hee is a trusted counsel who delivers high-quality legal work with strong attention to detail and a clear understanding of client needs.”
Young Ho Yoon
"He is sincere in his work and kind to clients. He is one of the most competent and versatile lawyers I have ever met and has the best attitudes."
