The US firm has a model of working cooperatively with other law firms as conflict and special litigation or investigative counsel. It will follow this model in Seoul and focus exclusively on investigations and disputes. Mr Kim, a former US Department of Justice prosecutor fluent in Korean, will lead the team, which will include financial analyst Jean Kim and US-qualified lawyer and Korean native Robin Baik. Commenting on the new office, Mr Kim said: ‘In Korea, we are offering two products not available in the current market: a Seoul-based Korean fluent team focusing on U.S. government investigations, as well as Hong Kong and offshore litigation capabilities.’

Law firms expand into South Korea

Seoul will be the Kobre’s ninth office and its launch comes two weeks after White and Case opened in the city with the relocation of current Korea practice head James Lee from Los Angeles. The past 18 months have seen a number of international firms setting up offices in South Korea, including Milbank Tweed, Stephenson Harwood and Hadley & McCoy. Others have entered into agreements with local firms, such as Bird and Bird’s alliance with Hwang Mok Park. Sources: The Lawyer; Business Wire