Corporate

Our corporate lawyers offer an extensive range of legal services for clients doing business in Korea. As the go-to firm for major domestic and international companies, the team is equipped to advise clients on general civil and commercial matters, including contracts, leasing, corporate governance and company secretarial work.  

Intellectual Property · Brand Protection

Our IP team provide a full range of IP services from counterfeit audits, applications for and registration of patents, trademarks, designs and utility models, filing of opinions, objections and patent trials to litigation. To cope with the ever-changing business environment in the areas of trademarks, copyright, trade secrets and product liability, we provide a “one-stop” service, representing clients through negotiations, legal risk assessment and litigation to enforcement.  

Consumer Protection

Our lawyers are specialists in consumer protection. This dedicated team of specialists advises on customer rights and rights that clients have when dealing with customer issues. Whether it be dealing with complaints made at administrative tribunals, labelling issues or compliance training, our lawyers provide full legal support in this practice area.

Competition and Fair Trade Law

Our anti-trust and competition team are market leaders in handling competition law matters ranging from cartels, abuse of market dominance and unfair trade practices from initial complaints through investigations by the KFTC and anti-trust disputes in administrative, civil and criminal litigation. Our strong litigation experience informs our advisory practice and provides for practical trainings and advice.

Privacy and Data Protection

Our lawyers understand the importance of privacy and data protection to FMCG companies. Our team of lawyers offers integrated and specialized legal services with respect to data handling, data security systems, leakage of personal information, efficient utilization of big data, and compliance. Our team has a wealth of experience in co-ordinating with regional and global privacy teams to ensure the privacy policies and safeguards are in place.

Labor · Employment

Employment issues in Korea are complicated. Compliance with the labor laws are often costly. Our expert labor lawyers advise on all aspects of labor and employment-related issues. Individual and collective labor relationships, workforce restructuring, trade secrets, employment discrimination, employment disputes, internal investigations and audits, administrative proceedings, employment policies and agreements, and compensation are all areas in which we provide full support.

Tax · Customs

Our Tax and Customs group advises on diverse domestic and international tax and customs issues. The group is comprised of lawyers, certified public accountants, tax accounts as well as former tax officials with hands-on experience in the National Tax Service, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, and the Korea Customs Service, enabling the group to provide assistance in all tax related matters including, but not limited to, tax planning, legislative consulting, representation in tax audits, pre-assessments, tax litigation, and tax crimes.

Regulatory · Government Affairs

The Regulatory and Government Affairs practice at Shin & Kim offers a full range of legislative advisory services to both domestic and international clients. Our team assists clients to reflect their policy interests in drafting rules and regulations as well as provide guidance on how to respond to proposed or contemplated policy changes. In doing so, the team monitors the legislative process as a whole so that the process can lead to optimal outcomes for our clients. Our team consists of experts, including lawyers with legislative experience and advisors with diverse policy-making and administrative experience in government agencies and ministries.

Corporate Investigations · White Collar Crime

The Corporate Investigation & White Collar Crime team at Shin & Kim is staffed with attorneys and other professionals with market-leading expertise in criminal defense and white collar crime. The team consists of former judges, former prosecutors, and specialists with substantial experience in the police department. Each team member holds a wealth of experience in connection with criminal investigations and trial-level and appellate-level litigation proceedings. Professionals of the team work in close collaboration with the firm’s accomplished experts in various practices and industry specialists including CPAs and tax accountants. The team has represented clients in highly complex anti-corruption, financial crimes, antitrust, unfair labor practices, tax evasion, trade secrets, privacy law violations and other general corporate criminal matters.

• Our clients include Fortune 500 companies, Korean conglomerates and other globally recognized companies. We are keen to provide the best possible service to our clients, in line with the specific demands of their respective industries. The following is a snapshot of our clients.

[Tobacco]

• KT&G, Philip Morris, Kimree, Huabao International, Korea Tobacco Association,

[Wine and Spirits]

• William Grant & Sons, Pernod Ricard, Hite Jinro, Jinro Group, Heineken, Lotte Asahi Liquor, OB-InBev.

[Luxury brands]

• Chanel, Kering, Richemont, Hermes, LVMH, Dolce & Gabbana, Bulgari, Goyard, Breitling, Furla, Coach, Longchamp

[Cosmetics]

• Sephora, Shiseido, Caudalie, LG Household & Healthcare, Aekyung Industrial, GP Club, L&P COSMETIC, COSMAX, NU SKIN

[Apparel]

• H&M Hennes & Mauritz, Zara Retail, Giordano, Benetton, Tory Burch, Samsung C&T Fashion Group, F&F, E.Land Group, Adidas, Fila, Columbia Sportswear, ASICS Sports

[Food and Beverage]

• Kurly, Subway, Ferrero Rocher, Barilla, Lotte GRS, CJ Cheiljedang, TS Corporation, Orion, Binggrae, Maeil Dairies, Seoul Milk, Haitai Confectionary & Foods, Lotte Confectionary, BR Korea

[Other Consumer Goods]

• Procter & Gamble Korea, Yuhan Kimberly, Beiersdorf