Global law firm Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has set up shop in South Korea to build its Asian business.
The Seoul office will be its 18th international base and will be run by newly recruited partners Eugene Chang from K&L Gates and Philip Kim from Herbert Smith Freehills.
Their work will focus on shipping, aviation, energy and disputes.
“Having a dedicated office in South Korea will also enable the firm to develop its existing South Korean-based relationships and will provide an excellent launch pad for establishing a strong presence in the country,” WFW said.
Chang is an expert on cross-border energy and infrastructure project developments, structured and project financing, and mergers and acquisitions.
He has worked with lenders and conglomerates such as Korea Development Bank, Kepco, Posco, SK, Hanwha and shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries.
The lawyer will split his time between WFW’s offices in Seoul and New York.
Meanwhile, Kim is an international arbitration practitioner.
WFW senior partner George Paleokrassas said: “Having an office in Seoul is crucial to maintaining and growing our Korean business and is key for boosting integration across our other offices in Asia.”
“With South Korea having one of the strongest economies in Asia and being one of the largest shipbuilding nations in the world, as well as having a renewed focus on energy transition, there has never been a better time for WFW to open in Seoul.”
Chang said WFW has an excellent international reputation.
“I look forward to cementing existing relationships with clients that we already share and to undertaking new and exciting challenges with my colleagues to help the firm continue to grow and build on its existing successes,” he said.
Kim added that he wanted to help his new company build a substantial and sustainable international commercial arbitration practice.
“The firm’s market-leading practices in arbitration, insurance, energy and shipping complement my existing practice wonderfully given the high and consistent demand for legal services in these areas in South Korea,” he said.
