Baker McKenzie is pleased to announce that leading international arbitration practitioner Sunyoung Kim will be joining Baker McKenzie & KL Partners Joint Venture Law Firm ("Baker McKenzie KLP JV") as a partner effective 20 May 2024. This latest hire further bolsters the Baker McKenzie KLP JV's bench strength and boosts Baker McKenzie's dispute resolution and international arbitration capabilities, a strategic area of focus for the Firm globally.
Sunyoung, who is dual qualified in Korea and the US, is returning to Baker McKenzie after being an associate in the Firm's Hong Kong office during 2009 - 2012. Her practice focuses on representing clients in international arbitration cases brought before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC), and the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB), as well as in ad-hoc arbitrations.
Sunyoung has represented multinational corporations, government entities, defense contractors, and high-profile individuals in numerous commercial disputes as well as disputes related to cross-border joint venture and M&A matters in the construction, shipping, energy and natural resources sectors. She also advises clients on investor-state matters.
Beomsu Kim, head of the Dispute Resolution Practice Group for Baker McKenzie KLP JV, said: “We are delighted to welcome Sunyoung to our team. She will not only add further strength to our market-leading Dispute Resolution practice, but her appointment also demonstrates our commitment to building our capabilities in strategic areas that align with our clients' business needs.”
Nandakumar Ponniya, Asia Pacific chair of Baker McKenzie's Dispute Resolution Practice Group, commented: “Sunyoung adds to our ever-growing Dispute Resolution practice. Her international arbitration experience not only complements our regional practice well, but also gives us added depth in Korea, to support our multinational clients with their cross-border risks and challenges.”
Won Lee, Baker McKenzie's Korea Practice head, added: “Sunyoung re-joins us at a time when our Korea practice continues to go from strength to strength. Her arrival will help us to further expand our Korea service offering and continue to provide our clients with first-class dispute resolution advice.”
Sunyoung said: “I am thrilled to be coming back to Baker McKenzie, this time through the Baker McKenzie KLP JV platform. Baker McKenzie’s unrivalled global presence offers me the ideal platform to further expand my practice. I look forward to building on our team's strong cross-border disputes capabilities under Mr. Kim's leadership, and collaborating with my colleagues across Asia and globally to help our clients navigate the increasingly complex international arbitration arena.”
Baker McKenzie has one of the largest international arbitration practices in the world. With over 350 arbitration practitioners in key emerging markets, and major financial and arbitration centres worldwide, the team advises on a full range of arbitral matters, including investor-state and treaties, construction, energy and natural resources, and post-M&A related disputes.
Sunyoung has been consistently recognized as a "Next Generation Partner" in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific directory since 2019 and was named "Litigation Star" in the Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific Guide in 2023 and 2024. She obtained her master's degree in law in the US from the University of California, Berkeley, and her bachelor's degree in law in Korea from Yonsei University. Sunyoung is admitted to practice in both Korea and New York.
Sunyoung, who is dual qualified in Korea and the US, is returning to Baker McKenzie after being an associate in the Firm's Hong Kong office during 2009 - 2012. Her practice focuses on representing clients in international arbitration cases brought before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC), and the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB), as well as in ad-hoc arbitrations.
Sunyoung has represented multinational corporations, government entities, defense contractors, and high-profile individuals in numerous commercial disputes as well as disputes related to cross-border joint venture and M&A matters in the construction, shipping, energy and natural resources sectors. She also advises clients on investor-state matters.
Beomsu Kim, head of the Dispute Resolution Practice Group for Baker McKenzie KLP JV, said: “We are delighted to welcome Sunyoung to our team. She will not only add further strength to our market-leading Dispute Resolution practice, but her appointment also demonstrates our commitment to building our capabilities in strategic areas that align with our clients' business needs.”
Nandakumar Ponniya, Asia Pacific chair of Baker McKenzie's Dispute Resolution Practice Group, commented: “Sunyoung adds to our ever-growing Dispute Resolution practice. Her international arbitration experience not only complements our regional practice well, but also gives us added depth in Korea, to support our multinational clients with their cross-border risks and challenges.”
Won Lee, Baker McKenzie's Korea Practice head, added: “Sunyoung re-joins us at a time when our Korea practice continues to go from strength to strength. Her arrival will help us to further expand our Korea service offering and continue to provide our clients with first-class dispute resolution advice.”
Sunyoung said: “I am thrilled to be coming back to Baker McKenzie, this time through the Baker McKenzie KLP JV platform. Baker McKenzie’s unrivalled global presence offers me the ideal platform to further expand my practice. I look forward to building on our team's strong cross-border disputes capabilities under Mr. Kim's leadership, and collaborating with my colleagues across Asia and globally to help our clients navigate the increasingly complex international arbitration arena.”
Baker McKenzie has one of the largest international arbitration practices in the world. With over 350 arbitration practitioners in key emerging markets, and major financial and arbitration centres worldwide, the team advises on a full range of arbitral matters, including investor-state and treaties, construction, energy and natural resources, and post-M&A related disputes.
Sunyoung has been consistently recognized as a "Next Generation Partner" in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific directory since 2019 and was named "Litigation Star" in the Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific Guide in 2023 and 2024. She obtained her master's degree in law in the US from the University of California, Berkeley, and her bachelor's degree in law in Korea from Yonsei University. Sunyoung is admitted to practice in both Korea and New York.
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