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Byung Hwa LEE Attorney
T. +82-2-3477-8585 F. +82-2-3477-9309 E. bhlee@law-lin.com
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Attorney Byung Hwa Lee started his corporate legal practice at Kim Chang Lee in 1998 and has since carried out various advisory and litigation work. In 2008, he moved to 3M Korea Co., Ltd. as General Counsel, overseeing legal and compliance work arising within a multinational company. Returning to private practice in 2018, he became a partner at Lee & Ko, providing clients with effective solutions based on a deep understanding of their needs in corporate advisory, compliance, and antitrust & competition law teams. Since joining LIN as a partner in 2025, he has been providing comprehensive legal services that clients need in the areas of corporate consulting, environment, ESG, compliance, healthcare, and antitrust & competition.
 
In addition, Attorney Lee served as the former President of the Korean In-House Counsel Association and the Chairman of the Special Committee on In-House Counsels of the Korean Bar Association. Afterwards, he served as the Chairman of the International Committee of the Korean Bar Association and as the Vice Chairman of the Korean Bar Association from 2023 to 2025. Based on his diverse practical experience in both law firms and corporations and his extensive interactions with in-house lawyers and experts in each field, he serves as a faithful assistant in solving various problems for clients.
Attorney Byung Hwa Lee started his corporate legal practice at Kim Chang Lee in 1998 and has since carried out various advisory and litigation work. In 2008, he moved to 3M Korea Co., Ltd. as General Counsel, overseeing legal and compliance work arising within a multinational company. Returning to private practice in 2018, he became a partner at Lee & Ko, providing clients with effective solutions based on a deep understanding of their needs in corporate advisory, compliance, and antitrust & competition law teams. Since joining LIN as a partner in 2025, he has been providing comprehensive legal services that clients need in the areas of corporate consulting, environment, ESG, compliance, healthcare, and antitrust & competition.
 
In addition, Attorney Lee served as the former President of the Korean In-House Counsel Association and the Chairman of the Special Committee on In-House Counsels of the Korean Bar Association. Afterwards, he served as the Chairman of the International Committee of the Korean Bar Association and as the Vice Chairman of the Korean Bar Association from 2023 to 2025. Based on his diverse practical experience in both law firms and corporations and his extensive interactions with in-house lawyers and experts in each field, he serves as a faithful assistant in solving various problems for clients.
Profile
Experience
• Former) Attorney and Partner at Kim Chang Lee (1998-2008)
• Former) General Counsel, Legal Support Division, 3M Korea (2008-2017)
• Former Partner, Lee & Ko (2018-2025)
• Former) Litigation Attorney, Korea Fair Trade Commission (2000-2002)
• Former) Lecturer on Copyrights and Member of the Evaluation Committee for Support Program, Korea Copyright Commission (2008-2022)
• Former) National Legislative Officer, Ministry of Justice (2011-2013)
• Former) Integrity Ombudsman and Legal Advisor, Korean Film Council (2015-2017)
• Former) President, Korea In-House Counsel Association (2016-2018)
• Former) Member of the Operational Committee, Judicial Research and Training Institute (2017-2018)
• Former) Member of the Advisory Committee to Revise the Standard Compliance Control Standards for Listed Companies, Ministry of Justice (2018)
• Former) Chairman, Special Committee on In-House Counsels, Korean Bar Association (2020-2021)
• Former) Member of the Task Force for Promoting the Corporate Ethics and Compliance Program (KCP), Anti-Corruption and Civil rights Commission (2021)
• Former) Chairman of the International Committee, the Korean Bar Association (2021-2023)
• Former) Member of the Judicial Appointment Document Screening Committee, Supreme Court (2023-2024)
• Former) Judge, MoneyToday Legal Awards (2023-2024)
• Former) Vice President, Korean Bar Association (2023-2025)
• Current) Arbitrator, Korea Commercial Arbitration Center (2013-present)
• Current) Legal Advisor, SR Corporation (2021-present)
• Current) Director, Global Medical Non-profit Corporation (2022-present)
• Current) Co-Chairman, Private-led Carbon Reduction Forum (2022-present)
• Current) Director, Gangneung-Wonju National University Development Fund Foundation (2024-present)
• Current) Member of the ESG Special Committee, Korean Bar Association (2024-present)
• Current) Expert Counselor, Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (2024-present)
• Current) Legal Advisor, Seoul Metropolitan Government (2025-present)
• Current) Chairman of the Asia Subcommittee of the International Committee, Seoul Bar Association (2025-present)
• Current) Partner, LIN (2025-present)
Representative Matters 화살표 화살표
[M&A & Corporate Advisory]
• Advised on new share subscription investment, share transfers, asset transfers, business transfers, and post-merger integration (PMI)
• Advised on regulations for listed companies and holding companies
• Counseled on management disputes, shareholders' meetings, and board operations
• Provided general corporate legal support to numerous venture capitals and start-up companies
• Advised on responding to delisting
 
[Compliance]
• Established global compliance systems for affiliates of major business groups
• Established an enterprise-wide compliance system for a major pharmaceutical company (in collaboration with a consulting firm)
• Established an enterprise-wide compliance system for a major energy company
• Conducted internal investigations of alleged compliance violations and advised on improvement measures
• Established an anti-corruption compliance system
• Built an integrity evaluation system for vendors
• Lectured on compliance and ESG at various companies, seminars, symposiums and courses
 
[Environmental, ESG, Industrial Safety]
• Established a compliance system for chemical substances and environmental regulations
• Provided counsel on compliance with the Act on Registration and Evaluation of Chemical Substances (“K-REACH”)
• Advised on responses to investigations or sanctions imposed by regulatory agencies such as the Ministry of the Environment
• Established an ESG risk management system
• Advised on ESG status diagnoses and rating improvements
• Advised on preparation of sustainability reports and corporate governance reports
• Reviewed potential greenwashing risks and provided advisory services - Advised on voluntary carbon credit projects and voluntary carbon markets
• Advised on responses to regulatory investigations and recall procedures for filters containing toxic substances
 
[Antitrust & Competition]
• Mergers and Acquisitions: Conducted anti-competitive impact analysis for domestic and international M&A transactions, represented clients in merger filings before the KFTC and foreign competition authorities, and represented interested parties in merger review procedures
• Collusive Conduct: Advised on responses to the KFTC's cartel investigations and sanctions, and provided counsel related to leniency applications
• Unfair Trade Practices / Abuse of Market Dominance / Unfair Internal Transactions: Advised on whether specific actions constitute the aforementioned violations, and counseled on responding to investigations and sanctions by the KFTC
• Violations of antitrust and competition laws such as the Subcontracting Act, Labeling and Advertising Act, Franchise Business Act, Act on the Regulation of Terms and Conditions, Large Retail Business Act, E-Commerce Act, Door-to-door Sales Act, Consumer Protection Act, etc.: Advised on whether specific actions constitute violations of the aforementioned laws and counseled on responding to investigations and sanctions by the KFTC
• Litigation Related to Antitrust & Competition: Represented clients in litigation against KFTC decisions (administrative appeals) and civil damages claims, and served as litigation representative for the KFTC in numerous cases
• Reviewed and established corporate antitrust and competition compliance programs
• Advised victims of antitrust and competition violations and assisted in filing reports with the KFTC
• Provided legal support and represented clients during on-site investigations by the KFTC
 
[Employment & Labor]
• Advised and represented clients in litigation regarding the calculation of ordinary wages and severance pay
• Advised and represented clients in litigation related to workforce reductions due to corporate restructuring and M&As
• Provided counsel on disciplinary actions, such as dismissals, and represented clients in appeals procedures before Labor Relations Commissions and courts
• Advised and represented clients in litigation concerning non-regular employment issues such as internal subcontracting and illegal dispatching of workers
• Advised on collective agreements, collective bargaining, labor disputes, unfair labor practices and provided counsel for inspections by labor inspectors
• Advised and represented clients in litigation related to occupational accidents and industrial safety and health
• Advised and represented clients in litigation related to trade secret protection upon transfer of employees
 
[Healthcare]
• Advised on laws regulating the manufacturing, import, and distribution of medical devices
• Provided advisory services regarding advertisements in violation of the Medical Device Act and medical device licensing, and represented clients in responding to investigations by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS)
• Represented a pharmaceutical company in a patent infringement dispute
• Advised a cosmetics company on legal issues related to establishment, manufacturing, and sales, and represented the client in a trademark infringement dispute
• Advised a Korean pharmaceutical company in the acquisition of part of the business of a foreign pharmaceutical company
 
[Tax Litigation]
• Represented a client in litigation seeking cancellation of corporate tax assessment related to a special tax exemption
• Represented a client in litigation seeking cancellation of penalty tax imposed for violation of value-added tax obligations
• Represented a client in litigation seeking cancellation of securities transaction tax related to the transfer price of unlisted shares
• Represented a client in litigation seeking cancellation of income tax assessment related to stock options and cryptocurrencies
Activities 화살표 화살표
Received the Distinguished Service Award from the Seoul Bar Association (2017)
Delivered a lecture on 'The Role and Professional Ethics of In-House Counsel' (Yonsei University Law School, 2016)
Presented on 'How to Enhance Ethical Management with the Enforcement of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act' (Federation of Korean Industries’ Corporate Ethics School, 2016)
Served as aanelist at the 'C-Suite Compliance & Risk Management' seminar (AMCHAM, 2016)
Delivered a lecturer on 'Compliance and Corporate Ethics' (UNGC Fair Player Club Seminar, 2016)
Delivered a lecture on 'The Role and Prospects of In-House Counsel' (Korea University Law School, 2017)
Served as a panelist at the seminar on 'OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and Human Rights Management' (Korean Commercial Arbitration Board, 2017)
Participated as a panelist in the 'Privilege in International Arbitration' session (Seoul International Dispute Resolution Center, 2017)
Served as a panelist at the forum on 'Attorney-Client Privilege’  (Korean Bar Association, 2017)
Participated as a panelist in the seminar on 'Policy Challenges Following the Opening of the Legal Market' (National Assembly Research Service, 2017)
Chaired the seminar on 'Efforts to Establish Compliance Systems and Corporate Case Studies’ (Korean Bar Association, 2017)
Delivered a lecturer on 'Legal Risks and Compliance System Establishment of Companies' (O.K. Academy, IAKL, 2019)
Presented 'Effective Compliance Management System for Companies' (Symposium on Legislative Challenges for a Rule of Law State, 2019)
Presentation on 'The Need to Introduce Attorney-Client Privilege’ (National Assembly Legislative Hearing, 2020)
Delivered a lecture on 'How to Build an Enterprise-wide Compliance System' (Korea In-House Counsel Association, 2021)
Delivered a lecture on 'Corporate Legal Risks and Compliance' (Bithumb, 2021, 2022)
Delivered a lectured on 'Compliance and ESG' (Sogang University Graduate School of Business, 2022, 2023)
Chaired the symposium on 'Strengthening Internal Controls and the Role of Lawyers' (Korean Bar Association, 2023)
Delivered a lectured on 'The Importance of IPOs and Corporate Governance' (Sogang University Graduate School of Business, 2024)
Delivered a lectured on 'Know-how to Proactively Manage Internal Corporate Risks' (LAWnB, 2024)
Presentation on 'Major Trends in ESG Legislation' (Environmental Management Society, 2024)
Chaired the policy forum on 'How to eradicate retaliatory disclosure content' (National Assembly, 2024)
Education
• B.A. in Private Law from Seoul National University, College of Law
• Master’s Program at Seoul National University, Graduate School of Law (Majoring in Corporate Law)
• Judicial Research and Training Institute (27th class)
• Vanderbilt University Law School, USA (LL.M.)
• Advanced Legal Studies Program on Antitrust & Competition Law at Seoul National University, College of Law
• Advanced Legal Studies Program on Labor Law , Seoul National University, College of Law
Qualifications
Attorney at Law
Patent Attorney
Tax Accountant
Publications/Thesis
A Study on 'Legal Remedies for Stakeholders in Corporate Mergers' (Seoul National University, Advanced Legal Studies Program, 2000)
A Study on 'Procedural Legality of Dismissals' (Agricultural Cooperative College, NH Management Research Institute, 2002)
The Legal Implications of Covenants Not to Compete (LL.M. Article, 2004)
Contributed to the “Antitrust & Competition Law” section in the Korean Bar Association's Compliance Officer Handbook (2018)
Contributed to the 'Roles and Responsibilities of In-House Counsel' section in the Korean Bar Association’s In-house Counsel Handbook (2024)
Practice Areas
Corporate Advisory / M&A
Environment / ESG / Compliance
Antitrust & Competition
Human Resources / Labor
Healthcare (Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology)
Tax Litigation
Languages
Korean
English
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