Baker McKenzie Adds Leading International Arbitration Expert In Seoul

Baker McKenzie Adds Leading International Arbitration Expert in Seoul

Baker McKenzie has announced the appointment of Sung Woo (Sean) Lim as a partner at Baker McKenzie & KL Partners Joint Venture Law Firm ("Baker McKenzie KLP JV"). Thismarks the fifth addition to the Baker McKenzie KLP JV in the past 12 months, further strengthening the firm’s position as the largest international law firm in Korea by partnerbench strength.

Sean brings over 30 years of experience in international arbitration, representing prominent Korean companies and multinationals in a wide array of disputes, including cross-border joint ventures and M&A, finance, capital markets, sale of goods, supply contracts, franchise agreements, product liability, construction, energy projects, maritime, shipping, aviation, intellectual property, sports, and international treaties. He has successfully led numerous high-profile cases, setting significant precedents in Korea, and has handled complexmultinational arbitration cases in jurisdictions such as Hong Kong, London, Singapore, and New York.

Regarded as a leading figure in international arbitration, Sean has played a pivotal role in shaping the practice of arbitration in Korea. He has served in various key industry positions, including as vice president of the Korean Arbitrators Association, president of the Korean

Council for International Arbitration (KOCIA), and is currently president of the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB) sports arbitration committee. He is also a member of the management committee of the Seoul International Dispute Resolution Center (SIDRC).

Won Lee, Head of Baker McKenzie’s Korea Practice, expressed excitement about Sean’s addition, stating, “It is hugely exciting to welcome a partner with such market standing and experience to our Korea team. Sean’s deep connections within the legal and business communities, along with his expertise in the areas of disputes and arbitration, will be invaluable as we remain focused on delivering outstanding service to our clients.”

Beomsu Kim, Head of the Dispute Resolution Practice Group at Baker McKenzie KLP JV, added, “We are thrilled that Sean is joining our expanding team. His extensive experience and sector knowledge will add breadth and depth to our international arbitration capabilities, positioning us well to support our clients with their growing needs in cross-border disputes.” Nandakumar Ponniya, Asia Pacific Chair of Baker McKenzie’s Dispute Resolution Practice Group, commented, “Sean’s appointment further demonstrates our commitment to expanding our dispute resolution and international arbitration capabilities, which is a strategic area of focus for the Firm globally. His arrival, which follows that of international arbitration practitioner Sunyoung Kim earlier this year, will enhance our ability to support our Koreanand multinational clients in managing their complex disputes across the region.”

Steven Sieker, Baker McKenzie’s Asia Chief Executive, added, “Sean’s arrival, following on from the recent additions of John Kwak and Doug Suh in Seoul and Shirin Tang and Ang Lip Kian in Singapore, underscores our continued commitment to adding top talent to our Asia platform to solidify our ‘First in Asia Pacific’ market position.” Sean said, “I am very excited to be joining Baker McKenzie KLP JV, where I can leverage my expertise in international arbitration and commercial disputes together with the Firm’s global network to deliver exceptional results for our clients. I look forward to collaborating with my talented colleagues in Seoul and beyond to help grow our practice.”

Prior to joining Baker McKenzie KLP JV, Sean served as co-head of the international arbitration practice of a Korean law firm. He is admitted to practice in both Korea and New York, and holds an LLM from Cornell University, New York, and an LLB from Seoul National University, Korea.