Kim & Chang (Korean김·장 법률사무소; Hanja金&張) is an international law firm headquartered in Seoul. Founded in 1973, it is the largest law firm in South Korea by headcount, with over 1,200 professionals and offices in Seoul, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Ho Chi Minh City.[1] In 2016, it became the first Korean law firm to be included in the world's top 100 law firms by the American Lawyer, ranking 59th with a revenue of $686 million. In 2017, the firm posted a revenue of 1.01 trillion (US$893.47 million), becoming Korea's first law firm to reach a revenue milestone of 1 trillion won.[2]

Kim & Chang
HeadquartersSeoul, South Korea
No. of attorneys1,200+
Date founded1973
FounderYoung Moo Kim
Websitekimchang.com

The firm employs numerous attorneys educated and licensed in the United States, Japan, China, and Europe. Approximately 20 percent of its lawyers are foreign-qualified,[3] and it has a division of around 200 personnel devoted to Japan-related practice.[4] In addition to attorneys, the firm employs patent attorneys, tax attorneys, economists, and industry-specific experts.

History

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Kim & Chang was founded by attorney Young Moo Kim in 1973. Kim had studied in the United States for several years, obtaining a Master of Comparative Law degree from the University of Chicago Law School in 1967 and a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School in 1970. Based on his experience, he sought to create a Korean law firm that followed American standards of legal service, and was the first recruiter of foreign attorneys in Korea. Once Kim established the firm in January 1973, a former judge and Kim's longtime friend, Soo Kil Chang joined later that year.

References

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  1. ^ "Asia Pacific Law Firm Brand Index 2014", Acritas, archived from the original on 2015-05-21
  2. ^ Lee, Hyun-Jung (13 February 2018). "Kim & Chang rakes in record high revenue of $933 mn in 2017". Pulse.
  3. ^ Lin, Anthony (1 July 2013). "Korea's Foreign Legion". The Asian Lawyer. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  4. ^ "企業が選ぶ弁護士ランキング 企業法務1位は中村氏". The Nikkei. 16 December 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
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