Cross-border M&A
Clear, practical guidance in English from initial strategy through implementation in Korea.
Joowon Law · Seoul, Korea
Two doors into Korea, one firm behind them both.
For companies expanding into Korea, and for Koreans living abroad who need a lawyer that speaks their language — literally. Business-oriented counsel, delivered in fluent English.
For businesses
Expanding into Korea
M&A, entity setup, business visas, banking and regulatory licensing for foreign companies entering the Korean market.
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For individuals
Overseas Koreans
Inheritance, property, litigation and family law — handled remotely, entirely in English, for Koreans living outside Korea.
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Foreign companies & foreigners entering the Korean market
Your trusted legal partner for expanding into Korea
Korea presents tremendous opportunities for global businesses, but navigating its legal, regulatory, and commercial landscape can be challenging without the right local partner. We provide end-to-end support with a business-oriented approach from lawyers fluent in English.
01 Cross-border M&AAcquire Korean businesses with confidence
Our services
- Legal due diligence of Korean target companies
- Share purchase and asset purchase transactions
- Joint venture structuring and negotiations
- Foreign investment reporting and approvals
- Antitrust and regulatory review
- Employment and labor law due diligence
- Drafting and negotiation of transaction documents
- Post-closing integration support
Typical clients
- Foreign corporations acquiring Korean companies
- Private equity funds
- Strategic investors
- Technology companies entering Korea through acquisition
- Manufacturing groups expanding into Asia
02 Entity setup in KoreaEstablish your Korean presence efficiently
Our services
- Entity structure analysis
- Foreign investment registration
- Corporate registration
- Tax registration
- Corporate governance setup
- Registered office arrangements
- Compliance planning
Choosing a structure
- Subsidiary — independent entity, full commercial activity, strongest credibility
- Branch office — simplified structure, direct HQ control, lower cost
- Liaison office — market research only, minimal setup, no commercial activity
03 Business visas & immigrationSecure the right visa for your Korean operations
Our services
- Visa eligibility assessment
- Investment structure review
- Application preparation
- Immigration authority communications
- Visa extensions and renewals
- Family member visa support
Visa categories we support
- D-8 — Investor visa
- D-9 — Trade management visa
- E-7 — Specialty occupation visa
- ICT — Intra-company transfer
04 Banking & regulatory licensingNavigate Korea's regulatory environment
Banking support
- Corporate bank account opening assistance
- KYC and AML documentation preparation
- Foreign exchange registration support
- Cross-border remittance compliance
- Banking relationship management
Regulated industries we cover
- Fintech & financial services
- E-commerce
- Software and IT services
- Cosmetics, food & beverage imports
- Healthcare and biotechnology
- Manufacturing
05 Commercial contracts & governanceBuild durable agreements for the Korean market
Our services
- Supplier, distribution and licensing agreements
- Joint venture and shareholder agreements
- Employment contracts and internal policies
- Board and shareholder governance
- Compliance reviews and updates
Typical clients
- Foreign-owned Korean subsidiaries
- Technology and manufacturing companies
- Startups forming local partnerships
- Businesses managing regional suppliers
06 Dispute resolution & ongoing counselA long-term legal partner for Korea-related decisions
Ongoing support areas
- Pre-dispute strategy and risk review
- Commercial litigation and arbitration
- Regulatory responses and investigations
- Debt recovery and judgment enforcement
- Retainer-based day-to-day counsel
Why clients stay long-term
- Direct access to experienced international business lawyers
- Fast response times
- Practical, business-oriented advice
- Fixed-fee and retainer options
- One-stop support for Korea-related legal matters
Overseas Koreans who need English-speaking lawyers in Korea
Your trusted English-speaking legal partner in Korea
For overseas Koreans (교포) in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe and elsewhere, legal matters in Korea are often difficult because navigating them in Korean, from abroad, is. We handle matters entirely in English and entirely remotely.
01 Inheritance & estate mattersResolve family inheritance issues in Korea
Our services
- Inheritance rights analysis under Korean law
- Estate asset investigation - real estate, accounts, securities
- Renunciation or limited acceptance of inheritance
- Inheritance disputes among heirs
- Distribution and registration of inherited real estate
- Representation via power of attorney
Typical clients
- Overseas Koreans inheriting assets from parents or relatives
- Heirs in disputes with siblings or other family members
- Individuals renouncing inheritance due to inherited debt
- Estates involving both Korean and overseas assets
02 Real estate transactions & disputesManage your Korean property, even from abroad
Our services
- Property sale and purchase representation
- Lease disputes and eviction proceedings
- Title verification and registration issues
- Illegal occupation or boundary disputes
- Due diligence for overseas buyers
- Remote transactions via power of attorney
Typical clients
- Overseas Koreans selling or managing inherited property
- Individuals in disputes with tenants or neighbors
- Overseas Koreans purchasing for investment or retirement
03 General litigation - civil & criminalProtect your interests in Korean courts, from wherever you are
Our services
- Civil litigation - contract, debt and tort claims
- Criminal complaint filing and defense
- Fraud, defamation and property-related criminal matters
- Police and prosecutor's office representation
- Settlement negotiation and mediation
- Appeals and enforcement of judgments
Typical clients
- Overseas Koreans involved in a dispute or lawsuit in Korea
- Victims of fraud, defamation or other crimes in Korea
- Individuals facing a criminal complaint or investigation
- Clients needing representation without appearing in person
04 Family law mattersCross-border family legal issues
Our services
- Divorce proceedings involving overseas parties
- Child custody and support matters
- Division of marital property, including overseas assets
- Recognition of foreign divorce judgments in Korea
- Family registry corrections and updates
Typical clients
- Overseas Koreans going through divorce with a spouse in Korea
- Individuals needing family registry matters resolved remotely
- Parents handling cross-border custody arrangements
05 Power of attorney & court coordinationHandle Korean procedures without travelling to Korea
Our services
- Power of attorney drafting and execution
- Notarization, apostille and document authentication
- Court and government filing coordination
- Direct communication with Korean banks and tax offices
- Regular English-language status updates
Typical clients
- Overseas Koreans unable to attend in person
- Families coordinating estate or property matters
- Clients needing one local point of contact in Korea
06 Ongoing remote legal supportYour long-distance legal partner in Korea
Ongoing support areas
- Power of attorney-based representation for any matter
- Litigation and dispute representation while living abroad
- Coordination with Korean banks, tax offices and agencies
- Document authentication and apostille support
- General legal consultation in English
Why clients stay long-term
- Attorneys fluent in English who understand life overseas
- Full remote handling - no need to travel to Korea
- Clear, jargon-free explanations of Korean procedure
- Fixed-fee options for common matters
- One point of contact for all Korea-related legal needs
A local partner with an international outlook
Fluent in the law. Fluent in your context.
Our team combines Korean legal depth with a commercial mindset and straightforward English communication, so you always know what is happening and what comes next.
Business-oriented
Advice shaped around decisions, timelines and real commercial outcomes.
English first
Consultations, documents and updates delivered in clear, fluent English.
Remote-ready
Power of attorney and video consultations for clients outside Korea.
One point of contact
Consistent counsel from first question to final resolution.
Insights & updates
Practical notes for your next Korea decision.
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Start a conversation
Let’s discuss what Korea requires of you.
Tell us what you are trying to accomplish, where you are based and what timeline you are working toward. We will respond with the clearest next step.