Dentons Lee delivers sophisticated legal counsel and strategic management solutions across the entire spectrum of employment and labor matters. Our experienced team navigates the intricacies of both individual and collective labor relations—addressing every aspect from employee status, recruitment, dismissal, and disciplinary proceedings to the establishment and strategic management of labor unions, collective bargaining processes, and corporate restructuring. As trusted advisors, we empower businesses to confidently navigate the ever-evolving legal landscape, providing compliance guidance across industry-specific regulations, ESG mandates, industrial safety standards, and regulatory investigations. Our Employment and Labor Team is renowned for its commitment to delivering impactful, practical solutions to a diverse client base of Korean and multinational corporations across all industry sectors.

With a proactive approach and robust advocacy in complex disputes, we uphold the highest standards of quality and efficiency. Our team’s extensive, multi-industry expertise allows us to tailor our services to each client’s unique needs—enabling them to advance their strategic goals while minimizing legal exposure and fostering sustainable growth.

Services

Collective Employment Relations: Strategic Advisory and Litigation

• Comprehensive guidance on union management, navigating multiple union environments, and developing effective collective bargaining strategies.

Workforce Restructuring and Employment Flexibility Solutions

• Strategic support for workforce restructuring, including employment flexibility measures, layoff processes, and negotiation for successful implementation of restructuring plans.

Compliance and ESG Advisory

• Ensuring compliance with labor standards, working hours, anti-harassment regulations, health mandates, and ESG initiatives to support sustainable workforce practices.

Temporary and Non-Regular Worker Advisory: Preventing Discrimination

• Specialized legal counsel on the status and treatment of temporary and non-regular employees, with a strong focus on anti-discrimination compliance.

Personnel Management and Defense in Disciplinary Matters

• Expert assistance in personnel management, including investigations and defense in cases of dismissal, disciplinary actions, and transfers.

Advisory and Litigation on Remuneration Structures

• Tailored support in structuring remuneration frameworks, including wage structure optimization, severance pay, and compensation system design.

Executive and Managerial Employee Status Assessments

• Comprehensive evaluations to align executive and managerial roles with statutory definitions and operational requirements.

M&A Labor Relations Counsel: Due Diligence and Post-Merger Strategy

• In-depth labor relations counsel for M&A, covering labor due diligence and strategies for effective post-merger labor integration.

Occupational Safety and Health Compliance under the Serious Accidents Act

• Dedicated advisory on occupational safety standards and compliance with the Serious Accidents Act, with a proactive approach to accident prevention.

Experience

• Advised on maintaining organizational stability and optimizing labor-management relations post-M&A, with an emphasis on harmonizing employment terms and aligning HR policies across entities.
• Defended clients in high-stakes litigation concerning collective bargaining, unfair labor practices, and industrial actions, focusing on strategic approaches to mitigate financial and operational risks.
• Supported clients in implementing and defending restructuring measures, including ERPs, workforce rightsizing, and related severance negotiations.
• Provided guidance on compliance investigations, addressing workplace harassment cases, and integrating ESG standards into HR practices to meet evolving regulatory requirements.
• Defended employers in cases related to temporary employment status, discriminatory practices, and issues arising from non-standard employment arrangements.
• Advised on critical personnel matters, including disciplinary actions, dismissal procedures for underperformance, and compliance with Korean employment rules and global HR policy.
• Represented clients in complex remuneration disputes, such as those involving ordinary wages, bonuses, severance calculations, and statutory compliance for accurate payroll processing.
• Managed labor relations in cross-border M&A transactions, addressing collective agreements, union negotiations, and integrating labor union management strategies to facilitate smooth organizational transitions.
• Conducted in-depth reviews of Korean employment rules and global HR policies to ensure compliance and strategic alignment in multinational organizations.
• Counseled clients on serious accident responses and proactive safety compliance under new legal mandates, providing strategic insights to minimize liability and enhance workplace safety standards.
• Supported labor union management during organizational changes, advising on effective negotiation tactics and aligning with union representatives to maintain positive relations amidst restructuring efforts.