Byeong Jun Son
Lee & KoThe tax team at Lee & Ko is renowned for its experienced team, which includes former judges, seasoned Korean and international attorneys, tax-focused CPAs, and former high-ranking government tax officials. As a full-service firm, it excels in tax litigation and appeals, offering a comprehensive range of tax services, including general and international tax consulting, and tax audit defence. Its large audit defence team is particularly adept at managing complex tax disputes. With strengths in cross-border tax issues, M&A, and transactional tax, the team is co-led by Ok Hyun Ma, a former Supreme Court tax research judge, and Tom Kwon, who advises on international tax and tax aspects of M&A transactions. Key practitioners include Sung Hwan Kim, Sung Hyun Ryu, and Byeong Jun Son, all highly regarded for their litigation and tax expertise.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘I found the Lee & Ko team to be very user-friendly, producing clear and timely advice and with an excellent knowledge of the market.’
‘Tom Kwon was excellent. He was very responsive and clear in his advice.’
‘Lee & Ko's team organises a litigation team in a highly effective way, fully leveraging the strengths of the team. The team had a clear understanding of the key issues in the litigation, guided the company to collect valid data and evidence, and prepared highly persuasive answers and briefs based on that evidence. Additionally, they demonstrated excellent advocacy skills by presenting the briefs and responses in a very logical and convincing manner in court.’
‘All team members were not only knowledgeable and experienced in their respective fields, but they also managed specific stages with highly specialised expertise. For example, a lawyer skilled in drafting focused on writing documents, while a lawyer proficient in oral arguments concentrated on presentations/arguments in court. This allowed the team to operate in a very efficient and organised manner. During the preparation of briefs and responses, the team demonstrated exceptional insight into key issues and delivered oral arguments that were fluent, smooth, and logically compelling. I was fully satisfied with the process and results that Lee & Ko team members have shown.’
‘The team provides detailed management and useful information to each individual customer.’
‘I strongly recommend Kyung Tae Kim. He is one of the few excellent tax lawyers who can proactively advise clients with useful information and suggest excellent solutions tailored to their circumstances. I highly value his meticulous and customer-centered thinking, as well as the fact that he is a top management expert in his field.’
‘I contacted this firm from the United States to analyse the regulatory landscape in Korea. They did a fantastic job. Very thorough and responsive.’
‘Tom Kwon is excellent. Speed is everything to me and his responsiveness was fantastic. He made himself available at my convenience, even though I was on the other side of the world.’
Key clients
- Daishin Securities Company and other 11 Securities Companies
- Brain Asset Management
- Korea Land & Housing Corporation
- Universal Display Corporation and its Korean subsidiary
- POSCO Holdings Inc. and POSCO International Corporation
- Seoul Beltway Corp.
- Lotte Shopping Co., Ltd.
- SK Telecom Co., Ltd.
Work highlights
- Successfully represented Korean Land & Housing Corporation in a tax litigation case worth USD 496 million, leading to a favourable Supreme Court ruling.
- Defended POSCO Holdings Inc. and POSCO International Corporation against a USD 145 million additional tax assessment related to merger consideration, successfully convincing the Tax Facts Advisory Committee to cancel the tax assessment.
- Represented SK Telecom Co., Ltd., a leading telecommunication operator, in tax litigation defending the determination of an arm’s length price utilised in a significant spin-off.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Sung Hyun Ryu
Lee & KoPractice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Ok Hyun Ma, Tom Kwon