Arnold & Porter has appointed Chee-Kwan “CK” Kim as a partner in the M&A team of its Corporate & Finance practice. Kim will be based in the firm’s Seoul office, strengthening Arnold & Porter’s capabilities in cross-border mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments and Korea-originated transactions.
Kim brings nearly 20 years of experience advising clients on complex and high-value transactions involving multiple jurisdictions. His practice has frequently focused on representing Korean corporations and financial sponsors pursuing outbound investments.
He regularly advises clients on acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, minority investments and other strategic transactions.
Arnold & Porter said Kim’s experience will support clients navigating increasingly complicated outbound M&A transactions involving regulatory requirements, cross-border structuring and coordination among legal teams in several markets.
His private equity background is also expected to complement the firm’s work in Korea, where financial sponsors continue to play an important role in corporate dealmaking.
Kim has advised clients across industries including industrials, life sciences, cosmetics, consumer products and financial services.
Before joining Arnold & Porter, he practiced at prominent Korean and U.S.-based law firms.
The firm expects Kim to collaborate with its transactional, regulatory and industry-focused lawyers in the United States and other international markets.
Kim earned his J.D. from Columbia University, an LL.M. from the University of Toronto and an LL.B. from Yonsei University.
Arnold & Porter has more than 1,000 lawyers across 16 offices and advises clients through more than 40 regulatory, litigation and transactional practice areas.
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“CK is well regarded in both the business and legal community as an excellent U.S.-qualified lawyer and a trusted advisor whom clients turn to for their most complex transactions. We are confident his business acumen and experience in M&A and private equity will meaningfully augment our existing capabilities in the Korean market.”
James K. Lee, Managing Partner of Arnold & Porter’s Seoul Office
“Outbound M&A from Korea remains active and increasingly complex, often involving significant regulatory considerations and cross-jurisdictional structuring and coordination. CK’s experience with private equity, which continues to drive M&A activity in Korea, positions him to collaborate effectively with our U.S. and global multidisciplinary teams to advise large corporations investing internationally on Korea-originated deal flow.”
Derek Stoldt, Co-Chair of Arnold & Porter’s Corporate & Finance Group
“My practice has centered on complex, multi-step cross-border transactions that require close coordination across jurisdictions. Arnold & Porter’s transactional, regulatory and sector practices align closely with my work, offering significant opportunities for cross-practice collaboration, and I look forward to building on my practice here.”
Chee-Kwan Kim, Partner at Arnold & Porter
