Baker McKenzie announced that leading international arbitration practitioner Sunyoung Kim will join Baker McKenzie & KL Partners Joint Venture Law Firm (Baker McKenzie KLP JV) as a partner effective May 20, 2024. This hiring further supports the Baker McKenzie KLP JV’s bench strength and boosts Baker McKenzie’s dispute resolution and international arbitration capabilities, a strategic area of focus for the firm globally.
Sunyoung is dual-qualified in Korea and the US and is returning to Baker McKenzie after being an associate in the firm’s Hong Kong office between 2009 and 2012. And her practice focuses on representing clients in international arbitration cases brought before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC), and the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB), as well as in ad-hoc arbitrations.
Sunyoung represented multinational corporations, government entities, defense contractors, and high-profile individuals in several commercial disputes and disputes related to cross-border joint ventures and M&A matters in the construction, shipping, energy, and natural resources sectors. She also advises clients on investor-state matters.
Sunyoung obtained her master’s degree in law in the US from the University of California, Berkeley, and her bachelor’s degree in law in Korea from Yonsei University. And Sunyoung is admitted to practice in both Korea and New York.
Baker McKenzie has one of the biggest international arbitration practices in the world. And with over 350 arbitration practitioners in key emerging markets and major financial and arbitration centers worldwide, the team advises on a full range of arbitral matters, including investor-state and treaties, construction, energy and natural resources, and post-M&A related disputes.
KEY QUOTES:
“We are delighted to welcome Sunyoung to our team. She will not only add further strength to our market-leading Dispute Resolution practice, but her appointment also demonstrates our commitment to building our capabilities in strategic areas that align with our clients’ business needs.”
– Beomsu Kim, head of the Dispute Resolution Practice Group for Baker McKenzie KLP JV
“Sunyoung adds to our ever-growing Dispute Resolution practice. Her international arbitration experience not only complements our regional practice well, but also gives us added depth in Korea, to support our multinational clients with their cross-border risks and challenges.”
– Nandakumar Ponniya, Asia Pacific chair of Baker McKenzie’s Dispute Resolution Practice Group
“Sunyoung re-joins us at a time when our Korea practice continues to go from strength to strength. Her arrival will help us to further expand our Korea service offering and continue to provide our clients with first-class dispute resolution advice.”
– Won Lee, Baker McKenzie’s Korea Practice head
“I am thrilled to be coming back to Baker McKenzie, this time through the Baker McKenzie KLP JV platform. Baker McKenzie’s unrivalled global presence offers me the ideal platform to further expand my practice. I look forward to building on our team’s strong cross-border disputes capabilities under Mr. Kim’s leadership, and collaborating with my colleagues across Asia and globally to help our clients navigate the increasingly complex international arbitration arena.”
– Sunyoung Kim
