What Yoon & Yang does

Yoon & Yang LLC (also known as Hwawoo) is a Seoul-headquartered Korean law firm founded in 2005 and recognized as one of Korea's Big Six law firms, alongside Kim & Chang, Lee & Ko, Yulchon, and others. The firm provides full-service legal advisory across corporate matters, cross-border M&A, litigation and dispute resolution, financial regulation, tax, employment, IP, and international trade, and operates a center-based platform model with 13 specialized units — including the AI Center, Digital Forensics Center, Information Security Center (described as Korea's first law firm-based information security center), AML & Internal Control Solution Center, ESG Center, International Tax Strategy Center, Digital Finance Center, Bio Health Center, Wealth Management Center, Game Center, Discovery Center, Environmental Regulation Response Center, and Serious Accidents CPR Center. The firm is ISO 27001 certified and combines legal expertise with technical capabilities such as digital forensics, cybersecurity analysis, and serious-accident preparedness (the latter developed through an alliance with U.S. firm Cadmus Group).

The firm serves Korean conglomerates and large corporations, private equity sponsors, multinational companies investing in Korea, Korean companies expanding abroad, and financial institutions. Disclosed mandates include advising Carlyle Group on the acquisition of KFC Korea, Naver on the acquisition of Wallapop, Korean Air on the acquisition of Asiana Airlines, KT&G on a multi-stage cross-border nicotine pouch acquisition, Kyobo Life on its USD 611m acquisition of SBI Savings Bank, NAU IB Capital on the JPY 26 billion acquisition of Sun Fluoro System, and Wing Yip Food on a KRW 20.4 billion KOSDAQ listing. Revenue is generated through professional services billings on a quote-based, matter-by-matter basis, with partner-led engagement and no public pricing or recurring contracts.

Internationally, the firm maintains offices in Korea (Seoul), Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, via a 2025 co-location with local firm VILAF), Indonesia (a Korean Desk at Amir Syamsudin & Partners in Jakarta, established 2018), and Uzbekistan (Tashkent). Its M&A team — launched in 2014 with approximately 80 professionals including 40 partners — ranks 3rd in Korean M&A legal advisory league tables (2026 Q1). The firm is consistently recognized in Chambers Global, Chambers Asia-Pacific, Legal 500, Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific, and MIP IP STARS, with 16 lawyers in Chambers Global 2026, 35 in Chambers Asia-Pacific 2026, 46 in Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific 2026, and 10 in Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2026.

Name

Yoon & Yang

Legal name

Yoon & Yang LLC

Website

https://yoonyang.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Yoon & Yang LLC (Hwawoo) is a Seoul-based Korean Big Six law firm providing full-service legal advisory via 13 specialized centers spanning M&A, AI, digital finance, and AML. It serves Korean conglomerates and multinationals across Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Uzbekistan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (54111), Offices of Lawyers (541110), Legal Services (5411)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) & Securities Law (BPAHAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

AML/KYC, Investor Onboarding & Compliance Services (FSAAAMAE), Transfer Pricing & International Tax Services (BPAHABAI), Trade, Export Controls & Customs Compliance (BPAHAFAN)

Keywords

• Corporate legal advisory
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Cross-border transactions
• Litigation and dispute resolution
• Regulatory compliance services

Headquarters

HQ city

Samseong

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Advisory Services: Full-service law firm providing comprehensive legal services across corporate advisory, M&A, litigation, dispute resolution, regulatory compliance, and specialized areas including tax, employment, IP, and international trade.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Yoon & Yang is a full-service Korean law firm providing partner-led legal advisory across corporate affairs, M&A, litigation, dispute resolution, finance, tax, employment, IP, and international trade. Service delivery is organized through a platform of 13 specialized centers (AI, Digital Forensics, Information Security, ESG, AML & Internal Control, International Tax Strategy, Digital Finance, Bio Health, Wealth Management, Game, Discovery, Environmental Regulation Response, and Serious Accidents CPR) that combine legal expertise with technical capabilities for complex, regulated matters.

Product overview

Yoon & Yang LLC (Hwawoo) is a Korean law firm offering comprehensive legal services across multiple practice areas and specialized centers. The firm operates a platform-based model with core legal advisory services complemented by 13 specialized centers including AI Center, Digital Forensics Center, Information Security Center, ESG Center, AML & Internal Control Solution Center, International Tax Strategy Center, Digital Finance Center, Bio Health Center, Wealth Management Center, Game Center, Discovery Center, Environmental Regulation Response Center, and Serious Accidents CPR Center. These centers provide tailored legal solutions for specific industries and regulatory matters, combining legal expertise with technical capabilities where applicable.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Legal Advisory Services Full-service legal advisory covering corporate advisory, M&A, dispute resolution, finance, tax, employment, and regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions, delivered by partner-led teams for large corporations and financial institutions.
• AI Center Specialized legal advisory for AI technology companies, providing regulatory strategy, legislative participation, and safety/credibility guidance for AI development and deployment.
• Digital Forensics Center Digital forensic services including proactive risk removal, compliance support, and regulatory investigation response for government agencies, staffed by approximately 45 professionals including 27 partners, 3 forensic specialists, and 15 professional reviewers.
• Information Security Center Korea's first law firm-based information security center combining legal expertise with technical capabilities including mock hacking, cybersecurity vulnerability inspection, and hacking incident analysis, with practice coverage across metaverse, NFT, digital finance, cryptocurrency, and blockchain.
• ESG Center ESG advisory services covering environmental, labor, information and human rights, green finance, anti-corruption, and compliance for sustainable corporate practices.
• AML & Internal Control Solution Center Anti-Money Laundering and internal control advisory services including KYC, suspicious transaction reporting, FATCA/CRS compliance, financial sanctions advisory, and end-to-end system implementation and independent audits for financial institutions and fintech companies.
• International Tax Strategy Center International tax advisory covering outbound and inbound investments, transfer pricing, BEPS, APA/MAP procedures, Global Minimum Tax (Pillar Two), and customs matters for corporate clients.
• Digital Finance Center Legal advisory for platform companies, big tech and fintech companies seeking to launch financial businesses, covering digital economy matters and financial data industry regulations.
• Bio Health Center Comprehensive legal solutions for the bio-health industry including patent, payment strategy, approval and GMP, regulatory litigation, and criminal defense services.
• Wealth Management Center Asset succession, family business succession, corporate governance reorganization, trust products, wealth management, inheritance and gift tax planning, and inheritance disputes services.
• Game Center Game industry legal advisory covering gaming regulations, plagiarism disputes, overseas publishing, and legislative participation for game companies.
• Discovery Center Document review and deposition support services for litigation and arbitration, reducing discovery costs and managing discovery risks for domestic and international disputes.
• Environmental Regulation Response Center Environmental law advisory including environmental regulations, M&A due diligence, administrative adjudication, and civil/criminal litigation for environmental matters.
• Serious Accidents CPR Center Corporate preparedness review center for serious accident prevention and response, developed in partnership with U.S. Department of Homeland Security contractor Cadmus Group, providing Korea-tailored scenario-based services.
• Cross-Border M&A Practice Cross-border and domestic M&A advisory practice handling major Korean and multinational transactions, with approximately 80 professionals including 40 partner lawyers and demonstrated track record on deals such as Carlyle/KFC Korea, Naver/Wallapop, Korean Air/Asiana, and KT&G's cross-border nicotine pouch acquisition.
• Indonesian Korean Desk Legal Services Legal services for Korean companies operating in Indonesia covering finance, M&A, real estate, construction, energy, and arbitration, delivered via the Korean Desk at Amir Syamsudin & Partners.
• Korea-Vietnam Practice Unit Joint practice unit with VILAF in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi providing comprehensive legal services to Korean clients on investments, M&A, finance, and dispute resolution in Vietnam.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2026 Q1 M&A league table: Ranked 3rd in M&A legal advisory, 2nd in merger legal advisory (thebell)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• VILAFcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Yoon & Yang entered a co-location arrangement with VILAF in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, establishing a Korea-Vietnam Practice Unit. All personnel relocated from Yoon & Yang's own branches to VILAF's offices. The firm cited regulatory hurdles preventing Korean law firms from directly representing clients in local litigation and practical limitations in handling administrative matters in Vietnam. Yoon & Yang will leverage VILAF's expertise and local network to serve its Korean clientele.
• Amir Syamsudin & PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2018Opened Korean Desk in November 2018 at Amir Ramadhan & Partners, an Indonesian law firm established by Amir Syamsudin, who served as Minister of Law and Human Rights in Indonesia. Provides legal services for Korean companies operating in Indonesia in finance, M&A, real estate, construction, energy, and arbitration.
• Cadmus GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic alliance with US Department of Homeland Security contractor Cadmus Group for the Serious Accidents CPR Center. Taking advantage of the serious accidents prevention and response system successfully implemented by Cadmus Group in the US and its vast industry and company data, Yoon & Yang CPR Center provides services based on scenarios tailored to Korean companies.
• VILAFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVILAF and Yoon & Yang collaborated to establish a Vietnam-Korea practice unit with offices in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to serve clients involved in cross-border transactions and disputes. The alliance aims to provide comprehensive legal services focusing on investments, M&A, finance, and dispute resolution.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kim & Chang: Korea's largest and most established Big Six law firm, providing full-service corporate, M&A, litigation, and regulatory legal services to Korean conglomerates and multinational clients — the most direct competitor to Yoon & Yang.
• Lee & Ko: Korea Big Six firm offering corporate, M&A, finance, litigation, and international practice with deep cross-border capabilities — a like-for-like rival competing for the same Korean conglomerate and cross-border mandates.
• Yulchon LLC: Big Six Korean law firm with strong M&A, antitrust, and IP practices; Yoon & Yang has actively hired lateral partners from Yulchon, underscoring direct competition for talent and clients.
• Shin & Kim: Big Six Korean law firm providing full-service legal advisory to Korean corporates and financial institutions; competes head-to-head in M&A league tables and major transactional mandates.
• Sejong Corporation (formerly Sejong Law Firm): Big Six Korean law firm with broad corporate, M&A, finance, and dispute resolution practices; closely comparable in scale, partner count, and conglomerate client base.

Broad incumbents

• Clifford Chance: Global elite law firm with a strong Seoul office handling high-end cross-border M&A, capital markets, and finance work — competes with Yoon & Yang on large international mandates as lead or co-counsel.
• Latham & Watkins: Global law firm with a top-tier Korea practice in M&A, capital markets, and finance; competes with Yoon & Yang on cross-border transactions led by multinational clients and Korean issuers.
• Baker McKenzie: Global law firm with one of the largest Korea practices and extensive Asia-Pacific network; overlaps with Yoon & Yang in cross-border M&A, IP, and regulatory advisory work.
• Linklaters: Global elite law firm advising on Korean cross-border M&A, capital markets, and banking matters; competes on the largest international mandates involving Korean clients.
• White & Case: Global law firm with a strong Seoul presence handling cross-border M&A, project finance, and disputes; competes for lead-counsel roles on major Korea-linked international transactions.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@hwawoo_yoonyang
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yoon-&-yang-llc
• Xx.com/yoonandyang

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Yoon & Yang