What Shin & Kim does

Shin & Kim is a top-tier, full-service South Korean law firm founded in 1981 and headquartered in Seoul, operating as Shin & Kim LLC under Korean law. The firm delivers legal services across 19+ practice areas including M&A, banking and finance, real estate, project finance, competition/antitrust, dispute resolution, international arbitration, intellectual property, and white-collar criminal defense. Its client base comprises Korean conglomerates (chaebols), financial institutions, foreign multinational corporations, and government entities; named engagements include Samsung, SK Hynix, Kakao, Korean Air, KEPCO, Lotte Chemical, Brookfield, Blackstone, KKR, and Goldman Sachs.

The firm operates a platform-plus-modules architecture. Core practice areas are supplemented by recently launched specialized teams and centers—the AI & Digital Competition Team, the Center for Trade, Industry and Public Affairs, the White-Collar Criminal Defense Team, the Corporate Governance Strategy Center, and the Project REITs Task Force—each targeting emerging regulatory or market segments. Underlying technology is limited to ISO 27001-certified information security management systems rather than proprietary platforms. International reach is provided through six overseas offices: Beijing (2006), Shanghai (2010), Ho Chi Minh City (2017), Hanoi (2018), Jakarta (2019), and Singapore (2023).

Shin & Kim generates revenue through professional legal services billed via hourly fees, transaction-based fees, and retainer arrangements negotiated case-by-case with corporate and institutional clients; pricing is not publicly disclosed. Client acquisition is driven by partner-led business development, industry rankings (Chambers, Legal 500, ALB), referral networks, seminars, publications, and the firm's Best Friends Group affiliation. The firm is ranked Band 1 in 11 of 19 practice areas in Chambers Asia-Pacific Guide 2026 and has received multiple GCR, ALB, Asialaw, and Korea Economic Daily awards. Governance rests with 13 managing partners as of March 2026, with Jong-Han Oh serving as senior managing partner.

Name

Shin & Kim

Legal name

Shin & Kim LLC

Website

https://shinkim.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Shin & Kim is a top-tier full-service South Korean law firm founded in 1981, advising Korean conglomerates, financial institutions, and multinational corporates across M&A, finance, dispute resolution, real estate, IP, and international arbitration through offices in Seoul and six overseas locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Legal Services: Shin & Kim generates revenue through professional legal services across multiple practice areas including M&A, finance, dispute resolution, real estate, intellectual property, and regulatory advisory. Revenue is generated through billable hours, transaction fees, and retainer arrangements with corporate and institutional clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Shin & Kim LLC is a full-service South Korean law firm offering professional legal services across M&A, banking and finance, real estate, project finance, intellectual property, competition/antitrust, dispute resolution, and international arbitration. The firm serves Korean conglomerates, financial institutions, foreign investors, and government entities through eight offices in South Korea, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore. Revenue is generated through billable hours, transaction fees, and retainer arrangements.

Product overview

Shin & Kim LLC is a full-service South Korean law firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of legal services across multiple practice areas. The firm operates a platform-plus-modules architecture with core practice areas including M&A, Banking & Finance, Real Estate, Project Finance, International Arbitration, and Intellectual Property, supplemented by specialized teams and centers addressing emerging legal needs such as AI & Digital Competition, Trade & Industry Affairs, and White-Collar Criminal Defense. The firm serves Korean and international clients through its network of offices in Seoul, Pangyo, Beijing, Shanghai, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Jakarta, and Singapore.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• M&A Practice Legal advisory for mergers and acquisitions including transaction structuring, legal due diligence, definitive agreements, government licenses, acquisition financing, and post-merger integration for Korean and international clients.
• Project Finance Comprehensive project financing services for sponsors and lenders across industries including energy, power generation, SOC infrastructure, and natural resource development sectors.
• Acquisition Finance Leveraged and acquisition financing services providing in-depth market knowledge and advice on financing structures for clients' acquisition needs.
• Credit Finance Representation of onshore and offshore clients in credit facilities, secured financing, guarantees, and trade financing transactions.
• Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Services Expert legal services for social infrastructure (SOC) projects and their financing, including assessing transactions, negotiating implementation agreements, preparing loan documents, and advising on project restructurings.
• Real Estate Practice Comprehensive legal services on real estate transactions including investments, development, real estate funds, REITs, project finance vehicles, and real estate finance.
• International Arbitration Representation in international arbitrations in Asia, Europe and the United States under ICC, ICSID, AAA/ICDR, HKIAC, LCIA, SIAC, and KCAB rules.
• Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) Korea's leading ISDS practice advising on investment arbitration matters, helping clients navigate investment treaties and resolve disputes through international arbitration.
• Competition Compliance Programs Development, implementation, and monitoring of competition compliance programs ensuring voluntary compliance with competition laws including the Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act.
• Patents, Designs and Trademarks Intellectual property services including patent applications, litigation, trademark protection, and design rights, with experts including former Chief Judges in the Patent Court.
• IP Prosecution & Technology Analysis High-quality patent services including domestic and overseas patent, trademark, and design applications, prior art searches, technical analysis, and R&D-related IP management solutions.
• AI & Digital Competition Team Dedicated team addressing competition law issues arising in the AI and digital landscape — the first of its kind among major Korean law firms.
• Center for Trade, Industry and Public Affairs Strategic platform delivering integrated advisory solutions spanning trade, economic security, and geopolitics for clients facing evolving global trade and industrial policy.
• White-Collar Criminal Defense Team Specialized, systematic legal defense in criminal cases involving corporate executives, employees, and representative directors.
• Corporate Governance Strategy Center Advisory center supporting governance assessments and management control disputes, addressing amendments to the Korean Commercial Act and evolving capital markets expectations.
• Project REITs Task Force Task force addressing the new framework for Project Real Estate Investment Companies under the amended Real Estate Investment Company Act.
• Public Interest Advocacy Center Center established in collaboration with the nonprofit corporation Nanum & Ieum to support public interest advocacy and pro bono legal services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Band 1 ranking in 11 of 19 practice areas in Chambers Asia-Pacific Guide 2026
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers22 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Yulchon LLC: Top-tier Korean law firm with strong M&A and corporate practices. Competes directly with Shin & Kim on cross-border transactions and corporate advisory for Korean conglomerates.
• Kim & Chang: Korea's largest and most established law firm with similar full-service coverage across M&A, finance, dispute resolution, and IP. Competes head-to-head with Shin & Kim for top Korean chaebol mandates and consistently ranks alongside Shin & Kim in Chambers Band 1.
• Lee & Ko: One of Korea's 'Big 5' law firms with comparable M&A, finance, and dispute resolution practices. Regularly competes with Shin & Kim for major Korean transactional and litigation mandates and shares similar international client base.
• Bae Kim & Lee LLC: Another member of Korea's elite law firm tier, with comparable practice breadth and recent experience losing partner talent (Banghyun Kim) to Shin & Kim. Direct competitor for M&A and finance mandates.
• Hanyang (formerly HMP Law): Established Korean law firm providing corporate, M&A, and dispute resolution services with similar client base of major Korean corporates and financial institutions.

Broad incumbents

• Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton: Global law firm with one of the strongest international practices in Korea. Frequently engages Shin & Kim as local counsel on cross-border M&A and capital markets matters, while competing for lead roles on inbound Korea deals.
• Latham & Watkins: Global law firm with significant Korea practice across M&A, capital markets, and finance. Frequently co-counsel with Shin & Kim on large Korean deals and represents potential competition for lead mandates.
• Linklaters: Magic Circle firm with established Korea practice in M&A and capital markets. Regularly co-counsels with Shin & Kim and represents a global incumbent Shin & Kim must compete against for international mandates touching Korea.
• Allen & Overy (now A&O Shearman): Global law firm with active Korea practice, particularly in cross-border finance and M&A. Competes with Shin & Kim on international mandates involving Korean corporates and global financial institutions.
• Clifford Chance: Magic Circle firm with strong Korea presence in banking, finance, and capital markets. Overlaps with Shin & Kim on cross-border financing and M&A mandates for Korean and global clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbt047T1bKwxx754_jKWiZw
• Facebookfacebook.com/shinandkim
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shin-&-kim
• Instagraminstagram.com/shinkimllc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

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 Shin & Kim