Firm History

1993-2009

Our Beginning

  • 1994 Incorporation of AJU International Law Group(1993 Establishment of Aju Law Office)
  • 1996 Incorporation of Daeryook Law Group(1992 Establishment of Hahm & Kim Law Office)
  • 2009 Merger between Daeryook and AJU and transfer of office to Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu
  • 2009 Ranked 2nd as M&A Legal Advisor in Capital Markets League Table,
    the third quarter of 2009 (Announced Deals) - Yonhap Infomax (2009)

2010-2021

Breaking the Mold

  • 2010 Ranked 4th as M&A Legal Advisor in Capital Markets League Table,
    the third quarter of 2010 (Completed Deals) - Yonhap Infomax (2010)
  • 2012 Deal of the Year - India Business Law Journal for advising on POSCO-Maharashtra’s Project Financing (2012)
  • 2013 Ranked 2nd as IPO Legal Advisor in League Table, the first quarter of 2013 - The Bell (2013)
    Ranked 3rd as IPO Legal Advisor in League Table, 2013 - The Bell (2013)
  • 2014 Changed to a limited liability company
    Entered into business alliance with Taylor Wessing LLP and led the establishment of the ASEAN+ Group
  • 2016 Chambers Asia-Pacific 2017, Band 4 ranking in Restructuring/Insolvency (2016)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2017, Tier 3 ranking in International Arbitration (2016)
  • 2017 ALB Korea Law Awards, Shipping Law Firm of the Year (2017)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2018, Tier 4 ranking in International Arbitration (2017)
  • 2018 ALB Korea Law Awards, Maritime Law Firm of the Year (2018)
    ALB Asia M&A Rankings, Tier 2 ranking in South Korea Domestic (2018)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2019, Tier 4 ranking in International Arbitration (2018)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2019, Tier 4 ranking in Corporate and M&A (2018)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2019, Tier 4 ranking in Shipping (2018)
  • 2019 Korean Bar Association, Legal Agency with Exceptional Training Programs for New Attorneys (2019)
    Hankyung Business, Top 10 Best Law Firm of the Year (2019)
    ALB Asia M&A Rankings, Tier 2 ranking in South Korea Domestic (2019)
  • 2020 ALB Asia M&A Rankings, Tier 2 ranking in South Korea Domestic (2020)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2021, Tier 4 ranking in Projects and Energy (2020)
  • 2021 Invest Chosun, Top 10 M&A Legal Advisor in League Table, the third quarter of 2021 (2021)
    Invest Chosun, Top 10 M&A Legal Advisor in League Table, the first half of 2021 (2021)
    Legal Times, Tier 2 ranking in Antitrust & Competition League Table (2021)
    ALB Asia M&A Rankings, Tier 2 ranking in South Korea Domestic (2021)
    Chambers Asia-Pacific/Global 2022, Band 4 ranking in Litigation (2021)
    Chambers Asia-Pacific/Global 2022, Band 5 ranking in Arbitration (2021)
    Chambers Asia-Pacific 2022, Band 4 ranking in Restructuring/Insolvency (2021)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022, Tier 3 ranking in Dispute Resolution (2021)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022, Tier 4 ranking in Shipping (2021)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022, Tier 3 ranking in Projects and Energy (2021)
  • 2021 Kyu Chul Lee, Managing Partner, ALB Asia Korea Super 30 Lawyers





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2022-Today

Shifting the Paradigm

  • 2022 ALB Asia IP Rankings, Tier 2 ranking in Patents and Copyright/Trademarks (2022)
    ALB Asia M&A Rankings, Tier 2 ranking in South Korea Domestic (2022)
    ALB Korea Law Awards 2022 - Finalist (2022)
    Invest Chosun, Top 10 M&A Legal Advisor in League Table (2022)
    Legal Times, Tier 2 ranking in Antitrust & Competition·Shipping League Table (2022)
    Legal Times, Tier 3 ranking in Corporate Finance·Tax·Intellectual Property League Table (2022)
    Hankyung Business-Korean In-House Counsel Association, Ranked Band B and awarded Excellence Award in 2022 Best Law Firm & Lawyer (2022)
    Asia Business Law Journal's 2022 Korea Law Firm Awards, Awarded in Data Compliance & Cybersecurity (2022)
    Chambers Asia-Pacific 2023, Band 3 ranking in Restructuring/Insolvency (2022)
    Chambers Asia-Pacific/Global 2023, Band 5 ranking in Arbitration (2022)
    Chambers Asia-Pacific/Global 2023, Band 4 ranking in Litigation (2022)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2023, Tier 3 ranking in Antitrust and Competition (2022)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2023, Tier 3 ranking in Dispute Resolution (2022)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2023, Tier 3 ranking in Intellectual Property (2022)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2023, Tier 3 ranking in Projects and Energy (2022)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2023, Tier 4 ranking in Shipping (2022)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2023, Tier 3 ranking in Tax (2022)
  • 2023 ALB Asia IP Rankings, Tier 2 ranking in Patents and Copyright/Trademarks (2023)
    Invest Chosun, Top 10 M&A Legal Advisor in League Table, the first quarter of 2023 (2023)
    Asialaw, "Notable" in Corporate and M&A, Banking and Finance (2023)
    ALB Asia M&A Rankings, South Korea Domestic - Tier 2 (Asian Legal Business) (2023)
    ALB Korea Law Awards 2023, Energy and Resource Law Firm of the Year (2023)
    The Legal 500 Green Guide Asia Pacific 2024, Recommended Firm in Green Guide Asia Pacific 2024 (2023)
    Legal Times, Tier 2 ranking in Antitrust & Competition (2023)
    Legal Times, Tier 3 ranking in Intellectual Property League Table (2023)
    Hankyung Business-Korean In-House Counsel Association, Ranked 8th in 2023 Best Law Firm & Lawyer (2023)
    Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024, Band 3 ranking in Restructuring/Insolvency (2023)
    Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024, Band 4 ranking in Dispute Resolution: White-Collar Crime (2023)
    Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024, Band 4 ranking in Projects & Energy (2023)
    Chambers Asia-Pacific/Global 2024, Band 4 ranking in Dispute Resolution: Litigation (2023)
    Chambers Asia-Pacific/Global 2024, Band 4 ranking in Corporate/M&A (2023)
    Chambers Asia-Pacific/Global 2024, Band 5 ranking in Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (2023) The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024, Tier 3 ranking in Antitrust and Competition (2023)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024, Tier 3 ranking in Dispute Resolution (2023)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024, Tier 3 ranking in Projects and Energy (2023)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024, Tier 3 ranking in Tax (2023)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024, Tier 4 ranking in Intellectual Property (2023)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024, Tier 4 ranking in Shipping (2023)
    Asia Business Law Journal Korea Law Firm Awards 2023, awarded in Insolvency & Restructuring (2023)
  • 2024 ALB Asia IP Rankings, Tier 2 ranking in Patents and Copyright/Trademarks (2024)
    Asialaw, "Notable Firm" in Corporate and M&A, Banking and Finance (2024)
    ALB M&A Rankings, South Korea Domestic - Tier 2 (Asian Legal Business) (2024)
    IFLR1000, Tier 3 ranking in Restructuring and Insolvency (2024)
    Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025, Band 3 ranking in Restructuring/Insolvency (2024)
    Chambers Asia-Pacific/Global 2025, Band 3 ranking in Corporate/M&A (2024)
    Chambers Asia-Pacific/Global 2025, Band 4 ranking in Dispute Resolution: Litigation (2024)
    Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025, Band 4 ranking in Projects & Energy (2024)
    Chambers Asia-Pacific/Global 2025, Band 5 ranking in Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (2024)
    Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025, Band 5 ranking in Dispute Resolution: White-Collar Crime (2024)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025, Tier 3 ranking in Antitrust and Competition (2024)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025, Tier 3 ranking in Dispute Resolution (2024)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025, Tier 3 ranking in Labor and Employment (2024)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025, Tier 3 ranking in Projects and Energy (2024)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025, Tier 3 ranking in Tax (2024)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025, Tier 4 ranking in Intellectual Property (2024)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025, Tier 4 ranking in Shipping (2024)
    Asia Business Law Journal Korea Law Firm Awards 2024, awarded in Insolvency & Restructuring (2024)
    Asia Business Law Journal Korea Law Firm Awards 2024, awarded in Energy & Natural Resources (2024)
    Asia Business Law Journal Korea Law Firm Awards 2024, awarded in Outbound Investment (2024)





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