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)

2010-2019

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
  • 2017 Shipping Law Firm of the Year - ALB Korea Law Awards (2017)
    Ranked Band 4 Firm in Restructuring/Insolvency - Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific (2017)
    Ranked Tier 3 Firm in International Arbitration - The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2017)
  • 2018 Maritime Law Firm of the Year - ALB Korea Law Awards (2018)
    Ranked Tier 2 Firm in South Korea - ALB M&A Rankings (2018)
    Ranked Tier 4 Firm in International Arbitration - The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2018)
  • 2019 Ranked 8th in Best Law Firm of the Year - Hankyung Business (2019)
    Legal Agency with Exceptional Training Programs for New Attorneys - Korean Bar Association (2019)
    Ranked Tier 2 Firm in South Korea - ALB M&A Rankings (2019)
    Ranked Tier 4 Firm in International Arbitration - The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2019)
    Ranked Tier 4 Firm in Corporate and M&A - The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2019)
    Ranked Tier 4 Firm in Shipping - The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2019)



SCROLL DOWN

2020-Today

Shifting the Paradigm

  • 2020 Ranked Tier 2 Firm in South Korea - ALB M&A Rankings (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)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Tier 4 ranking in Projects and Energy (2021)
    ALB Asia M&A Rankings, Tier 2 ranking in South Korea Domestic (2021)
  • 2021 Kyu Chul Lee, Managing Partner, ALB Asia Korea Super 30 Lawyers
  • 2022 Chambers Asia-Pacific, Band 4 ranking in Litigation (2022)
    Chambers Asia-Pacific, Band 5 ranking in Arbitration (2022)
    Chambers Asia-Pacific, Band 4 ranking in Restructuring/Insolvency (2022)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Tier 3 ranking in Dispute Resolution (2022)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Tier 4 ranking in Shipping (2022)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Tier 3 ranking in Projects and Energy (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 Award – Finalist (Asian Legal Business) (2022)
    Invest Chosun, Top 10 M&A Legal Advisor in League Table (2022)
    Legal Times, Tier 3 ranking in Corporate Finance · Tax · Intellectual Property League Table (2022)
    Legal Times, Tier 2 ranking in Antitrust & Competition · Shipping 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, Awarded in Data Compliance & Cybersecurity (2022)
  • 2023 Chambers Asia-Pacific, Band 3 ranking in Restructuring/Insolvency (2023)
    Chambers Asia-Pacific, Band 5 ranking in Arbitration (2023)
    Chambers Asia-Pacific, Band 4 ranking in Litigation (2023)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Tier 3 ranking in Antitrust and Competition ·
    Dispute Resolution · Intellectual Property · Projects and Energy · Tax (2023)
    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Tier 4 ranking in Shipping (2023)
    ALB Asia IP Rankings, Tier 2 ranking in Patents and Copyright/Trademarks (2023)