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DK Donghyun Kim

Of Counsel

Admitted in California and the District of Columbia
Not Admitted in Georgia, but being supervised by a licensed Georgia Bar member

Atlanta
About

DK Donghyun Kim is a corporate lawyer with an international practice focused on representing multinational corporations and Korean private equity firms in connection with cross-border M&A transactions and general corporate matters. With a decade of experience working at DLA Piper's Seoul office and San Francisco office, DK regularly represents Korea and US based businesses with cross-border acquisitions, joint ventures and other investments. The sectors involved in DK’s recent transactions include automotive supply chain, manufacturing, chemical, mining, technology, energy, and construction services. DK has a particular capability with complex cross-border joint ventures, supply chain acquisitions, offtake investments involving international parties. DK also advises clients on various legal and business matters, including entity formation, corporate governance, partnership matters, supply agreements and customer contracts. DK also assists clients with global regulatory and corporate compliance.

Areas of FocusCorporateMergers and AcquisitionsTechnology and Commercial Transactions
Bar AdmissionsCaliforniaDistrict of Columbia
CourtsUnited States District Court for the Northern District of California

EXPERIENCE

  • Assist a Korean steel manufacturer with a joint venture with a Mexican steel manufacturer to produce high grade steel products.
  • Assist a major Korean private equity fund with the purchase of a minority share in automotive parts manufacturer in the US.
  • Assist a major Korean private equity fund with the purchase of a flooring parts manufacturing entities in the US.
  • Assist Korean electronics manufacturer with a strategic investment into a US based self-driving technology/ semiconductor manufacturer.
  • Assist Korean automobile manufacturer with a strategic investment into a Canadian AI chip manufacturer.
  • Assist LG Chem with two joint ventures with Archer-Daniels-Midland to manufacture PLA Polymer products in the US.
  • Assist POSCO with a joint venture with the Ravensthorpe Nickel Operation for the nickel mine in Australia for USD 240 million to boost its electric vehicle battery business in 2021.
  • Assist POSCO International with the AUD 860M acquisition of a public Australian gas producer Senex Energy in Australia.
  • Assisting a major Korean steel maker with a joint development of lithium solid-state batteries with a Taiwanese battery manufacturer.
  • Assisting a major Korean automobile manufacturer with the acquisition of an electric vehicle manufacturer in the UK.
  • Assisting a major steelmaker with corporate matters in relation to its investment in an iron ore mine in Canada and Australia.
  • Assisting a Korean heavy equipment manufacturer with the sale of 9.5MW and 6MW solar farms in Romania.
  • Assisting a Korean electronics manufacturer with the restructuring of their mobile communications business in Europe.
Languages
  • English
  • Korean
Education
  • B.F.A., The School of the Art Institute of Chicago 2004
  • J.D., Whittier College School of Law 2007

Awards

  • "Stand-out Lawyer" by Thompson Reuters in 2023
  • "Rising Star" for Corporate and M&A: Foreign Firms (2024) by Legal 500 Asia Pacific
  • "Acritas Star" for three consecutive years (2019-2021) by Acritas. 
  • "Up and Coming" lawyer for Corporate/M&A: International Firms, Chambers Asia Pacific, 2024
    A client notes DK "routinely assists with regulatory issues arising out of corporate transactions" and he is also "adept at handling outbound investments."

Certifications and Qualifications

  • Qualification from the National Committee on Accreditation for the Federation of Law Societies of Canada
  • Harvard Law School Executive Education - International Finance: Policy, Regulation, and Transactions, (March 2023)

Publications

Seminars

  • Korean Bar Association/Korea In-House Counsel Association, "Investing into the US: Introduction to CFIUS and FIRRMA"
  • Seminar: Key issues in international equity joint ventures
  • Seminar: Managing risks in M&A transactions
  • Seminar: Mining Investment 101
  • Seminar: Post-merger integration

Prior Experience

Before joining DLA Piper, DK worked as an in-house counsel at POSCO, one of the largest steel makers in the world, focusing on cross-border investment and related disputes. DK was the recipient of “POSCO CEO's Award of Excellence” and “Legal Affairs Dept. EVP's Award of Excellence.” DK served as a judge advocate in the Republic of Korea’s Navy and Marine Corp. Before he joined the military, he worked at the Korean Government Legal Service firm advising government agencies and state owned entities in connection with cross-border transactions, foreign direct investments and general corporate matters.

Memberships And Affiliations

  • The Foreign Law Firm Association of Korea – Secretary General
  • The International Association of Korean Lawyers (IAKL) – Director
  • The International Association of Korean lawyers – Chairperson, Young Lawyers Committee

My latest insights

News

DLA Piper advises on AUD860 million proposed acquisition

17 December 2021 .5 minute read

Connect

Phone

+1 404 736 7799
(Work, Atlanta)
+ 1 770 401 5353
(Mobile)
+82 (0)10 2817 6669
(Korea Mobile)
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