Latham & Watkins has hired corporate specialist Wonsuk (Steve) Kang from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, initially as a partner in the firm’s Hong Kong office. He will eventually relocate to Seoul, where he will head Latham’s corporate practice. 

Kang advises companies on cross-border investments and has experience helping companies invest in the Korean market, as well as advising Korean companies on their outbound investments. 

At Freshfields, he served as counsel in the Hong Kong office and led the firm’s Korea practice. He also advised on several notable deals, including Tesco’s $6.5 billion sale of its Korean retail business to MBK Partners, Chinese Investment Corporation on its equity co-investment into International Finance Center and Conrad Hotel in Korea, and Hanjin Shipping’s $5 billion global corporate restructuring. 

“Seoul is a key hub for finance, commerce and manufacturing in East Asia with strong and growing importance across the region. Steve is a top-notch lawyer with an outstanding reputation for client service and strong leadership, and he brings in-depth knowledge and deep ties to business in Korea to the firm,” said Joseph Bevash, office managing partner of Latham’s Seoul and Tokyo offices, in a statement.  

Latham opened in Seoul last year, marking its sixth office in Asia.