K&L Gates has hired Dooyong Kang as a corporate partner in its Tokyo office from Jones Day, where he was a counsel.
Kang focuses on M&A, strategic alliances including joint ventures, financing transactions, licensing, and supply arrangements. He has represented clients on a range of cross-border transactions, particularly involving Japanese companies.
Kang has been involved in several deals involving Japanese trading house Itochu Corporation, including its 2017 acquisitions of the worldwide business and Asian business of outdoor clothing and accessories brands Wild Things and Gramicci, respectively. He also advised Itochu and its affiliate in the establishment of a cross-border e-commerce platform with Chinese state-owned enterprise Citic Holdings and its affiliate in 2016.
“With Dooyong’s addition, we boost our already existing strength in representing Japanese corporate clients in strategic M&A transactions in the U.S., Asia-Pacific, and Europe,” said Ryan Dwyer, administrative partner of K&L Gates’ Tokyo office, in a statement.
Almost exactly a year ago, K&L Gates lured away another counsel, Eric Sedlak, from Jones Day’s Tokyo office, as a corporate partner. According to ALB’s Top 50 largest law firms ranking last year, Jones Day was ranked No. 6 with 45 lawyers, including 12 partners, and K&L Gates was at No. 14 with 19 lawyers, seven of whom are partners.
