Baker McKenzie KLP JV, the South Korean joint venture law firm between Baker McKenzie and KL Partners, has continued its ongoing market expansion with the launch of a tax practice with the addition of Kim & Chang attorneys John Kwak (L) and Doug Suh.
The tax practice adds to the current offerings, which include energy and infrastructure development and financing, dispute resolution, and M&A.
Kwak, who joins as a partner, brings over 20 years of experience in international taxation and cross-border transactions, having represented multinational corporations in tax audits, tax litigation, dispute resolution, transfer pricing, M&A tax structuring, and overseas investment strategies. He specialises in navigating corporate tax and transfer pricing challenges for foreign companies operating in Korea, while also resolving complex tax disputes and regulatory issues for Korean companies expanding abroad.
Suh, who comes on board as senior advisor, specialises in transfer pricing and overseas investment. He has experience in transfer pricing, including Advance Pricing Agreements, Mutual Agreement Procedures, tax audit defence, global transfer pricing planning, and representing taxpayers in transfer pricing legislation and tax appeals. He also has considerable expertise in the tax systems of China and Southeast Asian nations such as Vietnam and Indonesia, serving as a leading advisor to clients operating on the global stage.
Kwak and Suh both joined Kim & Chang in 2018, prior to which they had overlapping stints at Lee & Ko and Yulchon.
"Establishing a tax practice within Baker McKenzie KLP JV is an important step in our ongoing market expansion,” said Beomsu Kim, joint representative of Baker McKenzie KLP JV.
“Their appointments will bolster Baker McKenzie's leading global tax practice to include matters with a nexus to Korea,” added Adeline Wong, Asia Pacific chair of the tax practice.
Baker McKenzie, which became the second international firm after Ashurst to launch a joint venture firm in South Korea last October, is the largest international firm by partner strength in the country.
The JV added leading arbitration practitioner David Kim and international arbitration practitioner Sunyoung Kim, both from Lee & Ko, as partners in December 2023 and May 2024, respectively.
