James K. Lee serves as the Global Head of White & Case's Korea practice and the Executive Partner of the Seoul office, which was named as the "Most Responsive International Firm of The Year, South Korea" by Asian-MENA Counsel Firms of the Year 2016 and one of top 10 international law firms in South Korea by Legal Times 2016 and 2017.
Described as "a brilliant strategist who is meticulous but sees the big picture", "excellent at managing teams, understanding clients' needs, and thinking outside of the box" (Chambers Asia-Pacific 2017), clients come to James for his deep insight and experience in handling complex, cross-border litigation. Over more than twenty years' practice, he has developed a significant track record of winning cases involving complex commercial disputes.
He has successfully represented both domestic and multinational companies in state and federal courts, as well as before arbitral tribunals. James is especially noted for his adept handling of cross-border business disputes involving international parties, and has successfully tried multiple jury trials to verdict.
In addition to his litigation practice, James also assists Korean companies with their operations in the United States and in other international markets. James, who speaks fluent Korean, has a significant background in this field, having represented many of Korea's top companies.
Drawing on the experience of the Firm's lawyers in multiple practices around the world, James offers comprehensive legal counsel to major Korean companies. By steering them through the technical minefield of cross-border transactions and regulatory issues, he enables these clients to extend their activities into foreign markets with complete confidence.
The breadth of James' international experience is matched by his deep familiarity with the Korean business environment. This has also made him a valued resource for global companies doing business within the Korean market. Drawing on his relationships with local counsel, James is perfectly placed to help foreign companies navigate the challenges presented by the Korean legal and regulatory landscape.