Chee-Kwan Kim brings nearly two decades of experience advising on complex, high-value transactions across the United States, Korea, and other international markets. His practice focuses on corporate and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, with an emphasis on private equity-driven transactions, as well as investments, dispositions, joint ventures, and minority investments.
With a particular focus on outbound investments, CK represents clients on cross-border M&A, private equity investments, and other strategic transactions involving Korean corporations and sponsors. His experience spans multiple industries, including consumer products, cosmetics, financial services, industrials, and life sciences.
Experience
- Mirae Asset and KCGI Fund in connection with a $200 million pre-IPO equity investment into an overseas subsidiary of an electric power and energy conglomerate.*
- IMM Private Equity and IMM Investment in their KRW 2.07 trillion (approximately $1.44 billion) acquisition of 100% equity in Korea’s largest comprehensive waste management and environmental services platform.*
- STIC Investments in its KRW 450 billion (approximately $336 million) acquisition of a 65% controlling stake in the parent company of a major global manufacturer of luxury vinyl tile flooring based in Seoul.*
- A special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) in its cross-border combination with a designer and developer of architectural display glass in a transaction with an implied pro forma enterprise value of approximately $309 million. The newly formed, NASDAQ-listed holding company established a landmark deal for Korean tech-infrastructure integration in the U.S. capital markets.*
- One of the world’s leading global investment firms in its KRW 6111.3 billion (approximately $510 million) acquisition of a 10% minority stake in the global logistics and shipping arm of a multinational automotive manufacturer.*
- A Beijing-based private equity firm in connection with its proposed $1.4 billion take-private acquisition of a South Korea-based designer and manufacturer of semiconductors.*
- Seraya Partners, a Singapore-headquartered independent infrastructure fund, and its digital infrastructure platform, Empyrion Digital (formerly Empyrion DC), in its $400 million acquisition of 100% of the development rights and subsequent development of a data center in Seoul.*
- SoftBank Ventures Asia (now SBVA) in its lead investment and acquisition of Series A preferred shares in a Silicon Valley-headquartered, South Korea-backed precision medicine and healthcare AI startup.*
- Q Capital Partners, a Seoul-based private equity firm, in its $25 million acquisition of Series C preferred shares in a provider of integrated residential energy storage systems and AI-powered Virtual Power Plant Software in California, serving as the second-largest investor in the target’s Series C funding round.*
- A global venture capital firm and premier investor in the interactive entertainment and gaming sectors, in its strategic multimillion-dollar investment into a South Korean multinational entertainment lifestyle platform company.*
*Represents experience with previous employer.
Perspectives
Recognition
Credentials
Education
- J.D., Columbia Law School, 2007, Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
- LL.M., University of Toronto Faculty of Law, 2002
- B.A., Yonsei University College of Law, 2000, College of Law
Admissions
- Registered Foreign Legal Consultant, Korea
- New York
Languages
- English
- Korean
- Japanese