Arnold & Porter Welcomes M&A, Private Equity Partner Chee-Kwan Kim to Seoul Office, Bolstering Transactional Capabilities
SEOUL and WASHINGTON, D.C., August 3, 2026 — Arnold & Porter announced today that Chee-Kwan Kim has joined the firm’s M&A team of its Corporate & Finance practice as a partner. CK will be resident in the firm’s Seoul office.
James K. Lee, Managing Partner of Arnold & Porter’s Seoul office, said: “CK is well regarded in both the business and legal community as an excellent U.S.-qualified lawyer and a trusted advisor whom clients turn to for their most complex transactions. We are confident his business acumen and experience in M&A and private equity will meaningfully augment our existing capabilities in the Korean market.”
Derek Stoldt, co-chair of Arnold & Porter’s Corporate & Finance Group, added: “Outbound M&A from Korea remains active and increasingly complex, often involving significant regulatory considerations and cross-jurisdictional structuring and coordination. CK’s experience with private equity — which continues to drive M&A activity in Korea — positions him to collaborate effectively with our U.S. and global multidisciplinary teams to advise large corporations investing internationally on Korea-originated deal flow.”
CK brings nearly two decades of experience counseling clients on complex, high-value, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, as well as private equity investments. He often represents Korean corporations and sponsors in their strategic transactions, with a particular focus on outbound investments. He regularly advises on acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, and minority investments. CK’s background also spans multiple industries, including industrials, life sciences, cosmetics, consumer products, and financial services. Before joining Arnold & Porter, CK worked at leading Korean- and U.S.-based law firms.
In joining the firm, CK said: “My practice has centered on complex, multi-step cross-border transactions that require close coordination across jurisdictions. Arnold & Porter’s transactional, regulatory, and sector practices align closely with my work, offering significant opportunities for cross-practice collaboration, and I look forward to building on my practice here.”
CK earned his J.D. from Columbia University, his LL.M. from the University of Toronto, and his LL.B. from Yonsei University.
About Arnold & Porter
Arnold & Porter combines sophisticated regulatory, litigation, and transactional capabilities to resolve clients’ most complex issues. With over 1,000 lawyers practicing in 16 offices worldwide, we offer an integrated approach that spans more than 40 practice areas. Through multidisciplinary collaboration and focused industry experience, we provide innovative and effective solutions to mitigate risks, address challenges, and achieve successful outcomes.
