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Hyewon has comprehensive experience in corporate matters that extends across advising clients on outbound transactions as well as representing clients in U.S. litigations and international arbitrations when in dispute. On the transaction side, Hyewon focuses her practice on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and general corporate matters. On the disputes side, Hyewon represents clients in high-stakes cases involving shareholder disputes, busted deals, disputes arising from foreign investments, and various other complex cross-border transactions. Prior to joining Greenberg Traurig, Hyewon practiced at a leading international arbitration boutique where she represented clients in cross-border disputes and provided advice on the underlying transactions prior to, after, or as an alternative to the dispute resolution. She has also previously served as corporate counsel for a multinational Korean conglomerate and a digital asset exchange where she advised on a wide range of corporate matters.

Concentrations

  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Joint Ventures and Partnerships
  • International Arbitration
  • Litigation

Competenze

Esperienze Professionali - Attività Accademiche

  • Representing a Korean company in ICC arbitration seated in Singapore involving a dispute over a Distribution Agreement.
  • Represented a Korean joint venture consortium in ICC arbitration seated in Singapore.
  • Represented a major Korean retail company in JCAA arbitration seated in Japan involving a shareholders dispute with a claimed amount of approximately $1.5 billion. Successfully defended all claims relating to the right of first refusal, call option, and damages for breach of a Joint Venture Agreement.°
  • Represented a Korean automotive components maker before the State Court of Cobb County, Georgia in a product liability case.
  • Represented Korea-based asset management unit before the Delaware Chancery Court for an expediated trial concerning a busted deal involving a $5.8 billion acquisition of a 15-hotel portfolio in the United States. The Korean client received a full refund of its deposit, plus interest, and damages for all expenses incurred in the transaction and the litigation. This case is precedential and the first ever in the United States to rule on the topic of ordinary course covenant in times of the COVID-19 pandemic.°
  • Represented Korea-based asset management unit before the Delaware Supreme Court concerning an appeal against the judgment of Delaware Chancery Court involving a busted deal for a $5.8 billion acquisition of a 15-hotel portfolio in the United States. Delaware Supreme Court affirmed the holding below in an en banc.°
  • Represented a government agency in U.S. federal litigation before the Eastern District of Virginia.°
  • Represented the Korean government in an investor-state arbitration involving Iranian investors.°

°The above representations were handled by Ms. Lee prior to her joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.

  • Advising a major Korean conglomerate in their equity financing in a UK based company in a Series B financing round.
  • Advising a major Korean biochemical company in their proposed acquisition of SAFEs in a Boston based Delaware company.
  • Advising a major Korean conglomerate in their equity financing in a North Carolina based Delaware company.
  • Advised a major Korean conglomerate in their special purpose vehicle subsidiary’s repurchase of capital stock from their parent company in order to upstream the sales proceeds made by the subsidiary.
  • Advised Kakaopay in their acquisition of a majority stake in Siebert Financial Corp., a Nasdaq listed, New York-based diversified financial services company operating their business including through their broker-dealer subsidiaries, in two tranches comprising acquisition of minority position (19.9%) followed by additional acquisition of 31.1% stake in Sibert.
  • Advised a major Korean pharmaceutical company with respect to its Joint Development Agreement with a renewable chemicals and biofuels company that is a Nasdaq-listed Delaware company.
  • Advised a major Korean electronics company in their proposed investment in a Delaware corporation in a form of preferred stock.
  • Advised a major Korean company in its investment in an alternative meat business based in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom with a Korean co-investor through a Delaware limited liability company, undertook various registrations and reporting relating to their Netherland branch office, and subsequent bankruptcy related proceedings in various jurisdictions in which the target’s subsidiaries are based in.
  • Advised Korea Investment Corporation, the sovereign wealth fund of the Republic of Korea, in its strategic investment in Golub Capital, an asset management company.
  • Advised a major Korean pharmaceutical company in its investments in and collaborative partnership with a Scotland company involved in the business of waste plastic recycling.
  • Advised a major Korean pharmaceutical company in its investments in a German biotechnology (bioplastic/biomass recycler) company in a form of a convertible loan agreement.
  • Advised a major Korean insurance conglomerate on corporate restructuring project involving mutual funds and limited partnerships across Cayman Islands, BVI, and Delaware.°
  • Advised on Myanmar-Korea BIT as it relates to Myanmar’s new foreign currency conversion policy.°
  • Advised on outbound investments, mergers & acquisitions, and exit deals involving US and Southeast Asian target companies as corporate counsel.°
  • Advised on post-M&A integration and corporate restructuring for US entities as corporate counsel.°
  • Advised on global joint venture expansion of a major Korean cryptocurrency exchange in seven jurisdictions as corporate counsel.°
  • Advised on government licenses for the operation of cryptocurrency exchanges as corporate counsel.°
  • Corporate Counsel, CJ CheilJedang Corporation, 2019-2020
  • Corporate Counsel, Bithumb Korea Co. Ltd., 2018-2019
  • Judicial Intern, Honorable Eric G. Bruggink, United States Court of Federal Claims, Washington D.C., U.S., 2015

Riconoscimenti e Premi

  • Member, District of Columbia Bar, 2017

Formazione

Formazione
  • LL.M., Regent University School of Law, 2016
  • Master of Laws, magna cum laude, Handong International Law School
    • Senior Editor, Law Review
    • Editor-in-Chief, The Hilsian
  • Diploma di maturità, Ewha Womans University
    • Dean's List Scholarships
Abilitazioni
  • District of Columbia
As a Foreign Legal Consultant Office, the practice in Seoul is limited to legal advice regarding U.S. law, treaties with the U.S., and universally recognized customary international law. We may not render legal advice on Korean law matters.
Lingue
  • Inglese
  • Korean

Related Capabilities

Diritto Societario Fusioni e Acquisizioni Contenzioso International Arbitration & Litigation