Wonsuk (Steve) Kang

Partner

Hong Kong
wonsuk.kang@lw.com
+852.2912.2691

PRACTICES

  • Antitrust & Competition
  • Capital Markets
  • International Arbitration
  • Korea Practice
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Private Equity
  • Public Company Representation
  • Real Estate
  • Restructuring & Special Situations

INDUSTRIES

  • Energy & Infrastructure
  • Entertainment, Sports & Media
  • Financial Institutions
  • Retail & Consumer Products
  • Technology

BAR QUALIFICATIONS

  • England and Wales (Solicitor)
  • Hong Kong (Registered Foreign Lawyer)

EDUCATION

  • BA in Jurisprudence, University of Oxford,
  • PhD in Mass Communications, University of Wisconsin-Madison,
    William F. Vilas Trust Estate Fellow
  • Master of Arts in Mass Communications, University of Wisconsin-Madison,
    J. William Fulbright Scholar

LANGUAGES SPOKEN

  • English
  • Korean

PROFILE

Wonsuk Kang, Chair of Latham’s Korea Practice, helps Korean clients successfully navigate complex cross-border transactions.

Wonsuk advises globally market-leading Korean companies on strategic corporate transactions and high-stakes disputes. A native Korean speaker, he draws on experience with capital markets and landmark multibillion dollar mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures in South Korea.

Educated in Korea, the US, and the UK, and qualified in the UK and Hong Kong, Wonsuk brings a global perspective to his work. He pairs a highly analytical, efficient mindset with a complementary passion for assembling global teams of Latham colleagues to best serve Korean clients.

Prior to his legal career, Wonsuk was an award-winning communications and journalism professor at the distinguished Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

EXPERIENCE

Wonsuk’s Korean clients have included:

  • Hyundai Motor Company
  • Hyundai Mobis
  • LG Chem
  • LG Display
  • LG Energy Solution
  • Samsung Asset Management
  • Samsung Electronics
  • CJ E&M
  • CJ Korea Express
  • CJ Cheiljedang
  • SK Hynix
  • Hanwha Solution s
  • Export-Import Bank of Korea
  • The Republic of Korea*
  • JTBC Studios
  • Lotte Shopping*
  • Mando Corporation

His transactional work includes advising:

M&A

  • LG Display on a series of transactions to dispose of its entire interest in LG Display (China) and LG Display (Guangzhou), which manufacture liquid crystal display (LCD) panels and modules in China, as it shifts its focus to organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology
  • Hyundai Motor Group in its:
    • Acquisition of a controlling stake in Boston Dynamics, an engineering company that specializes in building dynamic robots and software for human simulation, valued at US$1.1 billion
    • US$4 billion autonomous driving joint venture with Aptiv, an innovative vehicle technology provider
  • Hyundai Capital Service and Hyundai Capital Bank Europe GmbH in their acquisition of Sixt Leasing, a Germany-based vehicle leasing and management company
  • LG Chem in its US$566 million acquisition of AVEO Oncology, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel cancer therapeutics
  • CJ E&M on its acquisition of the Blue Group, a major media group in Vietnam*
  • JTBC Studios in its acquisition of Wiip Productions, a US-based video content production company
  • Tesco on the HK$6.5 billion sale of its Korean retail business, Homeplus, to MBK Partners*
  • The Carlyle Group in its KRW 2.97 trillion sale of ADT Caps, a South Korea-based provider of advanced security solutions, to SK Telecom and Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets

Restructuring, Disputes, and Global Investigations

  • LG Chem on its ITC matter against SK Innovation, a petroleum business company, regarding allegations of misappropriating LG Chem’s trade secrets
  • LG Display Co., Ltd along with its customers LG Electronics and Sony Corporation, in a patent infringement lawsuit brought by Solas OLED Ltd., a leading owner and licensor of technology focused on the OLED market
  • Korea Export Import Bank on its restructuring of Atinum, an energy-focused private investment firm
  • Hanjin Shipping on its global corporate restructuring*

*Matter handled prior to joining the firm