Baker McKenzie & KL Partners Joint Venture Law Firm has unveiled Jangwoon John Kwak as its new Korea managing partner, who steps into the role after leading the firm’s tax practice.
Kwak, who has more than 20 years of experience, said that in the first 12 months at the helm, he aimed to bolster the firm’s capabilities in certain sectors that had been shaping Korea’s economy.
“We are seeing continued investment by multinational companies in areas such as AI, semiconductors, digital infrastructure and advanced technology, creating increasing demand for sophisticated cross-border legal advice,” he told Asia Business Law Journal.
“To meet that demand, we will continue investing in our sector-focused teams and attracting outstanding talent with deep expertise in these areas. Our objective is to ensure that Baker McKenzie Korea is well positioned to support clients as they navigate increasingly complex international legal and regulatory issues.”
Looking further ahead, Kwak said the firm must continue evolving alongside both inbound and outbound investment involving Korea.
“Korea is one of the world’s largest and most sophisticated economies, and I believe our practice should continue to evolve in line with the growing needs of both multinational companies investing in Korea and Korean companies expanding globally,” he said.
“While we continue to build on the foundations of our joint venture, my ambition is to build a practice of a scale and depth that reflects the importance of the Korean market within Baker McKenzie’s global network. That means continued investment in exceptional people, broader industry capabilities and even closer collaboration across our international offices.”
Kwak said the firm was seeing promising potential across several industries, including energy and technology, alongside rising demand for dispute-related work.
“We see particularly strong opportunities in AI, semiconductors, energy, technology, and digital infrastructure, all of which continue to attract significant international investment,” he said.
“At the same time, ongoing geopolitical developments, evolving trade environments, and increasingly complex regulations are driving greater demand for international dispute resolution, investigations, and trade-related advisory work. These issues rarely involve only one jurisdiction, making Baker McKenzie’s integrated global platform especially valuable for clients.”
