Kyungsup Kris Kim is an attorney specializing in the areas of foreign investment, international transactions, international disputes, and technology transfer and commercialization. Currently based in Hanoi, Vietnam as a member of Lee & Ko Vietnam, he advises clients and investors regarding their businesses and investments in Vietnam. After three and a half years of legal and research work in the U.S., he started his legal career in Korea providing legal advice to various clients with regard to their inbound and outbound investments in many countries spanning from Korea, Southeast Asia, and the U.S. to Europe. While working in Korea for a Korean law firm, he was assigned to work on numerous foreign investment cases in Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines and Thailand, where the firm maintained its business presence and clients. Additionally, he headed International Transaction Team and Technology Transfer and Commercialization Center, and was subsequently dispatched to Vietnam in 2017 to manage the firm’s Vietnam office.

Prior to joining Lee & Ko Vietnam, Mr. Kim worked at the first Korean law firm subsidiary established in Vietnam as the general manager, holding the titles of director and branch chief of Hanoi and Da Nang branches. Mr. Kim’s experience as a legal professional working in Vietnam has included advising and successfully representing clients in a wide range of business litigation and transaction matters covering all regions of Vietnam including the North, Middle and South of Vietnam. More specifically, he assisted numerous investors in the initial phase of launching their business operations in Vietnam such as greenfield investments and establishment of business presence including FDI companies, project management offices, and representative offices in Vietnam. Following the launch of the Vietnam business presence, he provided continuing legal advice to the clients on a wide range of corporate, labor, and regulatory legal matters.

Additionally, he has extensive experience in legal structuring and compliance issues for joint ventures and M&A transactions. His practice also covers dispute resolutions in Vietnam, including arbitrations at Vietnam International Arbitration Center and other legal proceedings in Vietnam.

Mr. Kim currently serves as a legal advisor to Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang in addition to KOTRA Da Nang Office. He is also a member of Investment & Trade Working Group of Vietnam Business Forum in Hanoi representing Korea Chamber of Business in Vietnam and Korean investors since he was appointed as a delegate in 2020.