Autonomous Mobility Team, Law Firms Quietly on the Move

Law firms are strengthening their legal advisory services related to autonomous vehicles. As autonomous vehicle technology rapidly advances and global and domestic regulations change accordingly, the demand for related legal advice is surging. Recently, the industry and legal circles have expressed optimism as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump hinted at the possibility of significantly easing autonomous vehicle regulations.

On the 12th, President-elect Trump appointed Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency in the upcoming administration. If Musk is appointed, there is a growing possibility that regulations hindering the commercialization of autonomous driving will be actively revised.

Seoul City will operate autonomous taxis at night starting September 26, accelerating commercialization. Yonhap News

Meanwhile, on September 23, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced regulations banning the import and sale of vehicles equipped with Chinese and Russian software in autonomous driving systems (ADS) citing national security concerns. In South Korea, new regulatory laws have also been introduced; earlier this year, the National Assembly amended the Automobile Management Act to require automobile manufacturers to obtain cybersecurity management system certification from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport before production.

In response to changes in autonomous driving regulations both domestically and internationally, law firms are providing complex legal advice related to foreign companies entering the Korean market and exports to the U.S.

HwaWoo Law Firm (Chief Attorney Lee Myung-soo) recently advised a Chinese software company through its New Business Group Mobility Team. Lee Kwang-wook (53, Judicial Research and Training Institute Class 28), head of the New Business Group, said, “If a Chinese software company installs software in a Korean autonomous vehicle manufacturer’s vehicles, it becomes complicated to review both domestic and U.S. laws when Korean companies export vehicles to the U.S. later.”

Yulchon LLC (Chief Attorney Kang Seok-hoon) provides legal advice on new technology disputes and product liability related to autonomous vehicles through cooperation between its Mobility Team and TPC Dispute Team. Hwang Kyu-sang (49, Class 33), head of the Mobility Team, explained, “Not only the Automobile Management Act but also cybersecurity regulations have a significant impact on the autonomous vehicle industry, and since related regulations are continuously changing, we provide customized advice to companies.”

As the automobile industry shifts from hardware-centered to software-centered, such as with autonomous driving, TMT (Technology, Media & Telecommunications) experts are joining law firm teams. This reflects new demands for legal advice on personal information protection and location information.

Sejong Law (Chief Attorney Oh Jong-han) provides autonomous vehicle-related advice through collaboration between its Automobile & Mobility Team and ICT (Information and Communication Technology) Team.

Taepyungyang Law Firm (Chief Attorney Lee Jun-gi) has launched the BKL Mobility Team, derived from its TMT specialized team, to strengthen advisory services. In the past, this team provided advice on Tesla’s location-based service terms and conditions.

Kwangjang Law Firm (Chief Attorney Kim Sang-gon) addresses safety and IT regulatory issues through its Mobility Team. Kim Tae-joo (43, Class 36), head of the Mobility Team, said, “In the past, environmental and safety regulations predominated and still do, but with the recent increase in IT-related regulations, TMT lawyers are joining the Mobility Team.”

Kim & Chang Law Office (Chief Attorney Jung Kye-sung) operates a Mobility Team of about 50 members, including patent attorneys and various experts, providing legal advice related to autonomous vehicles. Kim Ui-seok (55, Class 30), head of the Mobility Team, emphasized, “As autonomous driving turns cars into living spaces, regulations on various platforms and media industries, as well as cybersecurity regulations, have become issues, making comprehensive response capabilities increasingly important.”

Lee Jin-young, Legal Times Reporter

※This article is based on content supplied by Law Times.