As the Founding Generation Steps Back,
New Hires Take the Helm of Management
More than half of the managing (executive) partner attorneys at the ten major law firms that have been in business for over 20 years (Kim & Chang, Lee & Ko, Bae Kim & Lee, Yulchon, Shin & Kim, HwaHyun, Jipyong, Barun, DR & AJU, and Dongin) are so-called "one firm men" who have spent their entire careers at their respective firms. As the core attorneys of these major law firms transition from the founding generation to the next, it appears that those who joined as new hires and have naturally proven their abilities over time are now taking on key management roles.
Among the managing partner attorneys at these ten major law firms, half specialize in advisory work, while the other half focus on litigation, showing an even split. Industry insiders note that as the law firm market expands from a litigation-centered model to more specialized advisory services, it is likely that more "one firm men" with expertise in specific advisory fields will rise to the position of managing partner in the future.
"Deep understanding of internal affairs makes for natural leadership"
Jipyong is a representative example of a major law firm where "one firm men" have recently taken the helm. Since 2025, Jipyong has been led by co-managing partners Kim Jihong (53, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 27) and Lee Haenggyu (53, class 28), who are experts in fair trade and finance, respectively. After completing their judicial training and serving as legal officers, both immediately began their legal careers at Jipyong. Having worked at Jipyong for over 20 years since the early 2000s, they have established themselves as experts in their fields and grown alongside the firm.
Bae Kim & Lee, Lee & Ko, and Shin & Kim are also led by "one firm men." Lee Junki (59, class 22), who became the managing partner of Bae Kim & Lee in 2024, is a pure Bae Kim & Lee man. He joined the firm in 1996 and has long been active as an M&A expert. Kim Sanggon (57, class 23), who was reappointed as managing partner of Lee & Ko in February 2024, also began his legal career at Lee & Ko in 1994. Kim has built his career in M&A and corporate governance, and is considered one of the top experts in these fields. Oh Jonghan (60, class 18), who became the managing partner of Shin & Kim in 2021 and was reappointed in January 2024, has spent over 30 years as an attorney at Shin & Kim alone. Oh is highly regarded for his litigation expertise in domestic and international securities, finance, and commercial transactions. Kim & Chang’s managing partner Jung Kyuseong (74, class 6) joined the firm immediately after being admitted to the bar in 1976 and rose to the top position. Jung specializes in finance at Kim & Chang.
Within the law firm industry, entrusting management to those who joined as new hires is analyzed as a "natural consequence of generational change." Having worked at a single firm for a long time, witnessing and contributing to its growth, and even handling public relations, these attorneys have the deepest understanding of the firm’s inner workings, which is why they are entrusted with management. An attorney at a major law firm said, "There are many outstanding people who joined the firm after working elsewhere, but it is only natural that those who joined at the founding and have witnessed and contributed to the firm’s growth become managing partners. This also sets a good example for younger attorneys." Another attorney at a major law firm explained, "When we joined as new hires after the founding generation, Korea’s economic growth, the diversification of the international economy, and environmental factors like the IMF crisis led to an active advisory sector, including M&A, and those who excelled in this area grew into managing partners."
No cases of returning as managing partner after switching firms
Among the other five major law firms, there were no cases where managing partners left for a competing firm and later returned to become managing partner. Most of these attorneys transitioned from the courts or prosecution and remained at their current firm, eventually rising to management.
For example, Kim & Chang’s current managing partner Mok Youngjun (70, class 10) previously served as a Constitutional Court Justice, Vice President of the National Court Administration, and judge at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, before joining Kim & Chang as an attorney in 2013, where he has focused on social contribution activities.
Kang Seokhoon (62, class 19), who became the sole managing partner of Yulchon in February 2025, is a tax expert and former judge. After leaving the judiciary, Yulchon was his first law firm as an attorney. Barun’s Lee Donghoon (57, class 23), DR & AJU’s Lee Gyucheol (61, class 22), and Dongin’s Hwang Yungu (64, class 19) also came from the judiciary, started their attorney careers at their current firms, and eventually became managing partners.
HwaHyun’s Lee Myungsoo (58, class 29) is a former non-judicial government official who worked at the Financial Supervisory Service for over ten years before joining HwaHyun and rising to managing partner.
Founding generation had more judicial and prosecutorial experience
Compared to the current generation of managing partners, the founding generation had a stronger presence of former judges and prosecutors. Lee Taehee (85, bar exam class 14), who established Lee & Ko’s predecessor, Lee Taehee Joint Law Office, began his legal career as a judge. Shin Youngmoo (81, bar exam class 9), the founder of Shin & Kim, also served as an army legal officer and then as a judge for two years. Yoon Hoil (82, bar exam class 4), who led Woobang (a predecessor of HwaHyun), is also a former judge. Barun, which grew as a "litigation specialist" firm, showed this trend even more clearly. At the time of its founding, all of its managing partners?Kang Hoon (71, class 14), Cho Junghan (77, class 1), Kim Donggun (79, class 1), Jeong Injin (72, class 7), Kim Jaeho (63, class 16), Lee Wonil (67, class 14), and Park Cheol (66, class 14)?were former judges. Myung Noseung (79, class 3) and Moon Seongwoo (69, class 11) were former prosecutors. Dongin’s founder and first managing partner Lee Cheol (76, class 5) and its second managing partner Noh Sanggyun (71, class 13) were both former prosecutors.
An attorney with many years of experience at a major law firm said, "There was a time when the presence of former judges or prosecutors among founding partners was considered important when selecting the next managing partner. In the future, however, understanding of and contributions to the firm, as well as the trust of its members, will become more important than prior government experience when choosing a managing partner."
Han Suhyeon, Legal Times Reporter
※This article is based on content supplied by Law Times.
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