Won Jun LeeExperts Member

Tel : 02-6710-0387 | Email : sam@joowonlaw.com

Wonjun Lee is a Senior Foreign (U.S.) Attorney with a high ethical standard and client-centric mindset, grounded in a Bible-centered worldview as a born-gain Christian. Since 2012 to the present, he has successfully executed a variety of projects, collectively valued in the billions of USD, while working across domestic and international administrative bodies, judicial institutions, and multinational corporations. He contributed to shaping U.S. state tax policy for the Kansas State Department of Revenue. He participated in projects for developing sentencing guidelines for South Korea's military courts, amending the Military Criminal Act, and revising the ICRC Commentary. Subsequently, he introduced a course on International Real Estate Transactions with a Harvard University graduate school professor in South Korea. Over the past five years, he has concentrated on global cross-border matters, handling various international contracts, IPO/M&A/JV projects, compliance, and arbitration/ADR. He has successfully and proactively led numerous projects worldwide, with a combined value in the trillions of Korean Won, including: SK Hynix power generation facility projects, SK Innovation E&S hydrogen projects, SKC semiconductor glass substrate manufacturing facility projects, EcoPro BM battery production facility projects, a U.S. airport expansion project undertaken together with Blackstone, and other projects in Indonesia, Vietnam, and Europe. He also has experience with cross-border IPOs valued in the billions of USD and is familiar with diverse industries, including semiconductors, electronic devices, pharmaceutical development and manufacturing, medical devices, plant/construction, and hydrogen and green energy/power generation. His strength lies in the ability to deliver timely and accurate issue analysis and resolution for any client matter entrusted to him. He possesses the legal know-how, negotiation skills, and successful track record to effortlessly manage challenging situations and achieve optimal results even against top-tier global corporations or other global top-tier law firms with a comparative advantage. Recently, he developed a 'Global U.S. Customs Response Program,' to help companies with agile responses to international customs matters. He currently serves as Vice Chair of the Cross-Border Real Estate (CBRE) Committee and is also a Steering Committee Member of the Export Controls and Economic Sanctions Committee within the International Law Section of the American Bar Association (ABA), the world's largest association of legal professionals.

Education

• Graduated from Kyunggi High School
• B.A. in Economics, The George Washington University, U.S. (Spring, 2009)
• Juris Doctor (J.D.), Washburn University School of Law, U.S. (Fall, 2012)
• Negotiation Program Certificate, Harvard Law School, U.S. (Spring, 2020)
• Visiting Scholar, Berkely Law School, U.S. (Spring, 2026)

Practice

• Senior Foreign Counsel, Joowon LLC (January 2025–Present)
• Vice Chair, ABA ILS Cross-border Real Estate Committee (2025-2026)
• Steering Member, ABA ILS Export Controls and Economic Sanctions Committee (2025-2026)
• Member, ABA BLS RIMC Working Group (2023–Present)
• Director, Korea Real Estate Academy (2013–Present)
• Committee Member, ABA International Law Section Seoul 2023 Conference (2022–2023)

Expertise

• New Business Sectors: Electronics/Semiconductors/Pharmaceuticals/Manufacturing
• Successfully executed regular international transactions for a major corporation's cash cow businesses (electronics, semiconductors) [Received subsequent service requests].
• Successfully completed overseas projects for a major corporation's cash cow business (electronic devices) [Received subsequent service requests].
• Successfully executed a power generation facility project for a global top-ranked semiconductor company [Successful negotiation/closing].
• Successfully completed a semiconductor glass substrate equipment project for a global corporation [Proactively and successfully resolved related issues].
• Successfully executed construction projects for an SK affiliate in the pharmaceutical/manufacturing sectors [Proactively and successfully resolved related issues].
• Successfully handled cooperation tasks for a KOSDAQ-listed pharmaceutical company (RNA/molecular diagnostics) with the African Union/Gates Foundation, etc. [Successful advisory].
• Successfully executed global distributor tasks for a KOSDAQ-listed pharmaceutical company's cash cow business (Probiotics) [Rapid response/backlog clearance].
• Successfully handled international transactions for a KOSDAQ-listed medical device company (implants) [Rapid response/backlog clearance].
• Successfully provided international transaction support for a Singaporean group company (pharmaceuticals/manufacturing) [Rapid response/backlog clearance].
• Construction/Real Estate: Plant (Hydrogen/LPG/LNG Power, Eco-Friendly Power, Industrial Plants), Real Estate Development, Ship Sales
• Successfully executed North American/European/Asian projects for a major corporation's EPC plant specialist company [Received a request to be listed as a Top 1% Global Talent].
• Integrated projects worth trillions of Korean won, including energy facilities such as hydrogen/LPG/LNG and industrial facilities like batteries.
• [Includes projects for global clients like SK Hynix/SK ON/Ford].
• Successfully completed a Canadian service consulting project between EcoPro BM and a global engineering company [Focused on new business sectors].
• Successfully handled contract legal work for energy projects for a mid-sized company (solar/wind power generation, virtual power plants) [Actively responded to new local laws].
• Successfully completed a domestic real estate development contract between a domestic private company and COSTO [Including response to hostile takeover attempts, successful closing].
• Successfully provided support for a cross-border (Korea-Hong Kong) large ship sale transaction [Successful closing].
• K-Global Business: Cosmetics/Fashion/Security/Publishing/Food
• Successfully handled overseas contract legal work for a US startup (cosmetics) [Client was a former Daewoo affiliate president; provided highly satisfactory service].
• Successfully handled international transactions for a Korean fashion company [Established best practice clauses].
• Successfully handled legal work in Korea for a Cypriot/Greek international company (maritime/security) [Provided a highly satisfactory service, to the point of being offered a position as a Korean executive].
• Successfully provided support for a cross-border (Korea-Hong Kong) large ship sale transaction [Successful closing].
• Successfully handled a licensing-in contract for video content between a Harvard graduate school professor and a Korean publishing company [Received a request for a follow-up contract].
• Successfully handled licensing contracts between a Korean publishing company and a global Big 5 publisher [Found counterparts and achieved a successful closing].
• Successfully handled a distributorship contract for a food company [Received subsequent service requests].
• International M&A/JV
• Successfully executed an Indonesia JV between an Indonesian major corporation and a top-ranked KOSDAQ-listed pharmaceutical company [Rapid response/cost minimization/successful closing].
• Successfully executed a Dutch company's M&A of a Korean listed company [Received a request for post-closing services].
• Successfully handled overseas M&A of energy projects and real estate development for a mid-sized company [Identified and actively responded to issues many would have missed].
• Successfully executed a domestic FDI and M&A for a US corporation (technology, patents) [Successful closing].
• Successfully handled a Korean major corporation's overseas M&A/JV with a Canadian energy company [Identified and actively responded to issues many would have missed].
• Successfully executed a US subsidiary establishment project [Provided rapid best practice solutions for trending methods].
• Established a partnership for a US real estate M&A project with a Harvard graduate school professor [Potential for follow-up projects].
• Capital Markets: PF/PEF/IPO
• Successfully provided support for a Korean major corporation's Indonesia PF (Asian Development Bank, etc.) [Contributed to receiving the best possible outcome].
• Successfully executed an international private equity fund restructuring project [AUM: over KRW 1 trillion] [Received subsequent service requests].
• Successfully handled investment/management tasks for an international private equity fund's US airport project [Scale: approx. KRW 1 trillion, including Blackstone, etc.] [Rapid issue response/closing].
• Successfully completed legal due diligence for a Singaporean group company (pharmaceuticals/manufacturing) for a KOSPI and KOSDAQ IPO [Market cap high of approx. KRW 4 trillion (3.5B USD] [Successful listing of two group companies on KOSPI and KOSDAQ].
• Successfully handled board of directors/general meeting management tasks for a JV between a major Canadian pharmaceutical company and a Korean mid-sized company [Smooth progress].
• Litigation: Administrative, Civil, Criminal, International Arbitration, Dispute Resolution
• Successfully handled administrative appeals for a US state's Department of Revenue [Helped establish a US state tax policy, which the state's residents still benefit from].
• Successfully represented clients in civil lawsuits (insurance/domestic relations) in a US state district court [Provided successful representation for highly difficult cases].
• Successfully served as an international arbitrator for a KCAB international arbitration regarding an international dispute between a Korean company and a Belarusian company [Received requests for follow-up work].
• Contributed to conducting a VIAC international arbitration for a stock purchase agreement dispute for a large company and reducing costs [Contributed to reducing costs by billions of Korean won].
• Successfully provided support for a criminal case involving a foreigner [Contributed to receiving the best possible outcome].
• Successfully handled a dispute between a Korean major corporation and a global corporation [Promoted rapid settlement with parties like Ford / Air Liquide].
• Compliance/Legislative Support
• Successfully handled international law compliance and legislative support tasks for the Korean Ministry of National Defense [Contributed to establishing sentencing standards, amending the military criminal act, and revising ICRC commentaries].
• Successfully handled legislative support tasks for a US state's Department of Revenue [Participated in legislative support tasks for a US state as a foreigner].
• Successfully provided GDPR compliance support for a US startup (online platform) [Rapid response to complex issues].
• Successfully provided compliance support for a US cosmetics startup [Rapid response to complex issues].
• Successfully provided compliance support for a US medical device manufacturing company [Proactively identified and responded to local compliance issues].
• Successfully handled global compliance tasks for a Korean major corporation [Planned/executed global compliance; including global human rights due diligence, etc.].
• Personal Information/Trade Secret Protection
• Successfully established a personal information protection system for a JV between a global corporation and one of Korea's top 5 banks [Established best practices, including internal systems and standard contracts].
• Successfully analyzed a leading trade secret case in the US and provided a response plan [New Leading Case on reverse engineering].
• Successfully established trade secret protection systems and standard NDA templates for various companies [Including companies where IP protection is a top priority].
• Responding to Trump 2.0 Tariffs
• Succefully (collaborating with KOTRA) providing counsulting services to Large Enterprises and SMEs. [Established best practices]
• * The above-noted examples include Mr. Won Jun Lee's assignments/accomplishments at previous professional positions.