YOON&YANG

Myong-Hyon (Brandon) Ryu Senior Foreign Attorney

TEL 82 2 6182 8513
FAX 82 2 6003 7036
E-MAIL mhryu@yoonyang.com

Myong-Hyon (Brandon) Ryu is a senior foreign attorney at Yoon & Yang LLC, where his practice focuses on M&A, private equity, venture capital and corporate advisory. Drawing on nearly 25 years of experience, he has successfully advised on a wide range of large and complex cross-border transactions.

Mr. Ryu is widely recognized for his legal expertise. He has been named one of “Korea’s Top 100 Lawyers” by Asia Business Law Journal and is consistently ranked as a leading lawyer in the Corporate/M&A field by legal directories, including Chambers and Partners Global/Asia-Pacific, The Legal 500, asialaw Profiles, Legal Times, Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal), and PLC Which Lawyer.

He has lectured at the Judicial Research and Training Institute, Sungkyunkwan University, Konkuk University, and the Korea In-House Counsel Association. He has also authored numerous articles on M&A, corporate law, and anti-corruption, and is a frequent speaker and panelist at major domestic and international conferences hosted by organizations such as the IBA, IPBA, and IAKL.

Practice Areas

Experience

2025-present Yoon & Yang LLC
2008-25 Shin & Kim LLC
2004-08 Yulchon LLC
2001-04 Yoon & Yang LLC
2000 Winstead (Dallas, Texas), Summer Associate
1999 Yoon & Partners, Summer Associate

Education

2007 Seoul National University (Specialized Program in Legal Studies)
2001 Vanderbilt Law School (J.D.)
1998 Sogang University (B.A. in International Relations)

Qualifications

Admitted to bar, New York (2002)

Representative Matters

Advised LG Electronics on acquisition of Bear Robotics
Advised SD Biosensor and SJL Partners on acquisition of Meridian Bioscience (US listed company)
Advised KKR on acquisition attempt of MEDIT
Advised Sequoia on acquisition of a domestic fashion company Rare Market
Advised GIC on acquisition of stake in Starbucks Korea
Advised MBK on acquisition attempt of Prudential Life
Advised Baring PE on investment in Shinhan Financial Holdings
Advised Hanwha Investment & Asset Management Co. on investment in Grab Financial Group (fintech subsidiary of Grab, largest mobility platform in Southeast Asia (Series A lead investor)
Advised SKC on sale of stake in Kuwait’s PIC after split-off of its chemical business unit
Advised on acquisition of Momentive (US listed company) by the KCC-SJL Partners-Wonik Consortium
Advised CJCJ on acquisition of US-based Schwan’s Company
Advised Sequoia and GIC on investment in Woowa Brothers Corp.
Advised Sequoia and DST Global on investment in Market Kurly
Advised on sale of CJ Healthcare
Advised Novelis on sale of stake in Ulsan Plant to Kobe Steel and establishment of JV
Advised GE on sale of stake in Hyundai Capital and Hyundai Card
Advised CJ Korea Express on acquisition of Vietnam-based Gemadept Logistics Co.
Advised KKR and Affinity Equity Partners on acquisition attempt of Homeplus
Advised Hanwha Chemical on acquisition of Solarone (US listed company, currently Hanwha QCell)
Advised Mirae Asset and Fila Korea on acquisition of US-based golf product manufacturer Acushnet
Advised Lotte Group on acquisition of Buy-the-Way
Advised Lotte Shopping on Times (Hong Kong listed company)
Advised Eugene Group on acquisition of Hi Mart
Advised Carlyle on investment in HCN
Advised Lone Star on sale of Star Tower

Awards

Leading Individual, Corporate/M&A, Chambers and Partners Global (2011-2025)
Leading Individual, Corporate/M&A, Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific (2011-2025)
Highly regarded, Private equity; M&A, IFLR1000 (2025)
Leading Lawyer, M&A, IFLR1000 (2019-2024)
Leading Lawyer, Corporate/M&A, asialaw (2018-2024)
Recommended Lawyer, Corporate and M&A, Legal500 (2014, 2017-2020)
Korea’s Top 100 Lawyers, Asia Business Law Journal (2019)

Publications

[Publications]

Korea Chapter, The Private Equity Review Part II, Investing, Law Business Research (Co-author, 2019, 2022)
Restriction of Share Transfer under the Shareholders’ Agreement, BFL No. 88 (Co-author, Mar. 2018)
Shareholders’ Agreement, BFL Series 13 (Co-author, May 2017)
Avoiding Breach of Trust, The Lawyer (Co-author, Sep. 2014)
Practical Issues of Shareholders’ Agreement – Focusing on Matters to Consider during Drafting of Agreement, BFL No.67 (Co-author, Sep. 2014)
Make Sure Not to Commit Breach of Trust, Journal Ed. 81-3, AMCHAM Korea (Co-author, 2014)
Helpul Tips relating to Cross-Border M&A, M&A Newsletter, KITIA (Co-author, Feb. 2014)
Invest KOREA, Preventing Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in Korea: China Eastern Airlines Case, KOTRA (Aug. 2013)
Putting the squeeze on shareholders, asialaw Korea Annual Review (2013)
Recent Crackdown on Medical Rebates in Korea, IBA Criminal Law Section News (Co-author, Mar. 2013)
Anti-Bribery Laws in Korea and Their Distinct Characteristics, Insights from the Trenches, Criminal Justice, American Bar Association (Co-author, Dec. 2012)
Putting on the squeeze, IFLR (Co-author, Nov. 2012)
Measures to Ousting Minorty Shareholders under the Commercial Act and Relevant Legal and Practical Issues, Juris No. 672 (Co-author, Sep. 2012)
Invest KOREA – Squeeze Out of Minority Shareholders Under the Amended Korean Commercial Code, KOTRA (Co-author, Sep. 2012)
Recent Amendments to the Korean Commercial Code, Infomag No.125, EUCCK (Co-author, 2011)
South Korea Special Report – A new frontier?, Asian-Counsel Ed. 8-8, Pacific Business Press (Co-author, 2010)

[Presentations, Panel & Moderation]

Speaker, “Recent Trends and Issues in Cross-Border M&A Transactions”, Dealsite M&A Forum (Nov 2023)
Speaker, “Major Issues in M&A Transactions”, KOTRA Global M&A Deal Sourcing Plaza (Jul 2022)
Panelist, “Current Legal Developments 2019 in M&A”, IBA Annual Conference in Seoul (Sep 2019)
Moderator, “M&A and Anti-Corruption Due Diligence Including Third Party Risks”, IBA Asia Pacific Regional Forum on Anti-Corruption Compliance and Enforcement in Seoul (Nov 2016)
Panelist, “Public Takeover Regulation and Practice”, IPBA Cross-Border Investment Committee, IPBA Annual Conference in Kuala Lumpur (Apr 2016)
Panelist, “Structuring M&A and Disclosure Schedule”, IBA Young Lawyers Training Committee, IBA Young Lawyers Training Program (Jul 2015)
Moderator, “Corruption Risks Relating to Overseas Investment and Business”, Seminar (joint seminar with Ropes & Gray) (May 2015)
Panelist, “Recent Trends in FCPA and Anti-Corruption Compliance in M&A and Internal Investigation”, IPBA Cross-Border Investment Committee, IPBA Annual Conference in Vancouver (May 2014)
Panelist, “Things to Consider in Outbound M&As”, Korea Core Industrial Technology Investment Association (KITIA), KITIA Global M&A Conference (Dec 2013)
Panelist, “Inbound-Outbound Private Equity Activities in Korea”, IAKL Annual Conference in Seoul (Sep 2013)
Speaker, “Investments by Korean Companies in India” (joint seminar with Federation of Korean Industries and Luthra & Luthra) (Nov 2012)
Speaker, “Recent Trends in FCPA and Anti-Corruption Regulation”, Inhouse Congress in Seoul (Aug 2012)
Speaker, “Outbound M&A”, Inhouse Congress in Seoul (Aug 2011)
Speaker, “Practical Issues in Drafting Agreements”, Inhouse Counsel Forum, IHCF Academy for Inhouse Counsels (Apr 2011)