PROFESSIONALS
Hokeun (“Hogan”) Yoon
T. +82.2.6207.1113
F. +82.2.6207.1124
E. hkyoon@dowoolaw.com
Emory School of Law (J.D)
Vanderbilt Law School (LL.M.)
Korea University Business School (M.B.A.)
Yonsei University (LL.B.)
Judicial Research and Training Institute of the Supreme Court of Korea
New York, South Korea
Korean, English, Chinese
International Litigation and Arbitration, M&A, Corporate Governance, Franchise, Distribution and Licensing, Antitrust, Regulatory Compliance, Corporate Formation and other Business Transactions
Hokeun (“Hogan”) Yoon is a managing partner of Dowoo Attorneys & Counselors. Mr. Yoon has extensive expertise in corporate matters involving Korean companies, including high profile corporate litigation and arbitration, corporate governance matters, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, and cross-border investment. He also counsels clients on business transactions and operations in distribution, franchise and licensing at both national and international levels.
Prior to establishing Dowoo Attorneys & Counselors, Mr. Yoon practiced law in the United States as an associate corporate counsel for an international franchisor in Texas, and also worked as an associate in the Commercial Transactions and Business Counseling Group of an AmLaw 100 firm in Tennessee. Before working as a corporate attorney in the US, he worked for a boutique construction law firm in South Korea as a litigation associate, and also served as an in-house lawyer at a securities firm in South Korea.
Having worked as an attorney in the US for three years and as an attorney in Korea for five years, Mr. Yoon is particularly well qualified to advise and represent clients from either the common law system or the civil law system in cross-border transactions and disputes that involve complicated issues under both systems.
Mr. Yoon received his J.D. from Emory School of Law in 2016, and his LL.M. from Vanderbilt Law School in 2014. He also received his M.B.A. from Korea University Business School in 2012, and LL.B. from Yonsei University in 2005. Mr. Yoon has passed the judicial bar exam in South Korea and has worked as a US attorney in the United States after pursuing the J.D. program in the United States. For the last half century of Korean legal history, fewer than 10 Korean attorneys have achieved this distinction.
Partner, Dowoo Attorneys & Counselors
External Auditor, Cha Partners Asset Management, Seoul, South Korea
Associate Corporate Counsel, Smoothie King Franchises, Inc., Dallas, TX
Associate, Baker Donelson P.C., Nashville, TN
In-house Lawyer, IBK Securities Co., Ltd., Seoul, South Korea
Secretariat of State Compensation Review, Seoul High Public Prosecutors’ Office of South Korea
Legal Intern, Judicial Research and Training Institute of Supreme Court of South Korea
[United States: 2016-2019]
- Facilitated Chilean energy company’s $535M acquisition of a convenience store chain by researching applicable regulations, filing permits and arranging hearings for beer permits in Tennessee
- Reclassified the tariff codes for a leading animal product supplier by analyzing the Harmonized Tariff Schedule and CBP rulings, and handled customs import tariff issues
- Successfully landed a major Korean Electronics Company FDI deal by contacting TN-Korea Office, translated a green-field timeline document to be included in the RFP, and reviewed real estate related documents
- Addressed CMS Open Payment Program issues under the Physician Payments Sunshine Act for a Korean medical device manufacturing company in preparation for physician financial transparency reports
- Revised the disclosure documents for a hair salon Franchisor and house cleaning Franchisor
- Represented a Korean construction conglomerate in a $60M lawsuit against the seventh largest tire company in the world
- Managed the franchise store transfer process from inception to conclusion, including reviewing the asset purchase agreements and lease agreements and providing the buyer franchisees with transfer documents
- Drafted corporate leases and subordination, non-disturbance and attornment agreements
- Reviewed a variety of contracts and performed due diligence investigations on potential M&A projects
- Drafted disclosure documents for Master Franchise Agreements in Canada, Mexico, and Japan
- Researched laws, court decisions, and other information related to legal cases in the area of marketing law, intellectual property law, insurance law, franchise law
[South Korea: 2009-2014]
- Represented clients in construction, administrative, criminal and civil cases
- Represented a construction company, confirming no obligation to build an access road as sought by the opponent county
- Analyzed legal risk regarding take-over of corporate bonds
- Drafted and reviewed corporate bonds, equity linked securities and project financing
- Obtained a judgment of acquittal in a suit alleging criminal tax violations by the CEO of a large investment company
- Served as a public defender for criminal casesand as a court-appointed lawyer in civil cases including claims for insurance payments, and claims for payment of salary
- Made binding decisions for over 200 claims for state compensation as the Secretariat of State Compensation Review in Seoul City