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Level Up: Unlocking Financial Potential In The Middle East
Welcome to this edition of Law Update, where we focus on the ever-evolving landscape of financial services regulation across the region. As the financial markets in the region continue to grow and diversify, this issue provides timely insights into the key regulatory developments shaping banking, investment, insolvency, and emerging technologies.
2025 is set to be a game-changer for the MENA region, with legal and regulatory shifts from 2024 continuing to reshape its economic landscape. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Iraq, Qatar, and Bahrain are all implementing groundbreaking reforms in sustainable financing, investment laws, labor regulations, and dispute resolution. As the region positions itself for deeper global integration, businesses must adapt to a rapidly evolving legal environment.
Our Eyes on 2025 publication provides essential insights and practical guidance on the key legal updates shaping the year ahead—equipping you with the knowledge to stay ahead in this dynamic market.
A complete spectrum of legal services across jurisdictions in the Middle East & North Africa.
Biography
Jiwon is a senior counsel in our corporate & commercial practice; he leads the firm’s Korean Group and is well versed in cross border transactions, advising on all aspects of general corporate law, corporate restructurings, joint ventures, and project financing deals. His client base spans a number of industries and includes major Korean public companies, financial institutions, private equity funds, contractors, oil & gas corporations, healthcare companies, and defence companies.
He is also engaged day-to-day in supporting clients seeking to enter the MENA market as well as those operating and investing in the region and has extensively advised on compliance with laws and regulations in addition to providing practical commercial advice for overseas business expansion through subsidiaries, contractors and distribution agreements. Regularly working across jurisdictions in the Middle East and North Africa, Jiwon has taken part in a number of high-profile transactions and deals involving major Korean public and private companies including G2G collaborations, joint ventures, innovative structuring and cross-border M&A in the region.
Jiwon also regularly represents and advises clients dealing with conflicting demands from Korean and Middle East legal regimes. He helps Korean clients navigate dispute resolution systems in the Middle East region with his first-hand knowledge in litigating construction claims, contract disputes, commercial fraud claims and judgment enforcement actions in various jurisdictions in the region, including UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, KSA, Bahrain, Jordan, Iran and Iraq.
Jiwon previously served as deputy counsel for Korea Resources Corporation, which governs all of Korea’s overseas investment activities in natural resources, and also worked for a major Korean law firm in Seoul. A native of Korea, Jiwon is currently acting as a special legal advisor to the Korean Consulate General in Dubai and the embassies in Abu Dhabi, UAE and Doha, Qatar, and also serves on the Ministry of Justice SME Legal Advisory Board in Korea.
Recent Experience
Corporate / M&A
- POSCO in the sale of a steel fabrication plant in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.
- SK Innovation in its proposed acquisition of a minority stake in ADNOC’s subsidiary.
- Hyundai Motor in its formation of business operations in the UAE and KSA.
- Korea Tobacco & Ginseng Corporation (KT&G) in its distributorship arrangement with Alokozay in the UAE, Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan and restructuring in Iran.
- POSCO E&C on the operation of an EPC JV company in KSA in conjunction with the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
- Daewoo International on its proposed joint venture to establish a car manufacturing plant with the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
- Daelim Energy through its investment in SPVs established in DIFC, targeting IPP and renewable energy projects in the region.
- Hanwha Group on its various business formations and corporate restructuring in UAE, KSA and Iraq.
Disputes
- Samsung SDS is advising Dubai Health Authority (DHA) on potential litigation before the Ruler’s Court in Dubai, as well as acting as a mediator on a final settlement with DHA.
- Hyundai Engineering & Construction on its 20+ local court proceedings before the Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Saudi Arabian, Kuwaiti and Qatari courts.
- Hyundai Heavy Industries on in a commercial agency dispute before the Abu Dhabi courts.
- SK Trading International / GS Caltex on bunker supply recovery arrangements in UAE.
- SK Engineering & Construction on enforcement of ICC arbitration award in UAE.
- Nexen Tire in its trademark dispute in KSA.
Language(s)
- English
- Korean
Education
2006 – LL.M., John Marshall Law School
2005 – J.D., Handong International Law School
2002 – B.A., Handong Global Unversity
Admission
2006 – New York, USA
Practice(s)
Country Group(s)
Insights
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