Global Deal Maker Kwon Lee Joins BCLP Real Estate Team in New York Office

Today the international law firm BCLP announced that well-known real estate lawyer Kwon Lee has joined the firm as a partner and Global Head of Korea Practice. Resident in the New York office, he will practice within the firm’s global Real Estate Group.

Described as an “Eminent Practitioner” and “one of the most impressive real estate lawyers in Korea and a top player in the real estate market” by leading legal directories, Lee joins from Mayer Brown, where he was co-head of the US Asia Real Estate Practice and global head of that firm’s Korea Practice. Lee is fluent in English and Korean, bringing an extra level of service to clients in cross-border deals. He is widely recognized within the global real estate industry and is often invited to chair or present at real estate forums in Hong Kong SAR, Singapore, Korea and France. “We see tremendous synergies between Kwon’s experience with Korean outbound investments around the world and the work BCLP has done with Korean outbound investments in Europe,” said Samant Narula, UK Head of Real Estate. “Outbound opportunities continue to grow and Kwon’s experience will be a huge asset for clients on both sides of the Atlantic.” 

Lee’s practice includes a heavy emphasis on energy and infrastructure equity, finance and M&A transactions. He has more than 25 years of experience advising on a wide range of cross-border real estate transactions. Lee has led some of the highest profile cross-border real estate transactions both in equity and debt in the United States and Europe. He has advised pension funds, asset management companies, securities companies, construction companies, financial institutions and conglomerates seeking investment in large-scale overseas development projects, construction loans, senior loans, sale and acquisition of various asset types (including commercial buildings, logistics, retail, hotel, and multifamily residences), acquisition of mezzanine and B notes. Lee has also been an investment adviser to both local and central government authorities in Korea and served as an investment review board member to several pension funds in Korea.

In addition to working with Korean clients, Lee also has close working relationships with major investors and funds in Australia, China, France, Germany, Japan, Middle Eastern countries, Netherlands, Singapore, and the United States.

Lee has been recognized as a leading lawyer by numerous legal rankings and listings, including Chambers Asia Pacific, Asialaw Leading Lawyers, Asian Legal Business, Global Law Experts, and PLC Which Lawyer. He was twice awarded the Korea Minister of National Defence Citation/Decoration for Outstanding Legal Service.

“We are excited for Kwon to join our team,” said Regional Practice Group Leader of Real Estate US Andrew Auerbach. “He has an exceptional reputation in the global real estate market, particularly as it concerns cross-border deals in Korea and the surrounding region. He brings to BCLP a deep level of legal and real estate industry experience that will benefit clients in the US and globally, and adds more strength to our deep global Real Estate practice and the broad platform we have created for future growth.”