Press Coverage

Benchmarking models of global mega law firms such as Baker McKinsey and Milbank. Consulting attorney, litigation management center, special department, and AI-based case analysis. Nationwide integrated response “A law firm trusted by consumers, now a global standard.” Recently, ‘network law firms’ are rapidly expanding in the law firm industry and are becoming a hot topic. A network law firm refers to a structure in which several branch offices (regional offices) are established under one corporation or brand, use a common trademark, and mutually utilize case handling and marketing resources. This concept originally originated from the integrated operating model established by global mega law firms such as Baker McKenzie, White & Case, and Milbank. However, in the process of introducing this structure to Korea, accounting and responsibility between branch offices were separated. There are quite a few cases where it is combined with the ‘separate production system’ method and the original purpose is lost. Law firms that are systematically separated but appear to be networks only on the outside are exposing structural limitations that undermine the consistency and expertise of cases and cause variation and confusion in service quality to customers. Contrary to this trend, Daeryun Law Firm announced on the 13th that it will advance its organizational strategy by introducing ‘Global Mega Law Firm’ as its new slogan. Daeryun's global mega law firm starts from a 'centralized one-firm structure' that manages 43 offices nationwide as one organic organization through an integrated system centered on the main office, rather than independent operation of each branch office. This is not just a simple domestic expansion strategy, but is part of a long-term roadmap to secure competitiveness on the international stage in the future. In fact, Daeryun has benchmarked Baker McKinsey's strategies and manuals to implement litigation quality that meets global standards in which 43 offices operate according to the same standards. This structure is clearly different from network law firms that are similar in appearance only in that it is a system that realizes nationwide integrated management and consistent quality control. Daeryun designed this integrated system so that customers can receive the same quality of legal services no matter which local office they visit. This trust in service consistency and expertise is the core background that led to consumers' choices and became the foundation for Daeryun to grow into one of the top 10 law firms in Korea in a short period of time. The organizational foundation supporting this is also clear. Daeryun handles the entire process, from case consultation to trial response, as a ‘one-team system.’ The initial consultation is conducted by a consulting lawyer with extensive practical experience, and upon request from the customer, direct consultation is also possible with a lawyer specializing in the field or a lawyer with more experience. It is a structure that improves the accuracy of strategy establishment from the beginning of the case. The ‘Litigation Management Headquarters’, launched last month, is an organization that comprehensively controls and manages the entire case progress process, and plays a role in improving the consistency and completeness of the defense strategy. By tracking and coordinating the flow of cases centrally, information disconnections or response deviations between defense teams are minimized. Medium-to-large cases or multi-disciplinary cases involving complex issues are handled by the ‘Special Action Headquarters (Special Department)’. The Special Department is an advanced organization where lawyers specializing in fields such as criminal, civil, and administrative teams form a team and enable rapid and strategic responses to difficult cases. In addition, Daeryun has introduced an AI big data-based case analysis system and is actively utilizing technology in overall case management, such as classifying similar case types, deriving key issues, and analyzing the possibility of judgment. This, combined with Daeryun's unique data assets that have accumulated numerous litigation experiences, boasts precise analysis capabilities that are comparable to those of large global law firms. CEO Kook-il Kim said, “The structure in which national branch offices provide different quality services is the biggest risk from the customer's perspective,” and added, “Daeryun has built a global mega law firm-type structure that can diagnose and allocate cases centered on the main office and perform quality control on a nationwide level.” He continued, “Korea. “The legal community still lacks understanding of the structure of global law firms, and some law firms call themselves a network with two or three branch offices and only online advertisements, and in fact operate in a separate system,” he explained. “Daeryun is the only organization that implements integrated responsibility and expertise, which is fundamentally different from that structure.” CEO Kim also said, “The legal market is evolving along with technology, and developed countries such as the United States and Germany are also reorganizing their systems in line with system changes.” “Daeryun is a new model with an organic system and customer feedback-based legal services that existing large law firms were unable to implement, and we will continue to create an environment where everyone can receive high-quality legal services fairly.” Reporter Park Jae-gwan (paksunbi@fnnews.com)[View full article] Daeryun, building a global mega law firm... Providing the same legal services anywhere in the country (click here)

A man in his 30s, the director of a dog kindergarten, who was investigated by the police on charges of abusing a dog and causing blindness due to negligence but lack of evidence of intentional abuse under the Animal Protection Act, was cleared of the charges. According to the police on the 13th, Incheon Western Police Station decided not to send Mr. A, who was accused of assaulting and causing blindness (violation of the Animal Protection Act, etc.) of a dog that the dog owner had left at the dog kindergarten last March. Mr. B, the dog owner, responded to Mr. A, saying, "I was bitten by another dog while walking," but based on the veterinary diagnosis of 'trauma caused by a blunt object', he raised the possibility of abuse and filed a complaint against Mr. A to the police. During the police investigation, Mr. A reportedly stated that Mr. B's dog was only injured in a collision with another dog inside the kindergarten and that there was no abuse, and that he gave the wrong answer because he was unable to determine the exact circumstances at the time of the accident. The police cleared Mr. A, saying, "Although the accident occurred while Mr. A was managing the animal, it is difficult to say that there was abuse based on the evidence obtained such as CCTV." Attorney Shin Yong-hoon of Daeryun Law Firm, who represented Mr. A, said, “For a violation of the Animal Protection Act to be applied, ‘intention’ must be proven at the time of inflicting physical pain or mistreating the puppy. Although Mr. A, the director of the dog kindergarten, was negligent in failing to manage the puppy, it was confirmed that he took ‘appropriate measures’ such as having the puppy receive treatment at a veterinary hospital immediately after the accident, so he was acquitted.” Intern reporter Jeong Ye-eun (ye9@kyeonggi.com)[View full article] Gyeonggi Ilbo - Dog goes blind after leaving it at kindergarten... Director ‘not guilty’ on charges of animal abuse (link) Sports Entertainment - Despite the dog's blindness... Director of 'Dog Kindergarten' cleared of animal abuse charges (link)

(Tax and Finance News = Reporter Ko Seung-ju) Daeryun Law Firm announced on the 13th that it has recruited representative attorney Cho Young-sam (Training Institute 24th class) to its general litigation and arbitration group. Attorney Cho will reside at the Seoul Central (Seocho) branch office and handle civil cases nationwide. Attorney Cho graduated from Seoul National University Law School in 1985, passed the bar exam in 1992, and served as a judge at the Miryang Branch of the Changwon District Court and the Chuncheon District Court, starting with the Changwon District Court in 1995. After retiring as a judge in 2007, he achieved numerous victories and acquittals in major civil, criminal, and administrative cases, including ▲compensation for damages due to liability for defects in royal works, ▲cancellation of administrative dispositions pursuant to national projects, and ▲inducing remand of Supreme Court reversals. In particular, the first Supreme Court precedent was drawn that even if the grave base right is recognized due to the long-term existence of the grave, the landowner can demand land use fees from the grave base right holder. He has participated in various public committee activities, including as an advisor to the Korea Asset Management Corporation and Gangneung City Hall, the Gangwon-do Police Agency Disciplinary Committee, and various committees of Gangneung City Hall. He also served as a bridge between the local community and the law through lectures on court auctions at the Kwandong University Lifelong Education Center. Attorney Cho said, “Based on the sense of legal balance and ability to judge facts gained through my experience as a judge, I have achieved good results for my clients in several cases. At Daeryun, I will carefully examine the client’s position and do my best to provide a clear answer.” Managing Director Kim Kook-il said, “Attorney Cho has persuasively represented the rights of clients with objective and cool-headed judgment,” and added, “In particular, he is a veteran lawyer who can respond unwaveringly to complex civil litigation, and is expected to further strengthen the substance of Daeryun’s General Litigation and Arbitration Group.”[View full article] Daeryun recruits lawyer Cho Young-sam, a former judge, to the general litigation and arbitration group (link) Sejeong Ilbo - Daeryun Law Firm recruits ‘Attorney Cho Young-sam’, a former judge in the General Litigation and Arbitration Group (Go here) Law Leader - Daeryun Law Firm's General Litigation and Arbitration Group recruits former judge Cho Young-sam (link) International News - Daeryun Law Firm recruits former judge Cho Young-sam... Strengthening civil litigation and arbitration capabilities (Go here)

(Tax and Finance News = Reporter Ko Seung-ju) Daeryun Law Firm announced on the 13th that it conducted a ‘mentoring program’ for about 10 teenagers from Pyeongtaek Middle School on the 7th. The program was designed to provide practical help to middle school students about opportunities and preparation methods for exploring legal careers. The students visited the Pyeongtaek branch office of law firm Daeryun, toured the office, and had a question-and-answer session with current lawyers. Attorney Do Il-seok, who participated as a guidance lawyer, delivered a variety of content, from specifically understanding the legal profession to sharing practical cases and directions for developing capabilities. Students were able to learn legal knowledge and resolve their concerns about going on to higher education through mentor and mentee training. One student who participated in the program said, “This program gave me an opportunity to indirectly learn about the roles of legal professionals such as judges, prosecutors, and lawyers.” Attorney Do Il-seok said, “It was great to be able to provide students with the opportunity to vividly learn and experience practical knowledge beyond theoretical learning.” Kim Kook-il, CEO of Management, said, “Daeryun recently established a public interest corporation, ‘Relationship Law,’ to run public interest activities in earnest,” and added, “We are planning various measures ranging from communication programs such as career experience for youth to legal support for the underprivileged. We ask for your continued interest.” Daeryun plans to continue to carry out various public interest activities for vulnerable groups such as youth, multicultural families, and the disabled.[View full article] Tax and Finance Newspaper - Daeryun, ‘future lawyer’ Pyeongtaek Middle School student-lawyer mentor/mentee (Go here) International News - Daeryun Law Firm successfully completes youth mentoring program... Public interest activities begin in earnest (Go here)

Petitioner: “I felt humiliated by repeated sexual harassment.” “No one could hear what I said in the same space.” A non-commissioned officer who was sent on charges of making sexual harassment and insulting remarks to his successor was cleared by the prosecution. The Army Prosecutor's Office decided not to indict Mr. A, a man in his 30s who was accused of insulting in March. Mr. A was accused of sexually insulting his successor, Mr. B, in his unit's office in June of last year. He is known to have made sexual jokes while referring to Mr. B's private life on five occasions. Mr. A denied the charges. He emphasized that he only made this joke individually through a messenger and did not make a separate statement in public. The prosecution found that Mr. A was not guilty. The fact that other colleagues who lived together stated that they did not hear Mr. A's remarks became the main basis. The prosecution explained, "Mr. B's claim has not been proven beyond a reasonable doubt," and "Even if the nature of performance is acknowledged, considering the level and context of the above remarks, it is difficult to say that it constitutes an insulting remark to the extent of lowering the personal value." Attorney Seo In-ho of Daeryun Law Firm, who served as Mr. A's legal representative, said, "Recognition of the crime of insult is based on the relationship and relationship between the parties." “The principle is that judgment must be made in light of the circumstances, including the context of the statement,” he said. “We have made it clear that although the client’s statement may offend the other person, the purpose is not to inform the majority of this.” Digital Content Team[View full article] “With a woman while on vacation…” The reason why the boss who sexually insulted his successor was ‘not guilty’ (link)

Man A, sentenced to a summary fine on charges of causing injury... Official Trial Claims Tribunal: “It is difficult to believe that the injury was intentional.” A man who was put on trial for intentionally spreading a sexually transmitted disease to his ex-lover was found not guilty. On March 27, the Daejeon District Court found Mr. A, in his 20s, not guilty on charges of causing injury. Mr. A was accused of transmitting the sexually transmitted disease by having sexual intercourse several times with his ex-lover, Mr. B, with whom he was dating at the time, while hiding the fact that he was infected with a sexually transmitted disease in 2021. The prosecution said The charges were deemed acceptable and a summary indictment was imposed with a fine of 3 million won. The court also issued a summary order, but Mr. A, who refused to comply, requested a formal trial. During the trial, Mr. A completely denied the charges. As a result of receiving consistent treatment after being diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease in the past, both test results were negative, and he continued to take medication to prevent infection. He also claimed that he used contraceptives at the time and acted to prevent infection, such as refusing sex when suspicious symptoms appeared. The court found Mr. A not guilty. The court said, “It appears that the defendant had sexual intercourse with the victim before informing her that he had a history of sexually transmitted diseases.” However, “The defendant did not feel any special symptoms after receiving a negative test result, and it is difficult to say that there was an intention to injure the victim by taking medication to prepare for the possibility.” It also added, “The defendant explained his situation to the victim when symptoms appeared, and the two continued to have sex afterward, and in the process, did not use contraceptives with the victim’s consent.” The court emphasized, “The victim only learned of her infection after receiving a sexually transmitted disease test four months later. Even if she was infected by the defendant, we cannot rule out the possibility that the time of infection occurred after she was notified of her infection.” Kim Jin-ju, an attorney at Daeryun Law Firm who represented Mr. A, said, “Mr. B’s statement had loopholes, such as not matching the objective situation,” and added, “We refuted the other party’s claims based on objective data such as hospital medical certificates and conversation history, so there was no charge of injury.” “I was able to receive recognition,” he explained. Reporter Kim Jong-cheol (jckim99@sportsseoul.com)[View full article] Hiding a sexually transmitted disease and having sex... A man in his 20s is innocent of infecting his ex-lover (link)

A man who was handed over to the prosecution on charges of embezzling 300 million won of company money was acquitted. According to the legal community on the 12th, the Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office decided not to indict Mr. A, a man in his 50s who was sent on charges of business embezzlement on March 27. Mr. A stole about 300 million won from the accounts of three people, including company representative B, on 130 occasions over a period of about a year from 2023. They are accused of unauthorized withdrawal of 50 million won. Mr. B and others provided a business account and card to Mr. A for business convenience, and claimed that Mr. A used them for personal purposes. Mr. A denied the charge. He said that he had entered into a partnership agreement with Mr. B and others and promised to share the profits. At the same time, he emphasized that the business profits were distributed according to the agreement. The police determined that Mr. A was not guilty. The police said, "There is a recording of the agreement claimed by the suspect, so the claim is not supported. “It is credible,” he explained, adding, “It is difficult to infer embezzlement because in addition to what the suspect took as profits, there is also a record of transfers to the complainants.” Mr. B, who dissatisfied with this, raised an objection and the case was transferred to the prosecution, but the prosecution also decided not to indict due to insufficient evidence. Attorney Min-seop Kwak of Daeryun Law Firm, who represented Mr. A in this case, said, “Mr. A has a horizontal relationship where he discusses the contents with Mr. “We were able to escape the charges by validating the claim through objective evidence such as transcripts and bank account transaction details,” he said. Shin Min-ji (sourminjee@ikbc.co.kr)[View full article] A man in his 50s accused of embezzling over 300 million won of company money was ‘not guilty’ at the prosecution (link)

According to data released by Forest of Innovation, a startup analysis company, the domestic fortune-telling market is estimated to be worth about 1.4 trillion won. Also, recently, it is said that fortune telling using AI, such as ChatGPT, is gaining great popularity, especially among the younger generation. Quite a few people are very interested in fortune telling. The problem arises when one is too ‘serious’ about fortune-telling. This is because excessive sincerity usually leads to excessive spending. There are many different types, from cases where amulets cost as little as a few hundred thousand won to cases where hundreds of millions of won are spent on so-called exorcism values. Since the amount of money involved is large, conflicts often arise. Most customers complain about why things don't work out even though they invested a lot of money believing the fortune teller's advice. And these conflicts quite often lead to legal disputes. It recently led to the acquittal of a shaman client in his 40s. He was investigated by the police on charges of swindling about 200 million won from customers in the name of a ritual. The customer complained of injustice. He was told by the client, “If you don’t perform a ritual, your business won’t go well,” and was deceived into giving him money. However, the police did not admit the charges. The reason was that there was no evidence that the client had made a statement such as "You have to borrow money to receive the ritual," and that the customer had been informed in advance that refunds were not possible. In addition, it was judged that it would be difficult to apply fraud charges simply because the client had been living as a shaman for a considerable period of time and the effect of the exorcism had not appeared. There are other cases as well. Another shaman in his 50s appeared in court as a defendant. He was also accused of inducing payment from customers who visited his shrine, saying he would perform a ritual for them. The money given by customers amounted to tens of millions of won. The shaman did not back down from his position that “the guest voluntarily chose the exorcism.” What was the court’s decision? The shaman in question was sentenced to probation. It means that the crime has been admitted. The court explained, “Proposing a ritual by citing specific examples, such as saying that a family member will die if the ritual is not performed immediately, can be viewed as an ‘act of deception.’” He also added, "The shaman's yelling at the guest and making him raise his card limit even though there was no reason to rush the exorcism was beyond the acceptable limit as a religious act." In this way, the shaman's actions may be considered 'religious advice' depending on the situation, but they can also be considered 'property misappropriation'. And the key to determining this is 'whether the shaman's actions meet the requirements for fraud.' In the case of fraud, a deceptive act that deceives the other party, an act of disposition by which the victim transfers property as a result, actual damage to property, and an intention to obtain money illegally (intent to take someone else's money from the beginning) are required to be established. If the shaman's words are merely comforting or religious remarks, it is difficult to consider this as deception. However, if the intention was to extort money by inciting fear without a clear basis and repeatedly inducing large payments, there is a risk of being punished for fraud. Even if the victim voluntarily handed over the money, if the cause was deception, that is, deception, fraud can be established. The issue is how the shaman persuaded the victim and what state of mind the victim was in when he or she paid the money. To prevent such disputes, it is essential to record the content during the consultation or keep records such as text messages and account details. In addition, if there is an excessive demand for money, it is necessary to immediately seek legal assistance from an expert. Small Business Team[View full article] Shaman fraud, guilty or not guilty depending on voluntary interpretation (Shortcut)

Serious questions are being raised about the sustainability of choline alposcerate preparations (hereinafter referred to as choline preparations) within the health insurance benefit system. Choline preparations, which have long been prescribed as brain function improvement agents, are having a huge impact on the pharmaceutical industry as they have recently faced requests for clinical re-evaluation and reimbursement adequacy reviews from the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Health Insurance Service. Choline preparations have been mainly used to improve the symptoms of senile cognitive decline and mild dementia. The explanation followed that pharmacologically, it acts as a precursor for acetylcholine and helps in the synthesis of neurotransmitters. However, contrary to these theoretical expectations, there has been continued criticism that the large-scale studies that meet the Global Clinical Standards (GCP) to date lack significant results showing that choline preparations have a clear cognitive function improvement effect compared to placebo. In particular, looking at the results of major clinical studies and meta-analyses conducted at home and abroad since 2020, choline preparations have failed to demonstrate statistically significant differential effects in improving memory and suppressing the progression of dementia. This became a decisive basis for health authorities to request a reexamination of the clinical effectiveness of choline products. As a result, Health Insurance offered pharmaceutical companies to negotiate for reimbursement of drug costs billed as health insurance benefits, and some pharmaceutical companies signed reimbursement agreement agreements accordingly. However, most pharmaceutical companies filed administrative lawsuits en masse, claiming the unfairness of the reimbursement measures. They argued that ‘the redemption negotiations were coercive and retroactive application was unfair.’ However, courts have consistently rejected pharmaceutical companies' claims. The court ruled that 'the recovery agreement is a contract based on the pharmaceutical company's free will, and the recovery measures to protect public finances are justified.' Furthermore, it was ruled that recovery is possible through a post-adequacy review even without going through the formal procedure of deleting benefits. This is a meaningful ruling that increases the possibility that the government will side with the government in similar wage recovery disputes in the future. Medically, the position of choline products is also rapidly shaking. Pharmaceutical companies are pursuing new clinical studies to prove the efficacy of choline products in order to come up with self-help measures, but to date, they have not been able to produce results strong enough to convince academia or regulatory authorities. Ultimately, regardless of whether the refund amount is confirmed, there is a growing possibility that coverage of choline products will be deleted or significantly reduced depending on the results of future clinical re-evaluation. If the clinical re-evaluation results do not prove that the choline drug has sufficient efficacy in improving cognitive function, the health insurance coverage itself may be deleted, which will lead to the fatal result of not only the refund of the already claimed benefits but also the collapse of the sales base. Some pharmaceutical companies are already reflecting the expected refund in their financial statements as refund liabilities, which can lead to worsening financial structure, lowering of credit rating, and failure to attract investment. This incident has taught several important lessons to the entire pharmaceutical industry. First, drugs without scientific basis can never survive for long in the insurance benefit system. In the past, there was a time when it was possible to maintain salaries by relying on ‘usage practices’ and ‘medical staff preferences’. However, currently, if clear clinical evidence and cost-effectiveness are not proven, benefits are reduced or deleted without mercy. This requires pharmaceutical companies to prepare global-level clinical strategies from the early research and development stage. Second, the importance of legal risk management. As revealed in this lawsuit, the recovery agreement is not a simple negotiation but a legally binding contract. In the future, when entering into a refund negotiation with National Health Insurance, pharmaceutical companies will need to strengthen prior legal review of the refund conditions, scope of retroactive application, and objection procedures. It was clearly confirmed that if an unfavorable agreement is reached, it is virtually impossible to overturn it through post-facto litigation. Third, there is a need to improve the management structure. A structure that is overly dependent on sales of specific items can cause irreversible damage in a crisis. It shows that the choline drug withdrawal incident goes beyond a simple decline in sales and can shake the foundation of the entire company's existence. Now, pharmaceutical companies will have to make portfolio diversification, strengthening new drug development capabilities, and expanding global expansion as essential strategies to diversify risk. The choline drug repatriation incident is not just a controversy over a single drug. This is a kind of 'warning letter' calling for strengthening the scientific evidence base, legal risk management, and sustainable management for the overall pharmaceutical industry in Korea. The era in which we can no longer rely on past practices has arrived. The future of the Korean pharmaceutical industry will be determined by how the pharmaceutical industry learns from this incident.[View full article] [Contribution] Choline drug withdrawal crisis, legal and medical warning to pharmaceutical industry (link)

A mother who handed over her newborn to someone else through an adoption cafe right after giving birth was investigated for the first time in over 10 years, but was eventually cleared of charges. According to the legal community on the 9th, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office decided not to indict Mr. A, in his 30s, who was charged with child abandonment and neglect under the Child Welfare Act in March. Mr. A is accused of handing over the child to another person without proper protection after giving birth in 2013. The birth record is However, the investigation began with a report from a local community center employee who was suspicious that the birth had not been registered for over 10 years. Mr. A admitted that he handed over the child. However, he lost contact with the child's biological father at the time and claimed that he made this choice because he was concerned that the adoption record would remain on his birth certificate if he went through formal adoption procedures. At the time, he posted a post on an adoption cafe and was contacted by an infertile couple living overseas, and after meeting with them several times, he handed over the child. The prosecution decided not to file an indictment. Although it is true that Mr. A handed over the child without formal procedures, it is difficult to recognize the intentionality of child abandonment and neglect. The prosecution explained, "Under the Child Welfare Act, neglect must be recognized as causing damage equivalent to abandonment and physical and emotional abuse, but Mr. He added. Attorney Park Seong-dong of Daeryun Law Firm, who represented Mr. A, said, "Mr. A thought about the child's future from various angles even in difficult situations, including meeting and talking with the couple who expressed their intention to adopt 5 to 6 times. We were able to achieve a good result by emphasizing that, regardless of moral validity, the establishment of a crime must be judged strictly." Jeong Eui-jin (jej88@ikbc.co.kr)[View full article] Mother in her 20s who gave birth to a newborn...No charges found in investigation after 10 years (Shortcut)