About Authors

Sean Hayes (NY Attorney)

Sean was, recently, rated a Top 100 lawyer and IPG was, recently, rated a top Dispute Resolution Law Firm in Korea. Sean is, often, quoted by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and other leading new sources on matters facing Korea, China and the United States.

New York Attorney Sean Hayes grew up in Connecticut and New York to an Irish-immigrant father and an Italian mother. He is a U.S. and Irish National who is a permanent resident of Korea. He received his legal education in Korea, the United States and in the U.K.

Sean Hayes is the first non-Korean employed by the Korean Court System (Constitutional Court of Korea) and one of the first non-Koreans to be a full-time regular member of a Korean law faculty. Sean taught justices at the Constitutional Court of Korea, judges at courts throughout Korea and government officials international contract law, constitutional law and criminal procedure.

Sean is known, over his 17+ years working in the legal industry for his aggressive advocacy and candid NY-style street-smart advice.   

Sean is recognized by numerous legal publications and rating agencies for outstanding service to clients both large and small. Recently, he was recognized by AsiaLaw as one of only two non-Korean attorneys as a Top Attorney working for a law firm in Korea and IPG was, recently, recognized as the Dispute Resolution Law Firm of 2020. 

Sean Hayes is a member of the NY York Bar.

AWARDS
Top 100 Lawyers, Asia Business Law Journal.
Korea’s Dispute Resolution Law Firm of the Year, Corp. Intl.
Who’s Who in Franchise Law.
Who’s Who in the World.
Excellent Rating (10/10), AVVO.
Best Advice Blog, K-Blog Awards.
Top 25 International Law Blog, LexisNexis.
Top Blogs, AVVO’s Listing of Blogs.
Who’s Who in Entertainment Law.

REPRESENTATIVE CASES

  • Arbitration: International Arbitration between an international construction company and a Korean conglomerate.
  • Arbitration: International Arbitration between multinational defense contractor for work performed in U.S. military installations in Korea.
  • Administrative Law/Commercial Litigation: Successful resolution of a Korean Customs and Tax Audit for a leading international chemical company.
  • Commercial Litigation/Franchise Law: Successful resolution of a dispute between a F & B Franchise and a Korean franchisee.
  • Commercial Litigation/IP Law: Enforcement and monitoring of trademarks for numerous clients.
  • Commercial Litigation/Localization of Foreign Judgment: Localization and enforcement of an eight-figure commercial debt in Korea.
  • Corporate Law: Successful entry of a leading e-commerce site into the Korean market.
  • Corporate Law: Successful entry of defense, manufacturing, technology, new tech and fintech companies into the Korean market.
  • Corporate Law/Market Entry: Successful entry of a leading e-commerce site into the Korean market.
  • Corporate Law/IP: Consultation services related to licensing, joint ventures and regulatory compliance issues for an American real estate developer’s shopping mall projects in Korea.
  • Criminal Defense: Not guilty verdict for the president of a major foreign defense company.
  • Criminal Defense: In coordination with a retired Korean Judge, over 50 not guilty verdicts.
  • Distribution/Corporate Law: Drafting of agency and distribution agreements for leading multinational corporations doing business in Korea, China and North America.
  • Distribution/Corporate Law: Successful termination of a multi-year exclusive distributor agreement without compensation to the distributor for termination for a major international technology company.
  • Employment Law: Complete restructuring of the HR compliance for an international retailer.
  • Employment Law: Numerous successful terminations of employees of companies.
  • Employment Law: Drafting of employment rules, employment agreements and compliance handbooks for companies doing business in Korea.
  • Estate & Probate Law: Protection of assets of individuals and disclaimer of estates.
  • Franchise Law: Registration of a leading New York bakery franchise in Korea.  
  • Franchise Law: Registration of a leading international educational franchise in Korea.
  • General Practice: Numerous estate, family, general civil law and criminal law services for individuals.
  • IP Law: Successful challenge of a registered trademark for an international fashion brand.
  • Labor Law: Successful challenge of the termination of an expat executive of a leading Korean conglomerate.
  • Tax Law: Successful challenge to a large portion of a tax imposition by the Korean National Tax Service against a defense company.
  • Tax Law/Corporate Law: Review, yearly, of the end-of-year tax audit and closing statement for clients.
  • Trade Law: Local counsel for a leading international law firm’s Fortune 500 client in a trade dispute leading to a tariff on the products of a local Korean conglomerate.

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