Local Rules, Global Disputes:

Overview

Presented by Young ITA

Co-Sponsored by Bird Marella, Yulchon LLC, and HK45

Please join us for a morning of discussion and debate, followed by networking. We hope that you will be able to join us for what we are sure will be a very lively and enjoyable program.

This panel brings together experts from Korea, the United States, China, and other countries to discuss how each jurisdiction's domestic laws and litigation procedures affect international arbitration practice. In particular, the discussion will focus on the growing use of U.S.-style depositions in international arbitration proceedings, addressing practical strategies and responses drawn from firsthand experience. The panel will also examine how the attorney–client privilege frameworks in China and Korea's recently amended privilege legislation differ from those in common law jurisdictions, and what risks and strategic considerations those differences create during the discovery phase of international arbitration. Given the increasing number of international arbitrations involving Korean companies as parties, this is considered a highly timely and practically relevant topic.

Time: 8 am - 10:15 am
Venue: Yulchon, Seoul

#YoungITATalks is a series of local events presented around the world, featuring talks, workshops or interviews that cover a wide range of subjects relating to arbitration. The #YoungITATalks series is designed for education, conversation and sharing knowledge and experiences among young practitioners.

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, this event is tuition-free and includes breakfast. Please register in advance to help us have an accurate headcount.

Schedule and Faculty

8:00 am - Registration

8:30 am - Welcome

• Sarah Lee, Young ITA, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, Hong Kong
• Lillian Li, HK45, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, Hong Kong

8:45 am - Local Rules, Global Disputes: Depositions and Privilege in International Arbitration

This panel addresses the growing use of U.S.-style depositions in international arbitration and examines how attorney–client privilege frameworks in civil law jurisdictions—particularly China and Korea—diverge from common law systems, creating strategic risks and considerations during the discovery phase of cross-border disputes.

Moderator: Sarah Lee, Young ITA, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, Hong Kong

Panelists:

• Christopher Jumin Lee, Bird Marella, Los Angeles
• Julie Kim, Yulchon LLC, Seoul
• Shan (Tessa) Wang, Zhong Lun Law Firm LLP, Shanghai

10:15 am - Adjourn / Networking Breakfast

About the Speakers

Sarah Lee is a member of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP’s International Dispute Resolution Group in Hong Kong, where her practice focuses on investor-State arbitration, commercial arbitration and public international law. She has represented corporations and sovereign States in complex cross-border disputes under the ICSID, UNCITRAL, ICC, HKIAC and AAA Rules. Sarah is Young ITA Co-Chair for Asia (2026–2028), a member of the HK45 Committee, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Silicon Valley Arbitration and Mediation Center. She is admitted to the New York Bar and is a Registered Foreign Lawyer in Hong Kong. She is a native speaker of French and Korean and holds degrees from Columbia University (magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa) and Harvard Law School.

Christopher Jumin Lee is a partner at Bird Marella and a first-chair trial lawyer who pairs high-stakes U.S. courtroom advocacy with a native fluency in Korean business culture. He represents clients such as Samsung Electronics, Kakao Entertainment, SBS, MBC, and NHN in complex commercial, copyright, and class action disputes. His recent wins include a $164 million jury verdict against LuLaRoe after a two-month trial, which the Daily Journal named a Top Plaintiff's Verdict of 2024, and a string of defense victories for leading Korean media companies, including one affirmed by the Ninth Circuit. He also handles blockchain and cryptocurrency disputes, recovering investor assets lost to fraud and exploits. On the pro bono side, Chris won a landmark habeas ruling blocking the extradition of Marine Corps veteran Christopher Ahn. It was the first time a U.S. federal court had applied a humanitarian exception to international extradition. He also received the ACLU's Humanitarian Award for securing COVID-19 relief for people held in federal prisons. He has been recognized by Lawdragon, Benchmark Litigation's 40 & Under list, Best Lawyers, and Super Lawyers. Before practicing law, he served as an Air Force intelligence officer and taught high school. He holds cum laude degrees from Harvard College and Harvard Law School.

Julie Kim is a Foreign Attorney in Yulchon LLC’s International Dispute Resolution, International Construction, and International Litigation & Foreign Government Investigation practices in Seoul. She handles high-value cross-border disputes for clients in finance, real estate, construction, energy, mining, and rail, appearing in commercial and investment arbitrations under ICC, SIAC, KCAB, LCIA, and ICSID rules and coordinating litigation in jurisdictions including Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, New York, California, and the UAE. She also advises on white-collar investigations, anti-corruption due diligence, and compliance programs. Before joining Yulchon in 2024, she was Corporate Counsel at SK ecoplant, an associate at Jones Day in Singapore, and a foreign attorney at Peter & Kim and Lee & Ko. She has served on KCAB International’s panel of arbitrators since 2025 and was named a Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer for 2025 and 2026. She holds a J.D. from Duke University School of Law and a B.S. in Statistics from Ewha Womans University, and is admitted in New York.

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