Korean law firm Hwang Mok Park has agreed to merge with boutique litigation practice Hanseung Law Firm. The merged firm, which will retain the name Hwang Mok Park, will become Korea's eighth largest law firm, boasting around 120 Korean lawyers, foreign legal consultants, patent attorneys, CPAs, tax accountants and custom brokers.
 
Hanseung, which will contribute 35 lawyers of its own to the union, specialises in lawsuits, mediation and corporate affairs and has a number of high-profile lawyers in its ranks, including former heads of the patent, family and administrative courts and a former justice of the constitutional court.
 
"This acquisition of Hanseung puts us into the top tier of law firms in Korea," said the firm's senior partner Hwang Ju-myung. "By virtue of this merger, our corporate clients will enjoy even stronger litigation services, in the civil, criminal, family and administrative areas."

Things have been relatively quiet this year on the merger front for Korean law firms. Last year saw a host of mergers including Horizon Law Group with Jisung, Kim Chang & Lee with Kim & Company, and DeRyook with Aju Law entente. But this could well change in a hurry. As Korea's legal market edges closer to liberalisation, domestic law firms are finding that mergers are a viable way to bulk up and remain competitive.