SEUM and KICA Successfully Host Seminar on 'M&A and Global Investment: Diagnosing Legal Risks and Strategic Responses'
On Wednesday, April 23, 2025, SEUM Law(hereinafter 'SEUM') successfully co-hosted a seminar titled 'M&A and Global Investment: Diagnosing Legal Risks and Strategic Responses' in collaboration with the Venture Investment Research Committee of the Korea In-House Counsel Association (KICA). The event drew strong interest, with over 120 in-house counsel in attendance, and received an enthusiastic response for its in-depth, practice-oriented sessions.
The seminar opened with welcoming remarks by Attorney Jongil Park, Chair of the KICA Venture Investment Research Committee and Head of Legal at BonAngels Venture Partners.
Through two sessions and a joint Q&A segment, the seminar focused on key legal issues commonly encountered in practice and frequently associated with dispute risk, such as drag-along rights, put options, and indemnification, offering attendees actionable strategies and real-world insights.
The first session addressed the theme of ‘Legal Issues in M&A and Litigation Strategies’.
Hoseok Jung, Managing Partner at SEUM, opened the session with a presentation on ‘The Effectiveness of Drag-Along Rights’, offering a comparative overview between Korea and the U.S., along with a systematic explanation of common issues surrounding drag-along clauses and how their enforceability can be strengthened in practice.
Attorney Seungkyu Byun of SEUM followed with a session on ‘Key Issues in Indemnification Clauses’, addressing principles for calculating damages arising from breaches of representations and warranties and outlining practical considerations during indemnity negotiations, supported by real-world examples.
Attorney Jingi Kim of SEUM concluded the session with a presentation on ‘Legal Review of Put Option Disputes’, covering the legal and contractual basis of appraisal rights, relevant regulatory frameworks, and notable issues in dispute resolution.
The second session focused on legal considerations in cross-border venture and overseas investment. Jihoon Choi, Senior Foreign Attorney at SEUM, presented on ‘Regulatory Risks in Cross-Border Transactions’, analyzing high-profile cases such as the record CFIUS enforcement case and the forced divestiture of Grindr, a U.S.-based social and dating app. He provided a detailed overview of regulatory challenges and practical risk-mitigation strategies for investments involving jurisdictions such as the United States and Singapore.
The seminar concluded with an integrated Q&A session, during which panelists addressed pre-submitted questions. Topics included strategic exit planning from both investor and founder perspectives, key legal review points at each stage of an M&A transaction, and negotiation strategies in overseas investments, providing valuable practical insights for legal professionals navigating complex cross-border and domestic deals.
