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Attorney at Trowers & Hamlins LLP
Thomas Yun
Thomas is a seasoned lawyer with experience in the construction and infrastructure sector in various jurisdictions. He specialises in advising on commercial disputes, PPP projects in the Middle East and Asia.
Prior to moving to the UAE, Thomas worked as a lawyer at a major law firm in Seoul, Korea.
Thomas has extensive experience advising Korean contractors on their claims in major infrastructure construction projects in the UAE, KSA, Qatar and Kuwait. He has also advised clients in disputes before Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and Qatar Courts and DIFC-LCIA.
Leveraging his in-depth knowledge and understanding of the legal system in the Middle East, he has spoken at various seminars hosted by South Korean Embassy in the UAE and Kuwait, International Contractors Association of Korea (ICAK), Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB), Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) and Society of Construction Law (SCL) Korea.
Thomas has been a Paper Committee Lead of SCL Korea and is also appointed to the Panel of International Arbitrators of KCAB International.
Practice Areas
Education and Career
· 2023–2026: International Arbitrator, Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB INTERNATIONAL)
· 2022–Present: Attorney, Trowers & Hamlins LLP, Dubai Office
· 2019–2022: Attorney, Al Tamimi & Company, Dubai Office (Seconded to Kuwait Office in 2019)
· 2017: Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Construction Law, King’s College London
· 2017–2018: Seconded to Construction Advisory and Disputes Team, Pinsent Masons LLP
· 2011–2019: Attorney, Yulchon LLC
· 2010: Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Administrative Law, Korea University
· 2008: Completed the 37th Judicial Research and Training Institute Program, South Korea
Achievements
· Advised a Korean major construction company on an LCIA arbitration case against a Kuwaiti employer.
· Advised a Korean major construction company on an arbitration case before the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB) related to a domestic thermal power plant project.
· Represented and advised Korean major construction companies in domestic construction claims litigation (design changes, price escalation, defects, etc.).
· Successfully represented Korean construction companies in multiple lawsuits and injunctions regarding the cancellation of bid participation restrictions.
· Drafted and advised on implementation agreements and loan agreements for BTL (Build-Transfer-Lease) private investment projects.
· Represented Macquarie in an administrative lawsuit (before the Supreme Court of Korea) to cancel supervisory orders related to the capital structure of the Gwangju Second Ring Road Project.
· Successfully represented Seoul National University in the dismissal cancellation litigation involving Dr. Hwang Woo-suk (final victory after remand).
· Represented and advised Samsung Electronics in litigation and DIFC-LCIA arbitration against a UAE local distributor (final victory).
· Drafted a research report for Korea Eximbank on Middle Eastern private investment law.
· Advised Hyundai Construction Equipment in a litigation case against a UAE local distributor.
· Advised a Korean public corporation on a new town development project in Kuwait.
· Advised a Korean public corporation on issues related to the Kuwait Airport Corporation project.
· Represented and advised a Korean major cable company in litigation against a Kuwaiti agent.
· Advised a Korean major cable company on claims against a Bahraini agent.
· Advised a Korean major cable company on claims against a subcontractor related to a project in Bahrain.
· Advised H2O Hospitality, a hospitality tech company, on compliance with UAE data protection law and EU GDPR.
· Advised Hanwha Vision on the establishment of a Middle East Regional Headquarters (RHQ) in Saudi Arabia.
· Drafted a market and legal system research report on the Saudi construction market for the International Contractors Association of Korea (ICAK).
· Advised Hanwha Life Insurance on establishing a branch office in ADGM (Abu Dhabi Global Market).
· Advised SK Ecoplant on matters related to the Fujairah Project.
· Advised Doosan Heavy Industries on the acquisition of a local sponsor's equity in its Oman subsidiary.
· Advised a major Korean architectural firm on market entry into Saudi Arabia.
· Served as sole arbitrator in an international arbitration case at KCAB (Claimant: Korean company / Respondent: Dubai-based company).
· Advised a Hanwha affiliate on the liquidation of its UK subsidiary.
· Advised Aegis Europe on UK corporate law matters.