Jangwoon (John) Kwak
Biography
John Kwak is a partner leading the tax practice of Baker McKenzie & KL Partners Joint Venture Law Firm. John's practice focuses on the tax aspects of a wide range of cross-border corporate transactions and investments.
John is a seasoned lawyer with over 20 years of experience in international taxation and cross-border transactions. He has successfully represented multinational corporations in tax audits, tax litigation, dispute resolution, transfer pricing, M&A tax structuring, and overseas investment strategies.
John is particularly skilled in navigating corporate tax and transfer pricing challenges for foreign companies operating in Korea, while also resolving complex tax and regulatory issues for Korean companies expanding abroad. His expertise has been essential in helping multinational clients manage tax risks and optimize compliance in an increasingly complex global tax landscape. John also provides high-net-worth individuals and their private businesses with tailored cross-border tax and estate planning solutions.
Representative Legal Matters
Prior to joining the Baker McKenzie & KL Partners Joint Venture Law Firm, John advised on the following matters:
- Advised foreign corporate clients on tax and transfer pricing issues arising from their business operations, tax audits and tax litigation in Korea.
- Advised global private equity investors and multinational companies in tax appeal cases involving withholding tax, permanent establishment, VAT, and the application of tax treaties.
- Advised multinational companies on developing effective global tax and transfer pricing strategies for their international business expansion and supply chain restructuring.
- Advised multinational companies on cross-border mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and holding company structures.
- Provided tax consulting services, including tax structuring, tax opinions, due diligence, and tax modeling, for corporate mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, spin-offs, and tax-free reorganizations for private equity and strategic clients.
- Advised sovereign wealth funds, public pension funds, institutional investors, and asset management companies on their cross-border investments in real estate, infrastructure, and private equity.
- Advised Korean manufacturing companies and their overseas subsidiaries in disputes with foreign tax authorities, including tax audits, tax litigation, and APA/MAP proceedings, primarily in the US, Vietnam, Indonesia, and India.
- Advised global funds and financial institutions on tax compliance and information exchange obligations, including FATCA and CRS.
- Provided cross-border tax planning services to high-net-worth individuals.
Admissions
- New York~United States (2000)
Education
- New York University School of Law (LL.M. Taxation) (2002)
- University of Pennsylvania Law School (LL.M.) (1998)
- Yonsei University (LL.B.) (1996)
Languages
- English
- Korean