Cambodian Legal Firm Bun & Associates Establishes South Korean Presence
Cambodian legal firm Bun & Associates has established a South Korean desk dedicated exclusively to servicing Korean investors and local businesses working with Korean investors. The move marks a rare occurrence of local companies expanding beyond the Kingdom's domestic borders.
Bun & Associates, which has been operating in Cambodia for nearly two decades, said its Korea desk “provides Korea with customised and local comprehensive legal and tax services tailored to meet the targeted needs of Cambodian and Korean cross-border investments.”
The move comes after Korean investments in Cambodia have been on the rise as well as an ‘increasing influx of Korean investors interested in pursuing business opportunities in Cambodia’, and the firm has designated a team led by an international Korean lawyer, Currie Sun-Min Lee.
In May 2024, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet made his first state visit to South Korea and several memoranda of understanding (MoU) on investment and finance were signed.
The firm's Managing Partner, Bun Youdy, said of the expansion, "We have a proven track record of assisting Korean clients and substantial experience in supporting Korean investments and projects in Cambodia. This is an exciting opportunity for us to further develop and collaborate with our Korean client base, helping them achieve their business objectives."
However, they have no plans to open a physical office in South Korea but rather rely on their network of professionals at full-service law firms
Lee is the Head of the Korea Desk for Bun & Associates and is a New York State Bar-Licensed lawyer, fluent in both Korean and English. She added, “The Bun & Associates Korea Desk incorporates Bun & Associates’ local legacy–as a top-tier full-service legal & tax firm in Cambodia nearing two decades. The Korea desk will specifically focus on serving not only Korean investors but also Cambodian and Cambodia-situated clients working with Korean businesses in multiple sectors.
Prior to joining Bun & Associates, Lee headed the regional Korea Desk at a regional law firm, chaired the AML Compliance Committee and served as an Independent Director at KB Kookmin Bank Cambodia, while also sitting on the board of several local companies.in Cambodia.
Bun & Associates’ said its specialised Korea Desk is also able to "strategically and seamlessly provide Korean investors with pertinent and practical assistance and access to a local network of potential partners with localised insights and initiatives."