Ara Cho is a partner at Peter & Kim in Seoul. As a Korean qualified lawyer since 2011, Ara has represented clients in numerous international arbitrations under the rules of the ICC, LCIA, SIAC, and KCAB, seated in various jurisdictions and governed by various legal systems including English, Canadian, Japanese and Korean law.
Ara has acted as counsel in cases concerning a range of large-scale international projects including thermal power plants in Middle East, a nuclear power plant in Middle East, a refinery plant in Africa and real estate developments in Korea and Australia, as well as distribution contracts concerning pharmaceutical products and others. Ara has also represented state parties in investment treaty arbitration cases.
Ara actively participates in pro bono programs and routinely helps refugees and immigrants with legal issues.
Ara is native in Korean and fluent in English.
Career details
- Partner, Peter & Kim (2019 – present)
- Associate and Senior Associate, Bae, Kim & Lee LLC (2011 – 2019)
Education details
- Stanford Law School (LL.M. 2017)
- Judicial Research and Training Institute, Supreme Court of the Republic of Korea (2011)
- Seoul National University College of Law (LL.B., 2007)
Experience
- Represented a private equity consortium in an ICC arbitration seated in Seoul arising from a shareholder agreement with respect to put option exercise.
- Represented the Government of Korea in an investment treaty arbitration based on the Korea-Iran BIT.
- Represented a Korean construction company in an ICC arbitration seated in London arising from a substation construction project in Middle East.
- Provided advice on various forms of overseas construction contracts including EPC contracts, supply sub-contracts, and construction management contracts.
- Represented a Korean construction company in a SIAC arbitration arising from a consortium agreement with respect to a power plant project in the Middle East.
- Represented a global real estate developer in an ICC arbitration seated in Korea, arising from a large real estate development project in Korea, and involving issues related to the financing of the project.
- Represented a Korean company in an LCIA arbitration regarding a nuclear power plant project in the Middle East.
- Represented Korean construction companies in ICC arbitrations regarding an overseas power plant and refinery plant construction project in the Middle East and Africa
- Represented a Korean gas company in an LCIA arbitration regarding a gas development project in the Middle East.
- Represented a Korean construction company in a KCAB arbitration regarding a construction project in Australia
- Represented the Government of Korea in an ICSID arbitration based on the Korea-Belgium/Luxembourg BIT.
- Represented a U.S. company before the Korean court for issues relating to a letter of credit.
- Acted as counsel for several hospitals in litigation claiming the invalidity of an insurance fee system against the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
- Provided advice regarding the revision of domestic laws and regulations in accordance with the Korea-US FTA Technical Barriers to Trade.
- Represented and advised many other companies on various international arbitration and administrative litigation proceedings.
- Arbitrator in a KCAB arbitration seated in Seoul, between a Korean manufacturer and US distributor arising from a distributorship agreement.
Professional Affiliations
- Korean and Seoul Bar Associations
- Panel of International Arbitrators, KCAB International
- List of Arbitrators, HKIAC
- Swiss Arbitration Association Ambassador for Korea
- Faculty member at Delos Remote Oral Advocacy Program
- Special Committee on International Human Rights, Korean Bar Association
- Special Committee on Immigrants and Refugees, Korean Bar Association
Publications
- NATIONAL REPORT KOREA, ICCA INTERNATIONAL HANDBOOK ON COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION SUPPLEMENT 117,
Co-author, September 2021 - RECENT TRENDS IN ISDS AWARDS: WITH A FOCUS ON DUE PROCESS,
Co-author, International Trade Law (2020-02), Ministry of Justice, 2020 - TAXES,
Author, Jus Mundi Wiki Notes for Investment Law and Arbitration, 2020. (https://jusmundi.com/en/document/wiki/en-taxes) - ARBITRATION LAW & PRACTICE,
Contributing author, Pakyoungsa, 2012
Accolades/Rankings
- Chambers Asia Pacific: Up and Coming, Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (2025)
- Lexology Index: Arbitration Future Leaders (2025)
- Who’s Who Legal: Future Leader in Arbitration (2023) and National Leader in Arbitration (2023)
- Legal Times: 2022 Lawyers of the Year (2022)