Mino Han has acted as counsel in various international arbitrations conducted under the auspices of the ICC, SIAC, HKIAC, KCAB or JCAA. Mino specializes in construction and engineering disputes. The relevant projects underlying the disputes were each based in the Middle East, Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa or Latin America and concerned the design and construction of combined cycle power plants, solar power production facilities, refineries, high-rise buildings, convention centres and infrastructure facilities.
Mino has also vast experience in representing contractors in Korean court or KCAB domestic arbitration proceedings. He also regularly advises clients on issuing or defending claims arising out of standard form contracts including the FIDIC Suite of Contracts.
Mino majored in law at Seoul National University (LL.B., 2006), after which he passed the Korean Bar Exam in 2006 and qualified as Korean lawyer in 2009. He also received a Master of Laws degree in international arbitration law from Seoul National University in 2012 and a Master of Science degree for Construction Law and Dispute Resolution at King’s College London in 2018. Mino’s MSc dissertation entitled “The meaning and scope of ‘consequential loss’ exclusion clauses – A comparative law analysis between English law and Korean law” was awarded with a distinction grade. In July 2019, Mino was admitted to the roll of solicitors in England and Wales.
Mino has been recognized by Who’s Who Legal as Global Elite Thought Leader in Arbitration (Under 45 – Partners). Mino serves as member of the KCAB Next Steering Committee, and is a DIS (German Arbitration Institute) Council Member. Mino has been the ICC YAAF Regional Representative for Korea (2021-2025 term).
Mino is also sitting as arbitrator, and has served as arbitrator in ICC, DIS, KCAB arbitrations.
Mino is native in Korean and German and is also fluent in English.
Career details
- Partner, Peter & Kim (2019. 11. – present)
- Adjunct Professor, Korea University, Graduate School for Global Construction Engineering (2020. 3. – 2021)
- Associate and Senior Associate, Bae, Kim & Lee LLC (2012. 4. – 2019. 10.)
- Secondee, CMS Germany (2019. 2. – 2019. 4.)
- Secondee, CMS UK (2018. 9. – 2019. 1.)
- Secondee, Atkin Chambers (2018. 6.)
- Judge Advocate, Korean Navy (2009 – 2012)
Education details
- King’s College London, MSc for Construction Law and Dispute Resolution (M.Sc., 2018)
- Seoul National University Graduate School of Law (LL.M., 2012)
- Judicial Research and Training Institute, Supreme Court of the Republic of Korea (2009)
- Seoul National University College of Law (LL.B., 2006)
Experience
Construction & Engineering Related Cases
- Lead counsel for a Korean contractor in an ICC dispute regarding a desalination plant project in the UAE. ICC, Dubai. The outcome was successful.
- Co-lead counsel for a Korean shipyard concerning a dispute on a power plant project in Saudi Arabia. ICC, London. The outcome was successful.
- Lead counsel for a Korean steel supplier in an ad hoc arbitration arising from a steel supply contract for a bridge construction project in Canada. The outcome was successful.
- Successfully represented a Korean construction company in an ICC arbitration concerning a project for the construction of a combined cycle power plant in Jordan.
- Represented a major Korean construction company in an ICC arbitration arising from a project regarding the construction of a low sulphur diesel refinery in Trinidad and Tobago. The matter settled.
- Successfully represented a Korean power company in an ICC arbitration against the O&M service provider of a solar power production facility in Bulgaria.
- Successfully represented a Korean steel supplier in a SIAC arbitration arising from a steel supply contract in connection with a major construction project in Australia.
- Successfully represented a major Korean construction company in a SIAC arbitration arising from a project for the construction of a high-rise building in Mongolia.
- Represented a major Korean construction company in a KCAB arbitration against a major German plant equipment supplier. The matter settled.
- Acted as counsel for many Korean construction companies in KCAB domestic arbitrations or domestic litigation
- Provided legal advice to many Korean contractors for large scale overseas projects.
Other Representative Cases
- Acting as counsel for a Korean investment fund in a US court litigation arising from a transaction involving the acquisition of 15 luxury hotels in the US net worth USD 5.8 billion.
- Acting as counsel for the Korean government in an investor state dispute.
- Represented Korean shareholders of a major retail company in Korea in a JCAA dispute against a minority shareholder of that company.
Professional Affiliations
- Korean and Seoul Bar Associations
- Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb)
- Panel of International Arbitrators, KCAB International
- Representative, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) Korea Chapter (2020. 3.-)
- Regional Representative, ICC Young Arbitrators Forum (2021-2025 term)
- Member, Society of Construction Law
- DIS (German Arbitration Institute) Council Member (2022-2024 term)
Publications
Construction & Energy
- Co-author, “Meaning and Enforceability of Fit For Purposes clauses – A civil law jurisdiction perspective”, SCL International, 2024
- Co-author, “The Future of Construction Disputes”, International Construction Disputes, Beck, 2022
- Co-author, “Notices of Claims under FIDIC 2017: A Korean and English Perspective”, International Construction Law Review, 2022
- Co-author, “Applying FIDIC Contracts in Korea”, FIDIC Contracts in Asia Pacific (ed. by Donald Charrett), Informa Law, 2021
- Co-author, “Is it time for English law to consider disruption analysis for site-overhead claims? The contrast of Costain v Haswell and Walter Lilly v Mackay”, International Construction Law Review, 2021
- Co-author, “Recovery of additional time and money arising from Covid-19 by way of variation clauses: a contractor’s perspective”, CLInt (Vol 16 No 2), 2021
- Co-author, “The impact of Covid-19 on the South Korean construction industry”, IBA CLInt (Vol 15 No 3), 2020
- Co-author, “South Korea, Covid-19 Implications For Construction Industry”, CMS publications, 2020
- “South Korea Chapter, CMS Expert Guide on Consequential Loss Clauses in the Energy Sector”, CMS Expert Guide, 2020
- Co-author, “Statutory liability for defects under Korean law”, IBA CLInt (Vol 15 No 2), 2020
- Co-author, “When circumstances change: a comparative view of the law and ICC model clauses”, IBA Asia Pacific Regional Forum publications, 2020
- Co-author, “LNG Contract Adjustments in Difficult Times: The Interplay between Force Majeure, Change of Circumstances, Hardship and Price Review Clauses”, Oil, Gas & Energy Law Intelligence, 2020
- “Practical tips regarding consequential loss exclusion clauses in international construction contracts”, K-Build, International Contractors Association of Korea, 2019
- Co-author, “The Application of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods to Manufacturing and Supply Contracts for International Construction Projects”, International Construction Law Review, 2019
- Co-author, “Case study on international construction arbitration cases”, International Construction and Energy Law Vol. 2, Park-Young-Sa, 2019
- “The meaning and scope of ‘consequential loss’ exclusion clauses – A comparative law analysis between English law and Korean law”, King’s College London Dissertation, 2018
International Arbitration
- Co-author, “Are anti-suit injunctions by the English Courts ‘Suited’ to protect foreign seated arbitrations?”, Romanian Arbitration Journal, 2024
- “Legal Evidence in International Arbitration – Does the Tribunal Have a Duty to Ask?”, 40 under 40, 2024
- Co-author, “Revisiting Optional Arbitration Clauses Before the Korean Courts, Korean Yearbook of International Law (Vol. 10)”, Pakyoungsa, 2023
- Co-author, Advocacy in Virtual Hearings, The Guide to Advocacy – Sixth Edition, 2023
- Online Commentary on Private International Law, International Commercial Arbitration Chapter, On-Ju, 2023
- Co-author, “Early Determination: A Secret Recipe for Arbitral Efficiency?”, Kluwer Arbitration Blog, 2023
- Co-author, “Korea Chapter, International Arbitration 2023”, GLI, 2023
- Co-author, “Post-Award interest in the Asia-Pacific, Chapter on Republic of Korea”, Wolters Kluwer, 2023
- Co-author, “CIArb Practice Guideline on Party Non-Participation: Reflections and Practical Suggestions”, YAR, 2022
- Co-author, “Comparative law analysis on damages for breach of arbitration agreement”, Pakyoung-sa, 2022
- Co-author, Korea – International Arbitration 2022, Global Legal Insights, 2022
- Co-author, “Three Suggestions for Improving Document Production Practice”, Kluwer Arbitration Blog, 2022
- Co-author, “Quantification of ISDS Claims: Theory”, GAR, 2022
- Co-author, “Tips for an arbitrator conducting an arbitration where a party is absent or not participating”, KCAB Arbitration, 2022
- Co-author, “Advocacy in Virtual Hearings”, GAR The Guide to Advocacy (fifth ed.), 2021
- Co-author, Litigation Know-How 2021, GAR
- Co-author, “Allocating Pre-award Interest When a Procedural Delay is Beyond Parties’ Control”, Kluwer Arbitration Blog
- Co-author, “Call for a Witness Protocol in International Arbitration”, International Arbitration: When East Meets West: Liber Amicorum Michael Moser
- “Security for Costs”, Jus Mundi Wiki Note, 2020
- Co-author, “South Korea ups the ante with the Arbitration Promotion Act”, IBA Arbitration Bulletin, 2019
- “A Study on Interim Measures by Arbitral Tribunals in International Commercial Arbitration”, Seoul National University Master Thesis, 2012