[Invest&Law] Why Law Firms Strengthening 'Apsaek Teams' Are Racing Ahead

Stricter Legality Review of Electronic Information
Growing Role of Forensic Experts and Others

As the number of search and seizure warrant requests by investigative agencies reached an all-time high, law firms are busy reorganizing their response strategies. They are moving quickly by establishing new search and seizure response teams or strengthening existing response systems.

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457,160 Search Warrants... 90.8% Issuance Rate

According to the 2024 Judicial Yearbook, a total of 457,160 search, seizure, and inspection warrants were filed at courts nationwide in 2023, marking a 15.2% increase from the previous year. The issuance rate reached 90.8%, the highest ever recorded.

Reflecting this trend, requests for consultation on search and seizure responses from clients are increasing daily. In particular, electronic devices such as mobile phones, which store large amounts of personal information unrelated to criminal charges, are treated as major seized items, prompting many clients to seek advice on this matter. Law firms are focusing on preventing improper seizures and analyzing the evidentiary value of seized information, emphasizing that courts are increasingly scrutinizing the legality of evidence obtained through search and seizure, as seen in the case of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong.

Law Firms Launch Response Teams

Hwawoo Law Firm (Managing Partner Lee Myung-soo) launched the HIT (Hwawoo Investigation & Intelligence Team) earlier this month. Led by Kang Nam-il (56, Judicial Research and Training Institute Class 23), a former Deputy Prosecutor General, the team includes lawyers with backgrounds in prosecution and police, as well as forensic experts from the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA). It is an integrated specialized team capable of responding to search and seizure scenes as well as electronic information analysis.

Dongin Law Firm (Managing Partner Hwang Yoon-gu) also established a Warrant & Forensics Team earlier this month. The team consists of eight members led by lawyer Yeo Woon-guk (58, Class 23), a former Deputy Chief of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials. They provide consultation and response throughout the entire process of search and seizure, from on-site response to forensics, selection, and investigation. Furthermore, they handle arrest and detention warrant responses, offering a one-stop service covering arrest and detention possibility analysis, prosecutor interviews, and pre-detention suspect interrogations.

Daeryuk Aju Law Firm (Managing Partner Lee Kyu-chul) plans to launch a Search and Seizure Response Center soon. A representative from Daeryuk Aju stated, “We will provide 24-hour continuous response to investigative agencies’ search and seizure operations.”

Yulchon Law Firm (Managing Partner Kang Seok-hoon) operates a large-scale simultaneous search and seizure response team centered on its criminal team, focusing on establishing an organic response system among teams. A Yulchon representative said, “Lead lawyers in charge of practical responses go directly to the search and seizure sites to respond.”

Forensic Response Also Essential

Bae, Kim & Lee Law Firm (Managing Partner Lee Joon-ki) operates the ‘BKL On-site Investigation & Forensic Response Team.’ Composed of an on-site response team and a litigation response team, they provide comprehensive response strategies and consultation from search and seizure through investigation and trial.

Kwangjang Law Firm (Managing Partner Kim Sang-gon) formed a ‘Search and Seizure Response Team’ led by criminal group leader lawyer So Jin (58, Class 23) and forensic team leader lawyer Lee Tae-yeop (54, Class 28). Specialized committee members, many of whom are former prosecutors with extensive forensic experience, analyze the seized information.

Jipyung Law Firm (Managing Partners Kim Ji-hong and Lee Haeng-gyu) opened a Digital Forensic Center in November 2023, staffed by about 30 lawyers and experts. The center responds to investigative and regulatory agencies and provides digital evidence analysis data and solutions in various fields such as risk analysis in management.

Kim & Chang Law Office (Managing Partner Jung Kye-sung) also collaborates with lawyers from prosecution and police backgrounds and experts proficient in digital forensic techniques related to electronic information search and seizure.

Moon Moo-il and Jo Jae-bin, Former Prosecutors Deployed in Advance

Sejong Law Firm (Managing Partner Oh Jong-han) is led by former Prosecutor General Moon Moo-il (64, Class 18), who heads the search and seizure response team. Moon is credited with introducing digital forensic techniques and accounting analysis investigation methods to the prosecution.

Barun Law Firm (Managing Partner Lee Dong-hoon) operates dedicated teams under its criminal group, including corporate criminal, complaint and investigation response, and police investigation response teams, forming task force teams (TFT) tailored to the nature of each case. Lawyer Jo Jae-bin (55, Class 29) achieved notable results such as the dismissal of detention warrants for a bank screening director accused of violating the Specific Economic Crimes Act (breach of trust) related to illegal loans involving the former chairman’s relatives of Woori Financial Group, amounting to 30 billion won, and twice dismissing detention warrants for the chairman of the Saemaeul Geumgo Central Association accused of bribery worth about 260 million won.

Lawyer Yeo Woon-guk of Dongin said, “Digital forensics is key these days,” adding, “Often, the person subject to seizure does not even know what materials they have provided, so Dongin collaborates with digital forensic specialized firms to analyze the data secured by investigative agencies.”

Reporter An Hyun, Legal Times

※This article is based on content supplied by Law Times.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.