Bird & Bird has become the latest international law firm to enter Korea after signing a cooperation agreement with Seoul-based outfit Hwang Mok Park (HMP).

The non-exclusive partnership will allow the two firms to participate in joint marketing and collaboration of client services, with a view to a more formal merger in the next two to three years.

Kun-Su Mok, managing partner of HMP, will lead on the ground in Korea, while joint activity on the Bird & Bird side will be overseen by China chairman Justin Walkey alongside its head of the communications, media and technology (CMT) group in Hong Kong and China, Marcus Vass.