Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton has hired corporate partner Paul Kim in Seoul from McDermott Will & Emery, where he led the firm's office in the South Korean capital until its closure earlier this month.

U.S.-qualified Kim focuses on mergers and acquisitions, general corporate matters, private equity, venture capital, securities and restructurings in the industrial, manufacturing, pharmaceutical and biotech sectors.

In 2016, he advised Korean private equity funds managed by Mirae Asset, Neoplux and Woori on a private sale of 14 million shares of New York Stock Exchange-listed golf equipment manufacturer Acushnet Holdings Corp. to sports apparel company Fila Korea Ltd; Fila also owns a majority stake in Acushnet. Kim previously advised Fila Korea and Mirae on their $1.2 billion buyout of Acushnet from Fortune Brands Inc. in 2011.