Daelyuk Aju, Lin to merge as 'D&L,' targeting sixth place among Korea's top law firms

Law firms Daelyuk Aju and Lin have signed a merger agreement, creating a combined entity with about 400 lawyers that will rank sixth among major domestic law firms.

The two firms held a signing ceremony Monday at the 20th-floor conference room of Donghun Tower in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, with managing partners and attorneys from both sides in attendance.

The signing comes roughly six months after the two firms signed a merger MOU on April 29. In the intervening period, they formed a joint merger committee to work through integration issues covering organizational structure, personnel and finances. The combined firm will officially launch after receiving approval from the Ministry of Justice and completing merger registration.

The merged firm will operate under the name D&L, selected through an open naming competition. The name combines the English initial of Daelyuk Aju, "D," with that of Lin, "L," while the ampersand is meant to symbolize the connection and unity of the two firms.

As of Oct. 31, the combined firm has 397 domestic attorneys, placing it sixth among major Korean law firms by headcount. By sales, it ranks eighth, with 143.7 billion won ($106 million) based on 2025 figures.

Daelyuk Aju has built its reputation in litigation and regulatory work — including fair trade, serious industrial accidents, labor and employment, tax and tariffs, and public strategy — while Lin has focused on corporate advisory services such as mergers and acquisitions, finance, AI and technology platforms, and intellectual property.

The merged D&L aims to become a full-service law firm with a balanced offering of litigation and advisory practices.

D&L said it will prioritize prompt and accurate legal services, open communication with clients, and transparency in fees.

"We will carry forward the expertise and client trust that both firms have built, now under the name D&L," Managing Partner Lee said. "We will harness the synergies of this merger and bring together all of the firm's capabilities to build a top-tier law firm that clients can rely on with confidence."

Managing Partner Lim said: "Speed, accuracy, communication, delivery and innovation — these five principles that guide how we work will carry over into D&L, and we will be the firm that answers first when clients face new challenges in the age of AI."

At a question-and-answer session held during the signing ceremony, the two managing partners said trust and open communication among members would be the top priorities in running the combined organization after the merger.