James Gee-Chul Lee

James Gee-Chul Lee is the Managing Director and South Korea CEO at EquitiesFirst. 

In his role, James oversees EquitiesFirst’s Seoul operations as well as leads its origination development and deal execution efforts in conjunction with the firm’s global operations team. James is also responsible for formulating and driving the firm’s business strategies and initiatives in line with regulatory requirements. 

Prior to joining EquitiesFirst, James was a senior finance lawyer and primary relationship manager at Kim & Chang for the firm’s key global institutional clients. James started his career as a currency trader at Hyundai International Merchant Bank in 1996 in Seoul. After graduating from law school in the US, he spent eight years across New York, Hong Kong and London as an M&A and capital markets lawyer for law firms Sidley Austin, Skadden Arps and Clifford Chance. After returning to South Korea in 2010, he worked as General Counsel for Bank of America Merrill Lynch Korea for six years before joining Kim & Chang.

James earned his Bachelor of holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business AdministrationManagement from Korea University and earned a JD from Vanderbilt University Law School.

James is based in the Seoul office in South Korea.