Firm Structure

HKA comprises one foreign Principal and one DPRK Principal, who exercise joint authority over the operations of HKA. Both have worked on opposite sides of the negotiating table, foreign and DPRK, for several years and during that period, developed a close understanding of their respective working styles and working roles. 

A third person, from the DPRK, currently occupies the role of Director of the Accounting Arm of HKA. HK&A anticipates eventually appointing a foreign Principal to head the Accounting Arm and is currently engaged in active discussions with foreign partners for the operation of the Foreign Accounting License.

The foreign principal, Michael Hay, has responsibility for administering the Business Consultancy Arm of HKA. Among other qualifications, he holds an LL.B. from the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom , as well as a Master of Laws Degree in Antitrust Law and Know-how Licensing, a Ph.D. in comparative law, and a Diploma in Legal Practice ( Scotland ). He is also an accredited international arbitrator. He has lectured to government and trading officials on international arbitration and dispute resolution alternatives. With almost fifteen years experience of law and business in Asia, both as an attorney and as a business consultant, he has published numerous articles and presented seminars worldwide on doing business with Korea, and immediately prior to opening his consultancy was voted one of Asia's Leading Lawyers three years consecutively by the readers of a major international legal journal. A dual British-French citizen, he speaks English, French and Korean.

DPRK Partner Entity

The DPRK partner is a spin-off from the principal entity in the DPRK Ministry of Foreign Trade charged with not only the supervision of foreign investment projects but also the formulation, drafting and implementation of economic-related laws and regulations, and also having responsibility for selecting law firms to be retained by DPRK trading companies and other entities in international litigation and arbitration cases. The DPRK partner's “parentage” places HKA in a truly unique position to offer a rapid, efficient and cost-effective One-Stop Shop service to foreign companies wishing to invest, or examining possible investment, in the DPRK. 

In that regard, HKA maintains ties with numerous different governmental and trading entities, and its business consulting arm is able to provide introductions to counterparts in a wide number of industrial, commercial and service sectors.

DPRK Principal

HKA's DPRK Principal is one of the nation's foremost lawyers. A graduate of the DPRK's most prestigious law school, Kim Il Sung College of Law, and well-known throughout government circles, he holds several different posts within the DPRK Government, including Secretary-General of the Korea External Economic Law Authority. Notably, he has also led DPRK official delegations to the economic and related negotiations between the North and various foreign governments, including the ongoing North-South Korean Governmental Level negotiations that began in 2002. In addition, HKA's North Korean Principal, who speaks Korean and English, has traveled extensively abroad on business and governmental delegations, and has considerable experience of working with foreign law firms, and foreign arbitral bodies, including in China , Singapore , Malaysia , Italy , France, Germany and others.

Accounting and Audit Services

The accounting arm of HKA is headed by the chief of the central authority, with offices nationwide, charged with supervising accounting and auditing services. Since, so far, no foreign entity has been granted a license to providing accounting and auditing services, HKA is sole foreign-invested entity authorized to provide such services.

Staff and Facilities

HKA has a pool of experienced local staff, all with legal and business backgrounds. 

The offices of HKA are situated in one of the most famous locations in the capital, in close proximity to all of the capital's major hotels. HK&A also maintains an annex near the Koryo Hotel which offers added convenience for client meetings.

The offices are fully equipped with all necessary facilities for consultations, conferences and documentary work, including telecommunications and e-mail connections.