Kobre & Kim

Kobre & Kim is a global law firm focused exclusively on international disputes and investigations, often involving allegations of fraud or misconduct. Kobre & Kim has developed a reputation as a go-to firm for complex cross-border dispute resolution.

Organic Growth

Founded by two former U.S. Department of Justice prosecutors in 2003, Kobre & Kim has organically grown to more than 400 employees who work out of offices in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the U.S., and the Caribbean. And as an added bonus: the firm generally avoids repeat client relationships and is therefore “conflict-free.” As such, it maintains a diverse client base—including Fortune 500 companies, hedge funds, private equity firms, top-level corporate executives, and foreign citizens—and remains unencumbered by long-term client relationships that so often stifle the workflow of other law firms. The policy also means the firm is often engaged by other law firms to act as special litigation counsel to handle complex disputes on behalf of their clients

Dream Team

Experienced trial lawyers Michael Kim and Steven Kobre founded the firm after working together as Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Southern District of New York. There, as members of the Department of Justice's Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force, they prosecuted major securities fraud cases—including the $75 million case against brokerage firm Sterling Foster, said to be the inspiration for the 2000 Ben Affleck film Boiler Room. Kim and Kobre decided to harness their expertise to start their own firm and recruited colleagues from across the pond to join them. Their team now includes two English Queen's Counsel, as well as English barristers qualified to practice in the UK and other offshore jurisdictions, and Hong Kong solicitors. On the U.S. side, the firm's lawyers include approximately two dozen former federal prosecutors and former enforcement lawyers of the SEC, almost half of which are based outside of the U.S. in the firm’s Hong Kong, Seoul, London and Tel Aviv offices. A team of analysts completes the picture, providing specialized knowledge of the financial industry that Kobre & Kim's complex cases often require.

Conflict Resolution, Without the Conflict

Kobre & Kim focuses exclusively on litigation and prides itself on its aggressive, trial-focused strategy. And by generally avoiding repeat client relationships that create conflicts of interest, the firm maintains its ability to litigate against a wide range of institutions. This unique approach, combined with its multi-jurisdictional presence, makes Kobre & Kim advantageously positioned to handle complex cross-border disputes. Kobre & Kim's fierce litigators are often brought in to handle trial work while partnering with other law firms that continue an advisory role. It has received widespread recognition for its work in numerous areas including white-collar defense, internal investigations, debtor-creditor litigation, international judgment enforcement, asset forfeiture/confiscation, and offshore asset recovery.

COVID-19 Update

The firm has continued to recruit highly skilled lawyers worldwide in the pandemic. In regions where we continue to work remotely, we conduct interviews via Zoom. Otherwise, our process is unchanged. We have hired many lawyers who have completed the interview, offer and onboarding process remotely and now are fully integrated team members.

• Kobre & Kim represented ConocoPhillips in designing and implementing a worldwide enforcement strategy related to a $10+ billion award against Venezuela and its national oil company.
• Kobre & Kim resisted years of criminal charges and civil asset forfeiture arising from the “1MDB” matter from U.S. and other authorities against an international businessman.
• In litigation the European Patent Office lauded as “a tremendous success,” Kobre & Kim represented the Australian government’s science agency in a $400 million patent enforcement of core Wi-Fi technology.
• Kobre & Kim represented DRW Investments in a highly publicized case over alleged market manipulation, achieving a verdict against the CFTC on all causes of action.

• IAM Patent 1000, 2023—IAM
• GRR 100, 2022—Global Restructuring Review
• GIR 100, 2022—Global Investigation Review
• Reputation Management Law Firm of the Year, 2022—Citywealth Magic Circle Awards
• Corporate Equality Index, 2022—Human Rights Campaign