[Law Firm Dream Team] Veteran Corps Behind 2.5 Trillion-Won National Project... Jipyung Forms AI Data Center 'Avengers' Task Force

Extensive Hands-On Experience in National Projects Worth KRW 2.5 Trillion, Including SPC Advisory

Proactively Identifying Load Risks of Nvidia’s Next-Generation Chips

(from left) Yonggil Kim, Attorney at Jipyung AI-Infra Center; Jeonggyu Choi, Attorney; Doyoung Song, Center Director; Junhee Seo, Attorney. Photo by Taewon Choi

"The success of the artificial intelligence (AI) industry hinges on how quickly and reliably data centers can be built and operated."

Dongyoung Song, Director of the 'AI Infra Center' at Jipyeong LLC (39th Judicial Research and Training Institute class), stated this during a recent interview with The Asia Business Daily at Jipyeong's headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul. He pointed out that the core of major national initiatives recently announced by the government, including the 'Three Mega Projects' (AI data centers, AI semiconductors, and physical AI) and the 'Honam Semiconductor Cluster Project,' ultimately comes down to data centers. In response to these shifts in the industrial landscape, Jipyeong established a dedicated integrated advisory center last month to oversee every stage of AI data center development, from initial construction to ongoing operation.

◆Strength in hands-on experience with large-scale projects worth 2.5 trillion won= The key competitive advantage of Jipyeong's AI Infra Center lies in its direct involvement in the early-stage design of large-scale national infrastructure projects totaling 2.5 trillion won. Jipyeong successfully provided comprehensive advisory services to the government for the Ministry of Science and ICT’s 'National AI Computing Center' construction project, which is being developed in regions like Haenam. Director Song explained, "Teams of specialized attorneys formed a single unit to provide legal advisory services throughout the process—from the initial corporate selection procedures to the final contract for establishing a special purpose company (SPC) with Samsung as the selected private sector operator." He added, "The experience and expertise gained in supporting the creation of a new business model, in which the SPC—established through joint public-private investment—ensures public interest while maintaining private sector autonomy, are the greatest assets of the AI Infra Center." Junhee Seo, Attorney (39th class), commented on considerations unique to large-scale AI infrastructure projects jointly undertaken by the public and private sectors: "Unlike typical M&A transactions, public-private partnerships are distinguished by their policy objectives. Therefore, it is necessary to design governance structures and shareholder responsibilities with greater precision to achieve a balance between public interest and autonomy."

◆Meticulous management from community acceptance to the latest tech trends= Addressing 'resident complaints and local government acceptance,' one of the most significant challenges in building AI data centers, is being led by Yonggil Kim, Attorney (3rd bar exam), who specializes in infrastructure and public complaints. Kim explained, "To achieve harmony with the local community, a high level of political acumen and strategic flexibility is required in deciding whether to actively persuade stakeholders or pursue firm legal actions such as administrative appeals."

Alongside site acquisition and resolving complaints, another core role of the center is reviewing physical infrastructure in line with rapidly evolving technology trends. The center proactively identifies and addresses technical issues that were not anticipated during the enactment of special laws. Director Song highlighted a potential oversight, stating, "NVIDIA’s next-generation GPU, 'Vera Rubin,' is nearly twice as heavy as standard server racks, which means existing buildings may not be able to support it," thus drawing attention to physical space risks that are easy to overlook.

◆Twenty veteran partners deployed at the forefront... "Winning the speed game"= The center’s organizational structure is also unconventional. Rather than relying on typical junior-level (associate) attorneys, the center is staffed exclusively by about 20 veteran experts—partner-level attorneys and advisors who can be deployed in practical work immediately.

Jeonggyu Choi, Attorney (36th class), stated, "In the data center business, delays or denials in permits and approvals can incur substantial financial interest costs daily, making time equivalent to money. The traditional apprenticeship-style work review method cannot keep pace with the market, so we operate nimbly, like a 'rapid response team' that proactively eliminates risks."

Director Song added, "From foreign investment security reviews to complex government relations work and handling civil complaints, we aim to be an integrated advisory platform and a reliable partner that manages the entire process in a one-stop manner."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.