Ret. Gen. Sharp led US Forces in Korea from 2008-11; his addition facilitates firm’s growth in Korea and elsewhere in Asia

In a major enhancement to its growing Korea practice, McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP announced that it has added Retired U.S. Army Four-Star General Walker L. “Skip” Sharp as a Senior Strategic Advisor. Gen. Sharp’s arrival is a natural outgrowth of McKenna’s broad experience in Korea, where the firm opened a foreign legal consultant office in Seoul last year.

Gen. Sharp served as Commander, United Nations Command; Commander, ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command; and Commander, U.S. Forces Korea, from 2008 to 2011. Along with McKenna Intellectual Property practice chair Song Jung, Gen. Sharp is a member of the board of directors of The Korea Society, a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated solely to promoting greater understanding and cooperation between the U.S. and Korea.

“General Sharp’s illustrious military career and his many relationships with major Korean and U.S. corporations make his addition a very significant development for our firm,” stated McKenna Chairman Jeff Haidet. “There are tremendous opportunities for McKenna in Korea that align with our strategy and involve multiple industry sectors.  Moreover, his presence is certain to be important as we continue raising our profile in other parts of Asia.”

For more than 15 years, McKenna has successfully worked with many Korean clients such as LG, Hyundai and Hyosung. The firm’s cross-practice team has provided guidance and counsel on a wide range of issues from intellectual property to products liability litigation, government affairs and government contracts. The firm’s global IP practice, along with its internationally-recognized government affairs and corporate groups, provide experienced counsel to both U.S. and Korean clients.

“McKenna has been a strong supporter of The Korea Society and Gen. Sharp’s decision to join McKenna makes perfect strategic sense given his depth of knowledge and relationships in Korea,” said Ambassador Thomas Hubbard, chairman of The Korea Society.“