Celeste (Jisoo) Kim
Associate
27th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Celeste Kim is a senior associate in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office, where she represents international corporate clients across the energy, automotive, defense, and consumer goods industries. Her practice spans three principal areas: (i) advising global manufacturing companies on U.S. economic development projects, (ii) handling complex M&A, joint venture, and financing transactions, and (iii) counseling...
Celeste Kim is a senior associate in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office, where she represents international corporate clients across the energy, automotive, defense, and consumer goods industries. Her practice spans three principal areas: (i) advising global manufacturing companies on U.S. economic development projects, (ii) handling complex M&A, joint venture, and financing transactions, and (iii) counseling multinational clients on immigration and visa matters.
Celeste is particularly active in advising foreign and domestic manufacturers on large-scale U.S. investments, including greenfield developments, expansions, and cross-border joint ventures. She provides strategic, end-to-end guidance throughout the project lifecycle—from site selection, incentives negotiations, and permitting strategy through construction, operations, and ongoing compliance. Her work often involves close coordination with state and local authorities, economic development agencies, and cross-functional client teams. In this capacity, she also serves as trusted outside general counsel to manufacturing clients, advising on a broad range of commercial, regulatory, and operational matters that arise in connection with these investments.
In her transactional practice, Celeste advises on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic investments, with a particular focus on cross-border deals involving multinational stakeholders. She regularly assists clients in structuring and negotiating complex transactions, aligning commercial objectives across multiple parties, and navigating regulatory and execution risks in time-sensitive contexts. Her experience also includes advising on financing arrangements and related corporate governance matters.
Celeste’s practice is further complemented by her experience advising multinational companies on U.S. immigration and visa matters, particularly in connection with workforce mobility for large-scale projects and ongoing business operations. She works closely with clients to support the deployment of global talent while ensuring compliance with U.S. immigration requirements.
Prior to joining the firm, Celeste advised private equity sponsors and investment advisers on the formation, structuring, and operation of multibillion-dollar U.S. and global private investment funds, including growth equity, buyout, venture capital, infrastructure, and credit strategies. In this role, she developed deep experience in fund governance, co-investment arrangements, and managed accounts, and brings a strong understanding of investor expectations and sponsor considerations to her current practice.
multinational clients on immigration and visa matters.
Celeste is particularly active in advising foreign and domestic manufacturers on large-scale U.S. investments, including greenfield developments, expansions, and cross-border joint ventures. She provides strategic, end-to-end guidance throughout the project lifecycle—from site selection, incentives negotiations, and permitting strategy through construction, operations, and ongoing compliance. Her work often involves close coordination with state and local authorities, economic development agencies, and cross-functional client teams. In this capacity, she also serves as trusted outside general counsel to manufacturing clients, advising on a broad range of commercial, regulatory, and operational matters that arise in connection with these investments.
In her transactional practice, Celeste advises on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic investments, with a particular focus on cross-border deals involving multinational stakeholders. She regularly assists clients in structuring and negotiating complex transactions, aligning commercial objectives across multiple parties, and navigating regulatory and execution risks in time-sensitive contexts. Her experience also includes advising on financing arrangements and related corporate governance matters.
Celeste’s practice is further complemented by her experience advising multinational companies on U.S. immigration and visa matters, particularly in connection with workforce mobility for large-scale projects and ongoing business operations. She works closely with clients to support the deployment of global talent while ensuring compliance with U.S. immigration requirements.
Prior to joining the firm, Celeste advised private equity sponsors and investment advisers on the formation, structuring, and operation of multibillion-dollar U.S. and global private investment funds, including growth equity, buyout, venture capital, infrastructure, and credit strategies. In this role, she developed deep experience in fund governance, co-investment arrangements, and managed accounts, and brings a strong understanding of investor expectations and sponsor considerations to her current practice.
Experience
Previous Professional Experience
- Associate, International law firm (2020–2025)
- Summer Associate, Hong Kong office of multinational law firm (Summer 2019)
Languages
- Korean
Education
- The George Washington University Law School, JD
- Korea University, BS, Life Science
Admissions
- Massachusetts
- New York
Practice Areas
Previous Professional Experience
- Associate, International law firm (2020–2025)
- Summer Associate, Hong Kong office of multinational law firm (Summer 2019)
Languages
- Korean
Media
Community
- Washington D.C. Office Social Committee
Celeste Kim is a senior associate in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office, where she represents international corporate clients across the energy, automotive, defense, and consumer goods industries. Her practice spans three principal areas: (i) advising global manufacturing companies on U.S. economic development projects, (ii) handling complex M&A, joint venture, and financing transactions, and (iii) counseling... multinational clients on immigration and visa matters.
Celeste is particularly active in advising foreign and domestic manufacturers on large-scale U.S. investments, including greenfield developments, expansions, and cross-border joint ventures. She provides strategic, end-to-end guidance throughout the project lifecycle—from site selection, incentives negotiations, and permitting strategy through construction, operations, and ongoing compliance. Her work often involves close coordination with state and local authorities, economic development agencies, and cross-functional client teams. In this capacity, she also serves as trusted outside general counsel to manufacturing clients, advising on a broad range of commercial, regulatory, and operational matters that arise in connection with these investments.
In her transactional practice, Celeste advises on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic investments, with a particular focus on cross-border deals involving multinational stakeholders. She regularly assists clients in structuring and negotiating complex transactions, aligning commercial objectives across multiple parties, and navigating regulatory and execution risks in time-sensitive contexts. Her experience also includes advising on financing arrangements and related corporate governance matters.
Celeste’s practice is further complemented by her experience advising multinational companies on U.S. immigration and visa matters, particularly in connection with workforce mobility for large-scale projects and ongoing business operations. She works closely with clients to support the deployment of global talent while ensuring compliance with U.S. immigration requirements.
Prior to joining the firm, Celeste advised private equity sponsors and investment advisers on the formation, structuring, and operation of multibillion-dollar U.S. and global private investment funds, including growth equity, buyout, venture capital, infrastructure, and credit strategies. In this role, she developed deep experience in fund governance, co-investment arrangements, and managed accounts, and brings a strong understanding of investor expectations and sponsor considerations to her current practice.
Experience
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.Previous Professional Experience
- Associate, International law firm (2020–2025)
- Summer Associate, Hong Kong office of multinational law firm (Summer 2019)
Languages
- Korean
Education
- The George Washington University Law School, JD
- Korea University, BS, Life Science
Admissions
- Massachusetts
- New York
Practice Areas
- Washington D.C. Office Social Committee
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