Jonathan K. Chang
Handles a broad range of U.S. and cross-border litigation, arbitration, white collar matters and internal investigations.
His litigation practice includes representing clients in U.S. securities class actions and other complex commercial disputes, and advising on cross-border M&A litigation frequently involving offshore jurisdictions.
His international arbitration practice focuses on high-stakes commercial and investment disputes in Asia and beyond. In recent years, he has advised clients in multi-billion-dollar arbitrations across a number of industries, including alternative energy, telecommunications and mining.
His white collar and internal investigations practice includes investigations concerning violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), sanctions and anti-money laundering compliance, and violations of securities laws.
Jon has won multiple awards for his pro bono work and leads Davis Polk’s pro bono program in Hong Kong.
Experience highlights
Litigation
- Representing several China-based U.S.-listed companies and their directors and officers in connection with securities class actions pending in federal and state courts in the U.S.
- Advising a China-based biotech company on a shareholder dispute filed in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, which was successfully struck out
- Obtaining complete dismissal of billion-dollar lawsuit filed against Morgan Stanley related to a Latin American submarine cable network
- Obtaining complete dismissal of a securities fraud lawsuit filed against Credit Suisse relating to its research analyst coverage of AOL
- Obtaining the complete dismissal of securities fraud claims filed against Proskauer Rose LLP relating to the Alan Stanford Ponzi scheme, and related litigation in the U.S. and Antigua
- Obtaining complete dismissal of a legal malpractice claim filed against Paul Hastings LLP relating to a secured loan transaction and subsequent bankruptcy of the borrower
Arbitration
- Representing a China-based alternative energy company in an HKIAC-administered arbitration, in a dispute arising from a failed investment in Japan, and related litigation in Hong Kong and the Cayman Islands
- Representing a European telecom in an LCIA-administered arbitration, relating to a natural disaster indemnity
- Representing a consumer retail investor in an ICC-administered arbitration, arising from a co-investor’s breach of a shareholders agreement, and related litigation in the High Court of Hong Kong
- Advising a natural resources company on an approximately US$20 billion claim against the government of a Southeast Asian country, relating to our client’s mining contracts
- Advising a financial institution in relation to claims arising from its purchase of a business in Indonesia
White Collar & Investigations
- Representing the CEO of a technology company based in China on a SEC investigation
- Conducting internal investigations for a multinational pharmaceutical company relating to FCPA-related issues
- Frequently advising U.S.-listed companies based in China in connection with FINRA matters
- Conducting internal investigations for a multinational medical device company, relating to import control and distributor-related issues
- Representing a global financial institution in connection with a criminal investigation concerning its mortgage-backed securities business
Insights
News
Credentials
Recognition
Law Society of Hong Kong – Individual Gold Award (for pro bono work), 2019, 2020 and 2022
Law Society of Hong Kong – Distinguished Pro Bono Service Award, 2018
City Bar Justice Center – Jeremy G. Epstein Award for Outstanding Pro Bono Service, 2016
Education
- magna cum laude
- Order of the Coif
- Staff Editor, New York University Annual Survey of American Law
Clerkships
Professional history
- Counsel, 2016-present
- Associate, 2006-2016
Qualifications and admissions
- Hong Kong
- State of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
- U.S. District Court, E.D. New York
- U.S. District Court, S.D. New York
- U.S. Supreme Court