Jonathan K. Chang
  1. Counsel
  1. Hong Kong
+852 2533 1028

Mr. Chang is counsel in Davis Polk’s Litigation Department, resident in Hong Kong. He represents clients on a broad range of disputes, white collar matters and internal investigations, including:

  • High-stakes international arbitrations, including those administered by the HKIAC, ICC, and LCIA
  • Commercial and investment disputes, frequently spanning multiple jurisdictions and involving complex securities and corporate governance issues 
  • White collar and internal investigations, including government investigations concerning sanctions and anti-money laundering compliance, market manipulation, and securities fraud

Notably, Mr. Chang has had extensive experience representing multinational corporate clients, particularly in the pharmaceutical and medical device industry; global financial institutions; and professional services firms in connection with professional liability matters.
He has deep experience in U.S. trial and appellate courts, allowing him to provide a unique on-the-ground perspective to clients in Asia.

Work Highlights

Arbitration Matters

  • Representing a European telecom in an LCIA-administered arbitration, relating to a natural disaster indemnity
  • Representing an 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
  • Representing a China-based investment fund in an HKIAC-administered arbitration, in a dispute arising from a failed investment, and related litigation in Hong Kong and the Cayman Islands
  • 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
  • Representing a European telecom on a tax indemnification claim, arising from the sale of Russian assets

Disputes

  • Advising a China-based biotech company on a shareholder dispute filed in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands
  • Defending a New York-based law firm against allegations that it committed professional negligence in connection with an internal investigation of a China-based medical technology firm
  • Obtaining complete dismissal of billion-dollar lawsuit filed against Morgan Stanley related to a Latin American submarine cable network
  • Obtaining the complete dismissal of securities fraud claims filed against Proskauer Rose LLP relating to the Alan Stanford Ponzi scheme, and representing the firm in 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
  • Obtaining complete dismissal of a securities fraud lawsuit filed against Credit Suisse relating to its research analyst coverage of AOL

White Collar & Investigations

  • Representing the CEO of a technology company based in China on a SEC investigation
  • Advising a NASDAQ-listed company based in China, in connection with a FINRA investigation
  • Conducting internal investigations for a multinational pharmaceutical company, relating to bribery, marketing and accounting-related issues
  • Conducting internal investigations for a multinational medical device company, relating to import control and distributor-related issues
  • Advising a financial institution in connection with an investigation conducted by the Japanese SESC concerning alleged market manipulation
  • Representing a global financial institution on an investigation concerning sanctions and anti-money laundering compliance led by the U.S. DOJ, Department of Treasury and New York Department of Financial Services
  • Representing a global financial institution in connection with a criminal investigation concerning its mortgage-backed securities business

Recognition

  • 2018 Law Society of Hong Kong Distinguished Pro Bono Service Award 

  • 2016 Jeremy G. Epstein Award for Outstanding Pro Bono Service, City Bar Justice Center

Professional History

  • Davis Polk since 2006
  • Law Clerk, Hon. Frederic Block, U.S. District Court, E.D. New York, 2007-2008

Practice Focus

Bar Admissions

  • Hong Kong
  • State of New York
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, E.D. New York
  • U.S. District Court, S.D. New York

Education

  • B.A., Political Science, UC Berkeley, 2002
  • J.D., New York University School of Law, 2006
    • magna cum laude
    • Order of the Coif
    • Staff Editor, Annual Survey of American Law

Languages

  • Cantonese
  • Mandarin