“Why do clients like me? I care about what clients really want, and have a high success rate helping them achieve it.”

“Much of my work now comes from the crossover between the tech and finance industries. My clients can range in sophistication from new start-up founders with a great idea but no experience with governance, law, and or regulation, to highly experienced and sophisticated finance industry professionals including those who have moved into fintech or digital assets. 
All my work is international. I’ve helped clients in six continents, have worked in London, Luxembourg, Hong Kong and Thailand, and have lived in Asia for over 15 years.

In addition to providing solid legal advice on complex issues, I understand that the legal position is just the foundation for decision making – disputes and investigations are often best resolved by focusing on a clear strategy, driven by commercial interests. The starting point is to understand the client, and actually ask what they want. There’s no point drafting dense memos for clients that want quick steers, or winning a case and losing a marquee customer in the process.

As an advisor, I also understand I need to help my client contacts with the pressures they may be under organisationally, externally, and personally.”

A tri-lingual (English, French, Swedish) and dual-qualified (Hong Kong and England & Wales) lawyer, Jonathan is committed to pro bono and CSR. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Justice Without Borders and the Sustainability Committee of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce. He is also a Judicial Officer appointed by Hong Kong China Rugby and Asia Rugby.

Jonathan is unusual in being ranked in Chambers & Partners for both Litigation and TMT. He was named in ALB's Asia Super 50 TMT Lawyers 2022, in Legal 500's Arbitration Private Practice Powerlist 2023, and was shortlisted for Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year in the 2023 Hong Kong Law Awards. He was also one of two individual awardees of the Distinguished Community Service Individual Award in The Law Society of Hong Kong Pro Bono & Community Service Awards 2023.

Jonathan’s recent work highlights:

Noble Prestige Limited v Paul Horn

Advising a US stablecoin development company in a dispute with an Asian FinTech company related to the sale of a stablecoin, involving proceedings in the Hong Kong Court and in Singapore arbitration.

Advising a digital asset exchange in responding to enquiries by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission about the client allegedly holding itself out to be SFC licensed when it is not. 

Advising a Partner of a leading Asian private equity fund in a private wealth dispute with a major European bank.