Overview
John Tso is a partner in the Litigation Department at Paul Hastings.
John represents Chinese companies, multinational corporations, listed companies and non-governmental organizations in high-stakes internal investigations. He advises on matters involving bribery, corruption, embezzlement, misappropriation, forgery, conflicts of interest and securities fraud. His clients span numerous industries, including life sciences, technology, real estate, financial services, private equity, apparel, luxury, manufacturing, media, and food and beverage. He also acts for board of directors and board committees in response to regulatory inquiries and government enforcement.
With deep experience in corporate governance and risk management, John devises effective internal controls and procedures for clients related to anti-bribery and anti-corruption, sanctions, trade controls, data protection and anti-money laundering. He advises on risk assessment, crisis management, remediation measures and compliance due diligence for complex cross-border transactions.
John advises Chinese and foreign clients in international arbitration and cross-border dispute resolution. He has successfully represented clients in proceedings before the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) and China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC), handling shareholder disputes and other issues arising from project development, mergers and acquisitions, asset management, distribution agreements and TV program licensing.
John maintains an active pro bono practice advising charities, non-profits, social enterprises and international non-governmental organizations focused on serving the underprivileged, fighting poverty, environmental protection, caring for elderly and anti-narcotics efforts. He is the co-founder and director of the Chinese Initiative on International Law, a nonprofit that promotes education and awareness of public international law in China.
John is a registered foreign lawyer (New York) in Hong Kong. He has also passed the PRC bar exam, although he does not currently hold a PRC practicing certificate. He is fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin and English.
Accolades
- Recommended, Hong Kong / Regulatory: Anti-Corruption and Compliance, Legal 500
- Shortlisted, “Rising Star,” China Law & Practice
Education
- Harvard Law School, LL.M
- Tsinghua University School of Law, LL.B./LL.M.
Representations
Investigations and Enforcement
- Representation of a multinational software company in internal investigations in China in connection with bribery and corruption, revenue recognition, and suspected sales fraud
- Representation of the independent investigation committee of the board of directors of a Hong Kong-listed company in internal investigations in connection with whistleblower allegations, embezzlement, and suspected fraudulent transactions
- Representation of the audit committee of the board of directors of a U.S. public-listed Chinese company in an internal investigation into allegations of financial irregularities
- Representation of a multinational pharmaceutical company in internal investigations in China in connection with suspected fraud concerning its sales force, academic department, marketing department, and third-party service providers
- Representation of a multinational technology company in internal investigations in China, Korea, and Africa in connection with bribery and corruption, revenue recognition, suspected sales fraud, harassment, and retaliation
- Representation of a European company before the U.S. DOJ with respect to allegations of bribery and export control violations as part of a global corruption investigation involving UK and French criminal enforcement authorities
- Representation of a multinational water supply company in internal investigations in connection with bribery and corruption
- Representation of an international non-governmental organization in internal investigations in connection with conflicts of interest and suspected misappropriation
Compliance and Risk Assessment
- A multinational industrial manufacturer in connection with an anti-corruption focused due diligence review of a significant acquisition and supporting integration of the acquired entity into the client’s anti-corruption compliance program and related internal controls.
- A multinational bank in connection with the development of its anti-bribery and anti-corruption policy.
- A multi-listed technology company in connection with a comprehensive risk assessment concerning its operations in China.
- A multinational medical device company in connection with a compliance health check and transaction testing concerning its operations in China.
- A European luxury goods company in connection with the development of its anti-bribery and corruption guidelines and economic sanctions policy for Asia markets.
- Multiple investment funds in connection with the development of their internal controls and codes of business conduct.
- A Hong Kong charity in connection with the development of its anti-money laundering policy.
- Hong Kong IPO issuers and sponsors in connection with sanctions and trade controls matters.
- Acted as the chief compliance officer of an S. funded real estate company in China.
International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution
- A Hong Kong-listed Chinese life sciences company in an HKIAC arbitration seated in Hong Kong against a financial services company.
- A Hong Kong-listed Chinese technology company in an HKIAC arbitration seated in Hong Kong against an investment management firm.
- An S. private equity real estate fund in parallel HKIAC and CIETAC arbitrations arising out of a PRC-foreign real estate joint venture dispute in excess of $200 million.
- A Chinese private equity fund in an HKIAC arbitration seated in Hong Kong arising out of its acquisition of a leading software company in China from a U.S.-listed conglomerate.
- A leading Chinese media company in an HKIAC arbitration seated in Hong Kong against a European licensor of one of the most popular television programs in the world.
- An entrepreneur and related privately held company in an HKIAC arbitration seated in Hong Kong against institutional investors regarding an educational services venture in China.
- A Chinese technology company in a U.S. litigation in connection with the legality of its biometrics technology.
- A leading multinational pharmaceutical company in a dispute arising out of the licensing and distribution arrangements in China involving one of its major products.
- A global conglomerate in a dispute arising out of its investment in Chinese-foreign chemical production joint ventures.
Engagement & Publications
Speaking Engagements
- “International Commercial Arbitration in Practice,” lecture for LL.M. candidates at Tsinghua University School of Law, Lecturer (April 2024)
- “Third Party Risk Management: Strategies for Effective Risk Monitoring and Mitigation,” 10th Anti-Bribery & Anti-Corruption Compliance Greater Bay Area Summit, Moderator (October 2023)
- “Mitigating Risk in Cross-Border Transactions Using International Arbitration,” Paul Hastings Webinar, Speaker (June 2023)
- “Recent developments and trends in Corporate Enforcement policies at the U.S. Department of Justice,” Paul Hastings Webinar, Speaker (April 2023)
- “Recent Enforcement Trends: U.S. DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policies in China and Asia,” Paul Hastings Webinar, Speaker (October 2022)
- “New Cross-Border Compliance Challenges,” China Annual Legal Professional Conference 2022, Speaker (September 2022)
Publications
- “The Case for Preserving South Korea’s Crackdown on Gifts,” The Global Anticorruption Blog, Author (2018)
- “What Happened to Hong Kong?” The Global Anticorruption Blog, Author (2018)
- “It's Time for China to Show Its Foreign Bribery Law is Not a Paper Tiger,” The Global Anticorruption Blog, Author (2018)
- “Ad Hoc International Criminal Tribunals Activities in 2012,” Chinese Yearbook of International Law, Co-Author (2012)
- “The Burden of Proof under the WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism,” WTO Law and China Symposium, Co-Author (2011)
Involvement
- Councilor, Tsinghua Alumni Association of Hong Kong
- Co-founder, Director, The Chinese Initiative on International Law
- Member, Committee of the Specially-Invited Members of the Shanghai Bar Association