Timothy W. Blakely

Tim is managing partner of Morrison & Foerster’s Hong Kong office. He is also head of the firm’s Hong Kong Litigation Department. Tim’s practice focuses on government and internal investigations and complex commercial litigation and international arbitration matters.

Tim represents companies and individuals in, among other matters:

• Government investigations
• Regulatory enforcement proceedings
• Internal investigations
• International arbitrations
• Securities class action lawsuits
• Complex dispute-related matters
• Regulatory compliance issues

Tim has represented multinational and Chinese clients in various industries, including telecommunications, biotechnology, publishing, pharmaceuticals, and financial services.

Tim also is a member of both the firm’s FCPA + Global Anti-Corruption and Global Ethics + Compliance teams. He conducts internal investigations throughout Asia of potential violations of anti-corruption laws, leads pre-acquisition anti-corruption-related due diligence and post-closing remediation, and regularly provides advice, counseling, and training to clients about FCPA and anti-corruption related issues.

Tim has deep experience representing companies and individuals in high-stakes contentious matters involving U.S. and Hong Kong law. Before relocating to Hong Kong in 2011, he spent 10 years practicing in New York and California, handling fraud, misrepresentation, breach of contract, securities litigation, investment disputes, commercial arbitration, and enforcement-related matters, from inception through trial. His practice continues to have a strong U.S. nexus, and he regularly advises clients facing disputes and enforcement actions originating in the U.S. and involving U.S. law.

As a Hong Kong solicitor, Tim has been instructed by clients in key contentious proceedings and arbitration-related matters before Hong Kong courts, as well in proceedings with Hong Kong regulators and statutory tribunals. He has advised clients in investigations by, inter alia, the Securities & Futures Commission, and in proceedings before the Telecommunications (Competition Provisions) Appeal Board. He regularly acts for clients in Hong Kong-seated, international arbitration proceedings.

Chambers Asia-Pacific quotes clients saying that Tim “is incredibly intelligent and always well prepared. He is an excellent interviewer and his depth of knowledge of the subject matter is outstanding” and that he “knows Western practices but also appreciates and understands the peculiarity of Chinese laws and practice.”