Timothy Blakely is managing partner of Morrison & Foerster’s Hong Kong office. He is also head of the firm’s Hong Kong litigation department and a partner in the firm’s securities litigation, enforcement and white-collar criminal defence practice group. Tim’s practice focuses on government investigations; regulatory proceedings; internal investigations; international arbitrations; securities class action lawsuits; and other complex dispute-related matters. He represents multinational and Chinese clients, including companies and individuals, across various industries, including telecommunications, biotechnology, publishing, pharmaceuticals and financial services.
Tim is a member of the firm’s global anticorruption and compliance team. He conducts internal investigations of potential violations of anticorruption laws; leads pre-acquisition anticorruption-related due diligence and post-closing remediation; and regularly provides advice, counselling and training to clients about FCPA and anticorruption-related issues throughout Asia. As a Hong Kong solicitor, Tim has represented clients before Hong Kong courts, regulators and statutory tribunals. He also regularly acts for clients in Hong Kong-seated, international arbitration proceedings. He has advised clients in investigations by regulators, including the Securities and Futures Commission, and in proceedings before the Telecommunications (Competition Provisions) Appeal Board.
Tim was named in Global Investigation Review’s inaugural “40 Under 40” list of the world’s leading investigations lawyers, and is ranked by Chambers as a leading lawyer in China for corporate investigations and anticorruption. Clients praise Tim as “incredibly intelligent and always well prepared”, and “extremely thorough and very effective at communicating high-risk issues”. He is further commended “for his pragmatic advice”, “top-notch investigation skills” and “keen situational awareness”, with sources enthusing about the degree to which he “knows Western practices but also appreciates and understands the peculiarity of Chinese laws and practice.”