Nathaniel Lai

Examples of Nathaniel’s experience include*: 

International Arbitration/Complex Commercial Litigation

• Acting for one of the largest real estate developers in China in a high-stakes HKIAC arbitration seated in Hong Kong concerning alleged breach of an investment agreement, including an emergency arbitration seeking Mareva injunctions freezing over US$ 4.5 billion in assets.
• Acting for a private equity fund in a HK$ 2.9 billion HKIAC arbitration governed by Hong Kong law against a major Chinese company in relation to alleged breaches of an agreement for the issuance of shares.
• Acting for a Hong Kong-based hedge fund in disputes against institutional investors in Korea, including in a consolidated arbitration governed by Jersey law commenced under the UNCITRAL Rules and administered by the HKIAC in Hong Kong, as well as coordinating local counsel in related Jersey court proceedings.
• Acted for a Chinese real estate developer in parallel HKIAC and CIETAC arbitration proceedings worth approximately US$170 million against its foreign joint venture partner in relation to a real estate development project in China.
• Acted for a California automobile startup in a ~US$2 billion Hong Kong-seated HKIAC arbitration (including emergency arbitration proceedings) governed by Hong Kong law against its majority equity investor in respect of the investor’s funding obligations.
• Acted for a major European private bank in a ~US$200 million Taiwan-seated Chinese Arbitration Association arbitration against an insurance company in relation to certain transactions which turned out to be part of a fraudulent scheme. Supervised local counsel in related civil and criminal litigation in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore.
• Acted for a Korean heavy industry conglomerate in a ~US$80 million Boston-seated ICDR arbitration governed by Massachusetts law in relation to the sale of wind turbines.
• Acting for a Chinese pharmaceutical conglomerate in a ~US$50 million London-seated LCIA arbitration governed by English law in relation to a pharmaceutical distribution and licensing agreement.
• Represented a listed Chinese electronics manufacturer in a ~US$20 million Hong Kong-seated HKIAC arbitration over a patent license agreement.
• Acting for a Chinese mining and real estate conglomerate in a HKIAC arbitration in relation to its ~US$110 million investment in a U.S. commodities business.
• Acted for an Israeli company in a CIETAC Hong Kong arbitration in relation to an exclusive distribution agreement for the distribution of air conditioners in Israel.
• Represented the buyers of shares in a ~US$900 million London-seated ICC arbitration against the sellers for alleged misrepresentation and breach of contractual warranties.
• Represented a U.S.-listed company in a Hong Kong-seated ~US$100 million HKIAC arbitration in a dispute against a Chinese supplier in relation to the sale of defective parts.
• Represented the U.S. Chapter 11 trustee of a global seafood conglomerate in a bankruptcy-related dispute with its creditor in related proceedings in Hong Kong and New York.

 White Collar: Investigations and Government Enforcement

• Represented major pharmaceutical companies in various internal investigations in Asia, including an investigation into sales practices in India, as well as a significant Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) bribery investigation related to the use of third-party distributors to pay kickbacks to healthcare professionals in China.
• Represented a major U.S. heavy manufacturing company in an internal investigation into fraudulent sales practices in Korea. Worked with Korean counsel in overseeing the defense of the Korean subsidiary before South Korean prosecutors.
• Represented a financial markets trader in a U.S. DOJ and CFTC criminal investigation related to certain trading conduct allegedly in violation of the U.S. Dodd-Frank Act.
• Represented an investment banking executive in a U.S. DOJ and SEC FCPA investigation related to the hiring of individuals connected to government officials in exchange for business.
• Represented a Swiss international conglomerate in an internal investigation in Korea related to alleged bribery, bid-rigging and manipulation of books and records through the use of third-party vendors, in potential violation of the U.S. FCPA. 
• Supervised local counsel in relation to regulatory investigations conducted by the Hong Kong SFC and HKMA involving potential misconduct in Taiwan by the Hong Kong branch of a major European private bank.
• Evaluated, designed and implemented an anti-corruption, economic sanctions, and anti-money laundering compliance program for a major sovereign wealth fund.

 *Includes matters completed prior to joining Sidley.