Mevelyn Ong

MEVELYN ONG’s practice focuses on international dispute resolution, particularly international arbitration and mediation, and U.S. sanctions, anti-corruption, and other regulatory investigations. With over a decade of experience living and working in the U.S., East Asia, and Australia, Mevelyn possesses a global understanding of the international practice of law and of cross-border business considerations. 

Mevelyn has represented clients around the world from diverse industry sectors (particularly conglomerate manufacturing, financial services, private equity, technology, and mining/energy), in international commercial and investor-state arbitrations administered under the major arbitral rules, as well as conducted on an ad hoc basis. She is also experienced in advising on the protection of investments under international investment treaties and the pre-emption of disputes in complex multi-party and multi-contract situations.

Mevelyn has represented multinational companies and financial institutions in conducting internal investigations and in defending them against multi-jurisdictional regulatory investigations brought by U.S., UK, and other governmental authorities. These investigations have involved alleged violations of U.S. sanctions, money laundering, bribery, terrorism financing, and other U.S. government regulations.

In addition to private practice, Mevelyn previously held the position of Deputy Counsel to the Secretariat of the ICC’s Court of International Arbitration and clerked at the highest appellate court in her home state of Victoria, Australia. 

Mevelyn is an active member of several international law committees, including with the New York City Bar and the International Bar Association. She has presented at conferences and authored significant publications, particularly on international dispute issues concerning political risk, transnational criminality, ESG/BHR, and international investment law. 

Select international arbitrations and mediations

• A Canadian mining company in international investment agreement disputes over a gold mine, against a Central Asian state and its state-owned entity proceeding through PCA / UNCITRAL arbitrations seated in Sweden (New York and English law).
• A Swedish-headquartered multinational telecommunications company in post-M&A disputes with Kazakh and Turkish telecommunications companies proceeding through successive LCIA arbitrations seated in London, and a parallel mediation (English law).
• A Dutch-headquartered multinational conglomerate against a South Korean conglomerate regarding the arbitrability of a dispute related to liability for European Commission antitrust fines to be administered under the ICC Rules (New York law), as opposed to and in defense of concurrent Korean and New York court litigation.
• A Dutch-headquartered multinational conglomerate in long-running intellectual property patent disputes that proceeded to mediations then respectively, to AAA arbitration seated in New York (New York law) and UNCITRAL arbitration seated in New York (English law).
• A multinational hotel chain (specifically its Bermuda subsidiaries) in contractual disputes against a French hospitality multinational proceeding through expert determination in lieu of ICC arbitration seated in London (English law).
• A North American mining company in the negotiation and settlement of international investment disputes concerning copper mines and other investment projects, against a Central African state proceeding through an ICSID arbitration.
• A North American-headquartered multinational energy company with respect to emerging international treaty and domestic regulatory changes, and related international dispute risks related to carbon capture, utilization, and storage initiatives (CCUS) in Australia, US, and East Asia 

Select U.S. sanctions, anti-corruption and other U.S. regulatory investigations

• A leading NYSE-listed American investment management/private equity company with respect to compliance with U.S. sanctions regimes related to Russia and China.
• A global bank in defense of an OFAC investigation into alleged violations of U.S.-Iran sanctions law by the bank’s Asia-Pacific trade finance operations.
• A global bank in defense of U.S. and U.K. regulatory investigations concerning compliance with U.S. sanctions, anti-money laundering, terrorism financing, and other applicable laws by the bank’s operations in the Middle East.
• A Middle Eastern-Swiss bank regarding alleged involvement in the FIFA bribery scandal.
  
• An English-Greek shipping company group regarding alleged involvement in the Petrobras Operation Car Wash corruption scandal.
• A North American mining company regarding allegations of bribery of a foreign official with respect to mining contracts in Central Asia.
• A global bank regarding allegations of bribery of a foreign official with respect to sustainable finance projects in Western Europe.

• International Bar Association (IBA), Investment Arbitration Subcommittee 
• Institute for Transnational Arbitration (ITA), Young ITA Vice Co-Chair
• New York International Arbitration Centre (NYIAC), Program Committee 
• New York City Bar, United Nations Committee and International Law Committee