Jonathan Crompton
Partner – Head of Cyber Response, Asia and Global Co-Lead for Pro Bono
Jonathan helps companies and individuals navigate complex cross-border disputes and investigations, particularly for the finance, tech, and digital asset industries. His specialities include financial services disputes and investigations, civil fraud and asset recovery, cyber-incident response, and data protection, and post-data breach disputes. He is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel, HKIAC Users Council, and the Vis East Moot Foundation Advisory Council.
“Why do clients like me? I care about what clients really want, and have a high success rate helping them achieve it.”
“Much of my work now comes from the crossover between the tech and finance industries. My clients can range in sophistication from new start-up founders with a great idea but no experience with governance, law, and or regulation, to highly experienced and sophisticated finance industry professionals including those who have moved into fintech or digital assets.
All my work is international. I’ve helped clients in six continents, have worked in London, Luxembourg, Hong Kong and Thailand, and have lived in Asia for over 15 years.
In addition to providing solid legal advice on complex issues, I understand that the legal position is just the foundation for decision making – disputes and investigations are often best resolved by focusing on a clear strategy, driven by commercial interests. The starting point is to understand the client, and actually ask what they want. There’s no point drafting dense memos for clients that want quick steers, or winning a case and losing a marquee customer in the process.
As an advisor, I also understand I need to help my client contacts with the pressures they may be under organisationally, externally, and personally.”
A tri-lingual (English, French, Swedish) and dual-qualified (Hong Kong and England & Wales) lawyer, Jonathan is committed to pro bono and CSR. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Justice Without Borders and the Sustainability Committee of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce. He is also a Judicial Officer appointed by Hong Kong China Rugby and Asia Rugby.
Jonathan is unusual in being ranked in Chambers & Partners for both Litigation and TMT. He was named in ALB's Asia Super 50 TMT Lawyers 2022 and its Asia Super 50 Disputes Lawyers 2024, in Legal 500's Arbitration Private Practice Powerlist 2023, and has been shortlisted in the Hong Kong Law Awards for Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year (2023 and 2024) and Fintech Lawyer of the Year (Law Firm) (2024). Jonathan was also one of two individual awardees of the Distinguished Community Service Individual Award in The Law Society of Hong Kong Pro Bono & Community Service Awards 2023.
Jonathan’s recent work highlights:
Noble Prestige Limited v Paul Horn
Advising a US stablecoin development company in a dispute with an Asian FinTech company related to the sale of a stablecoin, involving proceedings in the Hong Kong Court and in Singapore arbitration.
Advising a digital asset exchange in responding to enquiries by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission about the client allegedly holding itself out to be SFC licensed when it is not.
Advising a Partner of a leading Asian private equity fund in a private wealth dispute with a major European bank.
Advising and coaching various companies across Asia through ransomware and other cyber incidents affected their businesses globally.
Directory quotes
"Jonathan is an efficient and sophisticated practitioner." - Chambers: The Greater China Guide 2023
"He analyses the issues and cases in a practical way. He's up front with the client as well and doesn't waste time or money if it’s in their best interests to not pursue what they initially want." - Chambers: The Greater China Guide 2023
"Jonathan Crompton can head up a very able team." - The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022
A client is impressed that he is "incredibly engaging, explains everything and is very with-it." - Chambers: The Greater China Guide 2022
"Jonathan Crompton is a very knowledgeable and instinctive litigator. Being very focused on the endgame allows him to propose sensible alternatives to pursue a solution in a complex case". - Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2021
"Exceptional clarity and attention to detail." - Chambers Asia Pacific 2021
"Very hands on and extremely responsive." - Chambers Asia Pacific 2021
"Jonathan Crompton has extensive experience advising clients in the financial services sector." - Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2020
"Crompton has an ‘uncanny ability to grasp the case very early, continually proving himself to be extremely competent, with exemplary attention to detail." - Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2019
Memberships
Founding Committee of CFAAR's Hong Kong Chapter
International Association of Defence Counsel
Vis East Moot Hong Kong Advisory Council
Board of Directors of Justice Without Borders
Sustainability Committee of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong
Judicial Officer of Hong Kong China Rugby and Asia Rugby
External publications
Data Protection and Cyber Security Country Comparative Guide: Hong Kong - Legal 500
Overseas intervener in Hong Kong - International Law Office
ADR coming of age for financial disputes in Hong Kong - International Law Office
Top court rejects trustee's "high-level supervisory duty" - International Law Office
The gagging order and Norwich Pharmacal two step - International Law Office
Get in touch
Expertise sectors
Cyber Risk, Finance Professionals, Food & Beverage, Retailers, Technology, Media & Telecoms, Big Tech & Platforms, Fintech, Sport, Technology Suppliers
Expertise services
Commercial, Corporate, Disputes, Regulatory, Commercial Disputes, International Arbitration, Competition Litigation, Fraud & Asset Recovery , Banking & Financial Markets, Data Disputes, Data Advisory , Data & Cyber, Data Breach, Company & Shareholder Disputes, Enforcement, International Arbitration, Investigations & Whistleblowing, Crisis Management, Dawn Raids, Financial Services Regulation, White Collar Crime & Compliance
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