Title: The Chinese American Experience: Evolving Tensions in US-China Relations

Time: Thursday, September 24, 8:00-9:00 PM, EDT

Speaker:

• Brian A. Sun Of Counsel, Jones Day; Investigations & White Collar Defense, Business & Tort Litigation
• Christopher K. Pelham Of Counsel, Jones Day; Global Disputes, Investigations & White Collar Defense, Technology

Highlights :

1.  US  government national security concerns
2.  IP/trade secrets theft
3.  Organizing and responding to the “loyalty” challenges raised by the current environment and the return of the Fifties type scrutiny and persecution of Asian Pacific Americans

Brian Sun has earned a national reputation as a distinguished trial lawyer in complex business litigation and white collar criminal defense. He is a former federal prosecutor, a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and has been named by Lawdragon Magazine as one of America’s 500 leading lawyers. Brian is recognized as a Band 1 lawyer by Chambers in the area of white collar criminal defense and government investigations. He was also Partner-in-Charge of the Los Angeles Office for several years. Brian’s litigation practice covers a wide range of areas, including matters involving intellectual property disputes, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), public corruption, entertainment, contractual disputes, and fraud. Brian has a substantial cross-border practice, and his clients include Global Fortune 300 institutions and individuals embroiled in high-stakes litigation. Over the years he has represented such clients as Hon Hai Precision Co. (Foxconn), Mattel, Emerson Electric Co., the City of Los Angeles, and a number of individuals, including former Orange County Sheriff Michael Carona and Dr. Wen Ho Lee in his successful civil lawsuit against the United States government. Brian is a former president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) and the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank. He has been honored by NAPABA with its Trailblazer Award and by the Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association with its Lifetime Achievement Award. He also served as a deputy general counsel to the Christopher Commission, which recommended sweeping reforms of the Los Angeles Police Department in the wake of the Rodney King incident.

Chris Pelham is a former Assistant United States Attorney who serves international clients with dispute, regulatory, litigation, and internal investigation needs in China and East Asia. Chris is one of only a small number of American former prosecutors who are based in mainland China. From his location in Shanghai, Chris provides Chinese and East Asian clients with immediate insight into, and advice about, the U.S. litigation and criminal systems. He also provides U.S. and European clients with insight into current business and legal issues in China. Chris represents multinational companies involved in commercial disputes in Asia. His engagements have included disputes over breaches of contract, copyright infringement, trade secrets theft, and fraud, both in U.S. federal and state courts and in arbitration. He also represents Chinese and Asian clients with pending investigations before U.S. prosecutors. Chris’s work has included highly sensitive matters such as money laundering and health care fraud. Chris also assists U.S. and European companies with compliance and anticorruption issues in China and East Asia. He helps clients investigate allegations of embezzlement, conflicts of interest, and commercial and public bribery involving their employees, contractors, and joint venture partners. Chris previously served eight years with the United States Department of Justice. He tried 10 felony cases before federal juries, submitted at least 10 different appeals briefs, and orally argued before the United States Court of Appeals on four cases. Chris has been active with several Los Angeles-based nonprofits, including School on Wheels and the L.A. Center for Law & Justice, as well as with Stepping Stones in Shanghai