Conventus Law

Conventus Law

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Steve Kwok represents corporations, financial institutions and individuals in internal investigations, U.S. regulatory enforcement matters, and trial and appellate litigation in U.S. federal and state courts.

Mr. Kwok has been recognized for his Corporate Investigations/Anti-Corruption work in China by Chambers Global 2021 and repeatedly by Chambers Asia-Pacific. Chambers quoted clients who say Mr. Kwok is a “creative tactician” with “a lot of experience in his field” and “is experienced, hands-on and professional, as well as very good at communicating with clients.”

Prior to joining Skadden in 2016, Mr. Kwok was the resident legal adviser for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. As the DOJ’s attaché in China from November 2013 to January 2016, he represented the United States in dealings with Chinese law enforcement authorities on criminal matters, particularly corruption, money laundering and fraud cases pursued by criminal authorities in the United States, China or jointly by both jurisdictions. He lectured regularly, in Mandarin Chinese, on cross-border joint investigations and American criminal procedure before Chinese officials and defense attorneys, including at the National Judges’ College, the National Prosecutors’ College, the People’s Public Security University of China and numerous Chinese lawyers’ associations. In 2015, for his work advancing rule of law, civil society and governance in China Mr. Kwok was the recipient of the U.S. State Department’s Meritorious Honor Award.

From 2007 to 2013, Mr. Kwok served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York, where he tried numerous felony cases to verdict and argued numerous appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. As a member of the Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force, Mr. Kwok investigated and successfully prosecuted a wide variety of securities, commodities and other investment fraud schemes. During his time in the Organized Crime Unit, Mr. Kwok secured racketeering convictions against some of New York City’s most high-profile organized crime leaders and corrupt union officials.

Mr. Kwok served as a law clerk to the Hon. Alex Kozinski, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (2002-03), and to the Hon. Anthony M. Kennedy, U.S. Supreme Court (2003-04).

Born in Hong Kong, Mr. Kwok is able to read and write Chinese and speaks fluent Mandarin and Cantonese.

Mr. Kwok’s representations have included:

  • multinational corporations in various industries — e.g., computing technology, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, telecommunications, oil and gas — in internal investigations of alleged FCPA anti-bribery/books and records violations, improper revenue recognition practices and expense reimbursement fraud;
  • banks, corporations and individuals facing criminal and regulatory inquiries from the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission;
  • Chinese companies in defending against federal securities class actions and lawsuits alleging breach of fiduciary duties in U.S. courts, including numerous cases where the court granted Mr. Kwok’s client’s motion to dismiss;
  • multinational corporations in anti-corruption and regulatory due diligence concerning their operations in Asia in connection with major corporate transactions; and
  • charitable organizations in Hong Kong in securing tax-exempt status from the Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department (pro bono).

Education

  • J.D., Yale Law School, 2002 (executive editor, Yale Law Journal)
  • A.B., Princeton University, 1999 (summa cum laude)

Admissions

  • Hong Kong
  • New York
Languages
  • English
  • Mandarin
  • Cantonese

Experience

  • Resident Legal Adviser, U.S. Department of Justice (2013-2016)
  • Assistant U.S. Attorney, Southern District of New York (2007-2013)
  • Law Clerk, Hon. Anthony M. Kennedy, U.S. Supreme Court (2003-2004)
  • Law Clerk, Hon. Alex Kozinski, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit (2002-2003)