Angus F. Ni
Partner*

Mr. Ni has extensive experience litigating for and advising individuals and companies in complex, cross-boarder disputes, with particular expertise in securities litigation. Because his experience spans the spectrum of cases, Mr. Ni has become the “go-to”, trusted consigilieri to many businesses requiring high-touch, strategic advise to navigate everything from multi-jurisdictional commercial disputes, to asset protection (or enforcement) issues, to civil and criminal investigations. Mr. Ni is known for thinking many steps ahead while giving concrete, direct, and actionable advice. He is also one of a handful of U.S. attorneys practicing complex commercial litigation who is also fluent in Mandarin.

Prior to co-founding Morrow Ni LLP, Mr. Ni was a litigator at Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossman LLP, the top shareholder rights law firm in the U.S., where he prosecuted numerous securities class actions against U.S. listed corporations on behalf of hedge fund and pension fund investors.  These actions ranged across a multitude of industries, were before diverse jurisdictions throughout the U.S., and involved both domestic and international discovery. 

Earlier in his career, Mr. Ni also practiced as an associate in the litigation department of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, a major transnational law firm, where he participated in complex arbitrations before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and World Bank Investment Treaty (ICSID) Tribunals, and in large-scale corporate investigations in several jurisdictions.

Representative Matters

• Defense of California-seated FINRA arbitration brought by J.P. Morgan Securities against short seller alleging over $6 million in “naked short” damages. After full hearing on the merits, the FINRA tribunal attributed all but $0.28 million of JPMS’s damages to JPMS and awarded that as contract damages while rejecting JPMS’s fraud claims in full.

• Numerous successful enforcement (and defense of enforcement) actions in California, Washington, and New York state and federal courts, all involving foreign arbitration awards and judgments, including of CIETAC, Shanghai Arbitration Commission, Beijing Arbitration Commission, and Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration awards, as well as multiple Chinese and Hong Kong court judgments.

• Successful enforcement of CIETAC arbitration award in the Northern District of California on behalf of a foreign buyer of semiconductor equipment from U.S. seller—including enforcement of foreign asset freeze—leading to immediate settlement by defendant.

• Successful jury trial defense of Chinese national charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud in the Eastern District of Virginia. After cross examination of several witnesses including the interrogating agent, obtained Rule 29 acquittal at the close of the government’s case.

• Defended a NASDAQ-listed Chinese mobile phone maker in a PSLRA securities fraud class action brought in NY Federal Court.

• Defended a NYSE-listed Chinese manufacturer of agricultural supplies in a shareholder lawsuit brought in the District of Nevada Federal Court — Achieved dismissal a month after our appearance.

• Represented a major Canadian mining company against a sovereign government in an ICSID investment arbitration arising out of the expropriation of a multi-billion dollar mine.

• Advised a global top 10 cryptocurrency by market cap (> $1 billion) on securities law, regulatory, and litigation exposure.

• Represented a German investment fund against Wells Fargo in a securities fraud action arising from Wells Fargo’s fake accounts scandal.

• Represented a U.S. pension fund against Pershing Square Capital Management and Valeant Pharmaceuticals in a Rule 14e-3/Williams Act insider trading action.

• Represented a Chinese national suspected of participation in a felony criminal conspiracy in a joint investigation conducted by the U.S. Attorney and the local D.A. The client, whose house had been raided by the FBI, went home two days after engaging us.

• Representing investors in Tezos, 2017’s largest cryptocurrency offering, in a securities class action arising under the Securities Act of 1933.

• Advising China-based companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges on securities litigation exposure and defending securities fraud claims.

• Represented a New York area bassist in a claim against the maker of a defective, custom-made double bass.

*Through AFN Partner PLLC.