Ronald L. Cheng

Conducted trade secret investigation for Taiwan biopharmaceuticals company in Taiwan and mainland China. Directed investigation of China sales practices for multinational semiconductor supplier and reported findings to executive management and board. Handled trial in complex three-month RICO, money laundering, and immigration fraud federal criminal case against former bank managers and successfully handled appeals of conviction (as special trial attorney with Department of Justice, Organized Crime and Racketeering Section).

Interviewed executives for multinational financial corporation in FCPA investigation of Indonesian project. Represented deal team employees of international financial institution in Hong Kong and Singapore in preparation for federal investigation. Handled investigation of manager at multinational high-technology company involving alleged improper contacts with foreign government. Advised Asia-based target of federal “spoofing” investigation; client was not charged. Conducted interviews of employees in China of new technology company as part of global FCPA investigation for presentation to the Department of Justice. Advised international air carrier regarding investigation of China-based sales personnel regarding alleged irregularities in passenger ticket sales. Testified as an expert at a Taiwan criminal trial on U.S. evidence law and criminal procedure. Drafted petition for rehearing en banc in health care fraud False Claims Act case, which resulted in favorable modification of opinion for client health plan.

Served as acting chief of Criminal Division and Criminal Appeals Section chief in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District for California. Represented the Department of Justice in the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China, as resident legal advisor. Served as chief of Criminal Division in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada.

Following a successful run as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida (SDFL), Markenzy Lapointe is returning to Pillsbury as a partner in the firm’s Miami office.

Pillsbury has received regulatory approval to transition its established Hong Kong office to a Hong Kong solicitors’ firm, enabling Pillsbury to advise clients on both local and inbound work. The necessary documents have been filed with and approved by the Law Society of Hong Kong, with practice as a Hong Kong solicitors’ firm set to commence on March 13.

The China Project, a New York-based, China-focused news, information and business services platform, recently reported on newly passed state legislation in Arkansas that has resulted in ordering Chinese state-owned company Syngenta, a seed and pesticide giant, to sell its land holdings in the state. In addition to Arkansas, other states including Florida, Louisiana, Montana, North Dakota and Ohio have since passed legislation that restricts some land ownership for Chinese citizens or companies, according to The China Project. Ronald Cheng, a Pillsbury partner who focuses on complex litigation in China, said the state provisions are likely to come under legal objection from affected companies.

Join Ronald Cheng for a panel discussion on the issues surrounding interpretation and translation, especially when Asian languages are involved. Issues include understanding the features of Asian languages and dialects that may affect interpretation, preparation to ensure that a court or jury properly understands what the witness says or what a document conveys, and how to ensure that a foreign-language witness understands the questions being asked and the purpose of the testimony. The panel includes judges who have seen these issues firsthand, practitioners who have developed strategies to handle these issues and interpretation professionals who deal with witnesses and documents firsthand.

In this workshop, Ronald Cheng will discuss how foreign businesses—amidst a changing regulatory environment—can adapt and ensure compliance when operating in or with China.

The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Convention—the largest annual gathering of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) attorneys, judges, law professors and law students in the United States—provides meaningful insights, networking opportunities and perspectives to the legal community. On November 3, 2022, at 1:35 p.m. PT, Pillsbury partner Ronald Cheng, along with Amy Chen, Wendy Wu (Wallbrook) and Allen Chiu (Genesys) will present “A Quarantine on You and Your Data: Can I Get Access to My Data in Asia?