Yi-Chin Ho, P.C.

Overview
Yi-Chin Ho is a litigation partner in the Los Angeles office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Yi-Chin’s practice focuses on representing Chinese companies, based in the United States and abroad, ranging from multinational public companies to emerging companies, in antitrust and trade regulation, white collar and government investigations, securities fraud and investigations, class action, intellectual property and other complex, cross-border business litigation matters. She has litigated commercial disputes at all stages including arbitrations, mediations, court and jury trials, and appeals in federal and state courts throughout the country, as well as before the California Court of Appeal, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the California Supreme Court. She has specific cross-cultural experience leading complex litigation matters to resolution on behalf of Chinese companies.
A native speaker of Mandarin Chinese and Taiwanese, Yi-Chin uses her language and bicultural skills to represent Chinese businesses and investors in all aspects of cross-border business expansion plans and execution in investing in the United States, and to assist U.S. companies with foreign direct investment and conducting business in Greater China. She is a regular speaker on legal issues impacting Chinese companies.
Yi-Chin has a proven track record of successfully resolving litigation matters involving Chinese companies. Recently, she acted in the role of managing counsel representing Chinese clients in high-profile antitrust civil class action and U.S. Department of Justice investigation matters involving the automotive parts and technology industries. Yi-Chin regularly acts as outside general counsel for Chinese companies in managing and coordinating worldwide multi-jurisdictional litigation and corporate matters. Yi-Chin has also assisted Chinese clients in mediating and settling high stakes cross-border commercial disputes to avoid protracted litigation. Working in conjunction with Chinese and Taiwanese government agencies and regulatory authorities, she conducts U.S. antitrust training and compliance seminars in Mandarin Chinese to Chinese businesses and their in-house counsel.
Yi-Chin has been quoted in and interviewed by Chinese media and news outlets, including the Chinese Daily News, World Journal, Taiwan Economic Daily News, among other leading Chinese publications.
Experience
Representative Matters
Yi-Chin’s representative matters include:
- Representing a state-owned Taiwanese bank, in a dispute regarding enforcement of multi-million dollar judgments and post-judgment discovery.
- Representing a Taiwanese bank in OFAC, NYDFS and Federal Reserve Board pending investigations and advising on an independent monitorship arising from a Consent Decree.
- Representing a leading Chinese tire manufacturer in nationwide product liability litigation related to allegedly defective truck tires that cause injury or death to consumers. Kirkland is serving as national managing counsel overseeing all related pending tire litigation in the U.S., coordinating discovery, motion practice and trial strategy. The case is ongoing.
- Representing a major Chinese consumer electronics company in an international arbitration dispute against a South American state regarding a breach of a bilateral trade agreement for expropriation of oil and gas rights.
- Advising a leading Chinese real estate development company in a multi-jurisdiction cross-border litigation and arbitration matter arising from a commercial dispute in excess of US$100 million.
- Represented one of the world’s largest casino gaming and resort conglomerates as lead managing counsel in a high stakes multimillion-dollar white collar criminal litigation matter in Taiwan alleging violations of various banking, securities and foreign exchange control laws. Kirkland secured a final not-guilty verdict for the client.
- Advising a major Chinese gaming conglomerate in multi-jurisdictional cross-border securities class action, commercial litigation and white collar investigations pending in China, Taiwan, and the United States.
- Lead managing counsel on behalf of a leading French multinational group specializing in nuclear power and renewable energy in a confidential investigation pending in Taiwan relating to corruption and bribery allegations under the Government Procurement Code initiated by the Taiwan authorities.
- Advised one of the world’s largest casino gaming and resort conglomerates in its repatriation plans of funds in compliance with relevant Taiwan, Macau and the U.S. anti-money laundering regulations.
- Representing a leading Taiwan-based container shipping company in its response to the U.S. DOJ’s Grand Jury subpoena alleging violation of U.S. antitrust laws.
- Advising a Taiwanese publicly traded aftermarket automotive parts manufacturer with respect to U.S. Custom’s seizure action in connection with potential trademark infringement claims.
- Advising a major Chinese private equity fund in its dispute with a U.S. partner relating to unfair competition and other commercial tort claims.
- Advising a major Taiwan-based textiles manufacturer in a cross-border multi-jurisdictional commercial dispute against a former business partner.
- Advising a leading Chinese language newspaper in a trademark and intellectual property infringement dispute against a competitor Chinese language social media platform operator.
- Advising a leading Chinese LED distribution company in defending a multimillion-dollar post-arbitration judgment enforcement proceedings.
Yi-Chin’s other representative matters include:
Antitrust Price Fixing Class Actions and Opt-Out Litigation
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A Taiwanese manufacturer of sheet metal automobile parts in defense of putative antitrust price fixing class actions brought by direct and indirect purchasers in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
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A Taiwanese manufacturer of aftermarket auto lights in defense of putative antitrust price fixing class actions brought by direct purchasers in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
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A Taiwanese manufacturer of LCD panels in antitrust price fixing class action opt-out litigation.
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Managing counsel on behalf of a Taiwanese manufacturer of aftermarket auto lights in coordinating and supervising antitrust price fixing class action litigation and criminal investigations pending in foreign jurisdictions.
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A Japanese electronics company in putative class actions brought by direct and indirect purchasers alleging that capacitor manufacturers engaged in a conspiracy to set prices.
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A Japanese electronics company in a grand jury investigation alleging that battery manufacturers engaged in a conspiracy to set prices.
Predatory Pricing Actions
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A Taiwanese manufacturer of aftermarket auto lights in defense of predatory and below cost pricing and antitrust claims filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
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A Taiwanese manufacturer of sheet metal automobile parts against claims of predatory pricing and false advertising in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.
White Collar Criminal Investigations
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Lead managing counsel on behalf of one of the world’s largest Chinese-owned developers and casino gaming and resort conglomerates in a high stakes multimillion-dollar white collar criminal litigation matter pending in Taiwan alleging violations of various banking, securities and foreign exchange control laws.
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A Taiwanese electronics manufacturer in a grand jury investigation pertaining to criminal price-fixing allegations.
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A Taiwanese manufacturer of aftermarket auto lights in defense of a criminal indictment for antitrust price fixing allegations by the United States Department of Justice.
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A Chinese company in a criminal investigation of an international money laundering scheme.
Intellectual Property Litigation and International Trade Commission
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A Chinese manufacturer of windshield wipers in an International Trade Commission investigation, Certain Wiper Blades, Inv. No.337-TA-816.
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A Chinese manufacturer of folding chairs in prosecuting a patent infringement action against a retailer.
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A Taiwanese manufacturer of computer power supplies in a copyright infringement action.
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A sprinkler manufacturer in a trade secret misappropriation action brought by a former supplier. The case was settled after the manufacturer’s dispositive motion was filed.
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An online retailer in an action alleging claims for infringement of patents, unfair competition, and antitrust violations relating to methods and processes of compiling information about consumer products into catalogued databases for online merchants.
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Successful defense of a patent infringement claim on behalf of a large Taiwanese manufacturer of miniature fans.
Class Action Defense
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Lead counsel in defending a multimillion-dollar wage and hour class action filed against the largest circulating Chinese language newspaper.
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Lead counsel in defending a major Chinese grocery distribution chain store in a wage and hour class action.
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Trial counsel to a direct mail fulfillment house in a multimillion-dollar representative class action filed under California's unfair competition law, alleging violations of the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act, breach of fiduciary duty and unjust enrichment. The case was dismissed after the retailer’s dispositive motion was filed.
Complex Litigation and Trial Matters
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Advised the world’s largest paper and pulp manufacturer in a favorable resolution in negotiating debt forgiveness with a major U.S. bank.
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Advised a Chinese company in a breach of exclusivity agreement.
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Lead trial counsel representing a bank in a federal district court trial prosecuting claims for multimillion-dollar breach of contract and breach of indemnification claims against an ATM manufacturer and service provider.
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Lead counsel in defense of a multimillion-dollar shareholder derivative lawsuit against management personnel of a Chinese personal health care products manufacturer alleging claims for breach of fiduciary duty, gross mismanagement, abuse of process and conversion.
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Successful defense of a defamation lawsuit brought against a major Chinese newspaper agency on an Anti-SLAPP Motion upholding neutral reporting of press conference privilege; the case was affirmed on appeal on issue of first impression before the California Court of Appeal.
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Trial counsel to a biotech company in connection with an action filed against the State of California; the case was settled following bench trial.
More
Thought Leadership
Publications
Co-Author, “Calif. Ruling Should Ease Cross-Border Business Concerns,” Law360, April 2020
“Supreme Court Cautions that Companies May Not Be Able to Rely on Foreign Governments’ Interpretations of its Laws,” Kirkland & Ellis Alert, July 2018
Cartels, Enforcement, Appeals & Damages Actions - Taiwan (3rd Ed., Global Legal Insights)
“The ABCs of Arbitrating Outside of the New York Convention,” Latham & Watkins International Arbitration Newsletter, June 2014
Seminars
Recent Antitrust Seminars to Chinese Companies and Government Agencies:
- Lecturer, “ US Economic Sanctions Compliance Training,” Mega International Bank, Jul. 8, 2019
- Lecturer, “ Antitrust Training and Refresher Session,” Wan Hai Lines, Nov. 8, 2017
- Lecturer, “US Antitrust Laws and Taiwanese Companies,” Taiwan Fair Trade Commission, Dec. 4, 2015
- Lecturer, “How US Antitrust Laws Impact Taiwanese Companies,” AUO and Qisda Board of Directors Training, Aug. 6 and 10, 2015
- “Industry Antitrust Regulation Practice Seminar,” Taiwan Ministry of Economic Affairs, Science & Technology Law Institute, Nov. 14, 2014
Speaking Engagements
Presenter, “Handling U.S. Litigations and Investigations: Challenges and Solutions,” 2017 Cross-Border Litigation Conference (Beijing, August 2017)
“China - A Macro Overview & Business Perspective,” Wilbur K. Woo 2016 Greater China Business Conference: US-China Investment, UCLA Anderson School of Management, April 22, 2016
“What Challenges Do Chinese Investors Face Entering the U.S. Market?”, Latham & Watkins China Real Estate Forum, March 15, 2016 (Beijing) and March 17 (Shanghai)
“China Boom/China Bust: Understanding the Implications of a Chinese Slowdown,” UCI Long US — China Institute, UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business, Oct. 15, 2015
“Doing Business in the US — A Practical Business Guide for Taiwanese Companies,” National Taiwan University School of Law, Oct. 8, 2015
“The Anatomy of a US Lawsuit — Litigation Considerations and Trends for Taiwanese Companies,” National Chengchi University School of Law, Oct. 7, 2015
“Regulatory, Legal & Compliance: Charting a Path to Investment Success Through Regulatory and Compliance Issues,” Wilbur K. Woo 2014 Greater China Business Conference: US-China Investment, UCLA Anderson School of Management, April 18, 2014
“Women Rainmakers — The Serious Truth About Getting and Keeping Business,” National Asian Pacific American Bar Association 25th Annual Convention, November 8, 2013
“International Antitrust Enforcement: Lessons For The Auto Industry,” 2013 AMPA Show, Taipei, Taiwan
“Rainmakers: The Serious Truth About Getting Business,” 2012 National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Western Regional Conference, August 25, 2012
“Meeting the Challenge of Competitors' US Patent Rights — How to Maintain Access to the US Market,” 2012 AMPA Show, Taipei, Taiwan
“Doing Business in America: What Every Business Executive Needs to Know,” 2012 AMPA Show, Taipei, Taiwan
Recognition
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for Criminal Defense: White-Collar, 2023
Recognized in The Legal 500 U.S. for Antitrust: Cartel, 2017–2018, and Antitrust: Civil Litigation/Class Actions, 2017
“Top Women Litigators in California”, Daily Journal, 2013
Memberships & Affiliations
Yi-Chin is active and has leadership roles in a number of Taiwanese and Chinese community organizations.
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Director, Board of the Taiwanese American Lawyers Association
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Member, Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association
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Member, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
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Member, American Bar Association
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Member, State Bar of California
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Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association
Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
- 1999California
Languages
- Mandarin
- English
- Taiwanese
Education
- University of California, Hastings College of the LawJ.D.1999Note & Development Editor, Hastings Communications and Entertainment Law Journal
- University of California, BerkeleyB.A.with Distinction1995
- National Taiwan UniversityVisiting Scholar1994