Michael Li-Ming Wong

Michael Li-Ming Wong is Co-Chair of the firm's Global White-Collar Defense Practice Group, and a partner in Willkie's Litigation Department. A former federal prosecutor and former law clerk to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg of the U.S. Supreme Court, Michael focuses on white-collar criminal matters, complex civil litigation, data privacy matters, and internal investigations.
 
Michael has tried more than 20 civil and criminal jury trials to verdict in federal and state courts. His victories have been repeatedly recognized by the legal press, including the Daily Journal which three times named his wins as Top Defense Verdict of the Year in California.  In December 2024, the Daily Journal named him one of California’s Top White Collar Lawyers of 2024.

Michael is a two-time recipient of Law360’s “MVP of the Year” award, honoring the top five attorneys in the nation in various practice areas.  He also has been named National “Litigator of the Week” by The American Lawyer.

The Legal 500 noted in 2025: “Michael Wong is an extraordinary advocate at every stage—pre-trial, trial, and appeal. His quick thinking and unwavering determination set him apart in any courtroom across the country, as he goes above and beyond to secure wins for his clients in extremely complex situations.”  Also in 2025, Chambers USA called Michael “a top flight litigator and strategist. He deserves to be on the short list for consideration on any high profile, bet-the-company litigation.”

Michael has led numerous global investigations and enforcement matters, including those involving allegations of FCPA violations, fraud and trade secrets violations. A Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US), he assists clients with data privacy counseling and litigation, and has been lead counsel in numerous high-profile matters involving alleged data breaches. 

Michael has maintained a robust pro bono practice. Among his victories in civil-rights related cases include securing a post-conviction resentencing for an African American defendant serving an effective life sentence in Louisiana based on a unconstitutional conviction; convincing an appellate panel to reverse a U.S. Immigration Judge’s decision to deny asylum to an LGBTQ+ citizen of one the world’s most homophobic countries; and obtaining continued residency for immigrants from three different continents, based on the DACA (“Dreamers”) statute.  Michael has also served as lead counsel in the U.S. Supreme Court in amicus briefs filed in connection with important Constitutional matters.

Prior to entering private practice, Michael served for more than eight years as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of California, where he was lead counsel on some of the district’s most significant and high-profile matters. During his tenure as a federal prosecutor, Michael served for several years as Chief of the White Collar Crimes Section, supervising investigations, prosecutions and trials involving white-collar fraud and public corruption. Michael was also Chief of the Major Crimes Section. He is a two-time winner of the U.S. Department of Justice Director’s Award for Superior Performance as an Assistant United States Attorney.