Jonathan Midgley
Partner, Solicitor Advocate
Practice Areas
Criminal Defence
- Admissions
- Hong Kong (Solicitor Advocate) • England & Wales (Solicitor Advocate) • Victoria, Australia • New York
- Professional Qualifications
- Accredited Mediator
- Languages
- English
Contact
- Tel
- (852) 2391 4441
- Fax
- (852) 2845 1637
- midgley@haldanes.com
- Profile
For several decades, independent legal journals have consistently rated Jonathan Midgley as one of Hong Kong’s premier criminal defence lawyers.
He has been described in professional journals and by clients as the “go-to” lawyer when white-collar professionals need an experienced criminal defence lawyer, “pre-eminent in the field of criminal defence,” and “one of the most successful criminal lawyers in Hong Kong.”
In the early 1980s, Jonathan was involved in the very first commercial crime prosecution brought in Hong Kong. He was retained by the defendant, who was acquitted at trial.
White-collar crime, from those early beginnings, has been an important part of Jonathan’s practice. His work also involves a wide range of offences, from the very minor to the most serious, spanning dangerous drugs, assault, theft, robbery, sex offences, driving cases, murder and rape.
As a result of his high standing in the field of criminal defence, when Hong Kong introduced the concept of Solicitor Advocate for the first time, Jonathan was immediately appointed to the criminal division.
This allows him to appear in all criminal courts in Hong Kong with full rights as an advocate.
Jonathan has excellent and well-established working relationships with leading barristers in Hong Kong and England and a network of connections worldwide.
While Jonathan has been based in Hong Kong since 1978, his practice is international.
- Read more
Notable Criminal Cases:
- R v AD – successfully defending the “first” commercial crime case, a complicated corporate dispute, after a long trial
- R v CH – Attorney General senior lawyer, accused of sex with underage girl
- R v DM – charged with murder, acquitted
- R v WM – charged with rape, acquitted
- R v DC – prominent property developer charged, and case dropped on representations being made
- R v DB – representing champion jockey on race fixing plea
- HKSAR v EL – successfully representing a bank’s CEO on bribery charge.
- HKSAR v NW – allegation of forged Will, case dismissed.
- HKSAR v JF – forged RMB, passed off in Hong Kong, acquitted.
- HKSAR v SY – possession of Gun at airport, mitigation
Interviews:
- http://hk-magazine.com/city-living/article/first-person-jonathan-midgley
- http://hk-magazine.com/city-living/article/citizens-arrested
- https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2014-10-01/think-white-paper-was-wrongly-worded-midgley
- https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2014-10-01/sunday-showed-the-hk-judiciary-in-action-midgley
- https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2014-10-01/law-is-their-guarantee-of-fairness-midgley
- https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2014-11-26/hk-has-been-gentle-with-protesters-midgley-says-video
- https://hk.linkedin.com/pub/jonathan-midgley/30/94/398
Publications:
- Money Laundering laws in Hong Kong: The latest interpretation
Testimonials
“An outstanding lawyer of excellent reputation.”
“Charismatic and masterful in steering and focusing legal teams to develop and advocate the strongest points for his clients.”
Chambers & Partners
Recognition
Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific 2025 – White-Collar Crime – Litigation Star
Doyle’s Guide 2025 – Leading Criminal Lawyers – Hong Kong (Leading)
Doyle’s Guide 2024 – Leading White Collar Crime, Corporate Crime & Regulatory Investigations Lawyers – Hong Kong (Leading)
Doyle’s Guide 2024 – Leading Criminal Lawyers – Hong Kong (Leading)
Who’s Who Legal 2023 – Global Investigations Review – Business Crime Defence – Corporates (Thought Leader)
Who’s Who Legal 2023 – Business Crime Defence – Mainland China & Hong Kong (Global Thought Leader)
Doyle’s Guide 2023 – Leading Criminal Lawyers – Hong Kong (Preeminent)
Doyle’s Guide 2023 – Leading White Collar Crime, Corporate Crime & Regulatory Investigations Lawyers – Hong Kong (Leading)
Doyle’s Guide 2022 – Leading White Collar Crime, Corporate Crime & Regulatory Investigations Lawyers – Hong Kong (Leading)
Doyle’s Guide 2022 – Leading Criminal Lawyers – Hong Kong (Preeminent)
Who’s Who Legal – Business Crime Defence & Investigations 2021
Doyle’s Guide 2021 – Leading Criminal Lawyers – Hong Kong (Preeminent)
Doyle’s Guide 2021 – Leading White Collar Crime, Corporate Crime & Regulatory Investigations Lawyers – Hong Kong (Leading)
Who’s Who Legal: Business Crime Defence 2020 (Corporates and Individuals)
Doyle’s Guide 2020 – Leading Criminal Lawyers – Hong Kong (Preeminent)
Doyle’s Guide 2020 – Leading White Collar Crime, Corporate Crime & Regulatory Investigations Lawyers – Hong Kong (Preeminent)
Articles