Charity E. Lee’s practice focuses on civil litigation, arbitration, and enforcement, with an emphasis on cross-border and ESG matters.

She has represented international and domestic clients, including financial institutions and multinational corporations, in complex civil litigation in state and federal court and before the U.S. International Trade Commission, as well as in complex regulatory investigations.

Charity joined the firm in 2014 and became counsel in 2024.

Notable Experiences

  • BHP in climate change litigations filed by municipalities in Hawaii state courts relating to allegations of false and misleading marketing of the climate impact of fossil fuel products resulting in environmental harms, successfully obtaining dismissal of the claims against BHP Group Limited and BHP Group plc in the Hawaii state court actions.

  • Robert Bosch GmbH and Robert Bosch LLC in class action litigation in the United States in connection with “dieselgate” scandal alleging that Daimler and other automobile manufacturers used equipment supplied by Bosch allegedly to manipulate the results of vehicle emissions tests.

  • BHP Billiton, Vale, and Samarco in a large-scale, technical investigation of the collapse of the Fundão tailings dam in Minas Gerais, the largest environmental disaster in Brazil’s history.

  • A major financial institution in an SEC investigation into ESG-related matters arising from a financed transaction.

  • The Resource Group International Limited in connection with multiple JAMS arbitration proceedings and related litigation in the Southern District of New York and Second Circuit against one of its co-founders concerning numerous corporate governance and related disputes.

  • YPF in a litigation brought by the Maxus Liquidating Trust in Delaware Bankruptcy Court, seeking up to $14 billion damages for alter ego and fraudulent conveyance claims.

  • Medytox Inc. in proceedings before the U.S. International Trade Commission through trial and in related litigation, successfully obtaining an order excluding competitor’s products from the U.S. market.

  • HSBC in federal class action antitrust and market manipulation litigations concerning the setting of benchmark interest rates in Singapore and Australia, successfully obtaining dismissal of claims.

  • A major financial institution in a confidential investigation relating to swap dealer compliance before the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

  • A Chinese issuer in an independent investigation by the audit committee of the board of directors into allegations made by a short-seller of misstatements and omissions in the company’s 2019 20-F.

  • HSBC in criminal and regulatory investigations regarding allegations of manipulation and collusion in the setting of benchmark reference rates, including LIBOR and FX.

  • Amici in the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the immunity that international organizations have under the International Organizations Immunities Act.

  • Amici in the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the appropriate exercise of pendent appellate jurisdiction.

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Selected Activities

  • Executive Editor of Academic Articles, The New York University Journal of Law & Business, New York University School of Law

Publications