May Chiang

May Chiang represents clients in complex commercial litigation and white-collar investigations, and has litigated cases in both federal and state courts. She has particular expertise litigating in the New York Supreme Court’s Commercial Division.

Ms. Chiang has advised corporations and their executives in business disputes involving breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, separation agreements, and clawback. She has also represented clients in enforcement matters involving the SEC, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Manhattan DA’s office. She has extensive experience taking cases to trial and arbitration, drafting dispositive motions, and defending witnesses. She has argued in both state and federal court, including the appellate level.

Ms. Chiang’s achievements include the complete dismissal of a complaint alleging tortious conduct and breaches of fiduciary duty by a leading commercial real estate lender (in the New York State Supreme Court, Commercial Division), quashing a subpoena improperly served on an expert witness, winning preliminary injunctive relief in a pro bono voting rights matter before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, and successfully arguing a cross-motion for summary judgment in a civil liberties case before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. 

Ms. Chiang was Dechert’s 2021 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellow and participated in the Asian American Bar Association of New York’s (AABANY) Leadership Development Program. She is a recipient of Dechert’s 2017 Exceptional Teacher Award, which honors the most proactive lawyers who have dedicated their time to training and developing the firm’s associates. Ms. Chiang has also served on the firmwide Associates’ Committee and is active in Dechert’s Asian American Affinity Group and Global Women’s Initiative.

Before joining Dechert, Ms. Chiang clerked for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, practiced communications law at a leading Washington, D.C. firm, and served as a legal intern at the Office of White House Counsel.