Partner
Advocate and Solicitor, High Court of Malaya
Bachelor of Laws (LLB), University of Liverpool, First Class Honours
Phone:
+603 2710 3818
Fax:
+603 2710 3820
Email:
johnson.ong@hhq.com.my
Ong Johnson heads the Technology Group, concentrating his expertise on high-stakes and complex litigation and transactional cases spanning Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT), Intellectual Property (IP), Privacy, Fintech, and Digital Transformation Infrastructure and Projects.
Ong Johnson is distinguished by an exceptional wealth of experience, adeptly navigating high-profile roles advising directors, board members, C-suite executives, and senior management within public-listed companies and conglomerates. His extensive professional repertoire extends beyond corporate spheres, involving regular interactions with government representatives, investors, and high-ranking government officers. This broad exposure equips him with a profound understanding of business imperatives, allowing him to deliver highly pragmatic legal solutions aligned with clients’ broader objectives, ensuring a nuanced and comprehensive approach to addressing a spectrum of complex needs.
Ong Johnson has extensive experience conducting trials and hearings at all levels of court in Malaysia, positioning him as a dispute resolution strategist and a highly sought-after litigator within the industry, given his innovative thinking and meticulous approach to developing strategies that transcend conventional boundaries. His reputation as a thought leader in the legal realm is also underscored by his frequent invitations as a panel speaker to various forums and roundtable discussions. His expertise is not only recognized within legal circles but extends to broader industry discussions, solidifying his status as a prominent figure in the field of dispute resolution and strategic legal thinking.
In addition to his core areas of expertise, Ong Johnson boasts industrial proficiency in property development, real estate, and property investment. His insight spans hotels and data centers, smart cities, ESG, renewable energy, software development, data privacy, telecommunications and digital infrastructure, blockchain and digital assets, fintech, competition law, software commercialization and acquisition, digital media, licensing, e-money, payment systems, and regulatory and compliance. His diverse knowledge base further establishes him as a comprehensive authority in navigating the complex landscape of modern business and technology.
His dedication to the legal profession has garnered significant recognition, exemplified by several prestigious awards and accolades. These include being featured in the GC Powerlist Malaysia 2023 and GC Powerlist Southeast Asia 2022. Noteworthy nominations as a finalist were achieved at the ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2019, ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2020, ALB South East Asia Law Awards 2020, ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2023, and ALB South East Asia Law Awards 2023, and Ong Johnson is one of the youngest lawyers in history to be awarded as the winner of the ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2021.
Ong Johnson, in addition to his extensive legal expertise, is also a distinguished scholar. He graduated from the University of Liverpool with First Class honors, showcasing his commitment to academic excellence. His academic achievements have been further recognized through multiple scholarships and accolades, and he is a recipient of the University of Liverpool Scholarship, Liverpool Direct Entry Award, BAC Scholarship Award, Dean List Award, and Merit Award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement.
Transactions and Dispute Resolution
Technology, Media & Telecommunications
Intellectual Property
Fintech
Privacy and Cybersecurity
Partner
Phone:
+603 2710 3818
Fax:
+603 2710 3820
Email:
johnson.ong@hhq.com.my
Ong Johnson is the Head of the Technology Practice Group, specialising in TMT (Technology, Media, and Telecommunications) law. He has deep and diverse experience in helping boards and executive teams navigate rapidly evolving technology regulatory and compliance issues involving AI, digital assets, Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization, fintech, cybersecurity, privacy, and competition law.
A true technology lawyer, Ong Johnson has developed profound expertise in the digital asset space, specifically within the Fintech industry. His unique blend of knowledge in both the technology and financial sectors grants him specific expertise to advise on complex matters such as Fintech, blockchain, stablecoins, digital assets, token modelling, smart contracts, decentralised finance (DeFi), RWA tokenization, and other emerging payment mechanisms.
He advises clients through regulatory sandboxes, digital banking licences, e-money licences, remittance licences, and other Fintech-related matters. His involvement in the first-ever global RWA tokenization of electric vehicle (EV) loyalty points in Malaysia exemplifies his pioneering role in the industry. His expertise in Fintech extends to a variety of RWA tokenization and digital asset projects, including stablecoin issuance, digital asset custodian services, tokenization of deposit funds, crypto tracing and recovery, and other digital asset initiatives. He is adept at providing comprehensive counsel on tokenomics, whitepapers, smart contracts, DeFi, and the integration of real-world assets into digital assets.
Ong Johnson is widely recognized as a thought leader in the TMT and Fintech sectors, frequently invited to speak at national forums, conferences, and roundtable discussions on a diverse range of technology law topics, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, personal data protection, DeFi, licensing for Internet Messaging and Social Media Services, data centers, and more. His status as the go-to lawyer in Fintech is further reinforced by his Technology Practice Group’s numerous accolades, including the Fintech Law Firm of the Year at the ALB Malaysia Law Awards and recognition as the leading Fintech and TMT Law Firm by the Asia Business Law Journal.
Beyond his recognition in Fintech, Ong Johnson is an experienced litigator in TMT disputes, with extensive experience conducting trials and hearings at all levels of the Malaysian judiciary. His deep understanding and familiarity with technology law, coupled with his strength in commercial and strategic thinking, make him a sought-after litigator within the TMT industry. As TMT disputes grow in prominence with the increasing complexity of technology contracts, Ong Johnson and his team pride themselves on being one of the few law firms in Malaysia specialising in this niche TMT area. Given the convergence of TMT and Fintech, Ong Johnson also provides expert advice on TMT competition, regulatory, and compliance matters. With the rapid expansion of the technology industry, antitrust, competition, and other regulatory issues have become increasingly significant. He provides legal guidance on competition law, as well as advice on regulatory and compliance matters relating to the Competition Act 2010, Personal Data Protection Act 2010, and Cyber Security Act 2024.
His dedication to the legal profession has garnered significant recognition, exemplified by several prestigious awards and accolades. These include being featured in the GC Powerlist Malaysia and GC Powerlist Southeast Asia. Noteworthy nominations as a finalist were achieved at the ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2019, ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2020, ALB South East Asia Law Awards 2020, ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2023, and ALB South East Asia Law Awards 2023. Ong Johnson is also one of the youngest lawyers in history to be awarded the ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2021.
Legal 500 | 2023
Inclusion in GC Powerlist Malaysia 2023
ALB South East Asia Law Awards | 2023
Finalist for In-House Lawyer of the Year
ALB Malaysia Law Awards | 2023
Finalist for In-House Lawyer of the Year
Legal 500 | 2022
Inclusion in GC Powerlist Southeast Asia 2022
ALB Malaysia Law Awards | 2021
Winner of Young Lawyer of the Year (In-House)
ALB South East Asia Law Awards | 2020
Finalist for the Young Lawyer of the Year
ALB Malaysia Law Awards | 2020
Finalist for the Young Lawyer of the Year
ALB Malaysia Law Awards | 2019
Finalists for the Young Lawyer Of The Year
The Symbiotic Relationship Between Cyber Insurance and Compliance in Navigating Data Breaches and Cyber Security Incidents
The Future of Digital Assets and Blockchain in Malaysia: Key Developments for 2025 and Beyond
THE BAD WORDS CASE – Can Words Like ‘Bastard, F*ck, F*cker’ Uttered By a Person in the Midst of Anger Amount to Defamation?