Katten Chair Gil Soffer, a former federal prosecutor and former US Department of Justice official, spoke with The Wall Street Journal and Reuters about the independent investigation launched by Nvidia's board after reports that CEO Jensen Huang had a relationship with a businesswoman suspected of being a Chinese spy.
In The Wall Street Journal, Gil explained that boards typically hire law firms that have done little prior work for the company to lead these investigations, which helps show independence. He said that if the inquiry finds nothing more than an affair, with no dishonesty or disclosure of sensitive information, the board may impose modest discipline. If it finds serious wrongdoing, however, the board may decide to remove Huang.
"The allegations are so serious that the company can't leave them as is," Gil said. "The board owes a duty to protect the company and its shareholders, so it has to get to the bottom of the allegations."
Gil told Reuters that a complete and accurate disclosure by Huang would help his position, since it "would mean he didn't conceal the relationship, and that the board presumably had the opportunity to evaluate the relationship, set up guardrails and otherwise manage the potential conflict". He added that more public facts are needed to know whether the relationship actually created a conflict, whether the board has acted appropriately so far, and what punishment, if any, would be justified. In a bad scenario, such as Huang hiding the relationship and engaging in misconduct, Gil said that "removal could be appropriate".
"Law Firm Wachtell Lipton to Lead Nvidia Internal Investigation," The Wall Street Journal, November 10, 2026
"Nvidia's clubby board faces a sticky 'honey pot' test," Reuters, November 10, 2026
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