LawFuel Power List
No. 7
Chang moves up three spots because the SFO under her leadership stopped resembling a bureaucratic afterthought and started resembling a threat.
Foreign-bribery whistleblower platforms, Ponzi plea deals, sustained prosecutions of corporate fraud—2025 saw the SFO prosecuting with a swagger that’s been absent for years.
The Court of Appeal’s criticism in the Pikia case (warrant overreach, calls for legislative reform) shows she’s pushing boundaries; whether that’s admirable or reckless depends on your view of prosecutorial aggression.
Karen Chang’s profile gained further elevation from consistent media presence and public commentary on anti-corruption. She’s made the SFO relevant again, which is no small feat for an agency that’s been mocked and underfunded for decades. Her rise to No. 7 reflects results, not just rhetoric.
