Bristol Who’s Who Recognizes Sarah (Xiaohua) Zhao
Sarah (Xiaohua) Zhao, Partner and Lawyer at Perkins Coie LLP, is a force to be reckoned with as a professional in her industry. She has done substantial international corporate and regulatory work related to China Internet information technology, financial services, energy, life sciences, agriculture, publishing, sports and entertainment, and other broad industries. With 19 years of experience representing U.S., European and Chinese companies, her understanding of different legal systems and cultural subtleties has enabled her to conduct cross-border transactions between foreign countries and China with ease.
Sarah has represented major companies in the areas of corporate registration, maintenance and restructuring , joint venture, financing, Mergers & Acquisitions, technology transfer, privacy, cybersecurity, licensing, arbitration and government affairs. The transactions conducted by Sarah include, but are not limited to, Internet and social media companies formation, high-tech company acquisitions, satellite cable television transmission financing, coal thermal power plant financing, transportation project and auto manufacturing equity transfer, and a great number of joint ventures and wholly foreign-owned enterprises in broad industries. She has also assisted numerous Chinese companies and sports clubs with their corporate, assets acquisition, financing, public listing, as well as issues involving the National Basketball Association.
In addition to advising corporate clients, Sarah has done substantial regulatory work related to data privacy, cybersecurity related to foreign investment. She has worked with private companies, trade associations and governmental officials to make China a friendlier environment for foreign companies to do business, in accordance with World Trade Organization (WTO) principles. As a direct result of these efforts, several Chinese rules have been amended or abolished.
Sarah has written numerous articles and spoken regularly on foreign investment laws and regulations. Before commencing law practice, she was an accomplished journalist and worked at the Ministry of Broadcasting, Film and Television of China, and the Ministry of Post and Telecom of China.
After earning her bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from Beijing Language and Culture University, Sarah received a Master’s in Journalism at Indiana University Bloomington, and her JD from Valparaiso University School of Law. She has also got her diploma from Executive Leadership Education program at Harvard Business School.
Having obtained three first prizes from professional journalistic writing competitions before she became a lawyer, Sarah has always been successful in her endeavors. As a lawyer, she has served as a member of the Steering Committee of Global Forum, an International Telecommunications organization, and is a member of the National Council of her law school, Valparaiso University School of Law. She is also a member of the DC Bar, the American Bar Association, and International Bar Association. Sarah was thePresident Scholarship Recipient from 1989 to 1992. She won first prizes of Professional Journalists Sigma Delta Chi Mark of Excellence Contest in Feature Writing, 1989 Indiana Collegiate Press Association, Best Feature Story, as well as International Best Broadcasting Program Competition, Best Feature Program.
Her future goal is to continue acting as a bridge to help the US and China to understand each other better. Focusing her professional energy on her practice in International Business Law, she finds time to unwind by playing her harp. She also still enjoys creative writing, swimming, and skating. She credits her success to discipline and hard work, willingness to take risks, and never giving up. Sarah lives in Arlington, Virginia, and travel back and forth to Beijing.
Bristol Who’s Who member Sarah (Xiaohua) Zhao, JD can be found on the Who’s Who Directory where she is looking forward to networking with you.
