Profile

Zheng Cao is a transnational attorney whose diverse practices include investment, corporate, mergers & acquisitions, international trade, resolutions of commercial disputes, international arbitration and litigation. Mr. Tso's has represented some of the largest domestic and international companies including China Merchants (Shekou) Industry Zone Co., Ltd., EnerSys Co., Ltd., Sino-Construction Co., Ltd, Qiguang Group, MEAS. He has successfully appealed two cases regarding commercial transaction and real-estate construction to Supreme Court of P. R. China. The two cases have been compiled into typical cases by Supreme Court of P. R. China.

Mr. Cao is a senior partner at Shekou Law Firm. Prior to joining Shekou Law Firm, he was an in-house legal counsel of China Merchants (Skekou) Industrial Co., Ltd. Before that, Mr. Cao was a public procurator of People's Procuratorate of Yangzhou Jiangsu province. With more than twenty years of public and private legal service in China, Zheng Cao is a legal expertise on wide variety legal issues of doing business in China, especially with extensive knowledge and experiences on joint-venture, corporate, mergers & acquisitions, resolutions of commercial disputes, international arbitration and litigation.

Professional Experiences

• Sep. 1999 - Present, Partner of Shekou Law Firm

Heading litigation and arbitration group

Represented clients in a broad of complex litigations and arbitration on construction, real estate transaction, and employment terminations.

Heading international business group

Counseled transnational enterprises in Shenzhen on sophisticated corporate law issues; provided advice on establishing complex corporate structures.

Counseled clients on their day-to-day and long term business issues, including domestic and international sales contract, employment, and joint adventures.

Building up teams and improving coordination between different teams of the law firm to provide better services to our clients.

Establishing close relationship with external expertise, such as Certified Public Accountant, IP Registration Agent, to provide comprehensive and professionalized services to clients.

Government legal counsel

As a member of legal committee of Nanshan District government counseled Nanshan District Government on various legal issues, including demolition and reconstruction of old urban area, social unrest and striking.

• May 1994 - Aug. 1999   In house legal counsel of
  China Merchants (Shekou) Im. & Ex. Co. Ltd
  China Merchants Shekou Industrial Zone Co. Ltd.

Prepared the legal document for various acquisitions by China Merchants Group.

Provided legal services for expansion of China Merchant Petrol Co. Ltd in south China and Yangzi River area, including setting up new gas stations and petrol depots, acquiring established local small petrol companies.

Closed down subsidiary companies whose major businesses were on commercial trading in accordance with the strategic decision of China Merchants Group, including China Merchants (Shekou) Im. & Ex. Co. Ltd, Duty Free (Shekou) Co. Ltd.

Advised on information disclosure for China Merchants Group controlled public companies.

• Aug. 1991 - Apr. 1994   Assistant procurator of
  People's Procuratorate of Yangzhou Jiangsu province

Assisted senior procurators with investigation and prosecution of corruption in government and state owned enterprises.

Educational Background

LL.B. East China University of Political Science & Law, 1991

LL.M. Renmin University, 2000 Specializing in Commercial Law

LL.M. Osgoode Hall Law School of York University (Toronto Canada), 2005 Specializing in International Trade and Competition Law

Called to All-China Bar Association in 1992