Providing Solutions To Complex Legal Issues
Yao Liu is a Shareholder in the firm’s Corporate and International practices, bringing extensive experience and practical solutions to corporate matters, mergers and acquisitions, cross-border transactions, joint ventures, venture capital and private equity transactions, distribution, and real estate transactions.
Highly regarded by his clients doing business globally, Yao serves as the trusted advisor for complex cross-border legal needs – serving as outside general counsel to Asia-based companies doing business in the United States or with their U.S. partners, and also advising U.S.-based companies doing business in Asia or with their Asian partners.
As a bi-lingual (native in Chinese and fluent in English) and bi-cultural lawyer, trained in both the United States and China, Yao has extensive knowledge and experience in establishing and strengthening business relationships for international clients and businesses, and resolve business disputes globally.
Practice Areas
Representative Matters:
- Acted as general counsel to various Chinese public-traded corporations with regard to their U.S. business operations, including joint ventures, acquisitions, general corporate matters, and pre-IPO matters.
- Represented a Chinese private equity firm in its investment in a U.S.-based electric vehicle company.
- Represented a national delivery and logistics company in its U.S. investments.
- Represented a Chinese medical device company in its joint venture with U.S. partner.
- Represented a Brazilian medical software company with regard to U.S. operation.
- Represented a pharmaceutical company in its U.S. investments and licensing deals.
- Represented a Nasdaq-listed cryptocurrency corporation in its data center acquisition.
- Represented a Singapore company in its cryptocurrency mining operations in the U.S.
- Represented a U.S. appliance manufacturer with regard to its Chinese subsidiary, including joint ventures, acquisitions, restructuring, and supply chain management.
- Represented a U.S. automobile parts distributor in joint venture with overseas supplier.
- Represented a U.S. apparel company in supply chain financing with overseas supplier.
- Represented a group of security services companies in their sale to private equity.
- Represented various real estate investment funds with regard to fund formation, capital raising, real estate acquisition and financing.
- Represented a Chinse chemical company in dispute resolution with U.S. counterpart.
Education
- Case Western Reserve University Law School, JD, cum laude
- Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, LLB, summa cum laude
Languages
- English
- Mandarin Chinese
Bar Admissions
- Ohio
- New York
Professional Associations
- Ohio Rising Star By Superlawyers
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Leadership Academy
- Marquis Who’s Who
- Cleveland Council on World Affairs Richard W. Pogue Fellowship
- Case Western Reserve Law School Alumni Board
Published Works
- Master of Laws Interviews, October 2023
- Cfius Consideration In Cross-border Transactions, Cleveland Metropolitian Bar Association Journal, May 2020
- China Is Entering A New Era For Foreign Investments: China’s New Foreign Investment Law and Its Implications on Foreign Investors, CMBA Journal, May 2019; Attorney at Law Magazine, June 2019.
- Is Your Product Really “Made in USA”?, CMBA Journal, September 2019.