As a licensed attorney in the U.S. and her native China, she organized and led with an American partner, one of the first Chinese practice groups in the U.S.
CHICAGO, IL, December 11, 2023 /24-7PressRelease/ — Marquis Who’s Who, the world’s premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to honor Jia Zhao, Esq. with inclusion in Who’s Who in the World. An accomplished listee, Ms. Zhao celebrates many years’ experience in her professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes she has accrued in her field. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Now retired after a long and successful career in law, Ms. Zhao was employed by Baker McKenzie in Chicago for over 30 years, beginning as an associate, then partner, and senior counsel until 2019. As a licensed attorney in the U.S. and her native China, she organized and led with an American partner, one of the first Chinese practice groups in the U.S. The group was influential in the understanding, cooperation, and development of investment and trade and helped diminish the differences between the two countries. Ms. Zhao was one of 700 other attorneys at Baker McKenzie, an international law firm with offices located throughout North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.
Before passing the bar, Ms. Zhao was affiliated with the Chinese Foreign Ministry, beginning as a U.S. desk officer in the Department of American and Oceanic Affairs from 1972 to 1980 and subsequently as a First Secretary in both the Department of Treaty and Law and the Department of American and Oceanic Affairs between 1984 and 1988. During her service in the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Ms. Zhao participated in the work that led to the normalization of U.S.-China relations on January 1, 1979. She also had the opportunity to serve as President Richard Nixon’s interpreter during his post-Watergate visits to China in 1975, 1976, and 1979.
Active civically for many years, Ms. Zhao served on the board of directors for Lurie Children’s Hospital and its foundation from 1996 to 2019. She has also been active with the American Bar Foundation.
Ms. Zhao initially studied in China, earning a Bachelor of Arts from Beijing Foreign Studies University in 1963. Arriving in the U.S. in 1980, she completed internships at Paul Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison in New York City, Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro in San Francisco, Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C., and Arnold & Porter in Washington, D.C. Additionally, Ms. Zhao earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Harvard University in 1983. She has been admitted to practice by the D.C. and Illinois Bar Associations, and was licensed to practice law in China.
As part of her professional commitments, Ms. Zhao has maintained affiliation as a member of the D.C. Bar, the Chicago Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the Illinois Bar Association.
Highlighting her achievements, Ms. Zhao was the first People’s Republic of China national to receive a Doctor of Jurisprudence and become licensed in the United States.
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Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Marquis celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2023, and Who’s Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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