Title: Retired Principal
Company: Baker & McKenzie LLP
Location: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Jia Zhao, Retired Principal at Baker McKenzie LLP, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Lawyers for dedication, achievements, and leadership in the legal industry.
Opportunities and challenges have always invigorated Ms. Zhao, who was born into a family of six siblings. Having been the oldest of her siblings, her parents cultivated within her a desire to learn and develop self-confidence and a sense of responsibility. Earning a Bachelor of Arts from the Beijing Foreign Studies University and Doctor of Jurisprudence from the prestigious Harvard University, she commenced her legal career as the first secretary in the Department of Treaty and Law and the Department of American and Oceanic Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in 1984. As her career progressed, she became employed with Baker McKenzie LLP, a historic law firm in Chicago, IL, as a senior associate, partner and senior counsel, where she remains today.
Desiring to be remembered by her peers as a competent, compassionate professional, Ms. Zhao finds the most rewarding aspect of her career to be sharing and helping those in her profession as well as clients. Drawing upon time spent in both China and the United States, she has acquired a sophisticated array of knowledge and understanding of the parallels that exist between the two countries in their political systems and cultures. Advising clients on trade and investment, she views her career path as a means of bridging the gap between the two countries, which has enabled her to aid in the development of a beneficial relationship between them. Notably, in light of her expertise, she was the first Chinese national to receive a Doctor of Jurisprudence in the United States and become a member of a United States bar association. The highlights of her career, however, have been serving as an interpreter for former president Richard Nixon as well as receiving her law degree from Harvard.
In her spare time, Ms. Zhao sits on the board of directors of both the Lurie Children’s Hospital and its Foundation and enjoys listening to music, studying diplomacy and international relations, and involving herself in the arts. She was highlighted in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Law, Who’s Who in the Midwest and Who’s Who of American Women.
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