Attorney Michael Chen
Educational Background
Attorney Chen Mao received his Bachelor of Laws degree from the People’s Public Security University of China in 1994. He later attended Brigham Young University in the United States from 1997 to 2001, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree. From 2009 to 2010, he completed an Executive MBA (EMBA) program jointly offered by Peking University and the Vlerick Business School in Belgium.
Professional background
Attorney Chen Mao obtained his People’s Republic of China attorney license in 1996. In 2002, he was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of California, the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, and all state courts in Utah. He currently has 26 years of legal practice experience in China and 20 years of legal practice experience in the United States.
From 2003 to 2007, Attorney Chen served as Special Counsel to the U.S. law firm Kirton McConkie. In October 2008, he joined Beijing King & Bond Law Firm, which primarily serves international clients, and acted as its Executive Director. His client base is mainly located in China and the United States.
From October 2011 to June 2018, Attorney Chen was a partner at AllBright Law Offices (Beijing). He is currently practicing law in Los Angeles, focusing primarily on litigation.
Lawyer's License
Attorney Chen Mao currently holds the following court practice licenses:
California Supreme Court (can practice in all California state courts) Attorney License No. 218863
Practices in the United States federal courts in the Eastern District of California (San Comento), Central District of California (Los Angeles), Northern District of California (Bay Area), and Southern District of California (San Diego).
Utah Supreme Court, Attorney License No. 09359
U.S. District Court for the District of Utah
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Chicago)
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Professional experience
Attorney Chen Mao possesses extensive professional legal knowledge in both China and the United States, along with substantial business experience. Throughout his decades-long legal career, he has achieved significant results, completing more than twenty projects each valued at over USD $10 million, with some transactions reaching as high as USD $200 million.
Representative matters include:
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Representing a Utah-based pharmaceutical company in securing supply commitments from Chinese manufacturers and analyzing related patent infringement issues;
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Representing a Shanghai-based company in evaluating potential U.S. patent breach risks and assisting with product redesign to mitigate possible infringement exposure;
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Serving as lead counsel for a Utah irrigation equipment manufacturer in establishing a USD $10 million manufacturing facility in Ningbo, China, and providing comprehensive legal and business advice regarding commercial operations in China;
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Representing a California pharmaceutical distributor sourcing products from Northern China in litigation proceedings in China;
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Assisting a Utah wireless network product developer in locating Chinese distributors and negotiating distribution agreements;
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Acting as principal counsel for a Chinese company with assets of USD $12 million in connection with its acquisition by two U.S. companies located near Guangzhou, China;
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Serving as lead China counsel for a major U.S. insurance company in establishing its China operations and providing insurance services to relevant industries near Beijing;
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Providing long-term and ongoing legal services to LG Philips’ foreign-invested enterprise in Nanjing, including labor relations management, major contract matters, intellectual property disputes, and land use agreements with government authorities.
Attorney Chen has also organized and coordinated legal teams of dozens of attorneys to provide comprehensive defense strategies for clients involved in alleged white-collar criminal matters in China. His work included defense representation, business model restructuring, media strategy coordination, and implementation of legal solutions, achieving favorable outcomes within the Chinese criminal justice system.
Academic background
Attorney Chen Mao has not only achieved significant accomplishments in legal practice but is also deeply engaged in academic research and scholarship. He served as the founding Chair of the Department of Law at Nanjing Agricultural University. He has authored law school textbooks including Private International Law, International Trade, and International Sale of Goods, as well as U.S. legal training materials such as Legal English for International Trade and Advocacy for Chinese Lawyers and Judges.
Attorney Chen has also participated in professional seminars and conferences organized by leading international organizations, including TAGLaw (a global alliance of high-quality law firms), Nutracon (Natural Products & Health Ingredients Conference), Morrison International (an international accounting association), LexisNexis (a leading provider of information and legal solutions), the U.S. Commercial Service (International Trade Administration, Utah Office), the United Natural Products Alliance, and the World Trade Center Utah.
These seminars, held both within and outside China, addressed topics such as Chinese law, market entry strategies, direct sales in China, negotiation and contract formation, and alternative dispute resolution. Attorney Chen has been invited to speak at many of these conferences.
Professional skills
Years of study, life, and work experience in the United States have made him fluent in both Chinese and English, and he can skillfully apply both languages in legal and business operations. Familiarity with Chinese and American culture, his language and cultural advantages allow Attorney Chen Mao to easily build bridges for communication between Chinese and American clients. His professional knowledge of Sino-US law, years of business experience, active thinking, and excellent problem-solving skills can ensure that clients' interests are protected to the greatest extent.
Industry advantages
Attorney Chen Mao has in-depth and comprehensive knowledge of the theory and practice of legal issues involving multi-level marketing, import of health products, and cross-border e-commerce.
Given Attorney Chen Mao's background, he has a unique advantage in serving clients involved in transnational litigation.
For more than a decade, Attorney Chen Mao has been focused on and involved in immigration law matters concerning the rights and interests of Chinese communities, and has organized and participated in some influential lawsuits, contributing to the passage of EB-5 legislation in Congress in 2022.
Activity Area
Attorney Chen Mao's legal practice is mainly active in the Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Salt Lake City areas and surrounding cities in the United States, where he has a mature and extensive network of contacts.
