Beijing-educated lawyer handles biotech, life sciences, ecommerce matters.

Corporate lawyer Viking Tao has joined Polsinelli, as a new shareholder based in the firm’s Dallas office. Tao joins the firm’s corporate and transactional practice group, part of the firm’s national Business Department. She joins from Kane Russell Coleman Logan in Dallas, where she was a member of the firm’s board of directors and chaired its China practice group.

Tao handles matters in a wide array of sectors, including real estate, biotech, life sciences, manufacturing, e-commerce, hospitality, oil and gas, renewable energy, and consumer products. For nearly two decades, she has counseled Chinese and other Asian companies on establishing a presence in the United States, forging alliances with U.S. businesses, embarking on strategic expansions, or navigating through the evolving U.S. regulatory or compliance requirements.

“The addition of Viking is extremely meaningful as we continue to grow our dynamic Dallas office and bolster our private equity-focused team,” said Brian Bullard , managing partner of Polsinelli’s Dallas office and chair of the firm’s Capital Solutions and Investment Funds practices. “Her professional acumen, along with her demonstrated leadership abilities at the local, state, national and global level, makes her a tremendous asset to the firm and our clients.”

Prior to joining Polsinelli, Tao served on the board of directors for a Texas-based law firm, where she also chaired its China Practice Group, representing Chinese and other international clients in their investments in the United States. She is fluent in both Mandarin and Cantonese.

“Joining a firm like Polsinelli with a powerful, national platform and deep commitment to an internationally significant market like Dallas/Fort Worth was extremely appealing to me, given the national and global scope of my practice,” said Tao. “I look forward to collaborating with colleagues not only across Texas but also nationwide to support clients with new ventures and help them identify pitfalls and design practical solutions related to their mission-critical investments and business negotiations.”

A passionate contributor to the community, Tao has held leadership positions in several North Texas-based Asian American non-profit organizations. These include her current service as general counsel of the U.S.-China Chamber of Commerce of Dallas and her past service as a board member and vice chair of the Greater Dallas Asian American Chamber of Commerce.

Tao earned her LL.B. from the Beijing University School of Law before obtaining her J.D. from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law of Yeshiva University. Before going into private practice, she also served for several years as in-house counsel at the Bank of China’s New York Branch during the bank’s US$9.7 billion IPO.