Tereza Gao maintains a broad international disputes practice, with a focus on complex and high-stakes international arbitrations, including both investment treaty arbitrations and commercial arbitrations. Ms. Gao has acted as counsel in arbitration proceedings held under the auspices of most of the major arbitral institutions and rules, including the ICSID, UNCITRAL, ICC, HKIAC, CIETAC, ICDR, AAA, and JAMS Rules. She is skilled and experienced in all phases of arbitration and litigation, including fact investigation, legal research, drafting written submissions, settlement negotiation, mediation, and hearing preparation.
Ms. Gao is dual-qualified in Hong Kong and New York and received her initial legal education and training as a barrister in Hong Kong. Prior to joining Arnold & Porter, she worked in the San Francisco and Hong Kong offices of another major international law firm, handling U.S. litigation and international arbitration matters. Ms. Gao is native in Mandarin and is fluent in both English and Cantonese.
Ms. Gao currently serves on the Editorial Board of Kluwer Arbitration Blog (a publication of Kluwer Law International providing information and news on international arbitration). She also acts as a Regional Ambassador of HK45 (a group of young practitioners dedicated to promote the use of arbitration and Hong Kong as an arbitral seta). During her time at school, Ms. Gao was an active mooter and won multiple awards at international moot court competitions, including the Best Oralist award of the 2012 Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Vienna.
Experience
- The Republic of Korea in an investor-state arbitration involving a claim of $4.7 billion filed by the Lone Star Funds (ICSID).
- The Republic of Korea in an investor-state arbitration brought by a renowned U.S. investment management firm (UNCITRAL, London).
- The Republic of Korea in an investor-state arbitration brought by Iranian claimants (UNCITRAL, London).
- The Kingdom of Thailand in an investor-State arbitration brought by an Australian mining company (UNCITRAL, Singapore).
- U.S. consumer electronics retailer in successfully resolving breach of contract and product liability dispute with Chinese manufacturer (HKIAC, Hong Kong).
- Korean electronics manufacturer in successfully resolving intellectual property and breach of license agreement dispute with U.S. software supplier (ICC, San Diego).
- Chinese electronics manufacturer in successfully resolving breach of license agreement dispute with U.S. software supplier (JAMS, California).
- Chinese software company in intellectual property and breach of contract dispute with multinational software company (ICDR, New York).
- U.S. metals company in successfully resolving breach of contract dispute with Chinese metals company (CIETAC, Beijing).
- Chinese metals conglomerate in successfully resolving investment dispute with U.S. mineral development company (ICC, Hong Kong)
- Chinese investor in fraud action against former business partners in private air charter business (California Superior Court).
- A Chinese state-owned steel-making giant in successfully resolving sale of goods dispute with a large-scale Hong Kong charter operator (ad hoc, Hong Kong).
- A leading European innovative technology company in relation to its license and intellectual property infringement claims against a Chinese supplier (HKIAC, Hong Kong).
- A Chinese data conversion company in successfully resolving dispute with a U.S. technology company in connection with the design and operation of a large- scale e-Book distribution platform (HKIAC, Hong Kong).
- A large Spanish contractor in successfully resolving dispute with a French supplier of solar tracker equipment in connection with the client's large solar energy installation in Southern California (AAA, San Francisco).
Perspectives
Credentials
Education
- Master of Laws, University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, 2016, with high honors, Best Oralist Award
- Postgraduate Certificate in Laws, City University of Hong Kong, 2013
- Bachelor of Law, City University of Hong Kong, 2012, Dean's List
Admissions
- New York
- Hong Kong (Barrister-at-Law)
Activities
- Regional Ambassador, HK 45
- Editorial Board member, Kluwer Arbitration Blog