Kelly Cao's main practice areas encompass dispute resolution, compliance and risk control, and labor and employment.


Kelly Cao has represented clients in court proceedings before all levels of PRC People’s Court and is highly experienced in dealing with disputes relating to contracts, labor and employment, and torts. Kelly Cao has represented clients in arbitration proceedings before arbitration institutions.


Kelly Cao provides legal service with regard to compliance to multinational corporations and domestic well-known companies, including compliance risk assessment, compliance system establishment, drafting and improving compliance policies, conducting internal compliance investigation and handling related labor disputes, coping with government investigation, as well as training concerning labour and employment.


In the course of practice, Kelly Cao also has dealt with dozens of cases/projects regarding labour and employment, providing legal service to companies in connection with their HR management, policies and SOPs, and potential labour disputes. She also advises companies on compliance risk assessment and training concerning labour and employment.

Kelly Cao joined Global Law Office in 2013.

Admitted in the PRC

LL.M., 2010-2013, East China University of Political Science and Law


LL.M., 2011-2012, Chicago-Kent College of Law


LL.B., 2006-2010, East China University of Political Science and Law

• 2022 Chambers and Partners, Medical Devices and Healthcare Products: China Law & Practice
• 2020-2021 Chambers and Partners, Life Sciences: China Law & Practice
• 2019 Analysis on right of claim of the original employer requesting the new employer to take responsibility when the employee breaches the non-compete agreement
• 2019 Brief Comments on the Special Review Procedures for Innovative Medical Devices, Law & Policy Newsletter in Life Sciences & Healthcare, May 2019 issue
• 2019 The Progress and Current Situation of the Pilot Work of the Medical Device Registrant System, Law & Policy Newsletter in Life Sciences & Healthcare, March 2019 issue
• 2016 Incentives vs. Commercial Bribery – 2016 series administrative penalties imposed by Shanghai Administration for Industry and Commerce on tire companies
• 2016 The Fifth Article of Special Series Studies on the Anti-unfair Competition Law (Revised Draft for Review): Revision of Commercial Defamation and Its Impact on Law Enforcement and Judicial Practice