Ava Liang Zhao Email & Phone Number

San Francisco, Ca, Us

San Francisco Bay Area

No-code platform to simplify community building with pre-built, customizable templates and AI recommendation engine. - Lead the optimization of the design-to-ship process by shifting to small, quick wins with input from CEO, CPO/CTO, engineering and design and pushing for metrics to make more data-informed decisions.- Contributed to new AI product strategy with competitor research on best UI to present AI search results and matching recommendations.- Identified user pain points through various design thinking methods.- In one project, conducted 3 rounds of user research (1:1 interviews with 12 participants) to enhance dashboard usability and reduce complexity. Generated 3 key insights, 23 user stories, 42 engineering tickets and a product roadmap to ensure on-time execution with limited resources. - Removed roadblocks to sales and reduced time to market by aligning wireframes with WCAG standards and existing design systems.

Texas, United States

Real estate investment firm that serves medical tenants in Texas.- Closed $2.7M in real estate transactions: conduct research and financial analysis; negotiate leases; collaborate with stakeholders. - Evaluate commercial real estate opportunities through research and financial analysis.- Lead the acquisition process from deal sourcing to closing.- Spearhead due diligence with property inspections, market studies, and title reviews.- Negotiate LOI, purchase contracts, and lease agreements.- Demonstrated success in closing $2.7M in commercial transactions.- Oversee closing processes with escrow, title, and attorneys.- Collaborate on innovative financing solutions with banks and owners (1031 exchange, sale-and-leaseback, debt arrangements).

San Francisco Bay Area

Creating a brand dedicated to helping women enjoy holistic wellness. Time-saving, health-boosting Asian tisanes by women, for women. Stayed tuned for product launch and updates!- Develop a natural tea brand to enhance women's health. - Researched recipes, consulted experts, designed an app, conducted testing (tea product + app), and building a website. - Research traditional recipes and consulted with doctors and nutritionists to formulate our product, designed an accompanying app, conducted product testing (physical product + app), shot product photography, developed marketing materials, and explored partnership opportunities.

San Francisco Bay Area

Founded in 1949, Fodor's has published more than 440 guides (in 14 series) on over 300 destinations around the world.Professional adventurer paid to gossip about the best-hidden eats, coziest cafes, and most stunning vista points in San Francisco.

San Francisco Bay Area

A multinational technology company specializing in e-commerce, retail, Internet, and technology, generating >$127B in annual revenues.- Independently negotiated hundreds of contracts worth millions as sole in-house counsel for the US and EMEA cloud business unit.- Worked with sales and engineering teams to understand enterprise B2B customer needs, devise business strategy, and draft/negotiate agreements. - Researched legal blockers in using CT scan technology for covid diagnosis, advising on obtaining regulatory approval in friendly markets.- Updated contract templates, online terms of use and FAQs to clarify legal terms and disclosures for end customers. - Advised marketing and sales teams on promotions, consumer protection, intellectual property, and privacy for improved regulatory compliance and reduced legal risk.

Palo Alto/San Francisco

Premier legal advisor to technology and growth enterprises with 1000+ attorneys worldwide and >$1.3B in annual revenues.- Project-managed 10+ venture financings totaling millions for startups, handling research, negotiation, agreements, getting stakeholder alignment, and closings. - Managed clients, counterparties, stakeholders, and a team of 1-5 junior lawyers, paralegals, and assistants on projects.- Advised companies in diverse industries like e-commerce, B2B service providers, biotech, education, and IT, in IPOs, including working on competitor & market analysis.- Counseled companies from startups to billion-dollar public companies on corporate governance and securities law. - Drafted various securities filings for IPOs, follow-on offerings, and ongoing disclosure requirements.

Beijing, China/San Francisco

A top 50 AmLaw global law firm with 18 offices, 750 lawyers, 138+ years of history, >$1B in annual revenues.- Helped launch 6 IPOs worth $858 million, facilitating companies’ access to the stock market, including working on competitor & market analysis.- Advised companies in diverse industries: online retailers, B2B service providers, biotech, education, insurance giants, VC/PE firms, and banks.- Project managed dozens of IPOs and other equity and debt offerings on the New York and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges so companies can access capital and scale. - Represented leading private equity and venture capital firms in investments, acquisitions and exits. - Counseled companies in connection with litigation matters relating to privacy, trade secrets, SEC investigations and FCPA violations.

Tokyo, Japan

Reviewed documents for various trade secrets and intellectual property matters.

Washington Dc-Baltimore Area

Researched trade litigation and arbitration issues involving a US-Canadian lumber dispute and a US-Japan steel dispute. Analyzed legislation on foreign investment and trade barriers in the U.S., E.U., and Asia.

Ux Academy & Ux Foundations, Ui/Ux Design

700+ hours of end-to-end UX/UI design course and 4 capstone projects involving design thinking, user research, market research, ideation.

J.D.

Activities and Societies: Law Review

B.A., International Relations And East Asian Literature

Activities and Societies: School newspaper, art publication, student council

Study Abroad

High School

Activities and Societies: School newspaper