Kai Wang is a seasoned transactional lawyer with two decades of experience practicing law in both Hawaii and Asia.  As a partner at Carlsmith Ball LLP, Kai’s practice focuses on the areas of real estate, land use, hospitality, foreign investment into real estate in Hawaii.  She also serves as the Chair of the firm’s Greater China Practice Group.

She first joined Carlsmith Ball as an associate in 1999 and became a partner in 2006.  Prior to rejoining the firm, Kai was Vice President, Legal, Greater China, for Starwood Hotels & Resorts for nearly three years.  In that capacity, she oversaw all legal affairs for Starwood within the Greater China region, namely mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, with a portfolio of more than 320 hotels (in operation and in the pipeline).  This experience gave Kai a unique opportunity to observe intimately how a business is operated, to guide an executive team navigating complicated and unfamiliar legal and regulatory territories especially through crises, and to manage legal, business and reputational risks from within.  Before joining Starwood, Kai was the head of DLA Piper’s Beijing real estate team.  She also worked in Hong Kong as a special counsel of Baker & McKenzie’s property practice group.  Kai advised U.S.-, Europe- and Asia-based clients on a wide range of real estate related matters, including negotiation and documentation for the acquisition (both equity and assets onshore and offshore), development, construction, management, and sale of resort and residential projects, hotels, shopping centers, and industrial and other commercial properties.  She also advised on cross-border investment projects for both local and international clients.  Kai’s in-depth understanding of, and first-hand experience with, the business cultures and market specific knowledge in Asia, Hawaii and the U.S., and her diverse background working at regional and international law firms and as a regional general counsel, give her that rare ability and cultural fluency to serve as an effective counselor to her clients.

Kai was featured in the inaugural issue of the GC Powerlist – China and Hong Kong 2017 published by The Legal 500 as one of the most influential and innovative general counsels in China and Hong Kong who have been instrumental in the growth of their businesses.

Kai was born in China and obtained her legal education in both China and the U.S., which includes a J.D. degree from William S. Richardson School of Law and an LL.M. degree from Harvard Law School.  Kai is licensed to practice law in Hawaii, California, New York (inactive) and Hong Kong (inactive).  Kai’s working languages are English and Chinese (Mandarin).

CV in Chinese available upon request.  For additional information, please visit http://www.carlsmith.com/pages/kai-wang.