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Shiau Yen Chin-Dennis
Shiau Yen Chin-Dennis

Shiau Yen Chin-Dennis

Managing Partner, Portland Office, Chair of Firmwide Opportunity and Inclusion Committee
Portland
+1.503.226.5765
Raleigh
+1.919.743.7300
Email Shiau Yen Chin-Dennis @ ShiauYen.Chin-Dennis@klgates.com
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Shiau Yen Chin-Dennis offers business-focused legal solutions, advising domestic and multinational companies on corporate matters and transactions, such as mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, restructuring, and corporate governance. She has extensive experience in international and cross-border issues, including market entry, integration, and expansion. Shiau Yen has represented foreign investors, including Asian investors entering the US market and manages global corporate governance for multinational companies. She also represents companies in commercial agreements, contract management, and international commercial transactions, along with executive employment matters. Additionally, she is a founding faculty member of the firm's mini-MBA program, which trains associates in key business concepts.

Shiau Yen is also the managing partner of the firm's Portland office and a member of the firm’s Management Committee. She is the chair of the firmwide Diversity Committee. Drawing from her corporate America experience, she is a strategic and innovative thinker as well as an experienced board member.

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

Prior to joining the firm, Shiau Yen practiced as the corporate counsel responsible for all corporate legal matters pertaining to a global artificial intelligence company and its regional offices and subsidiaries in the Asia-Pacific region, including its R&D centers. She was a member of the global commercial transaction and corporate affairs legal team. Prior to practicing law, she managed the World Trade Center North Carolina, including oversight of international trade delegations and advocacy on international business issues and policies.

  • Recognized by Chambers USA for Corporate/M&A in Oregon, 2021-2024
  • 2023 Oregon State Bar - President's Diversity and Inclusion Award
  • 2023 League of Minority Voters' Civil Rights Award for K&L Gates Portland
  • 2022 CEO of the Year Award for Executives, Portland Business Journal
  • 2020 League of Minority Voters’ Diversity & Inclusion Award for K&L Gates Portland (played an instrumental role)
  • Patriot Award, U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense, 2019
  • Leadership Award, API Forward, 2019
  • Certified Ambassador, Greater Portland Inc., 2018 - present
  • Nominated for the inaugural 2018 Changing Lawyer Award at the International Legal Technology Association Annual Conference, recognizing and celebrating her unwavering commitment to client service and visionary approach to the disruption of the traditional legal practice.
  • 2016 Women of Vision, Daily Journal of Commerce
  • 2016 Women of Influence, Portland Business Journal
  • 2015 Global Leader Award for K&L Gates (played an instrumental role)
  • 2014 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, 2014 Fellow

Appointments

  • National District Export Council (Steering Committee Member, Pacific North Region)
  • National District Export Council Trade Policy & Legislative Affairs Committee (Chair, Asia Subcommittee)
  • Oregon District Export Council (Chair and Member, appointed by the US Secretary of Commerce)
  • Oregon-China Sister State Committee (Member, appointed by the Office of the Senate President for the State of Oregon)
  • North Carolina District Export Council (Member, appointed by the US Secretary of Commerce, 2005–2011)

Associations

  • Oregon Business and Industry (Executive Committee and Board Member, 2021–present)
  • The Library Foundation, (Board of Trustees Member, 2019–present)
  • Boy Scouts of America, Cascade Pacific Council (Board Member and Founding Co-Chair for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, 2018–2021)
  • Green Empowerment (Board Member, 2018–2019)
  • International Association for Contract & Commercial Management (Member)
  • International Bar Association (former Corporate Counsel Forum Committee Member)
  • Oregon Asian Pacific American Bar Association (Member)
  • National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (Member)
  • Oregon State Bar Association, International Law Section (former Nominating Committee Member)
  • North Carolina Bar Association (Member, former Treasurer and Officer, and Mentorship Chair for the International Law Section)
  • Professional Human Resources (PHR) Certification
  • Technology Association of Oregon (Member, International Community)

Diversity and Inclusion

  • K&L Gates Firmwide Diversity Committee (Chair)
  • 2020 Women on Boards, Oregon Leadership Committee (Member)
  • Eleventh and Twelfth Annual Career Strategies Conference, Corporate Counsel Women of Color (K&L Gates Representative)
  • Women’s Leadership Alliance of Greater Portland & SW Washington (Founding Member & Advisory Council Member, 2014–present)
  • Japan-America Society of Oregon (Women’s Leadership Council, 2018 - present; Board Member, 2016–2018)
  • Asian Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce of Oregon (Co-Founder, Board Member, and President, 2022–present)
  • Northwest China Council (Pro Bono Counsel)
  • League of Minority Voters (Pro Bono Counsel)
  • Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (2014 Fellow)
  • International Women’s Forum (Member)
  • International Trade Education Minority Initiative, City of Durham, North Carolina (former Member)
  • American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina (former Board Member)
  • Panelist, “How to get support to make AI innovation happen?,” AI and Access to Justice Summit, Stanford Law School, October 2024
  • Panelist, “The Superpower in Lawyering Like a Human: How Connecting to Your Humanity May Just Be Your Best Legal Skill,” American Bar Association, May 2023
  • “Breaking the Glass and Bamboo Ceilings,” SAS Institute, December 2021
  • “Practicing Law in the 21st Century, Disruptions, Robots, AI, and Machine Learning,” Campbell University, November 2021
  • Panelist, “How to Leverage Allyship to Build & Communicate Diversity and Refute Implicit Bias in Your Legal Practice,” American Bar Association, June 2021
  • Panelist, “CEO Diversity Forum,” Partners in Diversity, December 2020
  • “Return to Work – Practical Employment Law Advice When Managing Employees During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” Financial Executives International, June 2020
  • “Finding Your Voice and Leading From Within,” University of Portland, January 2020
  • “The Pitch and Book of Business: Get the Most of the Outside Counsel and Corporate Counsel Relationship,” National Bar Association Corporate Law Section, Gateway to Success Conference, March 2018
  • “Global Leadership Forum,” API Forward Panel Discussion, October 2016
  • “How to do an Effective Pitch for Business: Mock Pitch Session for Law Firms,” Corporate Counsel Women of Color (CCWC) Conference Panel Discussion, September 2016
  • “How do we Tackle the Stereotypes as Asian Pacific American Women?,” Oregon Asian Pacific American Bar Association Panel Discussion, September 2016
  • “19th Annual Opportunities for Law in Oregon (OLIO) Orientation,” Panelist, August 2016
  • “Mitigating Risks of Export,” Export Council of Oregon and U.S. Commercial Service Panel Discussion, October 2015
  • “Cross-Border Acquisitions by Private Enterprises in the Current Economic Environment: The Old Obstacles and the New Opportunities,” ABA New York Spring International Law Meeting, 2012
  • “The Top Five Tips To Help Your Clients Do Business Internationally,” North Carolina Bar Association, International Law and Practice, 2012
  • “Doing Business Internationally — A Primer for Oregon Businesses,” Oregon Business Magazine, Law Supplement, August 2011
  • “Intellectual Property Licensing and Confidentiality/Non-Disclosure Agreements,” School of Textiles at North Carolina State University, 2010 and 2011
  • “The Legalities of Doing Business in China,” National Business Institute, 2010
  • “Doing Business in China Forum,” MBA Program, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2007
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