Qiaojing Ella Zheng (郑巧晶 律师) is Senior Counsel in the San Francisco office of Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP, a national law firm with offices in Washington, DC, New York, California, and Tennessee. Ms. Zheng received her law degrees from Zhejiang University in China (LL.B.) and Thomas Jefferson School of Law (LL.M.).
Ms. Zheng is licensed to practice law in California and New York. She represents employees and whistleblowers in individual and class actions involving wage and hour violations, discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, and other civil rights claims.
Ms. Zheng regularly advises entrepreneurs, companies, and financial institutions in Silicon Valley and China on regulatory and compliance matters. In particular, Ms. Zheng has extensive experience representing China-based clients in legal matters arising under U.S. laws, including licensing and compliance for securities broker-dealers and investment advisers under the U.S. SEC, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and state-level regulatory authorities. Having obtained legal education and work experience in both China and the U.S., she brings a unique perspective to facilitate her clients’ cross-border business activities, and devotes herself to bridging the cultural gap between domestic and foreign parties.
Ms. Zheng is a native Mandarin Chinese speaker, and is active in the Chinese American community in the Bay Area. She currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Chinese American Lawyers of the Bay Area.
Ms. Zheng was recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in Northern California. She is a frequent speaker to professional and business groups on various employment litigation and compliance matters.
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Prior to joining Sanford Heisler Sharp, Ms. Zheng was an associate attorney at a boutique general practice firm in San Diego, California, where her practice encompassed a wide range of areas including international business, corporate, civil litigation, immigration, and family law.
Ms. Zheng is an advocate for diversity, leadership, and the public interest. During her tenure as Vice President and Secretary of the San Diego Chinese Attorneys Association, she organized a series of events focused on U.S./China social, business, and legal issues. She also co-organized a symposium on the TRIPS Agreement and the Global Integration of IP Law. While obtaining her LL.B. in China, Ms. Zheng organized the first moot court in the region advocating women’s rights and was awarded Outstanding Student Leader upon graduation.
