Carlsmith Welcomes Kai Wang Back to Honolulu Office

Carlsmith Ball LLP is pleased to announce that Kai Wang has rejoined the firm as a partner based in the Honolulu office. Wang’s practice will focus on real estate, land use, hospitality and cross-border investment.

Prior to rejoining the firm, Wang was Vice President, Legal, Greater China, for Starwood Hotels & Resorts for almost three years. In that capacity, she oversaw all legal affairs within the Greater China region, namely mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. 

“Kai brings with her a wide range of legal and commercial experience through her work in international law firms in Hong Kong and Beijing, and as the country general counsel for a well-known Fortune 500 company. She is well positioned to advise both domestic and international clients on legal issues with her cross-cultural knowledge and business acumen,” said Karl Kobayashi, Chairman of Carlsmith Ball. “We are extremely pleased to welcome her back to the firm, and we are already putting her knowledge and expertise to work for our clients.”

Before joining Starwood, Wang was the head of DLA Piper's Beijing real estate team. She also served as a special counsel for Baker & McKenzie based in Hong Kong. In both roles, she advised U.S., Europe and Asia-based clients on a wide range of real estate related matters, including negotiations and documentations for the acquisition (both equity and assets onshore and offshore), development, construction, management, and sale of hotels, shopping centers, and industrial and other commercial properties.  She advised on inbound and outbound investment projects for both international and Chinese companies.

Wang obtained her LL.M. degree from Harvard Law School. She received a J.D. from University of Hawai'i at Manoa - William S. Richardson School of Law, an M.A. from University of Hawai'i at Manoa, and an LL.B. from Yantai University Department of Law in China.