Joe Zhang has recently joined IISD’s Geneva office as a legal advisor. He began his professional career in 2007 as a judicial extern to Justice Sanders of the Washington State Supreme Court, and then proceeded to work as an attorney for Perkins Coie LLP in Seattle and Gordon, Thomas, Honeywell LLP in Tacoma. In late 2008, Zhang returned to China to work for the firm of Diaz, Reus and Targ as an associate attorney and for Orrick, Herrington and Sutcliffe as a consultant. His accomplishments in these positions included advising owners of alternative energy technologies in the establishment of joint ventures and company operations, a fast-growing Chinese solar system integrator for its pre-IPO investments and proposed IPO in the U.S., and a leading Chinese mining company for its proposed IPO in Hong Kong with an international placement under Reg S and Rule 144A.  

Zhang is a member of the Oklahoma State Bar Association and the Washington State Bar Association. He is also qualified to practice law in China.