Viking Tao is a seasoned attorney with over 20 years of experience advising clients on complex commercial real estate development and investment, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, partnership and joint venture negotiations, and commercial disputes. Her practice spans a broad range of industries, including manufacturing, real estate, biotech, life sciences, hospitality, renewable energy, oil and gas, e-commerce, and consumer products.
Fluent in Mandarin Chinese, Viking is a trusted advisor to Chinese and other Asian companies entering the U.S. market. She assists clients with cross-border transactions, strategic expansions (including asset and stock acquisitions), and the establishment of U.S.-based operations — particularly manufacturing facilities, which have become a growing focus amid global supply chain realignment. Viking also advises on compliance with evolving U.S. regulatory requirements. She brings deep cultural insight and legal acumen to guide clients through unfamiliar legal landscapes, helping them avoid potential pitfalls and structure long-term success. She also counsels U.S. companies on investments in China and business negotiations with Chinese counterparts, frequently collaborating with Chinese counsel to navigate regulatory and transactional complexities.
In her real estate practice, Viking represents leading American and Asian developers, family offices, real estate funds, mid-sized developers and investors, and institutional lenders. She advises on the acquisition, financing, development, leasing, management, and disposition of a wide range of commercial properties, including industrial facilities, multifamily, student housing, office buildings, residential subdivisions, shopping centers, hotels, assisted living facilities, and large-scale mixed-use developments. Project sizes often range from several million to multibillion-dollar investments.
Before entering private practice, Viking served as in-house counsel at a major international financial institution, where she supported the company during its landmark $9.7 billion IPO. This experience gave her firsthand insight into the internal dynamics, pressures, and priorities that businesses face. As a result, Viking brings a practical, business-minded approach to legal counsel — focusing not only on legal risks but also on aligning solutions with her clients’ operational goals and strategic objectives. Committed to community service, Viking has held leadership roles in several Asian American nonprofit organizations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.