Legally qualified in the U.S., Grace Hou has a lengthy experience of private practice focused on both contentious and non-contentious shipping related matters. She had worked for various prominent international law firms located in Shanghai, New York city and Hong Kong for more than 20 years, handling a board range of disputes in multiple jurisdictions involving shipbuilding, sale and purchase, personal injury, cargo claims, collision, salvage and pollution cases, as well as charterparty, bill of lading and other contract of affreightment disputes. She also provided advice for both U.S. and international maritime operations in a wide arrays of regulatory compliance issues. Ms. Hou has moved to an in-house role with a private entity based in west coast, U.S.A. since 2017, providing the primary legal support for its clients’ investment fund and portfolio management businesses and leading the execution of active transitions such as Mergers & acquisitions, PIPE deals, international joint ventures, equipment leasing and privatizations.
A graduate of Shanghai Maritime University School of Law, Grace started her early career as a claim executive in one of top ranked shipping companies in Shanghai before she went to the U.S. to further her legal education.