Hairong Tao is the President of the Management Board of Watson & Band Law Offices and an arbitrator for both the Shanghai Arbitration Commission (SAC)and the Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (Shanghai International Arbitration Center)(SHIAC). 

Joining Watson & Band Law Offices in July 2016, Mr. Tao brought with the firm a wealth of expertise in dispute resolution.  He specializes in complex commercial issues, corporate governance, intellectual property and real estate, offering clients comprehensive legal solutions drawn from his diverse background.

Mr. Tao's career is distinguished by over a decade of service as a judge at the Shanghai Intermediate People's Court, where he presided over more than 400 cases spanning civil and commercial issues, intellectual property and family law. His exemplary work in this role earned him recognition from the Supreme People's Court of China. 

Academically, Mr. Tao holds a master's degree in law from the Southwest University of Political Science and Law and a bachelor's degree in applied electronic technology from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology. This unique combination of legal and technical knowledge enhances his ability to handle complex cases, particularly in intellectual property.. He qualified as a lawyer in 2000 and as a patent agent in 2013, further broadening his professional capabilities.

Mr. Tao's commitment to legal excellence is evident in his continued professional development. In 2006, he attended a training program at the University of Wisconsin Law School, offered by the U.S. state and federal courts, expanding his understanding of international legal practices. 

His diverse professional experience also includes roles at Shanghai Baosteel Group and Chongqing Wudu Law Firm, where he handled management and legal matters respectively. During that period, he demonstrated his advocacy skills by becoming the runner-up in the Chongqing finals of the First National Lawyers' Debate Contest.