Meet Our Principal

Xiao is a trusted advisor to franchisors, franchisees, business owners, and international companies navigating complex legal landscapes. Her practice focuses on franchise, dealership, and business law. 

Xiao served as one of the counsels to the independent McDonald's franchisees association -  National Owners Association from 2018 to 2019 - which represented over 1,000 franchisees nationwide. She has worked on cases involving countless brands in a wide variety of industries including well-known names such as McDonald’s, Culver’s, John Deere, 7-Eleven, UPS, Jimmy John’s, GNC, HomeVestors, Slumberland, Maaco, and Mr. Appliance.

She has worked with both U.S.-based and international franchise systems, including companies from Canada, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and mainland China. Many of her clients are publicly listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. 

Xiaoyin has extensive experience in complex litigation and dispute resolution, with a focus on representing U.S. franchisees. Her background in both franchisee litigation and franchising gives her valuable perspective on risk management and strategic planning—both critical to helping clients achieve their business goals.

• State Bar of Illinois
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
• China (P.R.C.) – National Judicial Examination Certificate

• J.D., Chicago-Kent College of Law
• LL.M., Chicago-Kent College of Law (International and Comparative Law)
• LL.B., China University of Political Science and Law

• 2024 Committee member of the Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (LADR) committee of the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising
• Board member of Illinois Franchise Advisory Board
• Committee member of the David Gurnick Franchise Law Professors Committee of the ABA Forum on Franchising
• 2023 and 2024 Franchise Times Legal Eagle.

• Contract and Antitrust Remedies for Supply Chain Issues Facing Retailers and Distributors, ABA CLE, June 2022
• Advance Your Case by Analyzing Metadata, ABA Forum on Franchising, Spring 2021
• Managing Risks in Contracts and Relationships Due to COVID-19, IFA Legal Symposium, 2021