ABA Names Justice Maryka Omatsu and Judge Holly Fujie as Recipients of the 2025 Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award

For Immediate Release:
Date: April 29, 2025

WASHINGTON – The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is proud to announce that this week, the American Bar Association’s Commission on Women in the Profession has named NAPABA members Justice Maryka Omatsu and Judge Holly Fujie as recipients of the 2025 Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award. Each year, the Commission honors up to five outstanding women lawyers who have achieved professional excellence and paved the way for other women in the legal profession.

Justice Maryka Omatsu is an icon of the Asian Canadian bar who, in 1993, set the stage for others to follow in her footsteps as the first Canadian woman of East Asian descent to be appointed as a judge in the entire country. She began her legal career in the 1970s as a human rights and environmental rights attorney who represented First Nations communities and held numerous prestigious appointments, including as Chair of the Ontario Boards of Inquiry and later Chair of the Ontario Human Rights Appeals Tribunal.

A third generation Japanese Canadian born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, Justice Omatsu’s parents were incarcerated by Canadian authorities during the Second World War in a manner similar to the Japanese American experience. Justice Omatsu rose to nationwide prominence as a key leader of, and counsel for, the National Association of Japanese Canadians Redress negotiating team, who helped secure an historic human rights settlement between the Canadian Government and affected Japanese Canadians for their mistreatment during the war. In early 2006, Justice Omatsu set forth a vision for a Canadian analog to NAPABA and led the creation of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (FACL). In 2013, NAPABA conferred Justice Omatsu with its Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Award.

“Justice Maryka Omatsu continues to inspire and open doors for women in the legal profession and to do so across the largest land border in the world–serving as a role model for lawyers in both Canada and the United States,” said NAPABA President Thy Bui. “Through her distinguished career, towering achievements, and tenacious and proactive advocacy, she has secured lasting, systemic positive change for Canadian women on the bench, in the legal profession, and beyond.”

For over four decades, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Holly Fujie has been a strong, vocal, and effective champion for, and mentor to, countless women and minorities in the legal profession.

Judge Fujie was only the third woman and the first Asian American to serve as the President of the State Bar of California. Prior to joining the bench, she was a renowned litigator, handling complex litigation for a variety of clients, primarily in the financial services industry. Judge Fujie broke barriers as one of the first Asian American women elected to equity partnership at major Los Angeles firm at a time when there were nearly no other Asian American women attorneys becoming law firm partners in California.

She is Vice President of NAPABA’s Judicial Council and Co-Chair of the Multicultural Bar Alliance of Southern California. She serves on the Boards of the Asian Pacific American Women Lawyers Alliance, the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, and the California Judges Foundation, and previously chaired Senator Dianne Feinstein’s Judicial Advisory Committee for the Central District of California. In 2010, NAPABA bestowed its Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Award on Judge Fujie.

Throughout her career, Judge Fujie has individually mentored numerous women seeking to join and advance in the legal profession. But she believes that it is not merely enough to give advice to mentees but to actively do all she can to help them achieve success.

“Judge Holly Fujie continues to inspire and mentor so many in the California bar and across the country,” said Priya Purandare, Executive Director of NAPABA. “Her commitment to opening doors for women in the profession is matched only by her passion and dedication on a deeply personal level to ensuring that as many can succeed as possible.”

Also receiving the Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award this year are:

  • Anita S. Earls; Senior Associate Justice, North Carolina Supreme Court, Durham, NC
  • Bridget Marsh; Executive Vice President and General Counsel, LSTA, Inc., New York, NY
  • Jami Wintz McKeon; Chair, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, Philadelphia, PA

NAPABA congratulates all the recipients who will be honored during the ABA’s Annual Meeting in Toronto on August 10.

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) represents the interests of over 80,000 Asian Pacific American (APA) legal professionals and nearly 90 national, state, and local APA bar associations. NAPABA is a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Through its national network, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of the federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes the professional development of people of all backgrounds in the legal profession.

Congratulations, Vincent Chang, 2025 Recipient of The Network of Bar Leaders’ President’s Award

On April 22, 2025, at The Harvard Club in New York City, the Network of Bar Leaders, a coalition representing over 50 bar associations in the greater New York Metropolitan area, honored Vincent Chang, Esq., Counsel at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, with the President’s Award. The distinction is reserved for those who have advanced the legal profession through the values of leadership, collaboration, and community within and across bar associations.

With a legal career focused on complex commercial litigation, including securities, investment banking, hedge funds, bankruptcy, insurance, real estate, antitrust, and bondholder disputes, Vince brings a deep sense of responsibility to the profession. His resume includes serving as Immediate Past President of the New York County Lawyers Association (NYCLA), past President of the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY), and a member of the Executive Council of the Network of Bar Leaders. He currently holds positions within the American Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association, including serving as a Special Advisor to the ABA’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary. Vince is one of those rare leaders who has left a lasting mark on the legal community not only through his work in the courtroom but also through the time, energy, and care he has poured into the bar associations that shape the future of law.

Vince’s journey in bar association leadership began with AABANY, a formative role that contributed to his collaborative approach to leadership. “My goal was to bring people together,” he recalled. His efforts not only unified the group but also doubled AABANY’s membership during his term. His ability to lead with transparency and unity laid the groundwork for a generation of new leaders, including James Chou and Yang Chen, both past presidents of AABANY. Yang now serves as its Executive Director. Vince credits AABANY as the launchpad for much of his bar association work. “It was the leadership opportunity that started everything. Without AABANY, I wouldn’t have joined other bar associations, wouldn’t have become part of the American Bar Association, wouldn’t have been president of the Network.” His leadership at AABANY set a standard that continues to influence the future of the legal community.

From there, his bar service expanded across the legal landscape. At NYCLA, he guided the association through the difficulties of COVID-19, restructured its physical offices to ensure financial stability, and upheld its legacy as a pioneer in legal diversity. “It was the first bar association to admit people of color, women, and non-Protestants,” he shared. “Serving as President was a high point in my career.” His leadership not only preserved NYCLA’s legacy but positioned it to thrive in a new era of law and inclusion.

What motivates someone to give so much time and energy to bar associations while maintaining a demanding legal career? For Vince, the answer is simple: the people. “There’s a lot of fellowship in bar associations,” he explained. “You learn from great people. You get to do fulfilling work. And you really don’t need a huge time commitment to get started. If you put more into it, you get more out of it. But even a small investment of time can open doors—meet judges, build networks, find mentors.” His message to younger attorneys is clear: “Carve out the time, no matter how difficult it seems. Bar associations are a fulfilling activity, and one that young lawyers ought to get involved in immediately if they can.” By prioritizing bar association involvement, young attorneys can unlock opportunities that extend from just their legal practice.

Across every organization he’s served, Vince has consistently advocated for the judiciary, particularly in securing fair pay and resources. “There was a time when judges went more than a dozen years without a raise. That’s unacceptable.” Through reports, testimonies, and public education, Chang helped lead the fight for change. “Supporting the judiciary is some of the most rewarding work I’ve done,” he said. His dedication to judicial advocacy has helped redefine how legal professionals understand the vital role of court support.

Beyond his work in bar associations, Vince’s legal career includes moments that many attorneys only dream of. One of the most memorable was a case that took him all the way to the United States Supreme Court. “It was a landmark case for Morgan Stanley, involving separation of powers. I’ll never forget seeing the justices in person,” he shared. The case was decided 4–4, which meant the previous court’s decision stayed in place. While Vince’s team did not win at the time, their argument was proven right when a later case confirmed the same legal principle. It was an experience that left a lasting impression both professionally and personally.

For the next generation of lawyers, Vince advises: “Putting your head down and working at your desk 12 hours a day won’t be enough. You have to meet people. You have to network. You have to learn from the broader profession.” He’s honest about what he would’ve done differently. “I didn’t really get involved in bar associations until I was 40. If you start in your 20s, you’ll get so much more out of it.” His advice serves as a reminder that success is built on connections, experience, and a willingness to step out of one’s comfort zone.

However, Vince also sees real challenges ahead. As social media and changing lifestyles pull younger professionals away from traditional membership organizations, bar associations must adapt. “Many groups are struggling with membership. AABANY has done well because it has a young demographic to draw from and knows how to reach them. But we can’t take that for granted.” He points to studies like The Portrait Project to show how diversity efforts must continue beyond entry-level roles. “There’s a glass ceiling. Asian American attorneys are getting into the profession, but they’re not advancing at the highest levels—whether that’s partner, elected DA, or leadership in government. We need to figure out why.” The future of bar associations depends on their ability to evolve and break down barriers for underrepresented groups within the profession.

Vince’s contributions to the legal community go beyond his accolades and titles. They are a reflection to a life dedicated to service, leadership, and progress. Through his commitment to bar associations and mentorship of young attorneys, he has made a strong impact for generations to come. Vince’s legacy is not just in the offices he’s held or the cases he’s won, but in the lives he’s touched and the doors he’s opened for others. His leadership continues to shape the future of our legal system: one that is more inclusive, more equitable, and more united than ever before.

Vince reflected on the celebration with heartfelt gratitude: “I am deeply grateful to my friends from the Asian American Bar Association of New York for sponsoring and attending this event. Including myself, there were five AABANY Presidents present. AABANY has always been close to my heart, and I am thrilled to see its continued growth and success under the leadership of Yang Chen and Ben Hsing.”

Congratulations, Vince Chang, 2025 Recipient of The Network of Bar Leaders’ President’s Award!