Author: Han Wen Zhang

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ABA Announces Wendy Shiba as Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Honoree

For Immediate Release: 
Date: April 8, 2022 

Contact: Mary Tablante, Associate Strategic Communications & Marketing Director

WASHINGTON – This week, the American Bar Association’s Commission on Women in the Profession announced NAPABA Past President Wendy Shiba as a recipient of the 2022 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.

A retired C-suite executive, Wendy made sustainable impacts and provided a stable hand at three NYSE-listed companies where she navigated her companies through multiple challenges and transitions. Wendy is a member of the ABA’s House of Delegates and Standing Committee on Bar Activities and Services, President-Elect of Enix-Ross’s Presidential Appointments Committee, and Vice Chair of the Committee on Rights of Women on the ABA Section on Civil Rights and Social Justice.

“It was NAPABA’s honor to nominate Wendy Shiba, an exceptionally gifted corporate attorney from Altadena, California, for this award. Wendy exemplifies the spirit of Margaret Brent through her accomplishments and dedication to uplifting women,” said A.B. Cruz III, NAPABA acting president. “Not only has she had a career where she was either the first Asian American, woman, or person of color in various spaces, it was always important for her to create opportunities for others. Driven by her passion for equality and ensuring underserved communities have legal representation, Wendy has used her business acumen, wisdom, leadership, and approachability to benefit her local community, the APA community, and the legal profession. She is a true champion for women and diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.”

In addition to being Past President of NAPABA, Wendy is a member of its Leadership Advisory Council and serves as Advisory Board Member for the 2021-2022 Board of Governors. Wendy also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Japanese American National Museum and on the Steering Committee for the Los Angeles Summer Legal Institute, Just the Beginning Foundation’s cornerstone youth program.

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

  • Michele Goodwin; Chancellor’s Professor, University of California, Irvine School of Law; Senior Lecturer, Harvard Medical School; Host of On The Issues With Michele Goodwin at Ms. Magazine; Laguna Beach, CA.
  • Christina L. Martini; Partner, Global Head of McDermott’s Trademark Prosecution and Controversy Practice, McDermott Will & Emery; Chicago, IL.
  • Laura J. Schumacher; Vice Chairman, External Affairs and Chief Legal Officer, AbbVie; North Chicago, IL.
  • Myra C. Selby; Partner, Ice Miller; Indianapolis, IN.


The award recipients will be honored on Sunday, August 7 in Chicago.

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), represents the interests of over 60,000 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 APA 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.

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AABANY Presents Ask a Mid-Level: How to be a Stellar Associate

On March 11, AABANY’s Corporate Law Committee hosted a panel discussion on how junior associates can become star team players. Over 60 attendees were present over Zoom. The moderator was Ashley Wong of Sidley Austin and the speakers, all mid-levels at leading law firms, were: 

  • Keli Huang, Kirkland & Ellis
  • Douglas Kim, Debevoise & Plimpton
  • Amrita Mukherjee, Weil, Gotshal & Manges
  • James Park, Sidley Austin

The purpose of the panel was to provide guidance to junior associates on how to build stronger workplace relationships and produce deliverables more efficiently. This was an instructional program that provided 1.0 CLE credits in Law Practice Management. 

Advice from the speakers included researching a deal team’s working style before accepting an assignment, getting to know the firm’s research tools and letting people know when one has made a mistake so it can be solved faster. 

The event ended with a gift card raffle. Congratulations to Terry Shen and Evelyn Mau for being the lucky winners of a Seamless gift card! 

Thank you to all who attended this event. To learn more about the Corporate Law Committee, please visit https://www.aabany.org/page/128. 

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NAPABA Celebrates the Confirmation of Judge John H. Chun

For Immediate Release: 
Date: March 24, 2022 

Contact: Mary Tablante, Associate Strategic Communications & Marketing Director

WASHINGTON –Yesterday, the U.S. Senate confirmed Judge John H. Chun to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

“NAPABA congratulates Judge Chun on his confirmation to become only the second Asian American Article III district court judge in the state of Washington,” said A.B. Cruz III, acting president of NAPABA. “Judge Chun is a well-respected jurist who has deep ties to the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, including as a past president of the Korean American Bar Association of Washington and as a member of NAPABA and the Asian Bar Association of Washington.”

“We thank Senators Murray and Cantwell for recommending Judge Chun and the Biden-Harris Administration for upholding their promise to diversify the judiciary.”

AAPIs represent nearly 10% of the population and constitute the largest community of color in the state of Washington.

Judge Chun served as a judge on the Washington State Court of Appeals in Seattle, Washington and as a judge on the King County Superior Court. He has been recognized as a top Washington “Super Lawyer.” He was a clerk for the Honorable Eugene A. Wright on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and is a graduate of Columbia University and Cornell Law School.

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), represents the interests of over 60,000 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 APA 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.

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AABANY Women’s Committee Hosts Virtual Breakfast

Over 40 attendees gathered for a virtual breakfast hosted by AABANY’s Women’s Committee on March 10th. The featured speakers were Grace Fu, General Counsel of KAYAK/Open Table and incoming AABANY Board Director, and Kazuko Wachter, Chief Legal and Strategy Officer of Prism Financial Products and current AABANY Board Director. The conversation was moderated by Jennifer Wu, Partner at Paul, Weiss and AABANY Women’s Committee Co-Chair.  

The discussion opened with the speakers’ transition to an in-house career path. Grace and Kazuko both had to quickly gain business knowledge in their new roles. Both affirmed the importance of asking questions from people with different types of expertise. Grace and Kazuko then shared their views on making connections in the workplace, taking risks and trying to achieve work-life balance. 

One key theme from the conversation was authenticity at work. Coming from her own experience as a mother of three, Jennifer asked Grace and Kazuko how much of their personal lives they bring into their professional ones. Kazuko said she makes a point to be herself even if it does not align with conventional expectations. Grace highlighted that the pandemic has given many people, herself included, the opportunity to show more of themselves when taking calls at home or with family in the background. 

Attendees were engaged throughout the hour-long conversation, most keeping their cameras turned on until the end. Those who pre-registered received a Grub Hub gift card to enjoy breakfast delivered to their homes. The Women’s Committee hopes to resume in-person breakfast meetings going forward, as has been done in the past, before the pandemic. 

Thank you to everyone who attended and to the Women’s Committee for organizing this event. To learn more about the Women’s Committee, please visit https://www.aabany.org/page/122. 

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AABANY Membership Committee Hosts Welcome Back Happy Hour

On March 10, the Membership Committee hosted a “Welcome Back” Happy Hour, after months of postponed events due to the Omnicron variant of the pandemic. 

Approximately 35 members convened at the Winslow, a bar in Union Square, to connect and reconnect in person. Many in attendance were new members and interested in learning more about what AABANY can offer. Thank you to everyone who attended. 

Keep an eye out on the AABANY newsletter and calendar for more exciting future events! To learn more about the Membership Committee, please visit https://www.aabany.org/page/130. 

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AABANY IP Committee Hosts Dinner at Laut Singapura

On March 17, the IP Committee enjoyed a delicious Singaporean feast at Laut Singapura for its final meeting of the fiscal year.  New connections were made over dishes such as Hainanese Chicken, Laksa, Nasi Lemak, and many more.  Attendees, ranging from law firm attorneys, students, and in-house counsel chatted about their careers, classes at school, and upcoming plans, among many other topics.  Thanks to everyone who attended.

Please sign up for the IP Committee mailing list and look out for the committee’s next event! To learn more about the IP Committee, please visit https://www.aabany.org/page/145. 

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AABANY Recognized in City & State’s Law Power 100

AABANY President Terrence Shen and President-Elect William Ng have been recognized by City & State’s Law Power 100. The Law Power 100 takes an in-depth look at the legal professionals who aren’t simply influential in their field, but powerful in New York’s governmental landscape. This year’s list includes district attorneys, federal prosecutors, white-collar defense attorneys, public interest lawyers, law school deans and bar association leaders who have shaped New York politics and government. 

President Terrence Shen and President-Elect William are 86th on the Law Power 100 for their leadership of AABANY. The publication applauds AABANY as an organization of more than 1,500 attorneys, judges, law students and academics which aims to improve the practice of law and to support Asian American legal professionals. 

AABANY congratulates Terrence Shen and William Ng, as well as all the attorneys, firms and groups recognized. To read the full article, please click here. 

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NAPABA Shares March 16 Remembrance Events

Dear NAPABA Community,

We pause to remember the lives of eight people lost, including six Asian women, in the Atlanta-area shootings one year ago. As we continue to grapple with the continued impact of anti-Asian hate and violence on our communities, we hope you are taking care and finding space for reflection and healing. We invite you to join and share events from the NAPABA community and affiliates.

Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association: 
March 16 Remembrance Event “Lest We Forget”
Wednesday, March 23, 2022 | 5:00 – 7:00 pm ET
Location: Nelson Mullins – Atlanta, GA

Join GAPABA in partnership with The AAPI Crime Victims & Education Fund, The GAPABA Law Foundation, NAAAP-Atlanta, and Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta. Register for the event here.


All proceeds go towards the AAPI Crime Victims & Education Fund. If you would like to make an extra online donation, you may do so here.

Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Colorado: 
“One Year Later: Honoring the Victims of Anti-Asian Hate”
Tuesday, March 15, 2022 | 10:00 – 11:30 am MT
Location: Aurora, CO and virtual via Zoom

On March 15, 2022, the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Colorado is hosting a press conference and panel discussion at the Colorado School of Public Health’s Injury & Violence Prevention Center where members of the media and community are invited to learn about the issues impacting the AAPI community and what the community needs in order to end gun violence and hate crimes. Following the press conference, a panel will discuss resources for coping with the trauma associated with community victimization, and tools for where we – as a community – go from here. Register here to attend in-person or via Zoom.

Asian American Bar Association of Houston and Asian American Bar Foundation of Houston: 
“Break the Silence: Justice for Asian Women” 
Wednesday, March 16, 2022 | 6:00 pm CT
Location: Discovery Green, Downtown Houston

On March 16, 2022, the Asian American Bar Association of Houston is sponsoring the Houston component of the National Asian Women’s rally on the one-year anniversary of the tragic Atlanta spa shootings. 

Similar rallies will take place simultaneously in Atlanta, Houston, New York, San Francisco, Sacramento, Washington D.C., and other cities around the country. The Houston rally will be held at Discovery Green in downtown Houston at 6:00 pm CT. 

The goal of the event is to uplift the experiences of API women by acknowledging the complexities of their struggles, demanding change, and celebrating women’s strength. Conscious of the anniversary of the Atlanta shootings, and the one too many tragedies in over the last year, this event is meant to emphasize that the violence enacted on API women’s bodies does not solely define their identities and existence.

For more information about the event, please visit aabahouston.com. 

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Collaborative Bar Leadership Academy to be Held June 26-28 in Chicago

The American Bar Association’s (ABA) Commission on Racial and Ethic Diversity in the Profession announced that the 2022 Collaborative Bar Leadership Academy (CBLA) will be held June 26-28, 2022, in Chicago.

The CBLA is a joint initiative between the ABA, its Commissions on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession, Disability Rights, NAPABA, the Hispanic National Bar Association, the National Bar Association, the National LGBT Bar Association, the National Native American Bar Association, and the South Asian Bar Association of North America.

The CBLA is a coordinated effort to strengthen the pipeline of diverse bar association leaders by providing leadership training and professional development programs, which benefit current and future leaders of bar associations and the legal profession. This summer, the CBLA will host several programs spotlighting issues in the legal profession and diverse communities.

Application details to come.  Click on the flyer for more details.

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AABANY and KALAGNY File Amici Brief Addressing Implicit Racial Bias in N.Y. Judicial System

An Allen & Overy cross-practice team acted as pro-bono counsel for the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) and Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York (KALAGNY) in filing an appellate brief amici curiae to the New York Appellate Division, Third Department. 

Following his mostly unsuccessful personal injury case brought against the State of New York (Byung Choon Joe v. New York), Plaintiff, Byung Choon Joe, appealed the trial judge’s decision to the Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department. A&O, on behalf of AABANY and KALAGNY, filed a brief amici curiae in support of Mr. Joe, urging the appellate court to consider whether the trial court’s decision was negatively influenced by implicit racial bias.

Terry Shen, President of AABANY, said, “As the largest affinity bar association in New York and the United States, AABANY is devoted to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. When we learned about the case of Byung Choon Joe, we were concerned about the trial court’s irrelevant reference to his Korean ethnicity in the context of a finding of a lack of trustworthiness, recalling age-old negative stereotypes of Asian Americans. We therefore joined with KALAGNY to file an amici brief to call attention to the fact that judges and the judicial system are not immune to implicit bias.”

The New York State Bar Association and several affiliates of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association also supported AABANY and KALAGNY’s brief including: the Asian American Bar Association of Chicago, the Asian American Bar Association of Houston, the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania, the Connecticut Asian Pacific American Bar Association, the Jacksonville Asian American Bar Association, the Network of Bar Leaders (a coalition of more than fifty bar associations in the Greater New York area), the South Asian Bar Association of New York, and the Thai American Bar Association.

The A&O pro-bono team for this case was led by Sapna Palla (AABANY member and Immediate Past President) along with associates Rebecca Cecchini and Ben Minkoff.


To view the entire press release, please click here.