AABANY Descends on Seattle for the NAPABA Convention

From Nov. 7 through 9, NAPABA held its National Convention in Seattle at the Hyatt Regency, for three days of programming, meetings, plenary sessions and the 36th Anniversary Gala capping things off on Saturday night.

AABANY members and friends once again came out in large numbers, with nearly 150 people signed up for AABANY’s WhatsApp group. The group’s members updated each other on programs they planned to attend, made lunch and dinner plans, and connected with each other about various receptions, parties and events around Seattle.

The AABANY Trial Reenactment Team presented its latest production, “AAPIs and Education: Tape v. Hurley and Gong Lum v. Rice” on Friday afternoon, Nov. 8, to a capacity audience. The program told the stories of Mamie Tape and Martha Lum and their efforts to fight discrimination in public education, through narration, reenactment of court proceedings and historic photographs. This was the sixteenth in a series of historic reenactments presented by the Asian American Bar Association of New York. For more information about AABANY’s trial reenactments, visit reenactments.aabany.org

We congratulate all the awardees and honorees recognized at the Convention, with special shout-outs to the following AABANY member honorees:

We also congratulate Sapna Palla, past AABANY President, and Anushree Bagrodia, current Co-Chair of AABANY’s In-House Counsel Committee, for joining the NAPABA Board as At-Large Members!

Thanks to all the outgoing NAPABA Board members for their service, and congratulations to AABANY member and past Board officer, Anna Mercado Clark, on her highly successful year as President.

We congratulate Muhammad Faridi, AABANY Member and President of the New York City Bar Association, on receiving the Pro Bono Service Award.

Thanks and congratulations to the many AABANY members who organized a panel or spoke at one. We know that it is not easy to get a program selected for the NAPABA Convention and that much hard work goes into putting on a quality program for the many attendees who come from across the continent to learn from you all. Please send us your photos and, if possible, a short recap about your program. You can send it to [email protected].

Many bonds were made and strengthened among AABANY attendees over the course of the Convention, and many new connections were made with the approximately 3400 registered attendees from across North America. Judging by many social media posts from those who attended, a great time was had by all. We hope everyone got back to New York City safe and sound, and we are looking forward to another inspiring NAPABA Convention when it moves to Denver, Colorado, Nov. 6-9, 2025.

PRESS RELEASE: NAPABA Announces Lee Tran & Liang LLP as its 2015 APA-Owned Law Firm of the Year

For Immediate Release: Aug. 19, 2015

For More Information, Contact:
Brett Schuster, Communications Manager
[email protected], 202-775-9555

NAPABA Announces Lee Tran & Liang LLP as its 2015 APA-Owned Law Firm of the Year

WASHINGTON – The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) has named Lee Tran & Liang LLP as the 2015 Asian Pacific American (APA)-Owned Law Firm of the Year. NAPABA created the APA-Owned Law Firm of the Year Award to recognize APA-owned law firms that have achieved prominence and distinction while maintaining the highest ethical and legal standards in the profession, and have demonstrated a strong commitment to the APA community.

The Award also celebrates growing APA ownership and entrepreneurship in the legal marketplace. The 2015 APA-Owned Law Firm of the Year Award will be presented at the 2015 NAPABA Convention on Nov. 7, 2015, in New Orleans, La.

“NAPABA is proud to honor Lee Tran & Liang LLP with the Asian Pacific American-Owned Law Firm of the Year Award,” said NAPABA President George C. Chen. “We applaud the firm’s continued commitment to excellence both within and outside the legal arena.

With over 30 attorneys across three offices in California, Lee Tran & Liang LLP (LTL) is one of the largest and fastest growing APA-owned law firms in the country, and one of the largest APA-owned litigation boutiques. LTL started in 2003 as the first spin-off from trial powerhouse Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP. Devoted solely to trials and litigation, the firm represents global companies and handles complex matters nationwide.

LTL was recently included on the 2014 National Law Journal Litigation Boutiques Hot List (one of ten firms nationally), and was awarded the 2013 Client Service Award by the California Minority Counsel Program. Its attorneys have been honored as among the “Top 20” in California (Daily Journal), “Super Lawyers” (Los Angeles Magazine), and one of LTL’s partners was named “Best Lawyers under 40 in America” by NAPABA (2003).


The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of over 40,000 attorneys and approximately 70 national, state, and local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members include solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal services and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government.

NAPABA continues to be a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities. Through its national network of committees and affiliates, 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 color in the legal profession.

To learn more about NAPABA, visit www.napaba.org, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter (@NAPABA).