The 2025 NAPABA Convention is just 100 days away! Don’t miss this powerful opportunity to advance your legal career through dynamic programs, inspiring speakers, and unparalleled networking with fellow AANHPI legal professionals.
We know that cost can be a barrier, which is why NAPABA offers scholarships to help make attending more accessible. Scholarships—including a general scholarship and a dedicated law student scholarship—can be used to help cover registration, travel, and lodging expenses.
Apply by August 5th. As a current NAPABA member, now is the time to take advantage of this opportunity. Please note: the Law Student Scholarship application closes September 16 at 8 pm ET.
Join us in Denver this November and apply for a Convention scholarship today!
Just over a month ago, NAPABA held its annual Lobby Day in Washington, DC. We convened our members in the Nation’s capital to support the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community, advance a fair and humane immigration system, defend the rule of law and the legal profession, and advance democracy and civil rights. With over 60 congressional meetings and over 20 states represented, NAPABA demonstrated its commitment to change the status quo for our community.
Since then, and since NAPABA’s last update to you, we have been tracking developments that impact our organization, our mission, our legal community, and the broader AANHPI community. Please find some of these updates below
I. NAPABA-Led Coalition Continues to Defend Birthright Citizenship
After our filing in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in April 2025, NAPABA continued to lead a coalition of nearly 50 of its affiliates and national associates from across the country to defend birthright citizenship. Besides our amicus brief in the Ninth Circuit, which is available here, NAPABA filed substantially similar amicus briefs defending birthright citizenship in matters pending in the First Circuit and the Fourth Circuit. Those briefs can be viewed here and here.
Our brief explains the critical historical context behind United States v. Wong Kim Ark, 169 U.S. 649 (1898). The case was decided during an era of intense anti-Chinese sentiment, immigration restrictions, widespread violence, and mass expulsions. In Wong Kim Ark, the U.S. Supreme Court declared that birthright citizenship is automatically conferred to children born on American soil, even to those whose parents were from the most disfavored migrant group in the country at the time. NAPABA’s amicus brief underscores the importance of understanding Asian American legal history as a critical part of American history. Wong Kim Ark and other cases involving Asian American litigants in the late 19th century are foundational precedents for today’s immigration and civil rights law.
On Friday, June 27, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court narrowed the scope of the preliminary injunctions that can be available to pause the executive order limiting birthright citizenship. The Court did not address the constitutionality of the executive order. Thus, litigation will continue as does NAPABA’s advocacy. The question of a child’s citizenship in the United States ought not to be dependent on the stature or circumstances of their parents. Nor should it turn on whether a child is born in one state versus another. For the guarantees of the Fourteenth Amendment to be vindicated, birthright citizenship must apply to all children across the United States.
II. NAPABA Condemns Political Violence and Hate
In recent weeks, we have witnessed incidents of hate and political violence that are antithetical to the values of our community and our country. In the early morning hours of June 14, 2025, an armed perpetrator shot two Minnesota state legislators and their respective spouses in the suburbs outside of Minneapolis in an “act of targeted political violence,” according to the Governor of Minnesota. State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, died. State Senator John A. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, survived and sustained injuries from the attack.
Weeks earlier, on May 21, 2025, a deadly shooting in Washington, DC, targeted Israeli Embassy diplomats. And on June 1, 2025, eight people in Boulder, Colorado, were injured when a perpetrator threw incendiary devices into a crowd during a demonstration intended to remember hostages in the Middle East. One of those injured died from her wounds.
On top of these horrific acts, some elected leaders have sought divisiveness rather than inclusion. In a social media post, a member of Congress expressed that it was “deeply troubling” that a Sikh faith leader, Giani Surinder Singh, led a prayer on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. The member, who had misidentified Giani Surinder Singh as Muslim, declared that Singh “should never have been allowed” to lead a prayer in Congress.
In the race for New York City’s mayor, some members of Congress have lodged Islamophobic comments against Zohran Mamdani, the winner of the primary election. One member of Congress posted an offensive cartoon of Mamdani, referred to Mamdani with a slur, and called on the Attorney General to institute denaturalization proceedings and remove him from the United States. Another member of Congress posted a photo on social media of Mamdani wearing a kurta and greeting others for an Eid service with the caption, “After 9/11, we said, ‘Never Forget.’ I think we sadly have forgotten.”
Further, the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, revised the National Crime Victimization Survey and removed questions about gender identity and about hate crimes against transgender people. Previously, the questions on sexual orientation and gender identity allowed researchers, policymakers, and advocates to quantify the disproportionate victimization of the LGBTQ+ community. Comprehensive data collection surrounding hate crimes and hate incidents is critical in order to better combat such conduct and to take legislative action. NAPABA joined 90+ organizations opposing the decision. Following our advocacy, the Bureau of Justice Statistics reinstated the question pertaining to hate crimes involving gender identity.
The Justice Department’s action preceded a recent decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold a Tennessee law that banned hormone therapies for transgender minors.
Hate, regardless of the form, political violence, and the marginalization of vulnerable communities must be rejected. NAPABA will continue to oppose hate, support the diverse AANHPI community, and work to strengthen the rule of law and democracy.
III. NAPABA Calls for a Fair and Humane Immigration System
Fundamental to a fair and humane immigration system is one that is subject to constitutional limits, non-discriminatory, and ensures meaningful due process. Recent developments, however, brush against these values.
On May 28, 2025, the federal government announced that it would work to “aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students.” This policy declaration has not only caused needless anxiety throughout our community, but it is also wholly misguided. While policymakers have the prerogative to address the legitimate national security concerns confronting the United States, they may not enact discriminatory policies like blanket visa revocations based only on national origin and alien land laws. Instead of measures that are tailored to an evidence-based, national security nexus, these recent policies foster an atmosphere of distrust that targets Asian Americans generally, not just the Chinese American community.
NAPABA is also concerned about the federal government’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act. On June 2, 2025, NAPABA joined 60 other AANHPI organizations, led by the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), in filing an amicus brief that urged the court to fulfill its role in preserving the right to due process and ensuring meaningful judicial review of executive orders. The last invocation of the Alien Enemies Act justified the incarceration of over 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II. The amicus brief shared the stories of these Americans and their families. We urged the court to uphold the right of meaningful due process and judicial review of executive actions.
Lastly, starting on June 6, 2025, protests erupted in Los Angeles in response to federal immigration enforcement actions in the city. On June 7, 2025, for the first time in 33 years, the President deployed National Guard and military service members in Los Angeles to protect federal law enforcement and federal property. The protests continued until around June 15.
NAPABA recognizes the widespread anxiety throughout the AANHPI community and the broader immigrant community. Whether involving the changes in immigration enforcement policy or the announcement of new immigration policies generally, the shifting landscape of immigration law has created much uncertainty. This includes a recent policy change from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement pertaining to the removability of certain Vietnamese immigrants who arrived in the United States prior to 1995. Please visit the Asian Law Caucus’s website for more information.
In the coming days, NAPABA will promote educational programming to cover many of these changes and more. Please stay tuned.
We have a lot of work ahead of us, and the NAPABA Policy Team will do its part. But we need your partnership, too. Engage in our committees and networks and register for the NAPABA Convention in Denver, which will be held on November 6-8, 2025. We look forward to seeing you.
Get ready—NAPABA is heading to the Mile High City! Registration is now open for the 2025 NAPABA Convention, our signature event and one of the largest annual gatherings of attorneys, judges, law professors, and students. NAPABA is committed to fostering a welcoming, inclusive community open to all—where everyone is empowered to engage, contribute, and lead. We hope you and your colleagues join us.
This year’s Convention in Denver promises thought-provoking programs, dynamic networking, and countless opportunities to connect with peers and leaders who are shaping the future of the legal profession. Whether you’re looking to advance your career, grow your community, or simply be inspired—there’s something here for you.
Early Bird pricing only lasts for a limited time. As a current NAPABA member, you’ll get the best deal for the Convention if you register now!
When you register early, you’ll be first in line for our special hotel rates, a la carte plenaries, and gala tickets! This year, a room block has been secured at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, the Convention host hotel. We’ve also secured overflow hotels at the Hilton Denver City Center and the Sonesta Denver Downtown, both within walking distance to the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel. The unique booking link will be provided AFTER you register for the 2025 NAPABA Convention.
To enhance your Convention experience and put you in control of your schedule, the Friday and Saturday Plenary Luncheons and the 37th Anniversary Gala will be available for purchase a la carte. To attend these ticketed events, you must add them to your registration for an additional fee.
SCHOLARSHIPS
NAPABA strives to keep the Convention affordable for our members and offers one of the best values among legal education conferences. Scholarships may be used towards Convention registration, airfare, lodging, and/or ground transportation.
General Convention Scholarship Application | Deadline: August 5 at 8 pm ET
Law Student Scholarship Program Application | Deadline: September 16 at 8 pm ET
We’re excited to announce that the in-house counsel application is now open for NAPABA Connects, our premier program designed exclusively for in-house counsel NAPABA members who register for Convention and to Solo and Small Firm, Gold, or higher-level sponsors.
Through NAPABA Connects, in-house counsel will be matched with law firm attorneys for one-on-one meetings, giving you the opportunity to expand and diversify your preferred provider network. In addition to the opportunity to meet with new outside counsel, NAPABA will be offering in-house counsel the opportunity to meet with existing preferred provider firms. These curated meetings are designed to foster connection and long-term collaboration. By participating, both in-house counsel and law firm attorneys can strategically grow their networks and support each other’s professional advancement.
Don’t wait to submit your application—this is a program you don’t want to miss!
Please note that participants must be registered for the 2025 NAPABA Convention (November 6–8, Denver, CO). As part of this program, NAPABA will offer participating in-house counsel a partial Convention registration reimbursement depending on the number of meetings you volunteer to participate in. The maximum reimbursement amount is $750.
NAPABA Condemns Executive Orders Undermining the Legal Profession
WASHINGTON – The legal profession is of constitutional significance. The right to counsel is fundamental, and the judiciary as a coequal branch of government is charged with peacefully resolving disputes that inevitably arise in a vast and complex nation. Undermining the legal profession undermines democracy.
Over the past few weeks, the Administration issued executive actions against three law firms: Covington Burling LLP, Perkins Coie LLP, and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. These actions included the suspension of security clearances and a review and termination of government contracts. For two of the firms, the Administration limited their access to federal government buildings and interactions between the firms and government officials.
One executive order accused global law firms of having a role “in the destruction of bedrock American principles.” Another executive order described one of the law firm’s activities as “dishonest and dangerous.” The executive actions plainly expressed a displeasure with the firms’ representation of certain clients that the Administration disfavors. Some of the executive actions are now subject to litigation.
The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) condemns these attacks. From the founding of this Nation, lawyers have represented clients regardless of their stature in society. NAPABA is the national voice of the Asian Pacific American legal profession. We promote justice and equality. Members throughout our community zealously represent their clients each and every day, including those at the three law firms. When attorneys are unable to represent their clients free from intimidation and threats, our profession and justice system are jeopardized.
NAPABA also rejects the calls for the impeachment of judges simply because of their rulings. As Chief Justice John Roberts shared recently, “impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision. The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose.” We agree.
### 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.
Beyond our outstanding CLE sessions, the NAPABA Convention offers specialty programming designed to provide hands-on, in-depth learning from top experts. These immersive workshops go beyond the basics, equipping participants with practical skills and actionable insights to advance their careers.
We’re seeking proposals for these dynamic specialty tracks:
International Law Symposium – Dive into global legal topics like IP, national security, and dispute resolution with diplomats, judges, and business leaders. Presented by the International Law Committee on Thursday.
Young Lawyers Workshop – Designed for early to mid-career attorneys, tackling real-world challenges like work-life balance and career growth. Presented by the Young Lawyers Network on Thursday.
Solo & Small Firm Boot Camp – Tailored for solo and small firm practitioners, covering business development, firm expansion, and legal strategy. Presented by the Solo & Small Firm Committee on Thursday.
Law Student Workshop – A two-day boot camp helping law students develop essential career skills through interactive sessions and expert-led discussions.
Before the start of this new year, I wrote to you and shared not only my gratitude for an incredible 2024, but also our commitment to advance NAPABA’s mission heading into 2025. Though we are merely two months into the new year, we have already witnessed several developments that impact NAPABA’s work and the broader Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community.
On his first day in office on January 20, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued executive orders that jeopardized the constitutional guarantee of citizenship for all persons born in the United States, the right to seek asylum, the refugee resettlement system, and the LGBTQ+ community, among others. NAPABA swiftly condemned these actions, which ran counter to our values. Since then, the federal government has enacted a slew of policies, which have already drawn significant concern for the rule of law, in addition to attacks on lawful diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives both within the federal government and the private sector.
When it comes to our values, our words of disagreement are not enough. NAPABA is charged to promote justice and equity for the AANHPI community. My team is closely monitoring developments from the federal government, and we are working with stakeholders, coalition partners, policymakers, and others to respond appropriately.
NAPABA is prepared to act. I have outlined below, in broad strokes, our intended course of action and how you can get involved. In the coming weeks and months, and with your partnership, we plan to meaningfully support our community and actively counter policies that detrimentally affect the AANHPI community.
I. Direct Support for NAPABA Affiliates and National Associates
NAPABA stands ready to deliver financial support to our affiliates and national associates for their work in the community. As leaders in their respective regions, affiliates and national associates can act as trusted messengers delivering pivotal information and services to their members and broader AANHPI communities. We will prioritize projects that speak to the challenges today: for example, educational seminars on the state of immigration, pro bono initiatives to support heightened immigration needs of the Asian American population, funding language translations for educational materials and resources, and local and state advocacy efforts that align with NAPABA values and positions. To apply for funding, please visit our website.
Building on the work of the NAPABA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force, we plan to create toolkits for our affiliates and national associates. They will include resources to advance the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and immigration resources such as hosting naturalization clinics and the creation of attorney directories that address priority areas like immigration law.
II. NAPABA Engagement with Policymakers
The NAPABA Policy Team leads our engagement with stakeholders and policymakers at the federal and state levels. We advance our policy priorities, whether it be in our opposition to anti-Asian hate and discriminatory alien land law policies to our support for voting rights. Now, as our engagement will necessarily go deeper, we are investing in an expansion of our Policy Team.
Plus, the planning is well underway for our upcoming Lobby Day, which is scheduled for May 20-21, 2025, in Washington, DC. As the largest AANHPI advocacy effort on Capitol Hill, NAPABA Lobby Day will bring our members from across the Nation to the halls of Congress to demonstrate not only the strength of our community, but also to advance the critical issues facing the AANHPI community. Our members will meet with Congressional offices on both sides of the aisle to highlight the causes important to us and our communities. Your voice is pivotal. For more information on Lobby Day and to register, please visit our website.
III. Narrative Change and Education In the coming weeks and months, NAPABA will highlight how recent actions from the federal government not only impact our communities, but also the critical role that the AANHPI communities played in the development of the rights that we cherish today. Whether it be on birthright citizenship, the right to asylum and the refugee resettlement program, or the barriers that our community faces in the legal profession, NAPABA will uplift those stories and our history, which are intertwined with the fabric of American life today. Please be on the lookout through our social media channels, our website, and email for additional educational resources and programming. These efforts will be on top of the multitude of informative programs during the Nation’s largest convening of legal professionals: the NAPABA Convention in Denver, Colorado, on November 6-8, 2025.
NAPABA has an exceptionally talented and enthusiastic full-time staff, but we cannot carry out our work without you. The strength of NAPABA is comprised of passionate and energetic volunteers like you. As I mentioned above, here are some ways where you can get involved:
AABANY congratulates Muhammad Faridi, current AABANY member, President of the New York City Bar Association (NYCBA), and Partner at Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP, for receiving NAPABA’s 2024 Pro Bono Service Award. The award is well-deserved, recognizing Muhammad’s commitment to pro bono work within the legal profession as well as his dedication to the advancement and protection of civil rights. Though Muhammad had not originally expected to be able to accept the award in-person due to an ongoing jury trial, as luck would have it, his closing statements took place the day before the awards presentation. Thus, he was able to appear in-person at the 2024 NAPABA Convention in Seattle, Washington to be presented with the award during Saturday night’s Gala on November 9, even though right before he got the award, a video was played showing him apologizing for not being able to be there in person due to an ongoing trial. None of the honorees were permitted to speak after getting their awards, which made for a puzzling moment. Thanks to Muhammad for clearing up the confusion, and congratulations again!
When asked why pro bono work is so important to him, Muhammad emphasized that it allows him to support and uplift his community, saying: “It is becoming increasingly difficult in our country for people from my type of background to enter the profession. I think there are a lot of barriers … that have made it difficult for people from marginalized backgrounds to have the level of success that I have had. There are significant structural problems that exist in our system that prevents many people from realizing their potential … a lack of resources in our public schools … health related challenges in communities where marginalized people live … and more.” For Muhammad, pro bono service is a way to give back and show support to the people around him.
Raised by immigrant parents from Pakistan, from a young age Muhammad’s family played a deeply influential role on him. For one, they imparted upon him a deep appreciation and respect for the Islamic faith. He explained, “One thing that people don’t appreciate is the commonalities of the Islamic faith – decency, humanity, and justice. These are concepts that all of us share. In some ways, my faith is one way for me to try to live by those three principles. It’s my spiritual way of trying to embody and connect with them.” Muhammad remarked that he has tried to carry these ideals with him throughout his career and into all the work he does.
Muhammad’s family also instilled in him the ideal that “education is something that is transformational in nature.” Muhammad attended John Jay School of Criminal Justice, from which he graduated summa cum laude. He then attended CUNY School of Law, where, as a 1L, he served as a research assistant for the Death Penalty Committee of the NYCBA – an introduction to what would later become one of his core professional interests – and, as a 2L, he earned a diversity fellowship from the NYCBA’s Committee on Recruitment and Retention of Lawyers – which he continues to work on and improve to this day.
Following his graduation from law school, Muhammad clerked for the Honorable Jack B. Weinstein, a former judge in the Eastern District of New York, a position which he described as “probably the best legal job I have ever had in my career.” As a clerk, Muhammad had the opportunity to closely interact with Judge Weinstein, growing not just professionally, but also personally. He remarked, “The most profound way [Judge Weinstein] influenced me was to not be deterred by the notion that it is too difficult or impossible to effectuate meaningful change. He encountered so many barriers as a judge. The rules appeared very rigid [but] he was able to navigate through those rules in a very careful way to make sure that he was always able to dispense his notion of justice. That was illuminating.” Muhammad further reflected that Judge Weinstein was always accessible and “fun to be around,” saying that he has tried to emulate these qualities in his own career.
After his clerkship, Muhammad began working for Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP in its litigation department, where he is now a partner. Over the course of his career, he has represented clients as both plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of industries, including financial services, pharmaceuticals, software, and manufacturing. Some of his most recent trial successes include securing a directed verdict on a statute-of-limitations defense, securing a $2 billion jury verdict, and securing a $1.84 billion settlement for his client midway through trial.
One of the most unique aspects of Muhammad’s career has been his ability to balance his professional work with his pro bono work. Ever since law school when he served as a research assistant for the NYCBA’s Death Penalty Committee, Muhammad has positioned himself as a strong opponent to the death penalty, representing a number of clients on death row. He recalled a particularly influential case he took on in 2016, in which his client had been on death row for eight years, saying: “We were dealing with some very challenging facts [but] were nevertheless seeking to spare that person’s life.” Though his client was ultimately executed after all the appeals processes had been exhausted, Muhammad reflected that he could “only hope that the attitude in our country changes to some degree.” Despite the heartbreaking nature of these cases, Muhammad has found immense meaning in them: “Many times you are dealing with people of the saddest backgrounds ever. These are some of the most marginalized people ever. These death penalty cases are in some ways an opportunity to give back to the community. It’s an uphill battle.”
Beyond death penalty cases, Muhammad has involved himself in a variety of other pro bono work. In 2016, for example, he worked on Trump v. Hawaii, representing a union of federal asylum and refugee officers challenging government restrictions on the rights of refugees. He explained, “We had harkened back to some of the problematic episodes in our history …. In that case, we tried to restore the longstanding tradition of America providing a safe haven to those who are being persecuted.” He successfully challenged the laws and barriers preventing these persecuted individuals from realizing the American dream, describing it as a “fascinating case and one of the defining moments of my career.”
Perhaps Muhammad’s most significant endeavor thus far is serving as President of the New York City Bar Association. Having worked with the organization throughout his entire career in various leadership capacities, including as Chair of the Capital Punishment Committee, Chair of the Executive Committee, and Vice President, his election to the presidency seemed only natural. When asked how he plans to shape the organization’s path forward, he responded, “Our number one goal is to prepare for the future. Our profession is going through a fundamental change. Young lawyers are beginning to question the value proposition of many longstanding institutions. The questions that are being asked are profound and need to be asked, like what is the value of the bar association? Is this the most effective way for lawyers to network? The younger lawyers are questioning and exposing these inefficiencies. Thus, my number one priority is to make the newer generation of lawyers understand the importance of bar associations.” Indeed, Muhammad’s vision reflects a clear commitment to supporting the new generation of lawyers and to ensuring that bar associations evolve to meet the needs of the rapidly-changing legal profession.
Outside of the legal world, Muhammad has impacted the larger New York City community as an independent civil representative to the NYPD’s Handschu Committee, an organization that oversees compliance with the Handschu Guidelines, which regulate the NYPD’s policies and practices regarding investigations of political activity. As Muhammad described, the Committee ensures that “while law enforcement is able to fulfill its very important duty, the rights of New Yorkers are not violated in the process.” With his background of representing people from the Muslim community, and as a human rights advocate, Muhammad has found the Committee’s work to be important and rewarding, stating that the current law enforcement process “exists in a very thoughtful process and strikes the right balance” in part due to Handschu.
Furthermore, Muhammad has committed to strengthening and supporting the Asian American community in New York. He has attended various events as an active AABANY member for many years, and also served on the Board of Directors of the Muslim Bar Association of New York from 2009 to 2010.
Please join AABANY in congratulating Muhammad on receiving the NAPABA Pro Bono Service Award. To learn more about the award, please click here.
The 2024 NAPABA Convention in Seattle was a record-breaking event—over 3,400 attendees and 1,100 first-timers! Ours was the largest gathering of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) lawyers ever and remains cause for celebration and an achievement that will inspire us as we head into 2025.
During Convention, NAPABA members came together to connect, learn, grow, and celebrate the strength of our vibrant AANHPI community. Your presence, engagement, and enthusiasm were truly inspiring and left a lasting impact.
AABANY congratulates Manisha M. Sheth, past Board Director and AABANY member and Partner at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, for receiving NAPABA’s 2024 Women’s Leadership Award. The award is well-deserved, recognizing Manisha’s exceptional accomplishments as a lawyer and her leadership and advancement of women’s issues within the legal profession. Manisha’s work aligns with the values and mission of AABANY, making her an inspiring leader in the larger legal community. The award was presented at the 2024 NAPABA Convention in Seattle, Washington during Saturday night’s Gala on November 9.
When asked about how she maintains an environment of fairness and equality within the workplace, Manisha highlighted three fundamental tenets. First, the need for merit-based advancement: though some aspects of the legal profession are subjective, others are not, like number of hours worked and win percentage. She emphasized a “culture of openness and transparency … because if people know how they are being evaluated and how they compare against their peers, that transparency creates a culture of performance-based advancement.” Second, the importance of treating others with respect and kindness – a simple, yet deeply important practice. And third, ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity to stand out, particularly by hiring and retaining diverse individuals and by ensuring that cases are fairly distributed.
One of Manisha’s particularly formative experiences in her early career came during her tenure as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania from 2003 to 2008. Manisha prosecuted defendants facing both misdemeanor and felony crimes, remarking that she felt “most proud of” the cases in which the defendant was a person with an education and the means to succeed, yet instead chose to pursue criminal activities. Many of her cases involved victims and witnesses who were reluctant to testify so Manisha quickly had to learn to “read and understand the emotional side of people … [because] sometimes people are nervous to talk to you … [and] there is a reluctance to tell you what happened.” Manisha reflected that this skill of making people feel comfortable continues to help her to this day, and has become one of her most important abilities as an advocate for her clients.
Wanting to shift her focus to the “world of complex civil litigation,” Manisha decided to switch from the public to private sector, moving to Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP in New York City in 2008. At the firm, one of her most important cases was representing the Federal Housing and Finance Agency, in a historic public private partnership. She described the case as “the case of a lifetime,” working to obtain recovery against 16 of the world’s largest financial institutions due to their misrepresentations in the offering documents for Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities (RMBS) by over 400 RMBS trusts. Manisha served as lead or co-lead counsel on nine of those cases, formulating and developing the FHFA’s arguments and trial strategies. This was one of the most significant court actions taken by any federal regulator since the advent of the mortgage crisis, and the single largest set of actions ever filed by a governmental entity. All but one of the cases settled, and Manisha and her team won over $22 billion for the American tax payer. Manisha noted that the case was especially valuable because she had the opportunity to represent the federal government in private practice.
Manisha then returned to public service as Executive Deputy Attorney General for the Division of Economic Justice at the Office of the New York Attorney General (OAG). She was responsible for managing nearly 250 attorneys and staff in six affirmative litigation bureaus – Antitrust, Investor Protection, Internet & Technology, Taxpayer Protection, Consumer Frauds & Protection, and Real Estate Finance. Manisha explained that one of her primary and most rewarding responsibilities was to “identify and set the enforcement priorities” for the Division. She was also responsible for deciding whether to open an investigation, developing and implementing case strategies, and resolving cases by trial or settlement. She particularly enjoyed the position because she was able “to address problems facing New York residents,” and, under her leadership, in the year 2018 alone, the Division brought in nearly $1.4 billion in recoveries.
When Manisha decided to return to Quinn Emanuel in 2019, the Firm’s founder, John Quinn, asked her to create and lead the firm’s Sexual Harassment and Employment Discrimination practice, thereby becoming the first AmLaw 100 firm to have a plaintiff-side practice. She was also asked to lead the Firm’s Government & Regulatory Litigation Practice.
One significant case that Manisha worked on as a leader of the Sexual Harassment and Employment Discrimination practice took place in 2020, where she represented two shareholders of L Brands, the parent company of Victoria’s Secret. After Manisha and her team read an expose in the New York Times, which revealed a culture of misogyny and toxicity at Victoria’s Secret, they served a books-and-records demand on L Brands, asking it to produce any documents relevant to the issue. When the company failed to adequately comply, Manisha, on behalf of her clients, filed a books-and-records action in the Delaware Chancery Court. L Brands quickly expressed interest in resolving the matter. She later reflected that “one of the most rewarding parts of the settlement was that the company agreed to extensive corporate reform.” This included revamping their sexual harassment reporting procedure, as well as an annual audit process for all employees and models. Manisha’s actions in this case had other unintended, yet positive results; she explained that though “the allegations were more about sexual harassment … [we revealed that] in the industry, models were homogenous … [consequently] there was a call for more diversity in the public image.” L Brands committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion and using data metrics to ensure that those goals were met, creating a DEI Council and hiring an external DEI consultant.
Within Quinn Emanuel, Manisha has worked to retain and support diverse individuals by ensuring that they are staffed on her matters and by serving as a mentor to summer associates each year. She has found Quinn Emanuel to be a very welcoming environment, particularly because of the Firm’s supportive leaders, saying, “The culture at Quinn is very casual and very collegial … people are always willing to help each other out … we have fun practicing together.”
Throughout her career, Manisha has also committed to strengthening and supporting the Asian American community. She served on the Board of AABANY from 2016-2019, and has attended various events as an active AABANY member. Manisha is also an active member of SABANY, previously serving on their Board of Directors from 2013 to 2015.
Please join AABANY in congratulating Manisha on receiving the NAPABA Women’s Leadership Award. To learn more about the award, please click here.
