NAPABA proudly celebrates outstanding individuals whose leadership and service make a lasting impact on the legal profession and the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community. This year’s honorees exemplify excellence, and we are proud to recognize their remarkable contributions that strengthen our profession and uplift our community.
Be part of the celebration, November 6-8, at the NAPABA Convention as we honor these distinguished leaders. Register now to honor our awardees and secure the early bird rate before it ends today.
2025 In-House Counsel Leadership Award
Kazuko Wachter
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of EquiLend
Kazuko Wachter is General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at EquiLend, a technology provider for the global securities finance marketplace, where she oversees global legal and regulatory matters for the company. Previously, she was Chief Legal and Strategy Officer of Prism Financial Products, a hybrid securities brokerage and fintech firm with offices across the UK, Europe, and New York. Kazuko is a leader in the AANHPI legal community, serving in multiple positions with the Asian American Bar Association of New York.
2025 In-House Counsel Leadership Rising Star Award
Kasey Chow
Director, Corporate Strategy at Southern Company Gas
Kasey Chow is the Director of Corporate Strategy for Southern Company Gas. In this role, she is responsible for developing corporate strategy, planning, and engagement connected to policy and programs supporting the Company’s governmental, regulatory, environmental, and commercial/economic development initiatives and opportunities. She joined Southern Company in 2015 as a Regulatory Attorney supporting Southern Linc. Kasey is licensed to practice law in Georgia and currently serves on the boards of the Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association (GAPABA) and the GAPABA Law Foundation.
2025 Military and Veteran Service Award
Congressman Ted W. Lieu
Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus
Ted W. Lieu represents California’s 36th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. Ted is serving in his sixth term in Congress and sits on the House Judiciary Committee and Foreign Affairs Committee. He was elected by his colleagues to serve as Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus, making him the highest ranking Asian American to have ever served in House Leadership. Ted is a veteran, having served on active duty and then in the Reserves for the Air Force. He retired in 2021 with the rank of Colonel.
Sandy K. Roxas, Esq., CFLS
CFLS, Roxas Law, APC
Sandy K. Roxas is the founding partner of Roxas Law, APC, where she provides affordable legal services to low-income residents of Los Angeles County, with a special focus on survivors of domestic violence and victims of anti-Asian hate. A tireless community advocate, Sandy has organized rallies, led educational efforts, and provided pro bono representation to uplift and protect marginalized communities. Her leadership extends to scholarship programs, volunteer work, and mentoring the next generation of AANHPI leaders, reflecting her lifelong commitment to service and justice.
2025 Public Sector Leadership Award
Niyati Shah
Director of Litigation, Asian American Advancing Justice (AAJC)
Niyati Shah is the Director of Litigation at Advancing Justice | AAJC, where she is responsible for overseeing and advancing the organization’s priorities before the courts. This includes cases that impact racial justice and the civil rights of Asian Americans, particularly in the areas of voting, immigration and national security, tech/telecom, census, anti-racial profiling, and education equity. Niyati has served as one of the lead attorneys in Lupe v. Ross, successfully challenging the addition of the citizenship question to the 2020 Census. Prior to joining Advancing Justice | AAJC, Niyati worked as an Election Counsel at Project Vote, where she investigated, litigated, and advocated against violations of federal constitutional and statutory law nationwide.
Rippi K. Karda
Associate General Counsel at Verizon
As an Associate General Counsel in the Policy, Corporate Social Responsibility, Information Security, Legal, and Security department at Verizon Communications Inc., Rippi Karda handles complex contracts for Sourcing involving Human Resources Benefits and Plans, Advertising Agencies, Contact Centers, Contingent Workforce, Executive Recruiting, and Supplier Diversity. Additionally, she works with the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council, Pan Asian Corporate Excellence (PACE), and Women’s Alliance of Verizon Employees (WAVE) organizations at Verizon. Karda contributes her time and talents to numerous mentorship and community-building initiatives, including Verizon’s employee resource groups Women’s Alliance of Verizon Employees (WAVE) and Pan Asian Corporate Excellence (PACE), and leads by example through her pro bono work supporting victims of domestic violence across North America and promoting economic empowerment in New Jersey’s Punjabi business community.
