Yen-Yi Anderson, Esq., founder of Anderson & Associates Law, has forged a remarkable legal career grounded in integrity, a commitment to the Asian Pacific American (APA) community, and faith. Her firm was honored with the NAPABA (National Asian Pacific American Bar Association) 2024 Award for APA-Minority-Owned Law Firm which was presented at the NAPABA Convention during the Gala on Saturday, Nov. 9. During this time of recognition and achievement, Yen-Yi reflects on her journey, achievements, and hopes for the future.
Reaction to Winning the NAPABA 2024 Award
Receiving the NAPABA award was both a surprise and an honor for Yen-Yi. NAPABA annually recognizes an APA-owned law firm that has achieved prominence and distinction while maintaining the highest ethical and legal standards, and has demonstrated strong commitment to advancing the APA community. Initially, Yen-Yi hesitated, unsure if she was deserving compared to giants like Hugh Mo, whom she admires. However, she thought about her journey in the legal field and her growing passion for helping others, which led her to see the award as a recognition of her relentless dedication and growth.
Yen-Yi’s humble reaction underscores her belief that “everything in law is practice,” a constant process of refining one’s skills and building relationships. Her commitment to serving the community is evident through her collaboration with New York State Senator Iwen Chu, with whom she opened a Special Needs Trust Fund for a 9-month baby suffering from a rare brain tumor. Together with Senator Chu, they were able to raise enough money to help the family afford necessary surgeries and lifelong care. In her involvement with AABANY, she would accept any referrals for pro bono work “without hesitation.” Yen-Yi reflects that she wants to be remembered as someone who made herself available. She gave her time, resources, and energy to those who needed it, including a family who suffered a vicious and brutal attack which left two young survivors in need of funding for daily medical needs. Yen-Yi’s firm assisted the victim’s family by setting up a special needs trust, submitting a safety deposit box petition through an administrative proceeding in Surrogate’s Court, and providing immigration services for an extended family member abroad so that she could come to the United States to take care of the helpless father with two young survivors.
The Role of Faith in Her Career
Yen-Yi’s faith plays a central role in her personal and professional life. Raised in Taiwan, she did not grow up religious, but her journey of faith began at NYU Law School, where she faced immense academic pressure. Her encounter with Christianity transformed her, providing her with a sense of community and purpose. Yen-Yi cites Bible study and the parable of the mustard seed as pivotal in helping her embrace a life of faith and service.
Her faith continues to guide her legal practice. She strives to emulate God’s love by helping others, remaining grounded, and offering her services to those in need. “God is love,” she reflects, and this belief fuels her desire to serve with humility and compassion.
Inspirational Figures and Key Influences
Yen-Yi is the first lawyer in her family, so she had no immediate role model to guide her into the profession. Rather, her inspiration came from figures like Robert Pennoyer, a WWII veteran and attorney at Davis Polk and later at Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler. Pennoyer was the great-grandson of John Pierpont Morgan, and in his memoir As It Was, he offers a seemingly obvious yet deeply profound quote that struck Anderson as an aspiring attorney: “Every lawyer would be a better lawyer if he only knew he had to begin at the beginning.” This quote would stick and resonate with Yen-Yi for the rest of her life, as she admired how, for Pennoyer, everyday seemed like a new day – a new beginning – and his excitement and passion showed even at the age of 94, when he would still go to work enthusiastically. His lifelong passion for law deeply influenced her approach to the profession, showing her that learning and curiosity should never cease, and every day is an opportunity and a new beginning.
Yen-Yi also expresses gratitude for the support of her peers at AABANY (Asian American Bar Association of New York), who have fostered a culture of mutual support rooted in Asian heritage.
Winning the Epiq Women Award and Her Legacy
In addition to the NAPABA Award, Anderson won the 2024 Epiq Women Award for Justice and Advocacy back in the spring, which acknowledges women’s achievements and the role of legal professionals in supporting women and their rights. “I am the least deserving,” she says, but her peers see her as a leader who has demonstrated tenacity and passion throughout her career.
Looking ahead, Yen-Yi hopes to expand her firm’s impact, particularly in the areas of immigration and commercial litigation. She envisions her firm as a beacon for immigrant communities, a place where people can find trust and support. Her ultimate goal is to be remembered as someone who never gave up and who continually worked to help more people. She describes herself as someone who “always strove to do better” and always “strove to help more and more people”; certainly, her story inspires us all to strive to do the same.
To learn more about Yen-Yi and the APA-Owned Law Firm award, click here, and be sure to watch this honoree video played at the NAPABA Gala.