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.
2025 is right around the corner, and we want to kick off the new year on the right note! If you haven’t already, RSVP to one of our January 2025 Meet & Greets. These events offer a great opportunity to network and build valuable connections within the dynamic NAPABA community. Walk-ins aren’t permitted so make sure you save your spot now!
January 9 | 5:00 – 6:30 pm Denver, CO RSVP by January 7
January 31 | 5:00 – 6:30 pm Phoenix, AZ RSVP by January 29
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 Advocacyback 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.
WASHINGTON – The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) congratulates Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06) on her election as Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) for the 119th Session of Congress and Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) as she assumes the role of Chair Emerita.
“NAPABA extends its heartfelt congratulations to CAPAC Chair-Elect Grace Meng,” said Thy Bui, President of NAPABA. “Chair-Elect Meng has paved a path to public service for so many as the first Asian American elected to Congress from New York. We look forward to her tenure and continuing our close partnership with CAPAC under her leadership.”
“Chair Judy Chu’s leadership, both within the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community and for our Nation, is nothing short of extraordinary,” said Priya Purandare, Executive Director of NAPABA. “From fighting against anti-Asian hate and racial profiling in all their forms to standing up for immigrant communities and families, our community has immensely benefited from Chair Chu’s zealous and unrelentless advocacy.”
“Chair Chu’s contributions to our community and our country extends well beyond her steadfast leadership of CAPAC for the past 14 years,” continued Executive Director Purandare. “We are incredibly humbled to call Chair Chu a friend of NAPABA. We honor her service and extend our deepest gratitude.”
NAPABA congratulates the newly elected leadership of CAPAC: First Vice Chair-Elect Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39), Second Vice Chair-Elect Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Whip-Elect Rep. Ami Bera (CA-06), and Freshman Representative Rep.-elect Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10).
Finally, NAPABA congratulates all newly elected and reelected AANHPI members of the 119th Congress, who are a part of the record number of AANHPI candidates from both parties who ran for state and federal offices throughout the United States and its territories. They are: Sen. Mazie Hirono (HI), Sen. Andy Kim (NJ), Rep.-elect Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Rep. Ami Bera (CA-06), Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Rep. Vince Fong (CA-20), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17), Rep. Young Kim (CA-40), Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthy (IL-08), Delegate-Elect Kimberlyn King-Hinds (Northern Mariana Islands), Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-36), Rep. Doris Matsui (CA-07), Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Rep.-elect Dave Min (CA-47), Congressman James Moylan (Guam), Congresswoman Aumua Amata Radewagen (American Samoa), Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-03), Rep. Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Rep.-elect Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39), Rep.-elect Derek Tran (CA-45), Rep. Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02).
WASHINGTON – Yesterday, the United States Senate confirmed Judge Anne Hwang to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
“NAPABA applauds the confirmation of Judge Anne Hwang,” said Thy Bui, President of NAPABA. “An active member of the community, Judge Hwang is a 2019 APABA Los Angeles Trailblazer in the Law awardee. She will serve in a District with nearly one million AANHPI residents.”
In 2018, former governor Jerry Brown appointed Judge Hwang to the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Prior to her appointment, Judge Hwang served as a Deputy Federal Public Defender in the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Central District of California from 2006 to 2018, becoming Chief Deputy Federal Public Defender in 2018. Before entering public service, Hwang was an associate at Irell and Manella LLP from 2002 to 2006. Hwang received a Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California School of Law.
“Today, 41 AANHPI Article III judges have been confirmed during the Biden Administration, and 71 AANHPI active Article III judges are serving,” said Priya Purandare, Executive Director of NAPABA. “NAPABA thanks President Biden for nominating Judge Anne Hwang and Senator Padilla and Senator Butler for supporting her nomination.”
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.
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.
WASHINGTON – Today, the United States Senate confirmed Sharad Desai to the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona. Mr. Desai is the first Asian American Article III judge to serve in the District of Arizona.
“NAPABA applauds the historic confirmation of Sharad Desai,” said Thy Bui, President of NAPABA. “An active member of the community and an advocate of diversity and inclusion, Mr. Desai brings experiential diversity as an in-house counsel to a District where the AANHPI population has grown over 50 percent over the last decade.”
Sharad H. Desai has been Vice President and General Counsel for Honeywell International’s Integrated Supply Chain and Information Technology divisions in Phoenix, Arizona, since 2023. He has worked in senior legal counsel roles at Honeywell since 2015. From 2007 to 2015, Mr. Desai worked as an attorney with the Phoenix law firm Osborn Maledon, P.A., first as an associate and later as a partner. He began his legal career as a law clerk for Justice Rebecca White Berch on the Arizona Supreme Court from 2006 to 2007. Mr. Desai received his J.D. from New York University School of Law in 2006 and his B.A. and B.S. from the University of Arizona in 2003.
“Nearly 20% of President Biden’s confirmed Article III judges are AANHPI,” said Priya Purandare, Executive Director of NAPABA. “Today, 40 AANHPI Article III judges have been confirmed during the Biden Administration, and 70 AANHPI active Article III judges are serving.”
NAPABA thanks President Biden for nominating and Senator Sinema and Senator Kelly for supporting Sharad Desai’s historic nomination.
### 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.
WASHINGTON – Today, the United States Senate confirmed Amir H. Ali to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
“NAPABA congratulates Amir Ali on his confirmation to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia,” said Thy Bui, President of NAPABA. “Mr. Ali is an experienced civil rights litigator known for building coalitions, setting multiple landmark precedents at the U.S. Supreme Court and appellate courts that transcend ideology. NAPABA is proud to have supported his nomination.”
Amir H. Ali served as President and Executive Director of the MacArthur Justice Center from 2021-24 and Director of the Criminal Justice Appellate Clinic at Harvard Law School since 2018. Previously, Mr. Ali worked in private practice as an associate at Jenner & Block LLP in Washington, DC, from 2013-17. He also served as a law clerk for Justice Marshall Rothstein on the Supreme Court of Canada from 2012-13 and Judge Raymond C. Fisher on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 2011-12. Mr. Ali received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 2011 and his B.S.E. from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, in 2008.
“In President Biden’s single term, he has tied the number of AANHPI judges confirmed under the five terms of Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump,” said Priya Purandare, Executive Director of NAPABA. “Thirty-nine AANHPIs to Article III judges have been confirmed since 2021, and 69 AANHPI active Article III judges are serving.”
We thank President Biden for nominating and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton for recommending and supporting Mr. Ali’s nomination.
### 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.
Each year, the NAPABA Margaret Brent Award Committee reviews the outstanding pool of well-qualified NAPABA members to select a woman to be nominated by NAPABA for the American Bar Association’s Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award. NAPABA is now accepting recommendations for the 2025 award cycle. The deadline to submit a recommendation is Wednesday, December 4, at 11:59 pm ET.
The Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award, established in 1991, recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of women lawyers who have excelled in their field and have paved the way to success for other women lawyers. These women demonstrate excellence in a variety of professional settings and personify excellence on either the national, regional, or local level. Most recently, NAPABA nominated Gina Shishima, who was honored with this prestigious award in August 2024.
If you are interested in submitting a recommendation, please visit our webpage to learn more about qualifications and requirements.
Criteria
The individual achieved professional excellence in her field AND
Influenced other women to pursue legal careers, OR
Opened doors for women lawyers in a variety of job settings that historically were closed to them, OR
Advanced opportunities for women within a practice area or segment of the profession.
Nominees may be ABA members or nonmembers. Sitting members of the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession may not be nominated.
Nomination Application Requirements
Nominators may be asked to register for a SurveyMonkey account if they still need to register before gaining access to the application portal. A. Nominee’s Resume – Include the nominee’s resume or biography describing her background and contributions.
B. Award Criteria Narrative – In no more than three typed pages, provide specific, concrete examples for criterion #1 and at least one of criteria numbers 2 through 4 below:
The individual achieved professional excellence in her field AND
Influenced other women to pursue legal careers, OR
Opened doors for women lawyers in a variety of job settings that historically were closed to them, OR
Advanced opportunities for women within a practice area or segment of the profession.
C. Articles and Letters – To present a comprehensive picture of the nominee, please include (1) up to 10 news or magazine articles written by or about the candidate and (2) no more than 5 letters of support from individuals or organizations. The Commission relies on the entire nomination packet in selecting each year’s honorees. The limitation on articles and letters of support will be observed; anything in excess of 5 letters or ten articles will not be considered. A letter of support can have a maximum of 5 signatories only. For this category, the number of pages is capped at 80.
D. Complete Submission Package Only complete submissions will be considered.
WASHINGTON – As reported by the Associated Press, Donald J. Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance, have earned a sufficient number of electoral votes to be the next President and Vice President of the United States. NAPABA congratulates them and is committed to working with the new administration and Congress to advance the interests of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community.
The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization representing the interests of well over 80,000 AANHPI legal professionals. Our community is diverse, spanning across cultures, language, and political ideologies. NAPABA has worked diligently with presidents, administrations, and congressional members of both parties to advance the interests of our community.
As an organization of legal professionals, we bear a special responsibility to uphold the rule of law. NAPABA will continue to advance justice, with the AANHPI community at the forefront along with all communities of color, our values, and our policy positions. We must partner together, despite our political differences, for our country to achieve progress.
