Tag: NAPABA

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Call for Recommendations: Recognize a Woman Lawyer Who Has Paved the Way

Recommendations for the 2027 Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award are due Friday, November 20, 2026, at 5 pm ET.


Submit a recommendation here.

Throughout the legal profession, women have challenged barriers, created opportunities, and paved the way for generations of lawyers to follow. Their achievements are measured not only by their professional success, but also by the lasting impact they have made on others.

Who are the women lawyers whose leadership and contributions have made a lasting difference in our profession?

NAPABA invites you to recommend an exceptional woman lawyer for consideration as our nominee for the American Bar Association’s 2027 Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award.

From groundbreaking legal work and distinguished leadership to mentorship and a sustained commitment to advancing women in law, the award celebrates those whose contributions extend beyond their individual accomplishments.

Help NAPABA honor the women whose leadership continues to shape our profession and inspire future generations of lawyers.

NAPABA will review recommendations and select one candidate to nominate to the American Bar Association.

Questions? Contact Abie Siegel at [email protected], Membership Manager.

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NAPABA, SABA Chicago, CABA, and FALA Chicago Statement in Response to Alleged Plot to Attack Hindu Temple in Aurora, Illinois

For Immediate Release:Contact:
October 21, 2026:[email protected]

WASHINGTON—The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), South Asian Bar Association of Chicago (SABA Chicago), Chinese American Bar Association of Greater Chicago (CABA), and Filipino American Lawyers Association of Chicago (FALA Chicago) condemn the alleged plot to carry out a mass shooting at the largest Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois. Last week, law enforcement authorities arrested and charged a suspect who allegedly planned an attack targeting worshippers at the temple. According to law enforcement officials, the suspect allegedly possessed white supremacist materials and expressed hate towards individuals of South Asian and Indian descent along with Jewish and Black individuals.

We are deeply disturbed by this alleged act of hate and stand in solidarity with the Hindu, Indian American, and broader South Asian communities. We are grateful to the individuals who alerted law enforcement and to the authorities whose actions helped avert a potential tragedy.

Who we are, and how and where we choose to worship, are part of the tapestry of American life. A refuge for peace and prayer must never be transformed into a place of violence by perpetrators of hate.  Hate—whether in the form of anti-South Asian hate or any other form of bigotry—has no place in our society.  We remain committed to eradicating hate in all its forms, including by urging governments at every level to fully support and strengthen hate prevention efforts.

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Celebrating the 2026 NAPABA President’s Award Honorees

The NAPABA President’s Award recognizes individuals and organizations that demonstrate an exceptional commitment to the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community. Selected annually by the NAPABA President, the award celebrates those whose leadership and service have made a meaningful impact on our community.

This year, NAPABA honors Wilson Chu and Sandra Yamate, two longtime leaders in the AANHPI legal community. Over the course of their careers, Wilson and Sandra have contributed their time and leadership to NAPABA and initiatives serving the legal profession and AANHPI community. Their decades of service reflect a longstanding commitment to supporting and uplifting others in the legal community.

NAPABA is honored to celebrate Wilson and Sandra and recognize their achievements at the 2026 NAPABA Convention in Los Angeles on Friday, November 13, at the President’s & Trailblazer Awards Reception.

Wilson Chu
Senior Counsel, Dechert

Wilson Chu is a strategic advisor to boardrooms and C-suites, known for a collaborative, creative, business-minded approach to complex transactions and corporate governance. His practice is heavily weighted toward technology, especially superintelligence. Matters include advising Tesla’s Special Committee on Elon Musk’s trillion-dollar pay package, serving as Texas counsel on Amazon’s $13b acquisition of Whole Foods, and advising a 50% co-founder in Mailchimp’s $12b sale to Intuit.

He chaired the ABA M&A Committee (world’s largest), under which he created the game-changing Deal Points Studies and The MAC Cup national law student competition.

With his partner-in-crime, Don Liu, he co-founded many of NAPABA’s cornerstone initiatives, including the Best Under 40 Award, IHC and Partners Networks, and the 50×30 Initiative/Pipeline Program, as well as The Alliance for Asian American Justice (delivering over $10m in pro bono to victims of anti-Asian violence).

Sandra Yamate
Chief Executive Officer, Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession

Sandra S. Yamate is the CEO of the Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession. She was a founder of both AABA-Chicago and NAPABA, where she was the first Central Region Governor and organized NAPABA’s first regional conference.

Currently, Sandra is the 99th President of the National Association of Women Lawyers (“NAWL”), the first Asian American in its 125+ year history. As President, she wrote/produced a video on the history and achievements of Asian American women lawyers, launched an Activation Summit in Honolulu, and spearheaded the renewed and expanded joint advocacy effort by the national affinity bars.

Sandra serves on the Board of the Chicago Bar Foundation and as DEI columnist for Chicago Lawyer magazine. By special appointment, she is a member of the New York City Bar Association’s DEI Committee. Sandra designed a law school course, “Diversity and Inclusion: A Social and Professional Responsibility” that was awarded the E. Smythe Gambrell Professionalism Award by the ABA Standing Committee on Professionalism.

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Support the Multilingual Voter Hotline for the 2026 Election

Bilingual Legal Volunteers Needed
Volunteer remotely during early voting and on Election Day to help ensure voters can access election information in their preferred language.

Why Volunteer?
Our partners at Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) and

Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC are recruiting bilingual volunteers with legal backgrounds to support the 888-API-VOTE Asian Language Voter Hotline for the 2026 Election.

Volunteer service hours may be eligible to satisfy pro bono requirements for legal professionals. Eligibility is subject to the rules of your jurisdiction and/or employer. Please consult the applicable requirements for more information.

Languages Needed

  • Bengali
  • Cantonese
  • Hindi
  • Urdu
  • Korean
  • Mandarin
  • Punjabi
  • Tagalog
  • Vietnamese

Volunteer Responsibilities
As a hotline volunteer, you will:

  • Answer live calls from voters during early voting and on Election Day
  • Help voters locate polling places and access election resources
  • Document calls in the hotline tracking system
  • Report emerging issues to hotline captains
  • Receive support from experienced hotline captains throughout every shift

No previous hotline experience is required.
Training is available on demand after you register, and all volunteers—including returning volunteers—must complete the training and sign the Volunteer Code of Conduct before serving.

Volunteer Schedule

Early Voting (October 15 – November 2)

  • Weekdays: 12:00 – 3:00 pm ET
  • Weekends: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm ET

Election Day (Tuesday, November 3)

  • 8:45 am – 1:00 pm ET
  • 12:45 pm – 5:00 pm ET
  • 4:45 pm – 9:00 pm ET

Sign Up to Volunteer

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NAPABA Welcomes 2026-27 NAPABA Board of Governors

NAPABA is proud to announce the 2026-27 Board of Governors, who will be sworn in during the 2026 NAPABA Convention in Los Angeles.

Our NAPABA community thrives because of dedicated members who step into leadership roles across the organization. From the national Board of Governors to our affiliate leaders, substantive committees, affinity networks, and professional development programs, NAPABA’s impact is fueled by the vision, energy, and service of our volunteers.

We are grateful for all of our leaders and their commitment to advancing NAPABA’s mission and strengthening the AANHPI legal community.

If you are interested in serving and shaping the future of NAPABA, please contact Priya Purandare to learn more.

2026-27 NAPABA Board of Governors

Executive Committee
President | Jason DeJonker, Seyfarth Shaw LLP

President-Elect | Sapna Palla, White & Case LLP

Treasurer | Arlene Yang, Center for Employment Opportunities, Inc.

Secretary | Brian Wong, ServiceNow, Inc.

Immediate Past President | Joseph Yao, Retired

Executive Director | Priya Purandare, Ex-Officio, NAPABA

Regional Governors
Central | Beth Olivera, Cozen O’Connor

Central California | Jason Liang, Liang Ly LLP

Eastern California/Nevada | Glicel Sumagaysay, Law Office of Glicel Sumagaysay

Northeast | Alan Y. Wong, KabaFusion

Northeast | Jack Yu, Fasken

Northern California | Raymond Rollan, State Bar of California

Northwest | Lily Zhang, Owen Bird Law Corporation

Southeast | Onchantho Am, University of Central Florida

Southern California | Julie Houth, Thomas Jefferson School of Law

Southwest | Phil Kim, Jackson Walker LLP

At-Large Board Members
Benes Aldana, Judicial Pathways and Leadership Strategies, LLC

Kainoa Asuega, Crowell & Moring

Anushree Bagrodia, Starbucks

Phil Bautista, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP

Vishal Chander, The Chander Law Firm, P.C.

Eemaan Jalili, Jalili Law PC

Eugene Kim, Vanguard Cleaning System

Alicia Limtiaco, Former Attorney General of Guam & U.S. Attorney for Guam and NMI

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NAPABA Statement in Response to DHS Tipline and Condemning Racial Profiling

For Immediate Release:
September 15, 2026		Contact
[email protected]

WASHINGTON – The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) condemns the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s use of certain irresponsible and potentially dangerous promotions for a new tipline for reporting suspected commercial driver’s license fraud. The federal government has chosen to advance this initiative by, among other things, calling on the public to “report illegal aliens on American roads” and using racist imagery that targets the Sikh community and those of Asian descent. These actions invite turning a government tipline into a vehicle for racial profiling.

NAPABA has long and unequivocally opposed racial profiling and actions that cast suspicion on entire communities because of their race, ethnicity, religion, or national origin. The federal government should be working to prevent such discrimination, not creating conditions that invite it. The South Asian and broader Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities should not have to fear being reported to federal authorities, investigated, or harassed simply because of who they are, how they look, or where someone assumes they are from. The government ought to immediately cease this stigmatizing campaign and ensure that its actions do not amount to impermissible racial and national origin profiling.

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2026 NAPABA Awards: Announcing the Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Award Honorees

The Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Award is NAPABA’s highest honor, celebrating the outstanding achievements of lawyers whose leadership and dedication have left a profound mark on both the legal profession and the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community. This lifetime achievement award recognizes those whose vision, courage, and commitment have opened doors and paved the way for future generations of attorneys.

Trailblazers are leaders who have not only excelled in their practice but have also made enduring contributions to advancing equity, opportunity, and justice within the legal community and beyond.

NAPABA is honored to celebrate the 2026 Trailblazer Award recipients and their extraordinary impact at this year’s NAPABA Convention in Los Angeles.

Alicia Garrido Limtiaco, Esq.
Former Attorney General of Guam & U.S. Attorney for Guam and NMI, NAPABA At-Large Board Member, ABA Representative to UN ECOSOC

Alicia Limtiaco’s distinguished career in public service has been marked by historic firsts and an enduring commitment to justice, representation, and the communities she serves. She made history as the first woman elected Attorney General of Guam and later as the first woman appointed United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Throughout her career, Alicia has championed protections for vulnerable communities, including efforts addressing family violence, human trafficking, child exploitation, civil rights, and public safety. Her leadership has also brought the experiences and perspectives of Pacific and Indigenous communities to national and international forums. Within the AANHPI legal community, Alicia broke another barrier as the first Pacific Islander and first attorney from Guam to serve on NAPABA’s Board of Governors, helping ensure that Pacific Islander voices have a place in national legal leadership.

The Honorable Elwood Lui
Administrative Presiding Justice, California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District

Justice Elwood Lui’s more than five decades of service have left an enduring mark on California’s judiciary and AANHPI legal community, opening doors and building institutions for generations of attorneys and judges. In 1981, he became the first Chinese American appellate judge in California and later became the first Asian American to serve as Administrative Presiding Justice of any California Court of Appeal. His influence extends well beyond his own historic appointments. Justice Lui co-founded the Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association in 1975 and founded the California Asian Pacific American Judges Association in 1981, creating institutions that have supported and connected generations of AANHPI attorneys and judicial officers. Throughout his career on the bench, in private practice, in public service, and as an educator and mentor, Justice Lui has consistently opened doors that were previously closed to Asian American attorneys and judges and helped build the infrastructure for future generations to lead.

Hugh H. Mo
Founder & Principal, The Law Firm of Hugh H. Mo, P.C. (“Mo Law”)
Hugh H. Mo has spent nearly five decades shaping Asian American representation in law, government, and civic life through a career marked by historic firsts, institution-building, and service to his community. He broke significant barriers as the first Asian American Assistant District Attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and later as the first Asian American Deputy Commissioner in Charge of Trials for the New York City Police Department, becoming, at the time, the highest-ranking Asian American official in New York City government. Just as significant has been his commitment to creating opportunities and institutions for those who followed. Hugh co-founded the Asian American Bar Association of New York, the Chinatown Health Clinic, now the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, and the NYPD Asian American Police Executives Council. Throughout his career, he has paired professional achievement with sustained civic leadership, mentorship, and advocacy, leaving an enduring legacy within New York’s AANHPI legal community and beyond.

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NLF Calls for Student Volunteers and Volunteer Judges for Regional 2026 Judge Thomas Tang and Dr. Pearl Tang Moot Court Competition

The NAPABA Law Foundation (NLF) is calling for volunteers for its annual Judge Thomas Tang and Dr. Pearl Tang Moot Court (TTMC) Competition. This competition was founded in 1993 and is named in honor of the late Honorable Thomas Tang, who served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit for more than eighteen years. In honor of Judge Tang and his wife Dr. Pearl Tang, this appellate advocacy competition aims to help law students develop advocacy skills and to foster legal talent of the future.

The in-person regional round will take place at the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York City on October 9, 2026. The online regional round will take place on October 17, 2026. Top teams from both regional rounds will advance to the National Competition, held at the NAPABA Convention in Los Angeles, CA, on November 13-14, 2026.

Click here for the bailiff volunteer sign up.

Click here for the general volunteer sign up.

Click here for the judge volunteer sign up (eligible for New York CLE credits).

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Registration is Now Open for the Judge Thomas Tang and Dr. Pearl Tang Moot Court Competition

From scholarships and fellowships to the annual Thomas Tang Moot Court Competition, the NAPABA Law Foundation offers many ways to advance your career and deepen your connection to the legal community.

Two important deadlines are coming up. Be sure to mark your calendars:

Judge Thomas Tang and Dr. Pearl Tang Moot Court (TTMC) Competition
Registration Deadline: September 10, 2026

Sponsored annually by the NAPABA Law Foundation, the TTMC appellate advocacy competition helps law students develop advocacy skills and fosters future legal talent.

Learn More & Register

Fall Scholarships
Application Deadline: September 23, 2026

Scholarships are awarded nationwide to law students who demonstrate a commitment to serving or contributing to the Asian Pacific American community as future leaders. Check out the opportunities available!

Learn More & Apply

Don’t miss your chance to take the next step.

To the attorneys, judges, and legal professionals in our network: share this email with law students in your network. A single message from you could open the door to a defining moment in their career.

Let’s lift up the next generation together.

Visit the NAPABA Law Foundation website for more information and to apply today.

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