PRESIDENT
Joseph Yao
Retired
Houston, TX
I’m the #1 son of Asian immigrants: my Chinese father worked in restaurants and my Filipino mother was a registered ENT nurse. Family is very important to me; from when I was a child growing up with and helping raise my five brothers, to when I had
and supported six kids, to being blessed with seven grandkids and two grand-dogs (Ajax and Hailey). My partner in crime, Glenna, has helped me through life’s journey for the past 29 years of marriage and then some!
I received a Mechanical Engineering degree from GMI and graduated with a Juris Doctor from the night program at Michigan State University – DCL College of Law.
Upon graduation, I joined a boutique law firm in Detroit, Michigan that authored the American Casebook Series – Patent Law and apprenticed under the partners for several years. Then I moved to Dallas, Texas for a mid-tier oil company as an in-house
patent attorney and was promoted to the business-side for an international development assignment, wherein I negotiated a variety of contracts throughout the world, including the Middle East, Europe, China and the Philippines.
In 1998, I joined Exxon Mobil Corporation as in-house intellectual property attorney. I worked in all main four business units; ExxonMobil Chemical Company, ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, ExxonMobil Research and Engineering, and ExxonMobil
Information Technology. In each organization, I predominantly did transactional work and was named the Agreement Group Coordinator to develop and rollout the contract process for each business unit.
PRESIDENT-ELECT
Jason DeJonker
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Chicago, IL
An experienced dealmaker and litigator, Jason is adept in the courtroom, in the boardroom, and at the closing table. Jason takes a creative approach to resolving both litigation and transactional matters for private equity investors, secured lenders, special servicers, Fortune 500 corporations, trustees, and receivers. His experience includes lender and borrower-side loan workouts (particularly involving CMBS and collateralized loan obligations), representations of debtors and secured creditors in Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases (including DIP and exit finance) and the plan confirmation process, commercial real estate and UCC foreclosures, and complex collection and judgment collection matters (including receivership proceedings in federal and state court).
At Seyfarth Shaw, Jason serves as the chair of the restructuring and insolvency practice group.
Arlene Yang
Center for Employment Opportunities
San Diego, CA
Arlene Yang is Senior Counsel at Center for Employment Opportunities, a non- profit organization serving people recently released from incarceration. She is an expert in labor and employment law, in areas including wage and hour, discrimination law, and diversity, equity, and inclusion issues. Arlene's career also includes service in the federal government and as a litigator at boutique, mid-sized, and international law firms.
Arlene has served as a president of the Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego and a co-chair of NAPABA's Labor and Employment Committee, and has served on numerous other boards. Arlene holds an undergraduate degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and graduated from New York University School of Law.
SECRETARY
Annette Kwok
Owens Corning
Chicago, IL
Annette Kwok is Senior IP Counsel at Owens Corning ("OC"), a publicly traded Fortune 500 leading building product company in Toledo, Ohio. Annette manages all aspects of the international intellectual property portfolio for OC's Global Doors and Lumber divisions, providing actionable, business-driven advice to stakeholders.
Prior to joining OC, Annette served as Senior Corporate Counsel at Beyond Meat, a global, innovative plant-based meat company based in El Segundo, CA, in 2023. At Beyond Meat, she managed the company's IP portfolio, counseled the marketing team on advertising and food labeling compliance, negotiated brand ambassador and influencer agreements, and supported the Consumer Care team regarding consumer inquiries and reports. Before joining Beyond Meat, she served as VP, Legal at JAKKS Pacific Inc., a publicly traded, multi-brand global consumer product company based in Santa Monica, California, from 2021 to 2023. At JAKKS, she managed all aspects of the company's international intellectual property portfolio, including brand protection and anti-counterfeiting efforts. She also supported the licensing, marketing, and regulatory compliance teams and served as the Privacy Officer, managing data breach issues. Before joining JAKKS, she served as Head of Intellectual Property at The Cronos Group in Toronto, Canada, from 2019 to 2021, where she managed a team of IP professionals specializing in cannabis research, vaporizer device development, and the evaluation of cannabinoid-infused edible and cosmetic products.
Annette was a synthetic organic chemist and inventor before earning her law degree from the University of New Hampshire's Franklin Pierce School of Law. She is a registered patent attorney and practiced at AmLaw 100 firms in Washington, D.C. for 14 years.
Beyond her corporate roles, Annette has over twenty years of demonstrated leadership within the legal community and is a champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion. She serves as a Trustee of The IP Law Foundation (formerly The Foundation for Advancement of Diversity in IP Law) and previously served on its Executive Committee and chaired its Scholarship Application Review Committee. In D.C., she served on the Board of Governors of the D.C. Bar, the largest unified bar in the U.S. with over 120,000 members internationally, and the Board of Directors of the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center. She spearheaded the implementation of a Diversity and Inclusion Policy to ensure at least 30% of all candidates interviewed are self-identified as women, LGBTQ+, minorities, or members of another recognized protected class. She also served as the Treasurer (2022-2024) and Southeast Regional Governor (2015-2017) of NAPABA, a Past President of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of D.C. (APABA-DC), and an appointed committee member of the Interests on Lawyers Trust Account (IOLTA) Committee of the ABA and the D.C. Bar Foundation.
Annette is dedicated to providing pro bono services and promoting access to justice for the underserved. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her dog, Coco, and two cats, Billy and Jimmy, and training them to do tricks.
Thy Bui
Maynard Nexsen PC
Los Angeles, CA
Thy B. Bui is an employment litigator based in Los Angeles, California at Maynard Nexsen LLP. She was named a BTI Client All-Star in 2025, one of NAPABA's Best Under 40 in 2020. and one of SuperLawyer's top 50 Up-and-Coming Women Lawyers in Los Angeles for three consecutive years. She has served in many leadership roles in NAPABA since 2014, including various roles on the Board of Governors and committee leadership in the Young Lawyers Network and Labor and Employment Committee.
Outside of her law firm and NAPABA, she currently serves as a director for the Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties and the Inner City Law Center. She is an avid political junkie, amateur sailor, and way too into dogs.
Regional Governors
CENTRAL REGION
Philip Bautista
Taft Stettinius & Hollister
Cleveland, OH
Philip Bautista is a partner in Taft’s Intellectual Property and Litigation Practice Groups and is an elected member of the firm’s Executive Committee. Phil is a Chambers-rated trial lawyer who has extensive first-chair litigation and trial experience. Having a background in science, Phil has litigated numerous cases throughout the United States involving trademarks, patents, copyrights and trade secrets.
Phil is also a Board Member of the National Filipino American Lawyers Association (NFALA), Filipino American Lawyers Association of Ohio (FALA Ohio), and is a member of the Asian American Bar Association of Ohio.
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA REGION
Jason Liang
Liang Ly LLP
Los Angeles, CA
Jason is a trial lawyer and founding partner of the firm. He has successfully tried dozens of civil and criminal matters in both state and federal courts, and has served as lead trial attorney in more than 30 trial and arbitration matters. Since 2007, Jason has represented hundreds of corporate and individual clients in various complex civil and criminal matters, including matters that involve trade secret and intellectual property theft, defamation, copyright infringement, trademark infringement, breach of contract, fraud, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO Act”), the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the Economic Espionage Act, the False Claims Act, anti-trust and unfair competition laws, and cross-border disputes involving Chinese law.
EASTERN CALIFORNIA/NEVADA REGION
Glicel Sumagaysay
Law Office of Glicel Sumagaysay
Walnut Creek, CA
As the owner of Law Office of Glicel Sumagaysay, an Employment Law Firm, Glicel Sumagaysay (She/Her) represents private and public workers in pre-litigation and litigation. Specifically, Glicel files claims for workers for wrongful termination; retaliation;
disability, race, gender and other discrimination; harassment; wage theft; and other wage claims. Additionally, Glicel helps small businesses prevent employment law violations by advising them in all stages of a worker engagement.
Glicel is a member of the California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA). She serves as Chair of CELA’s Worker Outreach committee, where she co-leads the committee in providing Know Your Rights programs to educate workers about their employment
rights and to organize pro bono clinics for workers. Further, Glicel is currently a co-chair of the Asian Pacific American Women Lawyers’ Alliance (APAWLA)’s Civic Engagement Committee and Secretary of APABA (Asian Pacific American Bar Association)
Solano County. Glicel is also a member of the Alameda and Contra Costa County Bar Associations. Additionally, Glicel is a FBANC (Filipino Bar Association of Northern California) Co-Director of Professional Development. Finally, Glicel is proud
to be an incoming Regional Governor for Eastern California/Nevada of NAPABA.
NORTHEAST REGION
Johnson & Johnson
Horsham, PA
Kathleen Chen is currently the Board Attorney for the Solid Tumor team, within the Oncology therapeutic area of Johnson & Johnson. Prior to joining Johnson & Johnson, Kathleen served in a deputy general counsel capacity for the Abramson Cancer
Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Kathleen is also the 2024 president of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania.
KabaFusion
Boston, MA
Alan Y. Wong is Associate Counsel at KabaFusion, where he practices as an in-house generalist attorney, with an emphasis on managing litigation and claims. Alan has long been active in AAPI advocacy, from leading undergraduate AAPI student groups,
to co-chairing his law school's APALSA chapter, to being a founding co-chair of his former firm's Asian American employee resource group. A lifelong resident of the Boston area, Alan serves on the executive board of the Asian American Lawyers
Association of Massachusetts, a NAPABA affiliate. Alan believes strongly in supporting his local AAPI community, and works with organizations like the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence in a pro bono capacity. Alan received his B.A. from
the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, majoring in economics, political science, and Asian American studies. He received his J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law, and has been a member of NAPABA since graduating from law school
in 2013.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA REGION
Lisa Mak
Flynn Group
San Francisco, CA
With over 15 years of litigation experience, Lisa currently serves as Senior Employment Counsel at Flynn Group, the largest franchisee operator in the US. In her role, she oversees employment litigation and provides strategic advice on employment
issues for the company.
Lisa has been honored for her work as a litigator, including recognition from NAPABA (Best Under 40 Award), the Equal Justice Society, the Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus, and by the SuperLawyers
and Best Lawyers publications.
Lisa is dedicated to public service and currently serves as the Northern California Regional Governor for NAPABA. She previously served as President of the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater
Bay Area, and also served on the Board of Directors for the California Asian Pacific American Bar Association, the Bar Association of San Francisco, the Minority Bar Coalition, and Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach.
Eric de los Santos is Assistant General Counsel at Emergent Biosolutions, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland. He has been a employment and labor attorney for close to 30 years and lives in Seattle with his husband, Chad, and their dog and cat, Patches and Stitches, respectively. Eric is a founding member of the National Filipino American Lawyers Association and served as its president. He also co-founded the Filipino Lawyers of Washington and served as its president. He has been active with the Asian Bar Association of Washington where he looks forward every year to hosting the group’s annual Walk for Rice bbq at his house. Eric is from Honolulu, Hawaii, and goes back often to visit his family. He is very proud to be representing a geographically diverse region and is looking very forward to working with its affiliates and members.
SOUTHEAST REGION
Onchantho Am
University of Central Florida College of Medicine
Orlando, FL
As a former foster youth and now an attorney, my journey has been one of resilience, service, and leadership. As Associate General Counsel at the UCF College of Medicine, I provide legal guidance on healthcare initiatives, contracts, regulatory matters, and risk mitigation, ensuring compliance and strategic decision-making in a complex academic medical environment. Before joining UCF, I served as VP and CLO for a nonprofit focused on mental health, substance misuse, and child well-being, where I worked at the intersection of law, policy, and community impact.
Beyond my legal work, I am deeply committed to public service and mentorship. I led and planned "Pathways in the Law" and mentorship programs for youth, helping to guide and inspire the next generation. I co-founded ACT (Asian American Pacific Islanders Coming Together), a non-partisan nonprofit dedicated to civic engagement and voter education. Through ACT, we have led efforts to translate election ballots into several languages, foster dialogue between law enforcement and the community, and increase voter education and participation.
My passion for service extends to child welfare, where I have served as both a guardian ad litem and attorney ad litem, advocating for children in the dependency system—a cause deeply personal to me, having navigated Florida’s foster care system myself. That experience shaped my determination to create opportunities for others, whether through mentorship, leadership, or legal advocacy.
I have had the privilege of serving as past president of the Greater Orlando Asian American Bar Association (GOAABA) and the Orange County Bar Association Foundation, as well as holding leadership roles with the National Association of Cambodian American Lawyers, IMPOWER Inc., National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, and the Orange County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Initiative. My contributions have been recognized with honors such as the 40 Gators under 40, OBJ’s 40 Under 40, NAPABA Best Under 40, and multiple Congressional Record recognitions.
While these accolades are meaningful, my greatest professional fulfillment comes from using my experiences to uplift others. Whether advocating for transformative impact, mentoring the next generation of leaders, or shaping policies that drive meaningful change, my mission remains clear: to lead with integrity, purpose, and a commitment to excellence.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGION
Tony Wang
O'Melveny & Myers LLP
Newport Beach, CA
Tony Wang focuses his practice on corporate and securities law, with an emphasis on private equity, venture capital, merger and acquisition, and cross border transactions between the US and Asia. His clients span numerous industries including
telecommunications, media, software/technology, manufacturing, energy, and real estate. He also has extensive experience in dealing with US securities compliance issues, corporate governance matters, and intellectual property topics, specifically
with start-up companies and venture capital and private equity investors.
SOUTHWEST REGION
Jackson Walker
Dallas, TX
Phil Kim is a Chambers-ranked healthcare attorney who advises providers and industry participants on complex transactional and regulatory matters. He counsels private equity firms, digital health companies, health systems, hospitals, pharmacies,
ambulatory surgery centers, physician groups (including NPHOs), home health providers, hospices, and other healthcare companies on buy- and sell-side M&A, joint ventures, and operational issues encompassing regulatory, licensure, contractual,
and administrative considerations. Phil has led regulatory legal teams on a wide range of healthcare transactions, including some of the most significant multi-billion dollar deals in the sector.
Phil has guided multinational technology
companies entering the digital health space through service and collaboration agreements for wearable technologies, and he represents public medical device, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical companies—as well as their investment bank underwriters—in
public securities offerings and related securities filings.
Phil’s experience spans healthcare arrangements and provider agreements of all types, including transitioning hundreds of physicians from a prior group to a new NPHO with a restructured employment model. He negotiates professional services,
clinical and educational affiliations, leases, business associate agreements, and other service contracts across private and public sectors.
On the regulatory side, he regularly advises on compliance and liability exposure,
the Stark Law, anti-kickback statutes, HIPAA/HITECH privacy, state and federal healthcare laws, complex structuring and formation, and employment issues, and he represents clients before government agencies, including state Medicaid agencies,
the Texas Medical Board, and Medicare Administrative Contractors.
At-Large Members
Alicia A. G. Limtiaco, Esq., serves as Regulation Counsel with the Supreme Court of Guam. She was previously the Director of Policy, Planning and Community Relations, Lead Litigation Counsel, and Acting Administrator of Court Programs for
the Judiciary of Guam.
Ms. Limtiaco served as the first woman U.S. Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands and as the first woman elected Attorney General of Guam, Acting Chief Prosecutor, and
Criminal Sexual Conduct and Family Violence Supervising Attorney with the Office of the Attorney General. She was a member of the U.S. Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC) working groups, the Co-Chair of the National Association
of Attorneys General (NAAG) Criminal Law Committee and the NAAG Youth Access to Alcohol Committee, and the Second Vice Chair of the Conference of Western Attorneys General (CWAG) Executive Team. Ms. Limtiaco established and chaired coalitions
and task forces addressing human trafficking, sexual assault, family violence, child sexual exploitation, drug trafficking, national security, civil rights, cybercrime, financial crimes, gambling, reentry, and public school health and
safety.
Ms. Limtiaco was an associate and a partner in private law firms in Guam. She served as the Ninth Circuit Lawyer Representative for the District of Guam, Judicial Extern with the U.S. District Court for the Central
District of California, and Law Clerk for the Superior Court of Guam. She was an Assistant Professor and adjunct faculty with the University of Guam and Guam Community College.
Ms. Limtiaco has collaborated with government,
civil society, and private sector stakeholders and served as a Pacific Region Focal Point, trainer, fellow, and consultant on human rights and social and economic justice issues impacting the Pacific Region, in educational, political,
and community forums at the local, national, regional, and international levels.
Ms. Limtiaco received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Southern California (USC) and her Juris Doctor from the University
of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law. She has 35 years of legal experience and is licensed to practice law in Guam and California.
Ms. Limtiaco and her husband, Vince, are the proud parents of their daughter,
Julia Faye.
Alen Hsu is a partner at Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman, P.L., where he serves as both a litigator and counselor to business clients. He concentrates his litigation practice in real estate, employment, business, and general commercial
disputes, and he also advises domestic and foreign companies on transactional and regulatory matters. His ability to bridge complex litigation with practical business insight allows him to deliver efficient and strategic results for
his clients.
As lead counsel, Alen has handled numerous multimillion-dollar and class action cases, as well as arbitrations, trials, and appeals. His approach combines vigorous advocacy with creativity and pragmatism,
often resolving intricate disputes through cost-effective and innovative solutions. Alen’s professional accomplishments have earned broad recognition. In 2016, he received the Legal Advisor of the Year Award from Sterling 5, Inc.,
for his leadership in both the legal and local community. Super Lawyers has recognized him as a Florida Rising Star in Business Litigation from 2015 through 2020 and as a Florida Super Lawyer from 2021 through 2025. That same year,
he was selected to The Florida Bar Leadership Academy, a one-year program designed to develop emerging leaders in the legal profession. In addition to his law practice, Alen has been actively involved in public service and professional
organizations. In 2016, he was elected by the citizens of Parkland, Florida, to serve a four-year term on the Board of Supervisors of the North Springs Improvement District—a quasi-municipal corporation providing essential utility
services to nearly 40,000 residents in Coral Springs and Parkland. The following year, he was appointed to the Editorial Board of The Florida Bar Journal and The Florida Bar News for two three-year terms, serving as Chair from 2021
to 2022.
Alen’s commitment to service extends beyond the legal field. From 2017 to 2020, and again from 2024 to 2025, he served on the Board of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (“NAPABA”), where
he now serves as an At-Large Board Member. He also served on the Board of Operation120, Inc., a nonprofit supporting displaced and at-risk female military veterans, and was Chair from 2022 to 2023. From 2021 to 2023, he co-chaired
the Real Estate Committee of the Broward County Bar Association. He presently serves on the Civil Practice Committee, the Business Litigation CLE Committee, and the Labor and Employment CLE Committee of the Palm Beach County Bar Association.
Alen earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Florida. He also completed a study abroad program on Elizabethan England and William Shakespeare at Cambridge University, England. He received
his Juris Doctor from Nova Southeastern University. Outside the office, Alen enjoys reading, spending time with his wife and daughter, and playing golf.
Anushree Bagrodia is a Vice President & Senior Managing Counsel at Mastercard. She has over 17 years of deep and rich international legal experience spanning Asia, Europe and North America. A seasoned corporate and product lawyer, her legal
expertise spreads from international M&A to complex commercial transactions to global product development and commercialization. Her negotiations and strategic advice have helped close several high value and high impact deals across industries,
regulatory domains and geographies.
A believer in constant learning and passionate about innovation, she led a global cross functional team to identify and implement transformational technology for a 500+ law department, generating
efficiency and governance benefits across the organization. This enabled her to understand the operational nuances of legal departments in great detail and delve into the entire value chain of the legal function and role end to end.
Minorities are all around us and Anushree strongly believes that any way in which the gap between the haves and the have-nots can be bridged will leave a better society for future generations. She serves on the board of a not-for-profit school
in North India which provides overall development opportunity to around 500 students. She is currently the co-chair of the In-house Committee at AABANY.
Anushree earned her J.D. from Government Law College, Mumbai and Masters in
Law from Oxford University.
Residing in New York, Anushree loves to learn about different cultures and is an avid traveler and foodie.
ServiceNow, Inc.
Santa Clara, CA
Brian Wong is a Senior Director on the legal team of ServiceNow, Inc., where he leads the company’s Global Employment Law and Workplace Investigations teams in service to a workforce of over 25,000 employees. Brian’s teams are responsible for
all employment advice and litigation across the world, as well as prompt and thorough review of all concerns of unlawful workplace conduct at the company. Prior to joining ServiceNow, Brian served as in-house counsel to Adobe and Gap Inc.,
and practiced at law firms Baker & McKenzie and Seyfarth Shaw.
Brian is a past president of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Silicon Valley.
Jilili Law, PC
Irvine, CA
Eemaan Jalili, Esq., CPA, is the founder and principal attorney of Jalili Law, PC, where he focuses on taxation law, litigation, and the artificial intelligence in legal practice. A dual-credentialed attorney and Certified Public Accountant, Eemaan
has over a decade of experience guiding individuals, businesses, and nonprofits through complex tax matters. His work spans corporate litigation, federal and state tax controversies and advanced taxation issues such as R&D tax credits,
employee retention credits, and nexus challenges, representing clients before the IRS, the Superior Court, appellate work before the Ninth Circuit and the California appellate courts, as well as drafting a Writ of Certiorari to the U.S. Supreme
Court addressing intricate oil and gas facility matters.
Beyond his tax and litigation practice, Eemaan serves as General Counsel to multiple companies, where he advises on taxation, compliance, and employment law. He is also
the founder of AICounsel.law, a professional initiative that trains lawyers and accountants on the responsible use of artificial intelligence in the legal and accounting professions. Through this work, he helps legal professionals and businesses
leverage AI to improve workflow efficiency, strengthen client service, and expand access to justice.
Eemaan is deeply committed to professional leadership and service. He has served on the National Board of the Iranian American
Bar Association since 2018 and currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Orange County Bar Association, where he chairs both the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and the Committee for AI and Technology. He also serves on the
boards of the Orange County Women Lawyers Association Foundation and the Orange County Lavender Bar Association, reflecting his commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession.
Eugene Kim
Vanguard Cleaning System
Denver, CO
Eugene serves as General Counsel at Vanguard Cleaning System. He previously served as an in-house attorney at Vail Resorts Management Company, serving as Vice President - Associate General Counsel as a leader for the Mountain Resorts Counsel team. The Mountain Resorts Counsel team supports the company's 43 Resorts across
North America, Australia and Switzerland and serves as a strategic thought partner and advisor to help the company achieve its goals in key mountain operations, ancillary businesses like Retail/Rental, Hospitality and Ski & Ride School
and Food & Beverage. Eugene has significant experience as a key contributor to key corporate functions like Marketing, IT/Privacy/Information Security, and all regulatory functions (Environmental, Public Lands, Water, and Tramway).
Eugene previously served as a board member for the Colorado Asian Pacific American Bar Association and as a board member for Hope in Our City, a non-profit focusing serving the refugee community within Denver.
Eugene is a graduate of the University of California - Los Angeles, where he played on the Varsity Men's Volleyball team, and the University of Minnesota School of Law, where he served as the Student Body President
When Eugene is not lawyering, he enjoys cheering on his beloved LA Dodgers, trying new restaurants and eating good food, fly-fishing, and spending time with his wife and three kids.
Sapna Palla
White & Case LLP
New York, NY
Sapna Palla is a trial lawyer and partner at White & Case. She has spent over two decades representing clients in high-stakes patent, trademark, copyright, and complex commercial matters, including successfully litigating disputes in federal
and state courts in a range of jurisdictions. She also has extensive experience with alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration and mediation. Sapna also counsels and represents a variety of U.S. and international clients regarding
U.S. intellectual property rights by providing them with infringement, validity, enforceability, and clearance opinions and by advising them in licensing and antitrust matters. She also conducts intellectual property due diligence investigations
in connection with acquisitions and licensing deals.
Sapna also counsels clients about patent law in Asia, including China and India. Sapna’s patent litigation experience covers a broad array of technologies, including
pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, drug delivery systems and medical devices, mechanical devices, batteries, software, and agrochemicals. Outside the patent area, she has represented clients in trademark, trade dress, and copyright litigation
as well as counseling clients on trademark and copyright registration, strategy, and licensing. Sapna has also led a number of complex commercial disputes involving complex contractual matters in the oil, renewable energy, construction,
and food services industries.
Sapna frequently writes and speaks on a range of topics, including developments in litigation, e-discovery, patent law, patent reform, intellectual property law in Asia, pharmaceuticals, biosimilars,
biotechnology, and medical devices. Her programs have been presented by the Practicing Law Institute and WestLegal Ed, and she has been published and quoted in leading publications, including Practicing Law Institute, Forbes, ABA Litigation
Journal, IP Law360, New York Law Journal, Corporate Counsel Connect, Pharmaceutical Patent Analyst, and Bloomberg/BNA.
Sapna is an inaugural member of Judge Janet Bond Arterton’s Intellectual Property American Inns of
Court. She was a summer clerk for the Honorable Judge Denis R. Hurley of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
Sapna served as adjunct professor at Pace University School of Law, addressing antitrust
and patent topics. She has lived and studied in both India and Tanzania. She is fluent in Hindi and Marathi and conversant in French.
The Chander Law Firm, P.C.
New York, NY
Vishal Chander is Managing Attorney of The Chander Law Firm, P.C., where he focuses on the needs of multinational companies, foreign investors, individuals of extraordinary ability, and other priority workers. He advises corporate and individual clients on all aspects of U.S. immigration law, including employment-based and investment immigration, complex family matters, removal defense, naturalization, and humanitarian relief. His clients include companies in technology, health care, education, and entertainment, as well as refugees, domestic workers, and families.
Vishal has been involved in NAPABA for more than 20 years. He attended his first NAPABA National Convention as a law student. He has since served as co-chair of the Immigration Committee and the Solo and Small Firm Network. Vishal also serves as a Director for the Asian American Bar Association of New York and remains an active member of the Dallas Asian American Bar Association.
Vishal is licensed in to practice law in New York and Texas. He is admitted before the United States Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. He is a graduate of Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law and the University of Texas at Austin.
