Are you interested in learning more about the different career paths of a litigator? How real are courtroom scenes as depicted on TV? Do all litigators go to court on a regular basis? What do litigators do other than go to court? Can non-native speakers become successful litigators?

Come join us and hear from four seasoned Asian American litigators from different fields who will share their experiences in and outside of the courthouse. Learn how one prepares for a litigation career, the different fields one could specialize in, what qualities make good litigators, and marvel at our speakers' "war" stories from trials!

Light dinner and drinks will be served.

Panelist (in Alphabetical order)

Sean Li - Partner, Benesch LLP

Nadya Xie - Senior Deputy District Attorney, Tulare County

Jim Yu - Owner, Law Offices of Jim W. Yu

Qiaojing Ella Zheng - Managing Partner, Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight, LLP

Moderator

Jennifer L. Gilbert - Special Counsel, Kramer Levin LLP

Thanks to Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP for providing the event venue and food!

Speaker Bio

Sean Li has over a decade of experience in litigation. He has worked at both a national top litigation powerhouse and an elite boutique firm. His diverse educational and professional background offers valuable insights for those considering a career in litigation. With degrees in both physics and psychology, Sean has developed a unique legal strategy that combines technical expertise with practical problem-solving. His work covers a broad spectrum, from patent and trade secret disputes to defending clients in complex copyright and trademark cases. Having represented clients in federal and state courts, as well as before arbitration panels and government bodies, Sean’s journey shows how litigation can be a rewarding and dynamic way to protect innovation and resolve disputes. His experiences underscore the variety and challenges that make litigation a fulfilling career path.

Nadya Xie handles diverse areas of both criminal and civil law as a Senior Deputy District Attorney. She’s prevailed in jury trial, bench trial, grand jury, etc. in various matters ranging from general felony to homicide. She specializes in prosecuting White Collar and other financial crimes, including embezzlement, public integrity, asset forfeiture, consumer fraud, welfare fraud, environmental law violations, and cybercrimes. Nadya proudly enjoys the day-to-day challenges of being a prosecutor.

Jim Yu represents seriously injured pedestrians and bicyclists throughout Northern California. He is a Past President (and first POC president) of the Alameda-Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association. Northern California Super Lawyers magazine named Jim as a Top 100 Lawyer in 2023 and 2024. Jim received his undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley and his law degree from Georgetown University.

Qiaojing Ella Zheng is the Managing Partner of the San Francisco and Palo Alto Offices of Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight, LLP, and the Firm’s Asian American Litigation and Finance Practice Group Chair. Bilingual in Mandarin Chinese and English, Ella is a highly accomplished civil rights litigator with an impressive track record of securing victories for plaintiffs in both individual and class action cases involving claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation and breach of contract. She is also experienced in representing whistleblowers in qui tam matters that expose securities fraud, banking and financing misconduct, fraudulent digital advertisement, data security issues and other corporate malfeasance. Ella has garnered national recognition for her exceptional legal work, including a Rising Star by Law360, Elite Trial Lawyers’ Rising Stars of the Plaintiffs Bar, 100 Women of Influence by Silicon Valley Business Journal, etc.

Jennifer L. Gilbert litigates complex intellectual property disputes, including patent infringement, trademark and trade secret cases; technology-related contract disputes; and complex commercial matters. A trial-tested advocate with nearly 20 years of background in intellectual property as well as extensive courtroom experience in state and federal courts across the country and before the U.S. International Trade Commission, Jennifer represents both intellectual property owners seeking to enforce their rights and companies defending against allegations of infringement. Her successes on behalf of her clients, including hundreds of millions of dollars in favorable verdicts, pre-suit resolutions and settlements, have earned her a well-deserved reputation as a formidable advocate at trial and a compelling negotiator at the settlement table. In 2021, Daily Journal named Jennifer to its Top 40 Under 40 list. Jennifer has also been recognized by Northern California Super Lawyers as a Rising Star every year from 2014-2022, and as a Super Lawyer in 2023.

About CALOBA

The Chinese American Lawyers of the Bay Area (CALOBA) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit mutual benefit corporation established in 2003 by a group of U.S.-trained and California-licensed Chinese American attorneys in the San Francisco Bay Area. Its initial aim was to connect fellow attorneys and law students with similar backgrounds and cultural interests to support their legal career development. Since then, CALOBA has grown into one of the nation’s largest organizations devoted to legal professionals of Chinese heritage. Our diverse membership is predominantly bilingual and bicultural, with expertise spanning various practice areas, including corporate transactions, securities, intellectual property, litigation, employment, immigration, and public interest.

CALOBA hosts continuing legal education events, workshops, and networking activities for attorneys and law students. We provide community services, co-host events with other legal and non-legal organizations on current legal, social, and economic issues that concern our members and the broader Asian American community and publicize important societal matters.

CALOBA Panel Discussion: Why and How to Become a Litigator

Follow this organizer to stay informed on future events

Events you might like

Pushing Boundaries: Artist Panel DiscussionPushing Boundaries: Artist Panel Discussion

Mt.Hamilton Society - Joshua Thompson "Equality and Opportunity Litigation"Mt.Hamilton Society - Joshua Thompson "Equality and Opportunity Litigation"

Pushing Boundaries: Artist Panel Discussion

Mt.Hamilton Society - Joshua Thompson "Equality and Opportunity Litigation"