TCDIP’s mission is to help our Members attract, recruit, advance, and retain attorneys of color in the Twin Cities. In this post, we highlight the “advance and retain” part of our mission. We congratulate the 17 attorneys of color who recently received a noteworthy promotion into a leadership role! You can learn more about each attorney’s practice area, path to leadership, and advice they would like to share.
Trina Rebekah Alvero Iijima, Ameriprise Financial, Associate Counsel
Practice Areas: Financial Services
Learn more about Trina
What’s one piece of advice you’d like to share with attorneys of color who are looking to rise in their careers?
Embrace a commitment to the community and that commitment will give back to you.
Raha Assadi-Lamouki, Managing Associate, Winthrop & Weinstine
Practice Areas: Commercial Lending
Learn more about Raha
Tell us more about your practice areas.
I represent banking and other financial institutions in a range of matters covering all aspects of the lending process, including traditional secured and unsecured revolving credit and term loans, syndicated loans, construction and real estate financing, and transactions involving new markets tax credits.
How has the Twin Cities legal community and TCDIP contributed to your career growth?
I participated in the TCDIP 1L Summer Associate Program. Through that, I was able to spend half my summer at a law firm and half at a corporation. That spearheaded my excitement for the transactional law practice and led me to Winthrop and the commercial lending practice group.
Shauro Bagchi, Maslon LLP, Partner and Governance Committee Member
Practice Areas: Corporate & Securities Group
Learn more about Shauro
Tell us more about your practice areas. What are you looking forward to in your new role?
I focus my practice in mid-market, private company mergers and acquisitions, technology and licensing transactions, and fund formation/capital raising transactions. I am most looking forward to using my diverse background and experiences to serve the firm.
How has the Twin Cities legal community and TCDIP contributed to your career growth?
I participated in the TCDIP 1L Clerkship Program over a decade ago!
Allira Sharma Bailey, US Bank, Senior Corporate Counsel
Practice Areas: Banking and Finance
Learn more about Allira
Tell us briefly about your areas of practice. What are you looking forward to in your new role?
I now support U.S. Bank’s Consumer and Business Banking’s retail banking operations. I provide guidance on issues related to consumer and small business deposit products, safe deposit box leases, lines of credit, product development, regulatory compliance, pre-litigation disputes, and consumer and business fraud. I also advise the U.S. Bank’s Consumer Marketing team regarding corporate sponsorships, advertising and marketing campaigns, and prize promotions. I’m looking forward to building lasting relationships with my new business line colleagues.
What’s something that contributed to your promotion that you would like to share?
My employer, managers, and colleagues invested time, energy and resources into my development early on and continuously during my career in the law. I’ve also developed some meaningful professional relationships that have helped my career trajectory.
Sarvesh Desai, Shareholder, Henson Effron
Practice Areas: Business Law, Mergers & Acquisitions, IP Licensing
Learn more about Sarvesh
Tell us briefly about your areas of practice. What are you looking forward to in your new role?
I have a broad spectrum of experience working with companies: small and large, local and international, start-ups and established entities. I am well-versed and able to deal with the legal issues surrounding mergers and acquisitions, contracting, intellectual property, and licensing, among other things. As a shareholder I am looking forward to sharing my knowledge and experience with more clients and leading my firm and the legal community into the future.
What’s something that contributed to your promotion that you would like to share?
Never underestimate the power of building a strong network. Building a network at your firm, as well as in your community will do wonders for your career.
What’s one piece of advice you’d like to share with attorneys of color who are looking to rise in their careers?
Doing a good job in the role you have is important, but in order to rise in your career, embrace opportunities to do a good job in the role you want. Be engaged in different committees at your firm and in the community as a way to both give back and propel forward.
Jae Hun Kim, Brooks, Cameron & Huebsch, Partner
Practice Areas: Patent Law
Learn more about Jae Hun
Tell us briefly about your areas of practice. What are you looking forward to in your new role?
I am a patent attorney providing services primarily for patent preparation and prosecution. With my promotion to partner, I seek to help people with background similar to mine (Asians immigrated to the United States) to get more familiar with patent-related jobs and to induce more people with such background to participate in this field.
Kenneth Kyuhan Oh, US Bank, Vice President/Senior Corporate Counsel
Practice Areas: Consumer Default; Collection Litigation
Sanjiv P. Laud,
Jones Day, Partner
Practice Areas: Patent Litigation and Appeals
Learn more about Sanjiv
Tell us briefly about your areas of practice. What are you looking forward to in your new role?
I represent some of the world’s largest companies in patent infringement and licensing disputes. A sizeable chunk of my practice involves defending tech companies against patent trolls. Most of the rest of my cases are disputes between competitors in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, or other technology-heavy industries. My new role as partner won’t change much about my practice, but I’m looking forward to more opportunities to lead teams in the courtroom.
What’s something that contributed to your promotion that you would like to share?
I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the coaches, mentors, and sponsors in my professional network. My clerkships in particular set me on the path that led me to becoming a partner at Jones Day.
What’s one piece of advice you’d like to share with attorneys of color who are looking to rise in their careers?
You belong here. Even if you are the first or only attorney of color in your workplace, or the first lawyer in your family, or any other pathbreaking “first,” you absolutely belong here and no one else can tell you different. Now go show the world what you’re made of.
How has the Twin Cities legal community and TCDIP contributed to your career growth?
The Twin Cities is where I went to law school, had my first clerkship, met my wife (in law school), and made my home. TCDIP got me my first legal job. What more can I say?
Haaris Pasha, Ameriprise Financial, Associate Counsel
Practice Areas: Global Contracts, Technology, and Procurement
Learn more about Haaris
What advice do you have for other attorneys of color looking to rise in their careers?
Be intentional about your career path, but be okay with detours. Engage in self-reflection and self-affirmation – both are important. Always know your worth and prioritize your family and friends.
Pedro E. Puga, Brooks, Cameron & Huebsch, Partner
Practice Areas: Patent Prosecution, specializing in AI and memory technologies
Learn more about Pedro
How has the Twin Cities legal community and TCDIP contributed to your career growth?
The Twin Cities legal community and TCDIP have contributed to my career growth by normalizing the potential of people of color. I am grateful for those that have changed, through time and hard work, the perception of people of color.
What advice do you have for other attorneys of color?
I would advice any attorney of color to reach out to others. Together we can build on the foundation that others have laid.
Roshan N. Rajkumar, Bowman and Brooke, Managing Partner
Practice Areas: Product Liability, Commercial Litigation, Chemicals and Environmental Litigation
Learn more about Roshan
Tell us briefly about your areas of practice. What are you looking forward to in your new role?
I serve as a trial attorney defending corporations in state and federal courts against commercial, product liability, toxic tort, and warranty matters. In serving as lead counsel in local and national roles for individual matters and mass torts, I have gained extensive experience representing major manufacturers of commercial and consumer motor vehicles, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, and construction products.
As the new Managing Partner in Minneapolis, I am excited for the opportunity to have a more significant role in ensuring Bowman and Brooke is a great place for people to build their careers. I consider everyone in the Minneapolis office family, and I want to make sure they all feel valued, appreciated, and supported. As Managing Partner, I can also advance my personal mission to mentor and coach attorneys from historically marginalized communities to help diversify the legal profession. While supporting everyone at Bowman and Brooke, I am absolutely committed to guiding, nurturing, and cultivating attorneys of diverse backgrounds, including female attorneys, attorneys of color, and attorneys who identify as LGTBQ. I’ve had mentors and coaches all my life to help me get to where I am today. I want to make sure that attorneys from underrepresented communities are also provided with the same level of support that I had.
What’s something that contributed to your promotion that you would like to share?
Relationships. The relationships established over two decades at Bowman and Brooke were critical in providing the support needed to be elected to this role. No one can be successful alone. This promotion is the result of great relationships and trust built over years while working closely with and counting on teammates to effectively defend our clients in some of the country’s most challenging cases.
What’s one piece of advice you’d like to share with attorneys of color who are looking to rise in their careers?
Be great and be involved. First, master your craft and be a great lawyer. The most important aspect of building a successful career is being excellent at your job. Make sure people know they can count on you and that you are a problem solver. That will ensure senior attorneys and decision-makers want you on their team, or to represent them.
Secondly, get involved in professional and affinity organizations. Organizations like Twin Cities Diversity in Practice, the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, and the American Bar Association offer many personal and professional development opportunities while also bringing together a network of great people who continue to make strides in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession.
Purposefully build a strong network of mentors and professional contacts. That networking will pay off many times over your career.
How has the Twin Cities legal community and TCDIP contributed to your career growth?
As I mentioned earlier, I’ve had mentors and coaches all my life who helped me get to where I am today. The Twin Cities legal community and TCDIP have supplied many of those important people.
Largely in honor and appreciation for those who have influenced me, I’ve mentored and coached hundreds of attorneys from underrepresented backgrounds during my twenty-plus-year career as an attorney. For example, it has been my honor to serve as an active member of TCDIP from its inception, serving on the board for ten years, increasing its profile and membership, and serving as a mentor to incoming law students and associates. I’m deeply appreciative of the efforts of TCDIP and am proud to continue helping this great organization advance its mission.
Aalok Sharma, Stinson LLP, Partner
Practice Areas: Business and Commercial Litigation, Sports and Recreation, Entertainment and Media, Construction, Products Liability
Learn more about Aalok
Tell us briefly about your areas of practice. What are you looking forward to in your new role?
I am a partner in Stinson’s Business and Commercial Litigation Practice Group. Within the firm, I co-lead our Sports & Recreation group, and I focus on emerging sports and entertainment issues. Prior to this year, that included the growing areas of esports, daily fantasy sports, sports betting, and issues surrounding the collection of sports data. These days, I have been doing more counseling in the areas of non-fungible tokens (“NFTs”), the metaverse, and other digital assets.
What’s something that contributed to your promotion that you would like to share?
My practice involves a fair amount of expertise, and a dedication to learning new areas of the law. Stinson has been supportive of growing these practices. I appreciate their mentorship, patience, and commitment to seeing me succeed.
What’s one piece of advice you’d like to share with attorneys of color who are looking to rise in their careers?
People will doubt your talent at some point; don’t let them win. Run your practice like you have a chip on your shoulder.
How has the Twin Cities legal community and TCDIP contributed to your career growth?
The practice of law can be challenging but finding comradery among peers makes the journey more enjoyable.
Keiko Sugisaka, Maslon LLP, Partner and Governance Committee Chair
Practice Areas: Product Liability Defense
Learn more about Keiko
Tell us briefly about your areas of practice. What are you looking forward to in your new role?
My practice is focused on product liability defense, complex business litigation and intellectual property, including consolidated and multi-district litigation. Like those who have been good stewards of my firm before me, I am excited to continue working with a talented and collaborative group of professionals to find ways to do things better and differently as we navigate out of a pandemic.
What’s one piece of advice you’d like to share with attorneys of color who are looking to rise in their careers?
Do what you can to position yourself for success. That means building authentic professional relationships – and preferably mentors and sponsors – as early as possible in your workplace and the broader legal community. And always continue to develop your professional excellence so you will be ready to take advantage of opportunities that will inevitably present themselves.
Asmah Tareen, Fredrikson & Byron, Shareholder
Practice Areas: Technology and Data
Learn more about Asmah
Tell us briefly about your areas of practice. What are you looking forward to in your new role?
As a member of the firm’s Technology and Data Group, I advise clients on developing, protecting and commercializing IP and technology and I represent clients on a broad range of collaborative agreements and strategic transactions. I really enjoy being a part of our Recruiting and Hiring Committee and leading our firm’s Business Continuity team and I look forward to continuing to do so.
What’s something that contributed to your promotion that you would like to share?
My colleagues and my clients are also my friends. I have been fortunate to have meaningful relationships with colleagues that have been my champions and invested in me over the years, and clients that have trusted me to partner with them on their important projects.
What’s one piece of advice you’d like to share with attorneys of color who are looking to rise in their careers?
You won’t know all of the answers. Being a good lawyer starts with meeting people where they’re at and showing up with authentic concern, curiosity and a problem-solving mindset.
Amy Xu, HSML, P.C., Partner, General Manager of International Business and Legal Services
Practice Areas: Intellectual Property Legal and Business
Learn more about Amy
Tell us briefly about your areas of practice. What are you looking forward to in your new role?
We look forward to helping enable and serve our clients’ businesses in need of international business growth and risk management related to innovation and deployment in various international markets.
What’s something that contributed to your promotion that you would like to share?
Firmly believing in our firm’s vision and 17 years of dedication and mission in diversity, equity and inclusion, and being able to help transform the beliefs into legal service operations.
What’s one piece of advice you’d like to share with attorneys of color who are looking to rise in their careers?
Good or bad times, focus on what we can do to help better lives in our diverse communities.
Bing Yang, HSML, P.C., Partner
Practice Areas: Intellectual Property
Learn more about Bing
Tell us briefly about your areas of practice. What are you looking forward to in your new role?
Intellectual Property (IP) practice areas include patents, trademarks, copyright, and trade secrets. IP practice relates to the establishment and protection of intellectual creations such as inventions, designs, brands, artwork, or the like. In my new role, among other things, I am looking forward to contributing more to training and mentoring junior IP practitioners.
What’s one piece of advice you’d like to share with attorneys of color who are looking to rise in their careers?
Be prepared with in-depth knowledge and sharpen your skills – when the opportunities or challenges come, you would be ready to take the opportunities to prove your skills or to overcome the obstacles and solve the problems.
How has the Twin Cities legal community and TCDIP contributed to your career growth?
Among many other things, the Twin Cities legal community and TCDIP provide numerous networking opportunities for attorneys of color to share their experience, plenty of training and mentoring events for attorneys of color to expand their knowledge and skills, and sufficient support for attorneys of color to keep them motivated. These are important factors that contribute to the career growth of attorneys of color, including myself.
Mai Lee Yang, Nilan Johnson Lewis, Shareholder
Practice Areas: Health Law, Corporate & Transactional Services
Learn more about Mai Lee
Tell us briefly about your areas of practice. What are you looking forward to in your new role?
I am looking forward to continuing to provide regulatory and transactional legal services to health care clients.
What’s something that contributed to your promotion that you would like to share?
In addition to the NJL mentors and colleagues that supported and contributed to my promotion, the relationships and trust from clients are significant factors in any success I may claim. The engagement with clients is a large part of why I enjoy private practice.
What’s one piece of advice you’d like to share with attorneys of color who are looking to rise in their careers?
Don’t conform your vision or goals with other people’s expectations or because no one has done it exactly the way you want to do it. I have been encouraged to follow certain paths and while it was difficult to decline those opportunities, I knew it was not for me. You may not know all the specifics, but you know what kind of lawyer you want to be.