OFFICERS
President:
Audra Mori
Perkins Coie LLP
(310) 788-9900
amori@perkinscoie.com
President-Elect:
James M. Toma
California Department of Justice
(213) 897-2128
tomajm@hotmail.com
Vice President:
Steven K. Yoda
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
(310) 712-6165
syoda@kelleydrye.com
Treasurer:
Kenneth Tanaka
Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ
(213) 488-3754
kentanaka@us.mufg.jp
Secretary:
Mark Hanasono
Alternate Public Defender
(213) 974-6626
Immediate Past President:
(Governor ex officio)
Alison Matsumoto
Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office
(626) 356-5620
amatsumoto@da.lacounty.gov
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Catherine Endo Chuck
McBirney & Chuck
(213) 688-9100
cchuck@mcbirneychuck.com
Alex H. Fukui
California Bank & Trust
(213) 593-3192
alex.fukui@calbt.com
Mark Furuya
mark.furuya@gmail.com
Sabina A. Helton
McGuireWoods LLP
(310) 315-8269
shelton@mcguirewoods.com
Katherine M. Hikida
United States Attorney’s Office
(213) 894-2285
katherine.hikida@usdoj.gov
Diana Iketani Iorlano
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
diorlano@manatt.com
(310) 312-4000
Hikari Kimura
Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office
(213) 974-3793
Patricia Kinaga
Kinaga Law Firm
(213) 623-8788
Emily Kuwahara
Crowell & Moring LLP
(213) 443-5556
ekuwahara@crowell.com
Mike Madokoro
Bowman & Brooke LLP
(310) 380-6519
mike.madokoro@bowmanandbrooke.com
Melanie Murakami
Hawkins Delafield & Wood
(213) 236-9063
mmurakami@hawkins.com
Susan Roe
Office of the Public Defender
(213) 974-2907
sroe@pubdef.lacounty.gov
Bill Seki
Seki Nishimura & Watase LLP
(213) 481-2869
bseki@snw-law.com
Michelle K. Sugihara
Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP
(213) 892-4992
msugihara@luce.com
Mike Suzuki
Office of the Public Defender
(818) 576-8663
msuzuki@pubdef.lacounty.gov
Diane M.L. Tan
dmltan@aol.com
Kent Wakuta
Office of the Public Defender
kwakuta@gmail.com
Dennis T. Yokoyama
Southwestern Law School
(213) 738-6746
dyokoyama@swlaw.edu
COMMITTEES
If you are interested in becoming involved with a JABA committee, please contact the committee chair. We welcome your involvement!
Community Education Committee
The Community Education Committee sponsors and coordinates law days and legal clinics for the community, and partners with other community service organizations to provide legal education. The CEC also publishes the JABA Attorneys List which includes members who volunteer to be on the list for public distribution. (JABA does not endorse any of the attorneys listed.)
Ken Tanaka – kentanaka@us.mufg.jp
Kent Wakuta – kwakuta@gmail.com
Law Students Committee
The Law Students Committee provide s support to law student associations at area schools in co-sponsoring conferences, seminars, and job fairs.
Susan Roe – sroe@co.la.ca.us
Business Lawyers Group
BLG offers programs of interest to business lawyers, including receptions with elected and appointed officials.
Eric Y. Nishizawa – en@nishizawalawoffices.com
Ken Tanaka – kentanaka@us.mufg.jp
Judicial/Non-Judicial Appointments
The Judicial Appointments Committee sponsors a mentorship program matching attorneys interested in judicial appointments with members of the bench and evaluates candidates for judicial and non-judicial appointments. If you are a current member interested in becoming a judge or commissioner, or a current member of the judiciary who would like to become a mentor, please contact:
Katherine Hikida – katherine.hikida@usdoj.gov
Community Concerns
The Community Concerns committee presents proposals for JABA advocacy and statement positions on pending legislation and current community issues.
Michael K. Suzuki – msuzuki@lacopubdef.org
Corporate Affairs
The Corporate Affairs committee handles corporate governance issues, including the annual meeting, elections, changes to articles of incorporation, and the bylaws.
Douglas Sugimoto – dsugimoto@roll.com
Catherine Endo Chuck- cchuck@mcbirneychuck.com
Diana N. Nishiura – dnishiura@msn.com
Programs
The Programs committee plans a variety of programs for JABA members, including networking receptions, the annual Marco Polo night, Dodgers night, MCLE seminars, and annual holiday party/toy drive for non-profit organizations.
Alex Fukui – alex.fukui@calbt.com
Kent Wakuta – kwakuta@gmail.com
Membership
The membership committee maintains the JABA membership list. If you would like to join JABA or renew your membership, please download the membership application.
Steven Yoda – syoda@kelleydrye.com
Pro Bono
The Pro Bono committee coordinates volunteer opportunities for JABA attorneys to provide pro bono legal assistance to underserved members of the Asian Pacific American and other communities.
Alex Fukui – alex.fukui@calbt.com
Young Lawyers Group
The JABA Young Lawyers Group provides younger JABA members with networking opportunities and mentors who will provide career guidance. YLG offers a mentorship program which pairs up younger members with more experienced JABA attorneys.
Kent Wakuta – kwakuta@gmail.com
Emily Kuwahara – ekuwahara@crowell.com
Diversity Outreach
The Diversity Committee is dedicated to creating diversity opportunities and advancement in the legal profession. Committee representatives attend community and governmental forums, as well as functions of other bar associations, to develop partnerships to promote diversity at all levels of the legal profession. Part of our outreach efforts are directed toward motivating and educating students about the law and career opportunities in the legal field. The Committee also examines strategies to develop collaborative activities with both private and government agencies to address issues concerning diversity, and to encourage those with diverse backgrounds to enter the legal profession.
Hon. Timothy Saito
Schurr High School Criminal Justice Program
The Schurr High School Criminal Justice Program plans and administers mock trials for high school students.
Michael K. Suzuki – msuzuki@lacopubdef.org
The Shin Issei/Japanese Lawyers Group
The Shin Issei/Japanese Lawyers Group committee works to foster closer relationships between JABA and Shin Issei and Japanese attorneys practicing in Los Angeles. It also provides for networking opportunities among these groups.
Masa Mitsunaga – mmitsunaga@linerlaw.com or 310.500.3491
Sabina Helton – shelton@mcguirewoods.com
Website
The Website committee maintains the JABA website. If you would like your event added to the JABA calendar, or have photos to share please contact the administrators at:
Douglas Sugimoto – dsugimoto@roll.com
James Toma – tomajm@hotmail.com
