October Spotlight: Wendy Zhang

1. How did you first get involved with FACL BC?

I first got involved with FACL BC when the BC chapter got started in 2011. I remember how exciting it was to have an organization that represented Asian Canadians at a time when there were so few of us in our year at UBC Allard. When I was called, I still remember the shock when I found out I was only the second of two Zhang's listed on the BC Law Society website. Imagine that, the last name Zhang being rare! It's good to see we are not so rare anymore.

2. What has been your favourite FACL event or initiative so far?

The Gala has always been my favourite. It is always a good event to connect with the community, which is sometimes hard to do with busy lawyers.

3. What advice would you give yourself if you were to go back in time?

Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.

4. What is something that not many people know about you?

My first Canadian language is French, and I speak French at home with my spouse.

September Spotlight: Julia Law

1. How did you first get involved with FACL BC?

I attended one of the AGMs and heard the nomination speeches of incoming executives. It was exciting to hear the passion for FACL initiatives.

2. What has been your favourite FACL event or initiative so far?

The etiquette of eating at Chinese restaurants

3. What advice would you give yourself if you were to go back in time?

Maintain your personality when practicing. When I was an articling student, I thought I had to adopt a certain adversarial personality as a litigator. I would try to put up a strong front especially when talking to opposing counsel, often older, much more experienced, usually male and non-Asian. This was more so when I felt bullying tactics were being imposed as I was a student, female and Asian. Practicing law with my own personality and not trying to put up a face, regardless of what the opposing counsel is like, makes the practice of law more enjoyable and more effective.

4. What is something that not many people know about you?

Despite my Chinese last name, I am Korean. Many people think I am Chinese because of my last name and are quite surprised when they find out I am Korean. I adopted this very fitting last name after marrying my law school study buddy and now we are Mr. and Mrs. Law.

July Spotlight: Kathrine Uppal 

Our spotlightee for the month of July (and for the last month of the 2022-2023 term) is Kathrine Uppal. Kathrine is a partner at Bleay Both Uppal LLP.

1. How did you first get involved with FACL BC?

I was a member of FACL in the beginning of my career; however, as things can go, I found myself not able to take the time to be an active member and attend the initiatives. However, recently, a current FACL member very kindly invited me to attend the Business Development Seminar in celebration of International Women's Day and that was really the turning point in my re-engagement.

2. What has been your favourite FACL event or initiative so far?

The "But I Look Like a Lawyer" initiative has been my favourite. It was really relatable for someone like me and it was empowering to hear those stories.

3. What is something that not many people know about you?

As I thought of an answer to this question, I realized that I might actually enjoy being several hundred feet off the ground. I have been sky-diving, bungee jumping, para-sailing and just recently took a hot-air balloon ride.

4. What advice would you give yourself if you were to go back in time?

If I could give myself any advice, it would be to take a moment to pause, reflect and enjoy. When I look back, I remember always striving to do the next “thing”. I was always focused on the next step in my legal journey that I never really stopped to appreciate how far I had come or what I had accomplished. I wish I took more moments to be proud of the challenges that I overcame along the way.

June Spotlight: Haifeng Hu

Our June Spotlight is Haifeng Hu. He is an associate lawyer at Stikeman Elliott LLP.

1. How did you first get involved with FACL BC?

I have known Steven Ngo since 2015 when we were both working in Calgary. When I moved to Vancouver in 2022, I reached out to him to see what I can do for our community. At that time, he was looking for law firms to host an in-person networking event together with the Asia Pacific Law Club at UBC Allard Law. I had the pleasure to help FACL and APLC host this event and the rest is history.

2. What has been your favourite FACL event or initiative so far?

The 2022 FACL Annual Gala as we are stronger in numbers!

3. What is something that not many people know about you?

I graduated from Quest University Canada and my son was born this February.

4. What advice would you give yourself if you were to go back in time?

You don’t need a business degree to practice corporate law, but you do need to educate yourself on key business issues. Without a solid understanding of your clients' concerns and goals, corporate lawyering can be tedious, and you burn out faster. Seeing the bigger picture behind a transaction will lead to better execution and is a key quality when leading complicated negotiations.

May Spotlight: Jennifer K. Choi

This month's spotlight is Jennifer Choi, an associate lawyer at McCarthy Tétrault and a current member of FACL BC.

1. How did you first get involved with FACL BC?

I first got involved as a law student at UBC.

2. What has been your favourite FACL event or initiative so far?

I really enjoyed the 2022 Gala. It was so inspiring to see such a large gathering of Asian Canadian lawyers. It was also such a delight to connect with everyone in person again!

3. What is something that not many people know about you?

I have a PhD in Biochemistry. Law was a "second career" for me. It's never too late to change course and sometimes you end up where you least expected.

4. What advice would you give yourself if you were to go back in time?

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself that everyone is "faking it 'til they make it". I had a lot of imposter syndrome during my first few years as an associate in litigation. I've since learned that so many great lawyers that I look up to have had the same feelings of doubt and uncertainty.

April Spotlight #1: Khalil Jessa 

Our first spotlight of this month is Khalil Jessa, senior legal counsel at the BC Securities Commission and a former board member of FACL BC. 

1. How did you first get involved with FACL BC?

A good friend of mine, who was a board member at FACL BC, suggested that I join the board. At that time, I wasn't familiar with FACL BC, but my friend told me that it had a highly engaged board, and that it would be a great opportunity to connect with the community. Having completed my law degree in Ontario, I felt that my connections to the legal community in BC were somewhat limited. Therefore, I saw joining organizations like FACL BC as a valuable way to expand my network and deepen my involvement in the legal community.

2. What has been your favourite FACL event or initiative so far?

FACL BC has organized numerous events and initiatives that I deeply appreciate. The documentary "But I Look Like a Lawyer" was exceptionally well-executed and inspiring. The online events we held during the pandemic were instrumental in providing a sense of connection and community to those who felt isolated. I'm proud of our ability to quickly pivot towards virtual events during those challenging times. Undoubtedly, the annual Gala is a standout event for FACL BC, but I must say that my personal favorite is the board retreat. It provides an opportunity for board members to bond and foster strong relationships with one another. Ultimately, it is these close-knit connections that enable us to work effectively as a team and contribute to the success of FACL BC's initiatives.

3. What is something that not many people know about you?

When I was completing my undergrad in Montreal, I had originally planned to learn French. However, when the French class I had applied for was already full, I decided to study Farsi instead. That semester, I immersed myself in the study of Farsi, which led me to an incredible opportunity. During the summer of that year, I traveled to Iran, where I spent several months continuing my studies of the language. This experience opened my eyes to new cultures, perspectives, and ways of thinking, and it remains one of the most rewarding and transformative experiences of my life.

4. What advice would you give yourself if you were to go back in time?

It's important not to judge events in your life as either good or bad. When you categorize events in this way, it can bias your thinking and affect the feedback you receive from the universe. It's better to receive everything neutrally and be patient. It's only when you reach the end of your life that you'll be able to fully understand whether something was truly good or bad.

Until then, it's best to remain open to all experiences and trust that they will ultimately contribute to your growth and development.

March Spotlight #2: Jennifer Chan 

Our second spotlight of March is Jennifer Chan, a staff lawyer at the Law Society of British Columbia.

1. What has been your favourite FACL event or initiative so far?

I really appreciate FACL’s efforts to build a strong sense of connection and community. My favourite events would be FACL’s annual galas, which I always come away from feeling inspired. I have also enjoyed participating in the mentorship program.

2. What is something that not many people know about you?

I love public libraries! In 2020, I became Chair of the Vancouver Public Library Board and was surprised to learn that I was the first Person-of-Colour to do so. I wonder what other diversity barriers remain to be broken and encourage everyone on their own paths to breaking them.

3. What advice would you give yourself if you were to go back in time?

I would choose to spend more time on the things that matter most to me – family, community, health, and learning. Being a lawyer can be very demanding on your time and energy, and I would remind myself to treat this career more like a marathon than a sprint. Everyone has their own rhythm and pace to avoid burning out.

March Spotlight #1: Cheryl D'Sa

Our first spotlight of this month is Cheryl D'Sa. Cheryl is the managing partner at Narwal Litigation LLP, a bencher of the Law Society of British Columbia, and a FACL BC mentor. 

1. How did you first get involved with FACL BC?

My partner Joven Narwal and I first became involved with FACL BC events many years ago, around the time that Jennifer Lau and David Namkung were executives.

2. What has been your favourite FACL event or initiative so far?

It's very hard to choose, but I would say my favourite event so far was a FACL mentorship evening in 2019. I really enjoyed speaking at the event and getting an opportunity to talk to and learn from many other lawyers.

3. What is something that not many people know about you?

I love playing Mario Kart on Nintendo Switch.

4. What advice would you give yourself if you were to go back in time?

Keep all options open and never hesitate to change course when you learn new information.

Our second spotlight of this month is Scott Morishita. Scott is a current FACL BC member and is an Associate Counsel at Rice Harbut Elliott LLP. 

1. How did you first get involved with FACL BC?

I first got involved with FACL BC in 2019. Margaret Mereigh, who was the President of the CBA (BC branch) at the time, encouraged me to join and get involved in some capacity. Shortly thereafter, I joined FACL BC, attended my first AGM, and then joined the Mentorship Program as a mentor.

2. What has been your favourite FACL event or initiative so far?

This is a tough question, as there are so many to choose from. But if I had to choose one, it would be the "But I Look Like a Lawyer" documentary. The experiences and stories of other lawyers really resonated with me, and the academics did a phenomenal job of explaining the background and causes of systemic racism against Asians in Canada. After watching it for the first time I felt like I had to take the afternoon off to process it.

3. What is something that not many people know about you?

Early in my career I almost left the legal profession on two occasions. On the second occasion I came very close to accepting an offer for a non-law job. Ultimately, I decided to give law another year and reassess. Almost 15 years have passed and I'm very glad I didn't accept that offer.

4. What advice would you give yourself if you were to go back in time?

Get involved in the legal community early in your career. For the first five years or so of my career, I was 100% focused on work and I struggled as a result. Being involved in organizations like FACL BC and the CBA has made me a better lawyer and has been very enriching on a personal level.

February Spotlight #1: Gaynor Yeung 

Our first spotlight of February is Gaynor Yeung, a partner at Whitelaw Twining and a Bencher of the Law Society of British Columbia. 

1. What is something that not many people know about you?

I put myself through school teaching piano.

2. How did you first get involved with FACL BC?

3. What has been your favourite FACL event or initiative so far?

I love the FACL podcast. I find it fascinating to hear from speakers who share a strong sense of community but yet are simultaneously unique in their experiences, interests, and skill set.  

4. What advice would you give yourself if you were to go back in time?

You can belong without fitting in.