Our member spotlight features APABA-PA Board member Carrie Xu!

• Employer: Dentons Cohen & Grigsby, Pittsburgh
• Area: Corporate, M&A, Data Privacy
• Law School: University of Pittsburgh, School of Law
• Other Languages Spoken: Fluent in Mandarin Chinese and Shanghainese, limited working proficiency in Cantonese and Spanish
• Joined APABA-PA:  2018, but I was involved with APABA-PA through APALSA during law school.
• Positions held in APABA-PA: Board Member, Nominations Committee Co-Chair
• Favorite APABA-PA Memory: The APABA-PA Banquet in 2016. It was wonderful meeting the attorneys from Philly and Harrisburg while being surrounded by food.
• One way APABA-PA has helped you: The Marutani Fellowship I received during law school allowed me to pursue a summer internship with Judge Cathy Bissoon of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. It was a great experience and I really appreciated the fellowship.
• When I’m not in APABA-PA events or working I’m….: Walking dogs, making pancakes, and listening to audiobooks.
• If I weren’t a lawyer, I would be: working in tech
• Fun facts: I learned how to paddleboard this year, would like to learn how to bike next.
• Favorite tv or movie discovery during Covid: Tiny House World
• I can’t go a day without: Tea, especially from Ten Ren’s in New York.
• Once Covid is over, you’ll find me: Visiting my dad

• Employer: The Law Office of Kristine L. Calalang
• Practice Area: Family Law
• Law School: Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law
• City of Birth: Voorhees, NJ Current City: Philadelphia (office) and Main Line (home)
• Languages spoken: English
• Year Joined APABA-PA: 2004
• Positions held in APABA-PA (past and present): Member
• Favorite APABA-PA Memory: I love attending the Lunar Banquet, as it is always a great time to reconnect with everyone and share a delicious meal.
• One way APABA-PA has helped you: I have treasured being a part of APABA-PA since the beginning of my law career, as it has given me a strong foundation of support and the wonderful feeling of being a part of a warm community.
• When I’m not at APABA-PA events or working I’m…:  Having fun spending time with my family and friends along with running around participating in Philadelphia Bar Association or Villanova Law events.
• If I weren’t a lawyer I’d be…: a medical doctor or psychologist.
• Favorite Lunch Spot: Reading Terminal Market or McCormick & Schmick’s
• I can’t go a day without…: Laughing and talking to family and friends.
• Fun Facts: My grandfather was a member of the U.S. Armed Forces in the Far East and served as the personal physician to U.S. General Wainwright, and I am related to Jose P. Laurel, who served in the past as a Senator, Supreme Court justice, and President of the Philippines.

• Employer: University of Pennsylvania, Abramson Cancer Center
• Practice Area: Corporate Transactions and Research Law
• Law School: Temple University Beasley School of Law
• City of Birth: Livingston, NJ Current City: Philadelphia
• Languages spoken: English and Mandarin
• Year Joined APABA-PA: 2013
• Positions held in APABA-PA (past and present): Board Member (present)
• Favorite APABA-PA Memory: Last year’s Summer Picnic. It was such a wonderful treat to bring the kids and spend time with my fellow APABA-PA members and their families.
• One way APABA-PA has helped you: It’s fulfilling to be part of such a dedicated and generous group of people. I’ve made some great friends along the way too.
• When I’m not at APABA-PA events or working I’m…: Dancing or spending time with the family.
• If I weren’t a lawyer I’d be: an entrepreneur
• Favorite Lunch Spot: Goldie Falafel at UPenn
• I can’t go a day without…: Coffee
• Fun Fact: I used to be 20th in NJ for tennis under the USTA rankings when I was younger.

• Employer: Beazley Group
• Practice Area: Labor and Employment
• Law Law School: The USC Gould School of Law
• City of Birth: Los Angeles, California
• Languages spoken: English and Tagalog
• Year Joined APABA-PA: 2012
• Positions held in APABA-PA (past and present): Board Member (present) and Liaison to the Young Lawyers Division of the Philadelphia Bar Association (past)
• Favorite APABA-PA Memory: Last year’s Summer Picnic. It was the first time I attended the Picnic with my daughter, Sloane, and she absolutely loved playing with the other kids in the pool.
• One way APABA-PA has helped you: I am a transplant to Philadelphia, and APABA-PA has helped me expand my network. APABA-PA’s members are always welcoming and willing to help. I have made some amazing friends through my involvement with APABA-PA.
• When I’m not at APABA-PA events or working I’m…: hanging out with my beautiful wife (Crystal Tatco-Español) and baby (Sloane), investing in real estate, and CrossFitting.
• If I weren’t a lawyer I’d be: a Real estate investor
• Favorite Lunch Spot: The Rooster in Philly
• I can’t go a day without…: Coffee and music

• Employer: Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP
• Practice Area: Commercial Litigation
• Law School: University of Pittsburgh School of Law
• City of Birth: Shanghai, China
• Current City: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Languages spoken: Mandarin, Shanghainese
• Year Joined APABA-PA: 2014 Positions held in APABA-PA (past and present): Committee Members of Nominations Group, Outreach Group and Marutani Fellowship Selection Committee
• Favorite APABA-PA Memory: The 2015 Annual Banquet in Philadelphia. As a then Marutani fellow, I was invited to Philly for banquet. This is the largest and best event I have ever been during my entire time at the law school.
• One way APABA-PA has helped you: I got connected with APABA-PA via Marutani Fellowship. I spent a summer time doing pro bono immigration work at Jewish Family & Children Services of Pittsburgh. APABA-PA makes me understand that public interest work is critical to the community. After I become an attorney, I still volunteer there from time to time.
• When I’m not at APABA-PA events or working I’m…: snorkeling, practicing heat yoga, jogging, cycling, hiking, camping, cooking fusion cuisine and watching movies.
• If I weren’t a lawyer I’d be: freelance editor for the Lonely Planet.
• Favorite Lunch Spot: freshii I can’t go a day without…: green smoothie
• Fun Fact: I was born in the year of the horse. My name “Qi” means “Horse.” “Wei” stands for “Jade”

• Employer: NJ Attorney General’s Office
• Practice Area: Litigation / Policy / Community Engagement
• Law School: Delaware Law School Languages spoken: English, Bengali Year Joined APABA-PA: 2006
• Positions held in APABA-PA (past and present): Community Outreach Co-Chair, Board Member, Corresponding Secretary, Vice President, President-Elect, President, Policy Committee Co-Chair
• Favorite APABA-PA Memory: Too many to mention here, but on the top of list would be the Lunar Banquets over the years and the festivities afterward.
• One way APABA-PA has helped you: APABA-PA provided me with an amazing circle of friends and a constantly supportive professional network. I would not be where I am today, both professionally and personally, without APABA-PA.
• When I’m not at APABA-PA events or working I’m…: recharging, spending time with family and friends, and/or Netflix.
• If I weren’t a lawyer I’d be: Maybe a college instructor or professor.
• Favorite Lunch Spot: When I’m in Philly, it’s the food court in Liberty Place. They have so many options, and it’s fast.

• • Employer: Cozen O’Connor
  • Practice Area: litigation
  • Law School: University of Iowa College of Law
  • City of Birth: Morristown, NJ Current 
  • Languages spoken: English, Cantonese
  • Year Joined APABA-PA: 2015 Positions held in APABA-PA (past and present): Lunar Banquet Chair, Silent Auction Chair, Board of Directors member
  • Favorite APABA-PA Memory: When we lost half the APABA-PA delegation to Lobby Day on the DC metro.
  • One way APABA-PA has helped you: transforming Philadelphia as a “place where I work” to a community and professional network
  • When I’m not at APABA-PA events or working I’m…: running with shelter dogs through the The Monster Milers!
  • If I weren’t a lawyer I’d be: a freelance artist and dog walker on the Upper West Side
  • Favorite Lunch Spot: Rittenhouse Square, dogwatching and fending off pigeons

• Employer: Myself ( Tran Law Associates)
• Practice Area: Immigration
• Law School: Temple University Beasley School of Law
• City of Birth: Saigon, Vietnam (technically, it had been renamed Ho Chi Minh City by the time I was born, but my family still refers to it as Saigon
• Languages spoken: English, Vietnamese, a few words in Spanish, French, German, and I can do a Mandarin accent well enough to get Mandarin-speakers to start speaking to me excitedly while waiting for the train.
• Year Joined APABA-PA: 2005 Positions held in APABA-PA (past and present): Vice-President, chair of Community Outreach, Annual Banquet, Nominations, Summer Picnic committees.
• Favorite APABA-PA Memory: California Supreme Court Justice Goodwin H. Liu talking about his Asian hair in his keynote speech at one of our annual banquets – showing us slide after slide of that one stubborn tuft of hair at the crown of his head that refused to be tamed. Also, learning that Judge Marutani argued for the Lovings in Loving v. Virginia — thanks, Tsiwen! One way APABA-PA has helped you: Networking with so many other attorneys both in the Philadelphia area and around the country due to our ties to NAPABA – National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. Keeping in touch with issues that affect APAs both in positive and negative ways, and taking a stand on these issues to highlight how they affect APAs.
• When I’m not at APABA-PA events or working I’m…: Enjoying my kids; knitting and contemplating my yarn stash and what I should make next; trying to get out to enjoy our local parks, botanic gardens, and craft festivals; taking photographs; and trying to figure out how to maintain a large garden with no green thumb. If anyone has a good gardener recommendation (Lower Bucks) let me know!
  

Here are some interesting facts about him.

• Employer: Law & Associates, LLC
• Practice Area: Real estate and construction litigation
• Law School: UPenn City of Birth: Norwalk, CT
• Languages spoken: French, Cantonese, Mandarin, English
• Year Joined APABA-PA: 1984 (Editor’s note: as a founding member of APABA-PA, you could say APABA-PA joined Tsiwen, not the other way around.)
• Positions held in APABA-PA (past and present): Secretary, President, Committee Chair (he is currently co-chair of the Policy Committee)
• One way APABA-PA has helped you: Provided a source of practitioners who can give me solutions to complex problems
• When I’m not at APABA-PA events or working I’m…: working on cars: replacing starters, brakes, alternators, water pumps
• If I weren’t a lawyer I’d be: an occupational epidemiologist or OSHA inspector
• Favorite Lunch Spot: Bubblefish