CALF 2024: The First Annual Conference
On April 19-20, 2024, the First Annual CALF Conference was held at the Tarrytown House Estate in Tarrytown, New York, a picturesque town in upstate New York. The event brought together 108 lawyers from 19 states, representing large, mid-size, and small law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies.
Throughout the conference, attendees engaged in thought-provoking discussions on key topics, including:
- Career bottlenecks & breakthroughs for Chinese American lawyers
- Challenges & opportunities in the current legal landscape
- Solo practice vs. partnerships – Navigating career paths
- The advancement of Chinese American female lawyers
- Law firm marketing & business development
The main sessions and breakout forums were highly insightful, packed with practical strategies and industry expertise. As the conference concluded on April 20, 2024, attendees shared one common sentiment—the event was too short!
In his keynote speech, Attorney Keliang "Clay" Zhu, managing partner at DeHeng Law Offices PC in Silicon Valley, shared his involvement and leadership in organizing Chinese American legal communities during the landmark WeChat case. His efforts successfully challenged and blocked President Trump’s proposed WeChat ban, a major legal victory for Chinese American communities and digital rights.
In the main forum, eight renowned legal experts shared their insights on the opportunities and challenges facing Chinese American lawyers in the U.S. The panel featured:
- Zhangmao Tong (Locke Lord)
- Haiyan Tang (Quinn Emanuel)
- Xin Tao (Baker McKenzie)
- Weiqiong Tao (Polsinelli)
- Zhiming Wang (Pacific Coast Trial Law Firm)
- Zhidong Wang (Z. Wang & Associates)
- Xiaojie Meng (Meng Law Group)
- Yang Xu (Taft Stettinius & Hollister)
The discussion focused on key practice areas, including litigation, mergers and acquisitions, immigration law, and regulatory compliance.
In the breakout forums, over 20 senior lawyers from various sectors shared unique insights and experiences, further enriching the dialogue on career growth and legal industry trends.
Where Our Attendees Are From
- Our attendees represented 19 U.S. states, Mainland China, and Hong Kong."
- A U.S. map with highlighted states where attendees are from.
Highlights from the 1st Annual CALF Conference
