PRESIDENT

ASHLEY YEN

Ashley Yen is Assistant General Counsel at Methodist Health System, where she advises senior executives on issues relating to healthcare and corporate law. Ashley earned her Bachelor of Arts from Rice University and her law degree from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law. During law school, Ashley interned with seven different in-house departments, which kicked off her love of in-house life. After law school, Ashley became a senior corporate counsel at a neurodiagnostic company that spanned 38 states.

Ashley has previously served in numerous DAABA roles, including Treasurer, Secretary, Awards Night Co-Chair, Mentorship Committee Chair, and Community Service member. Ashley also serves as The Podium’s Vice President of Strategy and Administration. Outside of law, Ashley enjoys snowboarding, day-of-coordinating weddings for free, and spending time with friends and family, including her daughter.

PRESIDENT-ELECT

aLEN SAMUEL

Alen Samuel is an associate at Fisher Phillips focusing on employment and workplace litigation matters. Alen represents employers in a broad range of workplace litigation matters in state court, federal court, and arbitration, including Title VII, FLSA, and NLRA claims. Alen also drafts handbooks and policies as well as advises employers on compliance with state and federal laws. Prior to Fisher Phillips, she gained valuable trial and appellate experience defending entities in corporate, intellectual property, and employment related disputes.

Outside of DAABA, Alen serves as The Podium’s Vice President of Programming and co-chair of DAYL’s Lawyers Promoting Diversity committee.

TREASURER

HANNA KIM

Hanna is Legal Counsel for Samsung C&T America, Inc., where she works exclusively on Samsung’s U.S. solar development. Prior to joining Samsung, Hanna was a litigation associate at Zelle LLP. Hanna serves as the treasurer on the Asian Pacific Interest Section of the State Bar of Texas, coached the Thomas Tang National Moot Court Competition at SMU Dedman School of Law, an advocacy program sponsored by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Foundation, and served on Zelle’s Diversity, Equity & Including Subcommittee on Hiring and Dallas Recruiting Committee. Hanna is also a founding member and current VP of Finance of The Podium.

SECRETARY

ERIC B. CHEN

Eric is an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth Division. He prosecutes drug and violent crimes as well as civil rights violations in his capacity as the Criminal Civil Rights Coordinator for the District. Before joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eric was a civil trial attorney at Carter Arnett PLLC (Dallas) and Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP (LA/OC) and served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Karen Gren Scholer (N.D. Tex.) and Honorable Douglas F. McCormick (C.D. Cal.). As the beneficiary of countless attorneys and friends who poured into him, Eric is eager to do all that he can to help DAABA members thrive in their professional and personal lives. Ultimately, Eric is a proud husband and father.

DIRECTOR

KATHLEEN CRUZ

Kathleen M. Cruz is a Senior Counsel at Dykema practicing in Labor and Employment Litigation. Kathleen is experienced in handling all aspects of civil litigation, from inception to trial. She represents domestic and international companies in state and federal courts, and she has a wide range of experience across industries. Kathleen specializes in commercial and business litigation, including non-solicitation and non-compete agreements and partnership disputes, as well as appeals.

Kathleen earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Austin in 2012 and her law degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law in 2015. During law school, Kathleen served as a Judicial Extern with the Honorable Irma C. Ramirez, Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

DIRECTOR

LILY MARRS

Lily is an associate at Paul Hastings practicing in the Global Finance group. She represents both financial institutions and corporate borrowers in a variety of commercial lending transactions.

Lily graduated from Southwestern University in 2016 and SMU Dedman School of Law in 2021. While in law school, Lily was a member of the SMU Law Review Association and served as a TA for Legal Writing. She is a native Dallasite and she and her husband are very excited to welcome their first child this year.

DIRECTOR

CHRISTINA TA

Christina is an associate in the finance practice group of Paul Hastings LLP. Her practice focuses on commercial lending transactions and she has represented traditional banking institutions, global asset managers and fund advisors in reserve-based and asset-based lending transactions, acquisition financings and debt restructuring transactions.

Christina currently serves as a Director of DAABA overseeing the Professional Recognition Committee. Previously, she served as Awards Night Chair in 2024 and as a member of the Awards Night Committee in 2022 and 2023. Christina has also coached the Thomas Tang National Moot Court team at SMU Dedman School of Law, an advocacy program sponsored by NAPABA. Outside of the law, Christina enjoys spoiling her cat and dog and spending late nights trying to write a novel.

DIRECTOR

MARISSA BOULANGER

Marissa is Employment Counsel at Siemens Industry Software and currently serves as a DAABA Director overseeing the Public Outreach Committee. Marissa previously served as a DAABA Director from 2022-2023, Connections Chair from 2022-2023, and Awards Night Chair in 2021. On top of her in-house experience, Marissa has also practiced in big law and small firms, primarily with focuses on employment law and litigation. Outside of work, Marissa enjoys playing with her three pups, rooting for the Chicago Bears, and trying to establish herself as a bona fide foodie (IG: @marissaeatsfood).

DIRECTOR

DARREN CHEN

Darren is an Associate in the Dallas office of Dykema Gossett PLLC. He focuses his legal practice on commercial litigation and  government investigations. Darren has been an active member of DAABA since his law school days at SMU Dedman School of Law and served on the DAABA Connections Committee during his 3L year. He enjoys mentoring law students and plans to help foster more generations of AAPI lawyers who actively participate in their communities. Darren firmly believes that showing up makes a difference and hopes to push for higher attendance at DAABA events.

DIRECTOR

ANDY KIM

Andy is a trial attorney at Lynn Pinker Hurst and Schwegmann LLP with broad experience litigating commercial disputes. Having grown up in Frisco, TX, Andy recently returned to DFW after clerking in the Fifth Circuit and practicing in New York and San Francisco. In all the cities he lived, Andy has made it a point to engage with Asian American causes and organizations, including Asian Americans Advancing Justice and the Koreatown Youth and Community Center. This began in law school where he was Korematsu Chair for NYU’s APALSA and mentee to countless amazing AAPI attorneys.