The mission of the Greater Orlando Asian American Bar Association ("GOAABA") is to represent and advocate the interests of the Asian Pacific American community of the Greater Orlando area, to encourage and promote the professional growth of the members of GOAABA, to facilitate client referrals and to broaden professional opportunities for Asian Pacific American attorneys, to foster the exchange of ideas and information among and between the members of GOAABA and other members of the legal profession, the judiciary and the legal community, and to coordinate legal services to Asian Pacific American communities in the Greater Orlando area.

About GOAABA

About Goaaba The Greater Orlando Asian American Bar Association is a voluntary organization that was incorporated on October 19, 2009 to represent the interests of Asian American attorneys, law students, and other legal professionals in the Greater Orlando area.  The genesis of GOAABA began several years ago, when attorneys  Jessica Hew and Stephen Chong discussed the idea and the need for Orlando’s first-ever Asian American bar association.  Other attorneys, including Sunny Hillary, Glenn Leong and Kim Nguyen, similarly raised the idea.     In March, 2009, Glenn Leong called up an informal planning meeting with Jessica Hew, Kim Nguyen and Sunny Hillary at Dexter’s in Winter Park.  Our Planning Committee identified unmet legal needs within the many and diverse Asian American communities and discussed obstacles, including language barriers, cultural wariness, and other impediments to full legal assistance and access to the courts. The Committee noted the existence of the Hispanic Bar Association, serving Hispanic attorneys in Central Florida, and the Paul C. Perkins Bar Association, serving African-American attorneys in Central Florida. But no voice or organization unified Orlando’s growing Asian American legal community.     After much research, GOAABA developed an email distribution list of over 40 (and still growing) potential interested parties. The first organizational meeting was held on May 19, 2009, at the Orlando law offices of Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed, P.A., where 15 members participated. After a long, hot summer of planning and additional meetings, GOAABA was officially incorporated on October 19, 2009. GOAABA is a voluntary, non-profit organization which represents the interests of Asian American attorneys, law students and other legal professionals in the Greater Orlando area. GOAABA has an Affiliation Agreement with the National Asian Pacific Americ an Bar Association (NAPABA) and is the fourth affiliated chapter in Florida. (The other three chapters are located in Miami/South Florida, Tampa and Jacksonville.) However, GOAABA is completely autonomous and serves our local community.     GOAABA Bylaws welcomes members who are licensed attorneys in good standing, as well as members of the judiciary and law students, from any jurisdiction, regardless of ethnic, national, or geographic origin and regardless of race, religion, gender, creed or sexual orientation.  Annual dues ($75.00 for attorneys and $30.00 for students) support GOAABA’s mission during each fiscal year beginning August 1st of every year and payment can be made through PayPal to goaaba@gmail.com or to Greater Orlando Asian American Bar Association P.O. BOX 2069, Orlando, FL 32802

Read More

Recent News

August 28, 2019 |

Welcome to GOAABA’s 2019-2020 Officers and Board of Directors

GOAABA would like to extend its gratitude to the following Officers and Board of Directors for serving on the 2019-2020 Board this year! 2019-2020 Officers and Board of Directors: President: Leia V. Leitner President-Elect: Onchantho Am Treasurer: Scott Leitner Secretary: Shante Walker Board of Directors: Teris Deitsch Kenway Wong Avita Samaroo Greg Maaswinkel Janice Chon Thank you for your dedication and commitment to...

June 18, 2019 |

Farewell to GOAABA’s 2018-2019 Officers and Board of Directors

GOAABA would like to say thank you to the outgoing Officers and Board of Directors of the 2018-2019 Board for all its hard work! 2018-2019 Officers and Board of Directors: President: Annie Kwong President-Elect: Leia Leitner Treasurer: Onchantho Am Secretary: Hazel Gumera Board of Directors: Janice Chon Teris Deitsch Sarah Guo Greg Maaswinkel Avita Samaroo Thank you for your dedication over this past...

March 4, 2019 |

February Update

GOAABA had a busy February with a Lunar New Year Celebration on February 5-Year of the Pig and participated in the inaugural OCBA Race Judicata. Look forward to the OCBA 5k Race, Diversity and Inclusion Picnic and Jinya lunch in...

Read More