|
Q: Describe what you do at Moore & Van Allen.
A: I am an associate on the Investment Team. My practice focuses on representing private credit lenders with debt financing and equity investment.
Q: How long have you been at the firm and what motivated you to join?
A: I joined Moore & Van Allen in September 2023 as a first-year associate. However, I spent both my 1L and 2L summers as a summer associate with the firm, so it feels like I have been here for a while! I found MVA as a 1L when I was researching law firms in Charlotte. I knew I wanted to be with a company that valued not only the work I do but also who I am as an individual. I applied for and received the 2021 Diversity Scholarship during my first year of law school. There are many great applicants every year for this program, and it was a no-brainer to accept. I have only been with the firm in an official capacity for eight months, but it has proved worth it to work at a firm that values both the professional and individual identity of its lawyers.
Q: How does collaboration play a role within the work you do at the law firm?
A: Generally speaking, the practice of law is a collaborative one. In my transactional practice, it takes a team of people to get a deal across the finish line. Collaboration has also been an integral part of my learning process. I am lucky to have great mentors and teachers on my team who are willing to take the time to work with me as I begin my career. I also often find myself bouncing ideas off my fellow first-year associates, despite them being in a variety of practice areas. The collaboration within my team and across the firm is a large part of why I enjoy my job. I know when I am working on something difficult, I have a network of resources to help.
Q: Who or what inspires you the most?
A: My mom is my biggest inspiration. She is one of the most dedicated people I know and has worked hard to earn everything she has. Her dedication to her career is a driving force behind why I pursued a career in law. In my view, she is the epitome of what it means to have it all, and I only hope I can achieve close to the success, both professional and personal, that she has. Her advice to me growing up was “to pursue the most difficult thing you are interested in, and once that is achieved you can open any door.” While it is easier said than done, this advice helped me get through law school and continues to influence how I approach my professional life.
Q: Can you share with us a family tradition that is near and dear to your heart?
A: My favorite family tradition is Sunday dim sum. Growing up I could always count on piling into the car and heading to Chinatown on Sunday mornings. Not only did I look forward to the food itself, but specifically I enjoyed the ritual of gathering around a large table, ordering as much food as we could, and sharing that time together. Even though I don’t live near my parents anymore, when I visit home, we still make it a point to gather for dim sum. To me, that is one of the things that feels most like “home.”
Q: Describe the importance of MVA Business Resource Groups?
A: MVA Business Resource Groups create a space where people can come together to seek mentorship from members of their community. I am a part of MVA’s Asian Pacific American Lawyers Association (APALA) which has been a great way for me to connect with associates and partners across the firm who share similar experiences. APALA holds a variety of professional panels which are great ways for members to spend intentional time thinking about their practice and developing in their career. However, the most valuable part of APALA has been the social events which provide the opportunity to spend intentional time cultivating a community without it feeling forced and has allowed me to build authentic mentor relationships with attorneys I may not have met without this
resource.
|
