MON-FRI: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PMWe are proud to celebrate our attorney, Shaku Bhaya, who was recently featured in the June 2025 issue of the Delaware State Bar Association (DSBA) Bar Journal. The article honors her remarkable journey and lasting impact as the first South Asian attorney in the state of Delaware.
Shaku shares her story, from growing up feeling like an outsider as a South Asian woman in America, to becoming a fierce advocate for clients, civil rights, and equity within the legal system. Her feature is not only a testament to her achievements, but also a candid and empowering roadmap for the next generation of lawyers. Her experience underscores the importance of representation, mentorship, and resilience in the face of systemic barriers.
Throughout the article, Shaku reflects on early struggles, landmark moments in her career, and the colleagues who helped shape her path. This feature is more than a personal achievement, it’s a celebration of progress and a powerful reminder of what it means to be a first. Shaku Bhaya’s journey continues to inspire, and her legacy opens doors for those who come next.
Congratulations to Shaku Bhaya on this well-deserved recognition. View the article here on page 22.
Congratulations to our Partner, Tara Bustard, for being elected president of the Delaware Trial Lawyers Association for the 2022-2023 term at DTLA’s annual convention in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. She graduated from James Madison University and Widener University School of Law, where she was the managing editor for the Law Review. Tara began practicing law in 2003 with our firm and became a partner with us in 2012. She is also a member of the Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Georgia bar association, specializing in claimant’s personal injury and workers’ compensation. Tara is extremely involved in her community and is a hard worker with amazing drive. Please join us in congratulating her on this momentous achievement!
Wilmington, Delaware, September 19, 2022 – The South Asian Bar Association of Delaware (“SABA‑DE”) which is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year has announced its new Board of Directors:
President: Nitika Fiorella, Partner, Fish & Richardson
Vice President: Shanti Katona, Partner, Polsinelli
Secretary: Roopa Sabesan, Associate, White and Williams LLP
Treasurer: Faiz Ahmad, Partner, Skadden, Arp, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
SABA National Rep.: Bindu Palapura, Partner, Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP
VP Attorney Outreach: Rupal Joshi, Associate, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
VP Judicial Outreach: Shakuntla Bhaya, Partner, Doroshow, Pasquale, Krawitz & Bhaya
VP Law Student Outreach: Alpa Bhatia, Associate, Offit Kurman, P.A.
VP Community Outreach: Monil Amin, Deputy Attorney General, Delaware Department of Justice
VP Programming: Anne Gwal, Assistant General Counsel, Exelon
VP Communications: Emilie Ninan, Partner, Ballard Spahr LLP
Since its inception in 2007, SABA-DE has hosted many high profile speakers in Delaware including U.S. Court of Appeals Judge, Sri Srinivasan; Fmr. NJ Attorney General and current Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, Gurbir Grewal; Fmr. Acting U.S. Solicitor General Neal Katyal; Fmr. U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara; Fmr. Deputy General Counsel at Facebook and now CLO of Coinbase, Paul Grewal; SCOTUS practitioners, Kannon Shanmugam, Pratik Shah and Tejinder Singh who have collectively argued dozens of cases in the U.S. Supreme Court; and authors Saira Rao and Deepa Iyer.
In addition to its Speaker Series, SABA-DE has been recognized for its timely programming tackling current events such as the market meltdown and human trafficking. SABA-DE, which was recognized as “Chapter of the Year” in 2012 by its parent organization, the South Asian Bar Association of North America, is also the home chapter of two presidents of the national organization.
“I’m extremely proud of what SABA-DE has accomplished to date and am excited about the organization’s future post-COVID” said incoming president Nitika Fiorella. “SABA-DE will continue to actively support its members, the Delaware legal community and the community at-large by supporting programs on substantive topics of interest, joint events with our fellow affinity bar organizations and diversity pipeline projects with community partners.
