Thai-Speaking Attorneys

Derek Deake Lim

Fremont, CA

Derek Lim was born and raised in Hong Kong and graduated from the renowned Diocesan’s Boys School. He furthered his studies at University of California, Riverside, majoring in Economics. Passionate to help the immigrant population, the disadvantaged, and the disabled, he attended law school at San Francisco New College of Law. Derek has practiced law for 20 years, and is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the American Trial Lawyers Association. In 2022, Derek was selected for the Northern California Super Lawyers list for his legal work in immigration and personal injury, a distinction awarded to the top 5% of attorneys. For many years, he wrote a weekly column on immigration law for the Sing Tao Daily, the largest and most influential Chinese newspaper in the US. He is also featured on various Chinese Radio stations in northern California as an expert on immigration law. Derek Lim speaks six languages, including English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Chaozhou Dialect, Thai, and Lao. Because of his language proficiency, and his desire to help the immigrant population, Derek Lim focused his practice on immigration law. Over the years he has helped thousands of clients from all around the world obtain U.S. permanent residency and citizenship. Besides immigration law, Derek Lim also specializes in California personal injury law, estate law (drafting wills and trusts) and family law (drafting, review or implementing modifications to prenuptial and post-marital agreements).

Randolph D. Janis

New York, NY

Randolph D. Janis is a Partner at Douglas & London, dedicated to advocating for victims in medical negligence, personal injury, sex trafficking, wrongful death, product liability, and complex pharmaceutical and medical device mass torts. He received his undergraduate degree in Archaeology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Mr. Janis is a pioneer in sex trafficking litigation and is admitted to practice in New York and federal courts.

Sunida Mejia is a firm partner at The Mejia Law Firm, specializing in personal injury. She holds degrees from Baylor University and Thurgood Marshall School of Law (2009). She has experience in criminal and civil litigation and is licensed in Texas. She is a certified mediator and is trilingual, speaking English, French, and Thai.

Tanya P. Shepherd

Portland, OR

Tanya Shepherd has been successfully assisting clients from across the United States in meeting their immigration needs. Tanya’s practice revolves around placing an emphasis on building a strong professional relationship with each of her clients. This includes taking the necessary time to explore and discuss all immigration options and the immigration process so that clients feel educated, involved, and satisfied that their immigration needs are receiving the high level of priority they deserve. Tanya has been in the field of law since 1997 and has been a practicing attorney in several areas of the law since 2002. Tanya is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and she has experience with a variety of immigration cases. She handles family based cases (such as adjustment of status, I-130, 245 (i), K-1/K-3 visas, etc.), temporary worker petitions (such as H-1B, E-1/E-2, etc.), and immigrant worker petitions (including Labor Certification under the PERM regulations). Tanya graduated with a law degree from the most prestigious university in Thailand, Chulalongkorn University. Tanya next set her sights on obtaining a law degree in the United States. In 2002, Tanya graduated with honors from the Gonzaga University School of Law and passed the Oregon State Bar exam. After admission to the Oregon State Bar in 2002, Tanya chose to pursue a career as a corporate attorney at the Bangkok office of Clifford Chance, a reputable English law firm with more than 30 offices worldwide. While at Clifford Chance, Tanya was part of the merger and acquisition team and worked directly with international clients from a variety of countries around the world. Her experience included assisting a well-known Japanese car manufacturer in acquiring a big car manufacturing business in Thailand. She also assisted foreign investors in setting up companies in Thailand in order to expand their businesses. Tanya’s work allowed her the opportunity to interact with many foreign investors. As a result, it has strengthened her ability to understand, relate to, and work with people of many different cultural backgrounds. In 2004, Tanya immigrated to the United States in order to join her husband. Having been through the immigration process herself, Tanya understands the stress and difficulties the process can cause. In addition to her experience as a practicing attorney, Tanya also interned at the Bangkok offices of Baker and McKenzie as well as the offices of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. Tanya worked as a legal clerk for the Chief Judge of the United States Court for the Eastern District of Washington. Tanya also presented as a guest speaker on several occasions at Chulalongkorn University.

Marissa M. Boling

San Francisco, CA

Dedicated to equitable access, Marissa empowers vulnerable populations to navigate complex legal systems with understanding and support. Marissa earned her law degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings), where she demonstrated her commitment to community service and legal education as a board member to the Law Empowerment and Access Project (LEAP). During her time with the group, this pro bono initiative flourished into a vibrant organization that bridges the gap between legal knowledge and underserved communities. LEAP conducts "Know Your Rights" workshops in Bay Area middle and high schools and hosts aspiring legal professionals at the UC Law SF campus, inspiring the next generation of advocates. Prior to her legal education, Marissa graduated from the prestigious University of California, Berkeley, with a focus on Anthropology and Human Rights. Her analytical perspective and passionate advocacy were evident early on through her compelling articles for The Daily Californian, where she explored issues of social justice and human dignity. A fierce champion for equitable access to justice, Marissa is dedicated to making complex legal systems navigable for vulnerable individuals and marginalized communities. She strives to connect with diverse clientele, offering compassionate representation informed by cultural sensitivity and a deep understanding of systemic barriers. Fluent in both English and Thai, Marissa is adept at breaking down communication barriers that often prevent full access to legal resources, providing a path to justice for all of the Firm’s clients.

Mingkwan Emme Collins

Abingdon, VA

Mingkwan Emme Collins grew up in Thailand and Southern California. She earned her B.A. in psychology with a minor in criminal justice along with a Master of Education from East Tennessee State University. She was admitted to the Virginia State Bar after completing the Virginia Law Reader Program in 2010. Mingkwan has practiced law in Southwest Virginia since 2010 and proudly considers this region her home. Her areas of practice include workers’ compensation and occupational disease -pneumoconiosis (black lung). Mingkwan has devoted her career to representing injured workers and disabled claimants. Mingkwan has a very successful track record in evidentiary hearings and settlement mediation. She has had several opinions and cases published by the Court of Appeals of Virginia and Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission. Mingkwan currently serves as co-chair for the Southwest Virginia Workers’ Compensation Bar, the Virginia Workers’ Compensation American Inn of Court program committee, and the Virginia Workers’ Compensation American Inn of Court mentorship committee. Since 2016, she has served as a hearing officer appointed by the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia. In addition to her distinguished legal career, Mingkwan has been a Licensed Professional Counselor since 2002. In addition to English, Mingkwan speaks fluent Thai. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, writing, and advocating for human rights.

Hongvilay Thongsamouth

Cupertino, CA

Hongvilay Thongsamouth has been practicing family law for twenty years in the Bay Area, taking a client-centered approach and committed to achieving the best possible outcomes.

Kay Johannisson

Tampa, FL

Kay Johannisson, born and raised in Bangkok, Thailand, graduated from Thammasat University with a law degree in 2018. She began her legal career in 2018 as a counselor for trademarks and copyrights in Bangkok, handling a large portfolio of trademarks for international clients. In 2021, she moved to the U.S. to earn an LL.M. in intellectual property law at University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law. There, she was Class Governor, founded the law school’s chapter of Asian-Pacific American Law Student Association, and provided pro bono legal services through the IP and Transaction Clinic. After marrying and deciding to stay in the U.S., she was inspired to become an immigration attorney after navigating her own adjustment of status and work authorization process. She passed the New York bar in 2024 and joined Maney | Gordon | Zeller, P.A. in 2025 as an associate attorney in the Orlando office. She primarily handles family-based adjustment of status and family visas, employment authorization, and naturalization, and accompanies clients to interviews across Florida. She is committed to providing patient, empathetic, and respectful service to her clients.

Hee Jae Chung

San Rafael, CA

Hee Jae Chung is a skilled California business and intellectual property attorney at Chapman Law Group, specializing in business law, intellectual property, corporate governance, and commercial disputes. She has five years of experience at leading Japanese law firms, advising on cross-border transactions and IP matters. She holds an LL.M. from UC Berkeley School of Law and studied at Nagoya University and Keio University. Admitted to the California State Bar in December 2024, she is fluent in Korean, conversational in Japanese, and brings a nuanced understanding of global markets.