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About Saba NJ

Learn everything about South Asian Bar association of New Jersey – all information and contact channels.

 Get to Know SABA NJ

We are a voluntary association of attorneys working towards interest of South Asian community of NJ.

 Contact Us

Have a question or an inquiry? Get in touch with us today - we will love to hear from you!

Services

Empowering South Asian legal professionals through mentorship, networking, and educational resources.

 Advocacy

Championing issues that impact the South Asian community and promoting equity in the legal system.

 Job Posting

Connecting members with exclusive legal career opportunities across New Jersey and beyond.

 Scholarships

Supporting aspiring law students with scholarships to foster the next generation of South Asian attorneys.

Membership

Join a vibrant network of South Asian legal professionals dedicated to growth, connection, and community impact.

 Become a Member

Join a professional network that advances South Asian representation in the legal field through mentorship, advocacy, and service.

 Member Login

Access your account securely to manage your profile and membership. Update information, track payments, and stay informed.

Updates

Stay informed with the latest announcements and organizational highlights from SABA-NJ.

 Events & Statements

Explore SABA-NJ’s events, initiatives, and statements shaping legal access and community engagement.

 Gallery

Browse photos from recent events, community outreach, and member gatherings.

 Sponsors

Meet the generous partners and
organizations that support our mission and initiatives.

Our Mission

SABA-NJ is a voluntary association of attorneys who are dedicated to the needs, concerns and interests of the South Asian community in New Jersey.

We support the professional development and advancement of our members through networking opportunities, educational events, mentoring and advocacy. Our objectives are to provide a networking forum for all South Asian attorneys and law students in the New Jersey area and to educate and disseminate information to the South Asian community in New Jersey about legal access and relevant legal issues. Also, SABA-NJ collaborates with other bar associations and voluntary organizations to maximize diversity in professional networking opportunities and our visibility in the community.

SABA-NJ is a chapter of the South Asian Bar Association of North America which provides a vital link between South Asian lawyers and the South Asian community across North America. Learn more about SABANA here.

2026 Executive Board and Regional Representatives

Hozaifa Cassubhai, Esq.

President

Hozaifa Cassubhai is a Partner at Bailey Duquette P.C., where he is a litigator and trial lawyer focused on civil and complex commercial disputes. He represents businesses and individuals across a wide range of business disputes, including contract and M&A matters, trade secrets, shareholder and partnership disputes, corporate governance issues, unfair competition, consumer protection, and employment-related claims. Born in Singapore, raised in Pakistan, and having attended high school in New Jersey, Hozaifa began his legal career at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP in Seattle before serving as a federal district court law clerk in Washington State. While practicing in Seattle, Hozaifa also served as a Fellow of the Washington Leadership Institute, which recruits, develops, and trains the next generation of Bar leaders. Hozaifa earned his B.A. from Boston College and his J.D., magna cum laude, from Seattle University School of Law. He served on Law Review, was inducted into the National Order of the Barristers, and was selected as both Faculty Scholar and Student Speaker at graduation. He has been recognized by Thomson Reuters as a “Super Lawyer” in business litigation (2019-2026), following earlier recognition as a “Rising Star” (2014-2018). He was also a 2024 NJBiz Leader in the Law Honoree.

Mishita Jethi, Esq.

Immediate Past-President

Mishita Jethi is a Partner at Chugh, LLP where she focuses her practice on U.S. nationality and immigration law. She has broad experience in non-immigrant as well as immigrant visa matters. Prior to working at Chugh, LLP, Mishita worked in the New York office of Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP and advised a large financial services company on all aspects of U.S. business immigration law. Mishita has been an active member of the South Asian Bar Association of New Jersey (SABA-NJ) since 2016. She currently serves as the President of SABA-NJ for the 2025 term and has previously served as President-Elect (2024), Treasurer (2019), and Secretary (2018). As part of her leadership initiatives at SABA-NJ, she has designed and moderated panel events for foreign trained lawyers and has served as a mentor for law students. Mishita has been invited to speak on topics related to her law practice as well as on issues related to hiring and retaining a diverse team of attorneys. She has spoken at panels organized by New Jersey Association for Justice (NJAJ), AILA ISIG, South Asian Bar Association of San Diego, and other similar organizations. Mishita earned her LL.M from the University of Chicago Law School and her B.A., LL. B (Hons) from National Law Institute University, India. She is admitted to practice in New York and in India and has previously worked across different practice areas in India, Washington D.C., and New York.

Navdeep Tucker, Esq.

President-Elect

Navdeep Tucker is an accomplished legal professional with over 16 years of experience spanning corporate, commercial, and in-house practice. She currently serves as Lead Counsel for Sugar Foods Corporation, where she provides strategic counsel on procurement and supply chain, sustainability, food law, human resources, and corporate transactions. Prior to Sugar Foods, Navdeep was Assistant General Counsel at Ferrero U.S. Earlier in her career, she built and managed her own law practice, Tucker Law Office, before joining Torres Legal as Of Counsel., where she advised clients in entertainment, real estate, and corporate law. Navdeep is committed to service and leadership within the legal and South Asian communities. She is the Vice President of Sponsorships for the South Asian Bar Association of New Jersey, serves as a panelist on the Middlesex County Fee Arbitration Committee, and recently completed her term as Vice President of Membership for the Rutgers Alumni Association. She is also a volunteer and advocate with the Sikh American Legal Defense Fund, where she advocates for civil rights and community engagement, and participates in interfaith initiatives that foster dialogue and inclusivity across diverse communities. Outside of her legal and community work, Navdeep is passionate about music and cultural preservation. She performs Punjabi folk music at weddings and community events, carrying forward a tradition that brings people together in celebration.

Saeed U. Yousaf, Esq.

VP of Affiliate Relations

Saeed Yousaf is the Founder and Managing Attorney of Yousaf Law LLC, a New Jersey–based practice serving clients in criminal defense, business law, civil disputes, and family law matters. As a solo practitioner, Saeed represents individuals and small businesses across New Jersey and New York, guiding clients through complex legal issues with a practical, steady, and client-centered approach. Before launching his own firm, Saeed practiced at a boutique law firm in Central New Jersey, where he gained hands-on experience representing clients in court, drafting motions and pleadings, negotiating resolutions, and managing cases across multiple practice areas. He also served as a Judicial Intern with the Superior Court of New Jersey, assisting with legal research, motion analysis, and opinion drafting—experience that continues to inform his courtroom strategy and respect for the judicial process. Saeed earned his Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School (Newark) and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the City University of New York – College of Staten Island. Prior to law, he worked in a variety of business and operational roles, experiences that shaped his understanding of risk, decision-making, and the real-world impact of legal counsel. Licensed to practice in New Jersey and New York, Saeed is an active member of the South Asian Bar Association of New Jersey (SABA-NJ) and is honored to serve as its Vice President of Affiliate Relations, where he focuses on strengthening collaboration among attorneys, bar associations, and professional networks, while fostering meaningful community engagement.

Sara Khan-Duprat, Esq.

VP of Programming

Sara Khan-Duprat is an in-house counsel admitted to practice in New Jersey and New York. Her current practice focuses on corporate law, with an emphasis on compliance and risk management. Prior to transitioning in-house, Sara practiced civil litigation, where she handled complex matters, including medical malpractice defense, insurance coverage and general liability cases. She earned her Juris Doctor from Seton Hall University School of Law and also holds a Master of Public Health from Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, which informs her analytical approach to legally and factually complex issues. In the past few years, Sara has directed multiple Continuing Legal Education (Cle) programs for the South Asian Bar Association of New Jersey and the American Bar Association. She currently serves as the Vice President of Programming for the South Asian Bar Association of New Jersey and is the Administrative Director-Elect of the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division.

Angie Garasia, Esq.

VP of Public Relations

Angie Garasia is a partner at the law firm of Lee & Garasia, LLC, based in Metuchen, New Jersey. With over two decades of dedicated experience, Angie practices exclusively in the field of Immigration and Nationality Law. She has established a highly respected reputation for her strategic legal advocacy and compassionate, client-focused representation. As the firm's designated “field attorney,” Angie represents clients at their Naturalization and Permanent Resident interviews before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offices in Cranbury, Newark, and Mt. Laurel. Recognizing that the immigration interview is the final and most critical stage of a client’s case, Angie is unwavering in her commitment to meticulous interview preparation and vigorous advocacy. Angie was recently recognized in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers in AmericaÒ for Immigration Law. She has also been ranked a Super LawyerÒ in the field of Immigration by Thomson Reuters for the past 14 years consecutively. Angie’s legal successes are matched by her dedication to professional service and leadership. She currently serves on the Executive Board of the New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA)– Immigration Section. She is past chair of the American Immigration Lawyers Association-NJ Chapter. She recently served as the Chair Liaison between the USCIS Cranbury Field Office and AILA-NJ. Angie was a speaker at the Federal Bar Association Annual Conference in Newark, and her writing published in the February 2017 issue of The New Jersey Lawyer Magazine. Angie earned her B.A. from New York University (NYU) and her Juris Doctorate from Rutgers University-Newark, where she served on the distinguished Rutgers Law Review.

Jasmeen Manhani, Esq.

VP of Sponsorship

Jasmeen Manhani is an Associate Attorney at Levinson Axelrod, P.A. in Edison, New Jersey, where she practices personal injury litigation with trial experience. She previously clerked for two years in the New Jersey Superior Court, gaining experience in motion practice, trial preparation, and judicial decision-making. In addition to her litigation practice, Jasmeen is registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, reflecting a strong technical and analytical background. She earned her J.D. from Rutgers Law School - Newark and brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her legal work. Jasmeen is committed to mentorship, professional development, and strengthening the legal community through active involvement with the South Asian Bar Association of New Jersey.

Shreya Patel, Esq.

Treasurer

Shreya H. Patel is an associate at Dentons in their Capital Markets practice. In her capacity, she represents banks, secondary market lenders, and other financial institutions on various secured lending and financing transactions. She earned her JD from Seton Hall Law School. During law school, Shreya was an active member of the Tax Law Society and a Research Assistant for a Professor focused around U.S. federal, European Union and international tax law. She received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Rutgers Business School.

Mukti N. Patel, Esq.

Corresponding Secretary

Mukti N. Patel is a Founding Partner and Co-Chair of Litigation at Pierson Ferdinand LLP.  Mukti has over twenty years of experience representing businesses and individuals in a broad range of business and commercial disputes both in court and arbitration. She represents clients in various appeals, complex commercial litigation, employment litigation, breach of contract claims, insurance claims, shareholder and partnership disputes, commercial real estate litigation, fraud claims, construction litigation, and financial services litigation. Mukti is a member of the New York and New Jersey Bars and is admitted to practice before various federal courts. Prior to Pierson Ferdinand LLP, Mukti was a partner at FisherBroyles LLP and an associate at Fox Rothschild LLP and McCarter & English LLP.  She clerked on the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division for the Honorable Richard Newman, J.A.D.  She is currently a member of Pierson Ferdinand's Diversity & Inclusion Committee and serves as an author of the Employment Screening treatise published by Matthew Bender & Company, Inc., a member of LexisNexis, providing updates to ensure that the treatise is current.  Mukti earned her J.D. from Rutgers School of Law - Newark, where she served on the Rutgers Law Review, and her B.A. from Rutgers University.

Aditi K. Shah, Esq.

Recording Secretary

Aditi K. Shah is an Assistant Counsel in PSEG's Office of Ethics & Compliance, where she focuses on developing and implementing the company's corporate compliance program.  She oversees enterprise policies and leads employee trainings and communications, while also assisting with and advising on internal investigations.  Aditi initially joined PSEG in 2019 and focused on internal investigations for several years. Immediately before joining PSEG, Aditi was an attorney at the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, where she led federal civil rights investigations, negotiated resolution agreements, and monitored entities for compliance.  Prior to that, she was a disability rights attorney working at a non-profit organization in New York City, where she served individual clients; supported impact litigation; and led a citywide coalition of diverse stakeholders, designed to address accessibility barriers.  In this role, she also published a law review article and presented at national and local conferences to discuss her advocacy work. Aditi earned a J.D. from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, where she was the Chief Notes Editor of the Law Review and active in the South Asian Law Students Association.  She earned a B.B.A. from the University of Miami.

Rippi Karda, Esq.

North Jersey Regional Representative

As an Associate General Counsel in the Policy, Corporate Social Responsibility, Information Security, Legal and Security department at Verizon Communications Inc., Rippi handles complex contracts for Sourcing involving Human Resources Benefits and Plans, Advertising Agencies, Contact Centers, Contingent Workforce, and Executive Recruiting. Prior to entering the prominent technology industry, Rippi worked at several well-known pharmaceutical and biomedical companies. Currently, she serves as the Chair of the inaugural New Jersey Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Commission (appointed by Governor Phil Murphy); Board Member of the Ronald McDonald House of NYC Charity; Trustee of SABA North America Foundation; Co-Chief Diversity Officer of the NJ Women Lawyers Association; North Jersey Regional Representative of the South Asian Bar Association of NJ; Member of the New Jersey State Bar Association Membership and In-House Counsel Committees; and Treasurer of WEN - Women’s Excellence Network. As a complimentary service, she runs a LinkedIn series titled “Attorney of the Week” to highlight the notable achievements of diverse attorneys. To date, she has featured almost 300 attorneys worldwide. Most notably, Rippi was SABA-NJ’s 2023 President and recognizes that one her greatest accomplishments was expanding the profile and reach of this fine organization. Lastly, in 2025, Rippi was honored by SABA-NJ as its  Trailblazer of the Year and NAPABA, an 80,000 member organization, with the coveted Women’s Leadership Award.

Rachna B. Malkana, Esq.

Central Jersey Regional Representative

Rachna runs her own practice, Law Office of Rachna B. Malkana, and focuses primarily on commercial and residential real estate law in NJ. She has been serving on the Executive Board of SABA-NJ since 2016 and is currently the Chair of the Solo/Small Firm Committee as well as the Scholarship Committee. Rachna is the VP of Affiliate Relations to SABA North America and is also the Chair of their Solo/Small Firm Section. She has also been appointed by the New Jersey State Bar Association to the Special Committee on Racial Equity in the Law as well as their Diversity Committee.

Prema Roddam, Esq.

South Jersey Regional Representative

Prema Roddam serves as the General Counsel at Compunnel Inc, a technology company, based out of Princeton NJ. Prema has extensive legal experience from her tenure at law firms such as Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP and Chugh LLP. She focuses her practice in the areas of global mobility, workforce management, corporate immigration, corporate governance and compliance as well as advisory services. Her experience spans across various industry verticals such as Telecom, IT, Healthcare, Pharma and Entertainment. Prema is an experienced and passionate advocate who understands the unique needs of companies that have a global workforce and footprint. Prema is dedicated to advocating for women's rights and serves as the President, Board of Directors for Manavi Inc., whose mission is to end all forms of gender-based violence in the South Asian Community (https://www.manavi.org/). She also serves on the Board of Akshaya Patra Foundation USA Tri-State Chapter (https://www.apusa.org/). Akshaya Patra’s mid-day meal program serves wholesome school lunches to over 2 million children in 22,000 schools in India every day.