Kim Tran

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Together in sympathy and solidarity over the sudden passing of Kim Tran, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, Asian Bar Association of Washington, King County Bar Association, Asian Counseling Referral Service, and National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Law Foundation is coming together to remember Kim and the indelible mark she left on our organizations and as individuals.

Kim passed away on February 6th, leaving behind a husband, three children, and a multitude of friends and colleagues to mourn her loss. Kim was a true multicultural leader, whose understanding of the intersection of legal solutions and practical business goals was unparalleled.

Kim Tran was equally and deeply committed to improving the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. Her service as Board President for Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, a national advocacy nonprofit in Washington, D.C. with the mission to advance the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and to build and promote a fair and equitable society for all, underscores Kim’s dedication to advocating for civil rights and empowering Asian Americans.

John C. Yang, president and executive director of Advancing Justice | AAJC shared in remembrance of Kim: “Our entire organization, from Board members to staff, mourns her sudden passing and is deeply saddened that a bright light within our community will shine no more. Kim Tran was a beloved and dedicated member of the Asian American community. In her own words, she wrote that she was ‘Always looking to improve our community.’ Kim's legacy of leadership, advocacy, and dedication to building a more just and inclusive world will continue to inspire us. She devoted more than two decades to legal and civil rights advocacy, contributing to the advancement of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities to ensure that we are all seen, heard, and valued.

In her profession, Kim was a dedicated multicultural leader who strived to build programs that promoted work place diversity and inclusivity. We may never know the full extent of how many lives Kim impacted or those who do not know that her work helped pave their way within their career trajectory. What we do know is that she had a profound impact on everyone she met.

Her past leadership roles, including President of the King County Bar Association, Asian Counseling Referral Service, and Asian Bar Association of Washington, further demonstrate that unwavering commitment to service. Kim's legacy of leadership, advocacy, and dedication to building a more just and inclusive world will continue to inspire us.”

Kim was also the first woman of color to serve as President of the King County Bar Association, an institution that oversees the interests of 15,000 attorneys in King County, Washington. Her leadership in this role paved the way for greater inclusivity in the legal profession.

King County Bar Association Executive Director, Kathleen Jensen and members shared: “Kim Tran was an active member of KCBA and over the past 15 years has held leadership positions on the Board and numerous Committees. She first joined the KCBA Board as a Trustee in 2009. Between 2013 and 2015, she held the roles of second and first Vice President and then President from 2015 to 2016.

Kim's year as KCBA President focused on strengthening the fundamentals of the organization. That year, we focused on the organization's strategic plan, updating and amending the by-laws, and tackled the stormy political waters of the new Juvenile Justice Center, which led to the formation of KCBA's juvenile justice reform task force. Kim's focus seemed to be on making sure that KCBA's foundation was solid and forward-looking, all while carrying and then delivering twin boys, with grace and good humor. She continued to serve KCBA after her time on the Board.  She accepted the appointment of Chair of the Nominations Committee only on the condition that we prioritize diversity among the high-profile and sought nominations of those whose work showed brilliance, integrity and reflected the diverse legal community that make up the organization. Fellow Trustees from her time on the KCBA Board have universally praised her accomplishments, intelligence, decency, and the wonderful positive energy and huge smile she brought to every meeting and event she attended.”

Asian Counseling and Referral Service recently posted how Kim was closely tied to its organization with this message: “Kim was past Board President of Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS), the largest nonprofit serving the APA population in Washington. She first volunteered with ACRS as a naturalization teacher from 1999 to 2009 and later led the organization’s efforts in completing a transformative $19.1 million capital campaign project.

Throughout her career, she provided invaluable strategic counsel to HR managers and business leaders, enabling them to implement and drive global programs effectively. Her expertise in building programs that fostered diverse and inclusive workplaces, addressed complex compliance needs, and facilitated the scaling of multi-national business initiatives was truly exceptional. She possessed a unique ability to balance regional, field, and local needs with centralized structures and processes, a testament to her strategic vision.”

Kim's service extended to numerous organizations, including the Vietnamese American Bar Association of Washington (VABAW), where she served as a Board Member. She was also a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, a Fellow of the inaugural Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) Leadership Institute in 2005, a participant in WSBA’s Judicial Institute in 2012, and an invited member of the prestigious William L. Dwyer Inn of Court.

Kim's contributions and impact were widely recognized, earning numerous honors and accolades, including Puget Sound Business Journal's 40 Under 40, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association's Best Under 40, Washington State Bar Association Diversity Award, Microsoft CELA's Community Award, President's Award from the VABAW, and Community Award from the Organization of Chinese Americans of Washington. These awards are a testament to her remarkable achievements and the respect she commanded within the legal and broader communities.

The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Foundation honored her as one of NAPABA’s Best Under 40.

NAPABA Law Foundation President and Advancing Justice | AAJC National Advisory Council Member, Nimesh Patel said: “We were all saddened to hear about Kim. She was a terrific leader in the AANHPI and Seattle community and gave so generously of her time and spirit to support the NAPABA Law Foundation, Asian Americans Advancing Justice |AAJC, and the community more broadly. Her passion, commitment, and thoughtfulness will be deeply missed. We send our heartfelt condolences to her family and loved ones for their unexpected loss.”

Beyond her distinguished legal career, Kim was a pioneer in community service and a champion for underrepresented communities. In recognition of her prolific leadership and pro bono work, she was presented with the ABAW President's Award in 2002 and the ABAW Community Service Award in 2004. Kim served a highly successful term as ABAW President in 2006, served on several committees during her many years on the ABAW Board of Directors, and remained an active and beloved ABAW member.  

The Asian Bar Association of Washington (ABAW) recently wrote: “Kim worked tirelessly to eliminate structural hierarchies that prevented equitable access to opportunities. She made it her mission to bring people closer to the center, ensuring that everyone had a seat at the table. She was never too busy to make time for a friend, and whether you were a longtime companion or someone she had only recently met, she welcomed you wholeheartedly into her world. If you were shy, she brought you out of your shell. She never forgot a kindness done and remained fiercely loyal to those she cared for, always striving to uplift the next generation so that their journey would be a little easier.”

Friend, 2007 ABAW President, and Fellow AAJC Board Member Alice Truong said, “No words can adequately describe the powerhouse that was Kim. I always joked with her that the number of pages required to list all of the organizations on whose board she served would be equal to a small novel. Her reach was vast, and the lives she improved through the many years of service she dedicated to a myriad of organizations, both locally and nationally, was countless. Kim made our world a better place. I will always stand in awe of her memory, and feel so grateful to have been her friend for more than 20 years. I will miss the many trips we shared, both personally and professionally. May we honor her legacy by continuing to serve the community and lifting up others.”

Kim proudly embraced her heritage as a Vietnamese-born, American-raised woman of color. Her life was a testament to resilience—she arrived in the United States as a young child on the last helicopter to leave Saigon as Americans withdrew from Vietnam. From those early beginnings, she forged a remarkable path that defied barriers and opened doors for others.

Simply put, Kim was a trailblazer in the legal profession. In her last role she served as GitHub’s in-house employment law attorney and Head of HR Legal, where she provided legal guidance across global HR functions, from Talent Acquisition to Employee Relations to Operations.

Beyond her many professional accomplishments, Kim will always be remembered for her personal touch. How she made us feel in conversation or how she made us feel as if we were the only one in the room when she was talking to us.

Kim Tran’s laugh was infectious, and her smile would light up the room.

A beacon of legal advocacy has been extinguished too soon.

Rest in peace, Kim. You will forever be missed.