Family formation and immigration law, from the first contract to the final order.

Yizhang (Julia) Shen founded Origo Law, APC to stay with a family from one end of the process to the other — from the first conversation, before anything is signed, to the day the judgment is entered and the birth certificate is in hand.

That continuity is the point. A matter like this passes through a lot of hands: an agency, a clinic, an escrow company, the other side's lawyer, a hospital, sometimes a consulate. Each of them holds one piece of it. None of them holds all of it. Somebody has to keep the whole picture in view, and make sure nothing falls into the gap between two people who each assumed the other was taking care of it.

People arrive at this office already tired — of clinics, of forms, of explaining themselves to strangers. What they need is not a lecture on the Family Code. They need to know that the conversation nobody wanted to have has been had in advance, in writing, so that if the situation ever arrives it is a clause and not a crisis.

Her practice covers surrogacy and donation agreements and California parentage proceedings, including a substantial share of cross-border matters — where the question is rarely just what the agreement says, but whether the resulting documents will hold up in another jurisdiction. She also handles U.S. immigration matters: employment- and investment-based petitions, family petitions, and adjustment of status. She works in English and Mandarin, and directly with the agencies, clinics, escrow companies, and opposing counsel a case depends on.

Before founding Origo Law, she practiced law in both China and the United States. She holds an LL.M. in International Business & Economic Law from Georgetown University Law Center and an LL.B. from East China University of Political Science and Law, and is a member of the American Bar Association and the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

What she wants out of a matter is unglamorous. That the agreement anticipates the hard conversation. That the judgment is signed before the birth rather than argued for after it. And that the birth certificate, when it arrives, carries the right names — which is, in the end, the whole point of the file.

Working under attorney supervision, Tricia Lan is a paralegal at Origo Law, APC, where she assists in coordinating surrogacy cases, managing legal documentation, and supporting intended parents through every step of their family-building journey. Understanding that surrogacy is both a legal process and a deeply personal experience, she approaches every detail with meticulous care, empathy, and professionalism.

With strong multilingual communication skills and exceptional organizational abilities, Tricia ensures seamless interaction between clients, the legal team, and external parties. She is dedicated to providing clear, responsive support, making the complex surrogacy process as smooth and reassuring as possible for every family.

Working under attorney supervision, Svetlana Cao is a paralegal at Origo Law, APC, where she supports clients through the legal process and keeps each matter organized from start to finish. Before joining the firm, she worked as a preschool teacher and as a hotel manager, experience that gave her patience, strong organizational skills, and a steady approach to unexpected situations.

Outside the office, she can usually be found keeping her dog away from the chickens or planning her next adventure.