Paul Suzuki was born in East Los Angeles and raised in South Central Los Angeles. His parents opened a cleaner in East Los Angeles when they had left an internment camp after the World War II. Mr. Suzuki’s parents later moved their cleaning business to South Central Los Angeles. He remembers ironing clothes and living inside the cleaners with his family. Mr. Suzuki eventually made his way to U.C.L.A. and graduated with a Public Service degree. He then graduated from U.C.L.A. Law School and worked as a poverty law lawyer for 3 years. Soon thereafter, Mr. Suzuki opened his own business, the Law Office of Suzuki and Ito. He joined the Asian Business Association in 1984 and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Asian Business Association for 13 years, serving as president in 1992.

During the Los Angeles Civil Unrest of 1992, Paul organized forums between the Black Business Association and Asian Business Association known as the Unity Meetings to better relations between the two ethnic business communities. Mr. Suzuki states, “Tony Piazza of American Honda, an ABA Corporate member, was very generous and supportive of what became known as the Unity Forum for several years. He made American Honda’s corporate headquarters, its facilities, security, video crew, food etc. available and supported the event 110%. I’ll always remember his support.” The annual Unity Forum eventually expanded to include the Latin Business Association and women business owners groups.

Mr. Suzuki has since left his law practice and recently elected as a Superior Court Commissioner by the Judges of Los Angeles County Superior Court. He is currently assigned to the Metropolitan Courthouse in Los Angeles and is presiding in Department 63.