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AABANY Members and Friends Bring the Energy to Citi Field for Mets Outing

On Tuesday evening, June 23, 2026, 21 AABANY members and guests gathered at Citi Field for our Membership Committee outing to watch the New York Mets. This time, they hosted the Chicago Cubs. It was a fantastic night of baseball, community, and great seats down on the Field Level!

Beyond the action on the field, our group took full advantage of the stadium’s “Five Dollar Tuesdays,” enjoying an endless rotation of $5 hot dogs, beers, sodas, pretzels, and popcorn. The members who arrived early received a free Mets necklace, which was that evening’s giveaway.

The highlight of the evening was seeing a special welcome message to AABANY flash across the giant Citi Field scoreboard for the entire stadium to see! The beautiful summer weather and high-energy atmosphere in the stands made it a truly memorable night out for everyone in attendance.

Thank you to everyone who came out to cheer, eat, and catch up with fellow members. Although the New York Mets lost 9-6 to the Chicago Cubs, it was an exciting game to watch, with Francisco Alvarez driving the first three runs in for the Mets, through a two-run single and a solo homer.

Thanks to the IP Committee for co-hosting this event and Ecoscribe Court Reporters for their sponsorship! Email Cynthia Kaplan cynthia@ecoscribesolutions.com or check out ecoscribesolutions.com if you need Court Reporters, translations, and transcriptions.

Missed the Mets Game? Don’t worry—we are heading to the Bronx next. Join AABANY for our upcoming outing to see the Yankees on August 11, 2026, as they take on the Seattle Mariners! You can register now by clicking here to submit your registration and payment, locking in your spot before seats fill up. You won’t want to miss it!

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AABANY Solo & Small Firm Practice Committee Reflects on a Changing Legal Landscape at June Virtual Networking Event

On Wednesday, June 10, 2026, the AABANY Solo & Small Firm Practice Committee hosted a virtual networking event. The event offered busy practitioners an accessible way to socialize and connect with fellow members directly from their home workspaces, offices, and for one of the attendees, even from abroad. The informal virtual setting encouraged the attendees to discuss whatever topic they liked, and soon the conversation flowed to one of the most pressing topics in the legal industry today: the rise of artificial intelligence.

Members shared how AI is reshaping the landscape of solo and small firm practice from multiple angles. A growing challenge has been managing client expectations. Clients increasingly arrive having already consulted a chatbot, presenting AI-generated summaries of their legal situation. Members noted that these outputs are often riddled with hallucinations: citations to laws that do not exist, statutes that are not applicable, or legal frameworks that have no bearing on the client’s actual circumstances.

The problem is not always as simple as the AI being flatly wrong. In some cases, AI tools do surface something relevant, but bury it beneath so much extraneous information that clients themselves struggle to identify what actually matters. This creates an additional layer of work for attorneys, who must not only address the legal issue at hand but also untangle the misinformation and misplaced confidence that clients bring with them into consultations.

The conversation also touched on what AI means for the next generation of legal professionals trying to break into the industry. As AI tools take on more of the research and drafting tasks that once served as entry points for new associates, new recruits face a shifting landscape where the traditional pathways into legal practice look increasingly uncertain.

The Solo & Small Firm Practice Committee looks forward to continuing these conversations at the next virtual networking session on Wednesday, July 16, 2026. Registration details can be found here. To learn more about the Committee and get involved, visit the Solo & Small Firm Practice Committee page.

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2026 NAPABA Convention Scholarship Program Applications Open Now!

Apply for a Scholarship Now!

Attending the 2026 NAPABA Convention is a powerful opportunity to advance your legal career, offering exclusive access to premier programs, industry leaders, and a robust network of legal professionals. We understand that the cost of attending may present a barrier for some. That’s why NAPABA offers a registration scholarship, exclusively for current NAPABA members, to help make participation possible.

The Convention Scholarship Program provides financial support in the form of a registration discount that may be applied toward a full or one-day Convention registration, as well as ticketed events. The scholarship program may not be used for travel reimbursements.

Only active NAPABA members are eligible for Convention scholarships. Join or renew your membership and then apply for the scholarship.

Learn More About Scholarships

General Scholarship

Deadline: July 28 at 8pm ET

Apply for the General Scholarship

Law Student Scholarship

Deadline: September 14 at 8pm ET

Apply for the Law Student Scholarship

Note: You may not apply for more than one Convention scholarship, e.g. law students may not apply for both scholarships.

Questions

View additional resources about the Convention or contact us at convention@napaba.org if you have any questions.

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The Eastern and Southern Districts of New York Invite Public Comment on Proposed Changes to the Courts’ Joint Local Rules

In accordance with Rule 83(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Rule 57(a) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Boards of Judges of the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York invite the public to comment on proposed changes to their Joint Local Rules. The proposed amendments, which resulted in part from the work of a committee of representatives from both courts and the bar in both districts, are made in reference to the Joint Local Rules in effect as of January 2, 2026, which are available at:

Persons wishing to comment on this proposal should send their submissions no later than September 29, 2026. Comments should be submitted only once. A comment submitted through either court’s website or in letter form will be considered by both courts.

Comments submitted electronically are preferred, and may be submitted through a form
available on either court’s website at the following links:

Alternatively, written comments may be submitted in letter form to:
Robert Rogers
Counsel to the Clerk of Court
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse
500 Pearl Street
New York, New York 10007-1312

Please read more here.

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NAPABA Welcomes the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers Western Chapter (FACL Western) and the Pasifika Attorneys Law Society (PALS)

For Immediate Release:Contact:
July 6, 2026press@napaba.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Continuing to expand its network and strengthen its representation across North America and the Pacific, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) welcomes the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers Western Chapter (FACL Western) as its newest affiliate and the Pasifika Attorneys Law Society (PALS) of Guam as its sixth national associate.

Founded in 2025, FACL Western is a nonprofit organization serving Asian Canadian legal professionals across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. As part of the broader Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers network, FACL Western advances advocacy, mentorship, professional development, and community engagement throughout Western Canada.

“FACL Western is thrilled to become an affiliate of NAPABA. For our members, this affiliation opens the door to a large community of mentors, peers, and leaders, along with the resources and opportunities that come with NAPABA’s network. What excites me most is collaborating with organizations facing similar challenges and learning from their experience while bringing our distinctly Canadian perspective to the table,” said Angad Bedi, President of FACL Western.

Established in 2025, PALS is a national organization dedicated to advancing the professional interests and representation of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander attorneys across the United States and its territories. The organization provides a dedicated professional home and network of peer support for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander legal professionals while promoting advocacy, collaboration, and partnerships with bar associations and community organizations nationwide.

“We share NAPABA’s belief that representation in the legal profession matters—not just symbolically, but structurally. This partnership gives our mission to elevate Pasifika voices a powerful platform, ensuring those once identified as statistically invisible will no longer be overlooked,” said Henry Aho & Puanani Norwood, Co-Founders of PALS.

“We are proud to welcome FACL Western and PALS into the NAPABA community,” said Joseph Yao, President of NAPABA. “FACL Western reflects the continued growth of NAPABA’s presence throughout Canada, strengthening our cross-border community of Asian legal professionals. At the same time, PALS represents an important step forward in deepening representation and engagement for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander attorneys within our national network. Together, these organizations broaden the perspectives, leadership, and advocacy that make our community stronger.”

PALS and FACL Western join a community of over 90 local, state, regional, and national bar associations in the United States and Canada. Individual members of national associates and affiliates are entitled to discounted NAPABA membership and the benefits that accompany it. For more information about how to become a NAPABA national associate or affiliate, please visit our webpage and learn more here about the benefits of becoming a NAPABA member.  

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Request for Public Comment from NY Courts on Proposal to Amend the Uniform Rules for Surrogate’s Court

The Administrative Board of the Courts is seeking public comment on a proposal recommended by the Surrogate’s Court Advisory Committee (SCAC) to amend the Uniform Rules for Surrogate’s Court (22 NYCRR § 207.38) to include additional persons authorized to review in camera disclosures of agreements affecting settlement recoveries.

Background: In 2025, Rule 207.38 for the Surrogate’s Court (and the parallel Rule 202.67 for Supreme and County Court) was amended to require an in camera submission of terms and documentation of interest or fees charged in connection with litigation financing agreements (LFAs). This disclosure applies to petitions for leave to compromise wrongful death actions and personal injury actions involving an infant or judicially-declared incapacitated person. Attorney financing agreements that affect only the attorney, with no impact on an infant distributee’s funds or obligations, are exempt.

The proposal: The SCAC now recommends amending Rule 207.38 to authorize the court to share these in camera submissions with:

  • A guardian ad litem appointed to represent the infant’s interests
  • Any party “objecting to the proposed allocation and/or distribution of such proceeds.”

The SCAC notes that guardians ad litem “perform an important function in the litigation process and are often called upon to investigate the particulars of a settlement and report to the court as to whether the settlement is in the best interests of the ward.” It similarly notes that objecting parties need access to this information “in order to fully articulate their arguments … and to knowingly enter into settlement agreements.”

A copy of the full request for public comment is available on the UCS website here.

Any comments on the proposal should be submitted by e-mail to rulecomments@nycourts.gov or write to: David Nocenti, Esq., Counsel, Office of Court Administration, 25 Beaver Street, 10th Fl., New York, New York, 10004. Comments must be received no later than Friday, August 14, 2026.

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Molding Charms, Making Matcha, and Mingling Away with AABANY’s Women’s Committee

On June 18, the Asian American Bar Association of New York’s (AABANY) Women’s Committee held a fun evening of charm-molding, matcha-making, and community-mingling at their “Mold, Matcha, and Mingle” event. The event drew a large crowd, as the spots had been completely taken in advance of the event.  The group gathered at Kitsby Studio in SoHo to connect with one another and learn about the history and traditions of matcha. This event was generously sponsored by Ashurst Perkins Coie.

At the start of the session, participants learned about chasen charms—beaded charms that adorn the handle of a matcha whisk—and picked their own beads from a wide variety of colors and patterns. The relaxed and creative environment made it easy to connect with one another, and attendees introduced themselves as they talked about their own careers and about the event.

With the help of the instructors at Kitsby Studio, attendees chose from a wide range of clay colors and began sculpting little pendants, to be strung onto the chasen charms. Attendees exchanged charm ideas, helped each other find reference photos, and oohed and aahed at each other’s creations. The microscopic scale of the charms sent the room into cheerful exasperation as people bonded over trying to add detail to their work. From New York City pigeons to the Dutch cartoon rabbit Miffy, to characters from Studio Ghibli films, to food items, the creativity of AABANY members shined at this event.

While waiting for the charms to bake, attendees learned about the history of matcha from the instructors. Each attendee tried their hand at making a matcha latte, while continuing to connect with one another. Attendees even received their own matcha whisk to take home!

The event closed on a high note as attendees strung their charms and beads onto string to complete their chasen charms. After glazing the charms, each attendee had a beautiful keepsake to take home, and in the process they made many new connections.

Thank you to Bianca Lin (Allegaert Berger & Vogel LLP) and Michelle Nguyen (Ashurst Perkins Coie), Co-Chairs of the Women’s Committee, and Nisha Gera (Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone LLP), Vice Chair of the Women’s Committee, for organizing a wonderful event! They appear in the photo above, with Bianca on the left, Michelle on the right, and Nisha in the middle. Thank you to all of our attendees, and we hope you make good use of your matcha whisk.

Learn more about the Women’s Committee here, and reach out to Bianca, Michelle, and Nisha from that page to get more involved or to subscribe to their listserv, if you are not already on it.

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Thank You to the Volunteers at the June Manhattan Pro Bono Clinic

Thank you to the Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY), Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE), AABANY’s Pro Bono & Community Service (PBCS) Committee, and our dedicated volunteers and law students for another successful Pro Bono Clinic on June 17, 2026 at AAFE’s Norfolk Street Community Center in Manhattan.

Our Pro Bono Clinic helped nine clients this month, with varying issues ranging from housing, divorce, immigration, and a noise complaint. Due to the number of volunteers who showed up, the June Manhattan Pro Bono Clinic offered consultations that extended beyond the standard 30 minute time frame for each client, ensuring that our volunteers could provide the best possible guidance for clients with thorny legal issues. For some cases, volunteers directed clients to AABANY’s legal referral and information service (LRIS), a resource that connects clients with qualified attorneys to represent them.

Thank you to all of our volunteers for attending the Pro Bono Clinic. We look forward to your participation in future clinics!

Volunteer Attorneys

Wendy Cheng

Keey Diep

Carmen Huang

Justin Lee

Beatrice Leong

Arthur Lin

Meng Ru

Gary Yeung

Anna Bao

Suzie Yu

Law Students and Other Volunteers

Wenwen Cao

Jason Chen

Clive Chong

Nandar Win Kerr

Wendy Zeng

Zhiyi Zhang

Livy Li

We invite you to continue supporting our community by joining us at our upcoming Pro Bono Clinics:

July 11 [Brooklyn link here], from 12:30-3:00pm, CPC Brooklyn Community Services, 4101 8th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11232

July 15 (Manhattan link here], from 6:30-8:30pm, AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk Street, NY, NY 10002

August 5 (Queens link here], from 6:30-8:30pm, AAFE One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355

If you are interested in supporting the work of the Clinic, we encourage you to make a donation to AALFNY. AALFNY supports the Pro Bono & Community Service Committee (PBCS), provides scholarships and internship opportunities for law students, and works with the AABANY Anti-Asian Violence Task Force. Donations can be made here.

To learn more about the Pro Bono & Community Service Committee, visit probono.aabany.org.

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Apply Now for NAPABA’s Prospective Partners Program

Apply Today and Take the Next Step in Your Career!

The Prospective Partners Program provides strategic mentorship and leadership development for senior associates and of counsel who are on track for partnership consideration within the next 12–18 months. Join a powerful network of senior in-house counsel and law firm partners who are committed to helping you navigate this important career transition with confidence.

  • Dates: November 12–13, 2026, during NAPABA’s Convention in Los Angeles, CA
  • Cohort: Highly selective, limited to 10 participants
  • Program Fee: $400 for NAPABA members | $650 for non-members
Apply For the Prospective Partners Program (PPP)

Not a Member Yet? Join Now & Save Big!

Now is the perfect time to become a member of NAPABA, an organization representing more than 80,000 attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students, along with over 90 affiliated bar associations across the United States, Canada, and U.S. territories. As a powerful convenor, connector, and professional development home, NAPABA advances opportunity, strengthens relationships, and cultivates leadership across the legal profession. NAPABA welcomes everyone committed to advancing the interests of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities in the legal profession and beyond to join us as members.

Become a NAPABA member and enjoy savings that go beyond the cost of membership!

Join or Renew Today

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AABANY Hosts Dumplings & Discussion with Sandra Leung

On June 10, the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) hosted an installment of its Dumplings & Discussion event series featuring Sandra Leung, independent Board Member of Bausch Health Companies, retired General Counsel for biopharmaceutical company Bristol Myers Squibb, and past President of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA). Over delicious dumplings and other dim sum dishes, Sandra shared her extensive career experiences with a captivated audience. 

In addition to her 18 years as General Counsel at Bristol Myers Squibb—the first Asian American and the first woman to serve as their General Counsel—Sandra is also the 2025 recipient of NAPABA’s highest honor, the Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Award. In her illustrious career, Sandra was also the first Asian American woman to serve as an Assistant District Attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. Her board service includes serving on the boards of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) and the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF). Furthermore, she was a founding member of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD). 

Sandra shared her journey in conversation with moderator and event organizer Jeffrey Mok, Principal at Fish & Richardson, AABANY Board Director, and Co-Chair of AABANY’s Intellectual Property Committee. The audience learned about Sandra’s favorite type of dumpling (homemade veggie dumplings) before launching into Sandra’s career path.

Sandra offered advice for the many young lawyers present, focusing on the path to in-house work and the importance of loving the work you do. The room was spellbound by her compelling storytelling and wealth of experiences and advice, ranging from tales of microaggression to humorous stories to accounts of stressful experiences.

While winding down the discussion and taking questions, Sandra offered cogent advice to the audience to put yourself out there: “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” 

Sandra’s work ethic, charisma, and initiative left a strong impression on attendees, who continued mingling at the networking reception after the discussion. 

AABANY is grateful to Sandra Leung for her warmth and openness and to Fish & Richardson P.C. for graciously hosting the event. Thank you to all our attendees for joining and being part of a memorable evening!

See here to read about past Dumplings & Discussion chats.

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