On Thursday, May 21, 2026, during AANHPI Heritage Month, the NYC Office of Special Narcotics brought together staff and community members for a screening of Voices Against Anti-Asian Hate, a documentary co-produced by the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) and the Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY). The film centers on the deeply personal experiences of individuals and families impacted by anti-Asian violence. The event presented a moment to sit with America’s history of anti-Asian violence and its haunting legacy: from the exclusion laws of the 19th century, to the internment camps of World War II, to the waves of attacks that surged during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues today.
Throughout the documentary, the phrase, “This was not charged as a hate crime” was repeated again and again in multiple stories. One of the most striking stories was an interview with Patricia, who spoke candidly about her own experience navigating the system after being assaulted. Patricia did everything she could, seeking every available avenue, and still found no justice. After months without any response, she discovered AABANY’s Pro Bono Clinic, which provided actionable steps and legal advice to address her situation. For survivors who arrive vulnerable and unsure where to turn, that kind of grounded, practical guidance is as necessary as it is rare. Patricia pointed to what she identified as one of the most pressing and underappreciated challenges facing the AANHPI community: not a lack of willingness to report, but a lack of response from law enforcement.
Following the screening, a panel discussion brought the film’s themes into direct conversation with legal experience and community advocacy. Moderated by Kay Nguyen, Deputy Chief of the Alternatives to Incarceration Unit for the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York, the panel featured James Lin, a career prosecutor recently retired from the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, and Yang Chen, Executive Director of the Asian American Bar Association of New York.
During the discussion, in response to a question, James Lin explained the intended effect of repeating, “This was not charged as a hate crime.” James Lin drew on his decades of experience in Brooklyn to speak to the ways that bias-motivated violence can be invisible within the bureaucratic logic of charging decisions. While it’s relatively straightforward to prove a crime occurred, proving the intent behind it is far harder. Yang Chen discussed the long history of anti-Asian violence, going back to the 19th century, and how to this day, charging such attacks criminally as hate crimes remains elusive, leading to a heightened sense of frustration and futility in the face of what seems to the AANHPI community to be obvious racially-motivated hate.
What emerged from the event was not despair but a sense of shared responsibility. The law has tools. Hate crime statutes exist. The question the film poses and the question the panel returns to again and again is whether those tools are being used, and how we can all develop a better understanding of the forces at work, and what changes are needed to prevent future recurrence of hate and violence against vulnerable and marginalized communities.
On May 28, 2026, the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) hosted its Annual Dinner under the theme: “Rising up to Meet the Future: Cultivating Tomorrow’s Leaders Today.” Held once again during Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month and at Cipriani Wall Street, the event welcomed more than 800 guests, including attorneys, judges, prosecutors, in-house counsel, government officials, and community leaders.
The evening began with an invitation-only General Counsel Reception in the Mezzanine. Shattering the records of prior years, around 70 General Counsels accepted AABANY’s invitation this year, along with many distinguished guests. We extend our deepest thanks to the General Counsel Reception sponsor, Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone LLP, for helping us launch the evening on a high note. We also thank Michael Wu, former General Counsel of Bath & Body Works, for helping us with reaching out to General Counsels to join the event.
Attendees who were not attending the General Counsel Reception gathered in the West Ballroom for the Cocktail Reception, where they reconnected and made new connections over hors d’oeuvres and drinks, including Cipriani’s signature bellini.
Our Master of Ceremonies Richard Lui, anchor at MS NOW and filmmaker, kicked off the program by highlighting AABANY’s myriad initiatives in the past year. Richard then invited Immediate Past President Benjamin C. Hsing, Senior Counsel at Bayes PLLC, to the stage for the Immediate Past President’s remarks. Ben welcomed everyone to the dinner and officially opened the dinner on a high note, reflecting on the prior fiscal year’s successes and achievements.
Industry Leadership Award
Following Ben’s remarks, AABANY proudly presented the 2026 Industry Leadership Award to Alvina Lo, Head of Advice, Planning, and Fiduciary Services at BNY Wealth. A tribute video introduced her as a thoughtful, pragmatic, and enthusiastic mentor and community builder. One colleague highlighted her innate “ability to connect with people” as vital to her many contributions in the trusts and estates legal field.
In her speech, Alvina began with a historical fact about Alexander Hamilton: he founded Bank of New York (BNY) in 1784, entrusting it with his family’s future assets and also making it the oldest continuously operating bank in America. As the leader of BNY Wealth’s strategic direction, Alvina continues that legacy by upholding the importance of trusts and estates law to the American Dream. She spoke of inheriting both “opportunity” and “responsibility” and the importance of building wealth in communities, because “[n]o one builds their wealth on their own.” Fittingly, she closed her remarks with another quote from the musical Hamilton: “What is a legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.”
The Law Firm Leadership Award
Then, the AABANY Law Firm Leadership Award was presented to Morrison Foerster (MoFo), honoring their intentional and sustained efforts to mentor and sponsor attorneys, create meaningful leadership pathways, and support a culture of equal opportunity and professional development. MoFo is a global firm known for its work across litigation, transactions, and regulatory matters, with a longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. The firm’s holistic approach to talent development begins with its Keith Wetmore Fellowship for Excellence, Diversity, and Inclusion, and continues through the Wetmore Bridge Program, a two-year apprenticeship-style initiative.
Haima Marlier, a partner in MoFo’s Investigations + White Collar Defense Group, accepted the award alongside a group of MoFo attorneys. Haima described her pride in working at a “firm where everyone can belong.”
Celebration and Recognition
As guests enjoyed a delicious dinner of lamb, salmon, or vegetable peperonata, they took the opportunity to network and connect with fellow attendees. Yang Chen, Executive Director of AABANY, returned to the stage to recognize the many judges and dignitaries in attendance.
The event then took a moment to publicize the AABANY Leadership Development Program, a 6-month long interactive training course designed for AABANY members who are senior attorneys navigating the promotion process within their law firms and companies. A video presentation introduced the program and highlighted it as a candid, confidential, and community-building environment.
Public Service Award
Next, AABANY proudly presented the 2026 Public Service Award to Hon. L. Austin D’Souza, recognizing his role as a lifelong public servant. Justice D’Souza is Supervising Judge of New York County Civil Court and an Acting Justice of the New York Supreme Court, Civil Term. A moving tribute video emphasized his devotion to his work, community, and family, and highlighted his ability to expand people’s views.
In his speech, Justice D’Souza honored his mother as his first mentor, who told him at a young age to “Never stop helping.” Another role model told him early in his career that “You must be a judge,” a milestone he has achieved in the New York County Civil Court and as an appointee to multiple statewide judicial commissions addressing racial equity and anti-Asian hate. He emphasized the importance of mentorship, and how “interconnectedness is reflected in our personal lives,” because, importantly, “[w]e rise together.”
Corporate Leadership Award
The evening’s final honoree, Grace Fu, received the 2026 AABANY Corporate Leadership Award. Grace is currently a Chief Legal & Administrative Officer at Nanit, an AI-powered technology company based in New York City. The video tribute highlighted Grace as extremely capable, curious, kind, thoughtful, and as someone who “projects calmness and confidence” with a “genuine warmth.”
Meaningful participation in community was a recurring theme in Grace’s speech, in which she described joining AABANY 10 years ago. Drawing upon experiencing anti-Asian hate as a child, she emphasized the importance of “meaningful participation” at every level of work and community, including AABANY’s Pro Bono Clinics and the AABANY Leadership Program. As a former member of AABANY’s Board of Directors, concluding her term at the end of fiscal year 2026, and Co-Chair of AABANY’s In-House Counsel Committee between 2016 and 2023, she closed with an impactful comment about her “renewed commitment to keep leading with integrity.”
Don H. Liu Scholars
After Grace was honored, the 2026-27 Don H. Liu Scholars—Junao Lin, Lucy Chen, and Joyce Park—were recognized for their academic excellence and leadership potential. Don Liu introduced each scholar and described their personal stories and journey into the legal field. The audience was moved by the resilience and determination woven through each of their paths, which included navigating first-generation experiences, finding belonging across two worlds, and transforming the challenges of the AANHPI immigrant life into purpose. In choosing law, each scholar spoke to something larger than a career—a commitment to advocacy, representation, and opening doors for the communities that shaped them.
President’s Remarks
To bring the program to a close, AABANY President Varuna Bhattacharyya, Partner at Seyfarth Shaw LLP, delivered her speech, reflecting on a memorable evening, thanking the sponsors, presenters, and honorees who made the night possible, and celebrating the collective strength of the AABANY community. She explained that the theme for AABANY’s upcoming year, “Rising Up to Meet the Future: Cultivating Tomorrow’s Leaders Today,” originated from Oscar-winning animated movie K-Pop Demon Hunters. The movie’s viral song, “Golden,” has the lyrics “We’re going up, up, up,” which inspired AABANY’s theme this year. Looking to the coming year, Varuna spoke of embracing what’s to come: the “future is not abstract. It is here.” She noted that, “living in a time when the American Dream is being tested,” it becomes more important to “lift as we climb.”
Performance by Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company
At the end of the evening, the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company took the stage, mesmerizing the audience with their blend of traditional and innovative contemporary dance. A leading AAPI professional dance company, they are known for bridging the grace of Asian elegance and American dynamism, fusing contemporary dance with martial arts, folk rhythms, Tai Chi, and Qigong.
Closing Remarks and Acknowledgements
Following the performance, AABANY President-elect John Hwang, Partner at Linklaters, took the stage to thank the many sponsors, officers, Board members, and Committee Chairs who made the night possible, expressing his excitement for the year to come.
The celebration continued with an afterparty in the Mezzanine, where guests mingled into the night.
We thank the 2026 Annual Dinner Planning Committee, chaired by AABANY President Varuna Bhattacharyya, as well as our staff and volunteers for their tireless work in making the evening a success.
We are especially grateful to our generous sponsors, whose support enables AABANY to continue its vital work on behalf of the AANHPI legal community and the broader community we serve. Special thank-yous and acknowledgement to our Diamond, GC Reception, Platinum, and Gold Sponsors:
Lastly, we thank everyone who attended the 2026 Annual Dinner for making it so special and memorable. Please find the event program here. Photo albums from the 2026 Annual Dinner can be found here (on stage) and here (off stage). (Thanks to J. McClinton Photography for the wonderful photos.)
This November, we are convening in Los Angeles for what is shaping up to be the largest Convention in NAPABA history. We invite you to join thousands of attorneys, judges, law professors, law students, and industry professionals for three days of dynamic programming, meaningful connections, and inspiring experiences. The Convention offers something for every stage of your professional journey.
Become a member to save!
Members can save up to $675 on Convention registration. In addition to Convention savings, members enjoy year-round benefits such as access to Convention scholarships, exclusive programming, meaningful connections that move your career forward, and leadership opportunities.
If you’re planning to attend, now is the perfect time to renew or become a member and maximize your benefits. Become a member today. AABANY members can contact main@aabany.org to get your discount code (if you have not already done so).
Early-bird registration ends August 24. Join NAPABA and register to save!
This year’s host hotel is the JW Marriott L.A. LIVE located at 900 W. Olympic Blvd. NAPABA has negotiated discounted sleeping room rates at the host hotel as well as five additional nearby properties. Discounted rates are only available for registrants. Complete your registration to get access to the booking links. View more information about our housing block here.
Speakers Announcement
NAPABA is thrilled to announce that Emmy Award-winning The Daily Show correspondent, stand-up comedian, and actor Ronny Chieng, and Min Jin Lee, acclaimed author of Pachinko, Free Food for Millionaires, and the forthcoming American Hagwon, will join us as headliners at the 2026 NAPABA Convention. With backgrounds in law, Ronny and Min Jin have become leading voices in entertainment and literature, respectively. They will share their distinctive perspectives on the intersections of immigration, culture, and the law.
RONNY CHIENG
MIN JIN LEE
Questions?
Additional information, housing details, and registration rates can be found on the NAPABA website. For further questions, email NAPABA at convention@napaba.org.
The AABANY Legal Referral and Information Service (LRIS) invites both current panelists and interested practitioners to participate in our referral network for the 2026–2027 term. AABANY’s LRIS is an ABA-recognized program that serves as a trusted bridge connecting the public with experienced and qualified legal professionals. While our mission has a particular focus on serving the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, our referral services are available to the public at large, generating a broad and diverse range of client inquiries across numerous practice areas.
We welcome qualified attorneys from all practice concentrations to join — or continue their tenure on — our distinguished panel of practitioners.
Panel Benefits & Operations
Pre-Screened Referrals: Our dedicated Intake Coordinator carefully screens and pre-qualifies all incoming client inquiries before they are referred to panel members. By assessing the nature, viability, and technical aspects of each matter in advance, we help ensure that referrals directed to your office align closely with your practice areas and experience. This process minimizes time spent reviewing weak or unsuitable leads and significantly reduces your firm’s administrative intake burden.
Expanded Client Base & Marketing Support: The LRIS consistently receives daily inquiries from throughout the New York metropolitan area, across the United States, and internationally. Participation allows your firm to benefit from AABANY’s longstanding reputation, expansive professional network, and established public visibility. In addition to ongoing local media outreach, search engine optimization, and referrals from courts, government agencies, and elected officials, LRIS will soon launch a comprehensive cross-platform marketing initiative directed toward New York City Council offices, mayoral offices, state legislators, congressional representatives, community organizations, and other public-facing institutions to further increase referral volume and public awareness of the program. Joining the LRIS panel offers a cost-effective and sustainable way to expand your client base without materially increasing your firm’s marketing budget.
Meaningful Community Service & Professional Impact: Participation in LRIS also provides an important opportunity to deliver meaningful legal assistance to individuals and families who may otherwise face barriers to accessing quality legal representation. Many callers seek guidance navigating unfamiliar legal systems, language obstacles, or urgent legal issues without knowing where to begin. By serving on the panel, you contribute directly to improving access to justice while strengthening ties within the broader community.
Professional Credibility & Network Visibility: As part of an ABA-recognized legal referral service administered by AABANY, panel membership also enhances your professional visibility within one of the nation’s largest and most active affinity bar associations. Panel attorneys benefit from increased exposure to prospective clients, fellow practitioners, judges, public officials, and community stakeholders.
Annual Panel Fee: $250
To renew your participation or submit a new application, please complete the LRIS Panel Application.
If you have any questions, would like to verify your current panel status, or would like additional information about the program, please feel free to contact us at main@aabany.org.
On Friday, May 22, 2026, the AABANY Intellectual Property Committee hosted its highly anticipated May Dinner at Blue Blossom NYC in Midtown Manhattan. Generously supported by Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, the casual gathering served as a Committee bonding highlight during AAPI Heritage Month. The event brought together a dynamic group of 17 legal professionals, innovators, and students to network, share insights, and celebrate the local IP legal community.
Co-Chairs Jeffrey Mok, Gregory Pan, and Ada Wang led the evening, which featured a welcoming atmosphere at the 108 W. 39th Street venue. Attendees included representatives from the sponsoring firm, such as Wendy Cheng, as well as several late registrants who joined the group for an evening of engaging discussion. The sponsorship from Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP helped facilitate the event, resulting in a casual and enjoyable evening for all.
If you’re interested in future dinners, keep an eye on the AABANY calendar for upcoming events. To learn more about the IP Committee and their initiatives, visit their subpage on the AABANY website.
Written by Ada Wang, Co-Chair, AABANY’s Intellectual Property Committee
On June 16, 2026, AABANY’s Book Club had a fun and creative discussion at Schwartz Sladkus Reich Greenberg Atlas on the collection of poetry, Juvenilia, by Ken Chen, selected by book club member Hannah Lee.
Dissecting syntax and diction, ruminating on intention and imagery, book club members stretched their minds and imaginations to find meaning and understanding in this creative work. Themes of immigrant families, heartbreak, and the passage of time were explored.
Join AABANY Book Club at their next meeting on August 11th where they’ll be discussing I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron!
On May 4, City & State published their 2026 Asian Trailblazers List. As stated in the article:
City & State’s annual Asian Trailblazers highlights many of the high-ranking Asian Americans who are on the rise in New York. The list, researched and written in partnership with journalist Natasha Ishak, features trusted advisers to politicians such as Gov. Kathy Hochul, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer. It includes behind-the-scenes political consultants and policy strategists shaping the direction of New York. And it spotlights advocates and activists who are improving daily life in Asian American communities – and for all New Yorkers.
City & State New York
AABANY is proud to congratulate five of its members who were named to this year’s list.
The Administrative Board of the Courts of the New York State Unified Court System seeks comment from persons who are able to evaluate the performance of the following Justices of the Supreme Court who are seeking certification to continue judicial service pursuant to N.Y. Const. Art. VI, §25(b) and Judiciary Law §115:
FIRST JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT Hon. Tandra Dawson SECOND JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT Hon. Joseph Risi FOURTH JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT Hon. Louis Gigliotti Hon. Debra Givens
In order to assist in its evaluation, the Board seeks comment on the following qualities and abilities of these judges:
Legal ability, including knowledge of the law, legal experience, legal scholarship, and writing.
Competence to perform the duties of the office, including organizational, management, and human relations skills; physical and mental health; and work ethic.
Judicial demeanor, integrity and character, and commitment to equal justice under law.
How to Comment: Any person wishing to offer comments relating to the performance of any of these candidates for certification or recertification may address written comments to David Nocenti, Counsel, by email to JSCcertification@nycourts.gov, with “2027 Certification – Public Comment” in the subject line. Comments may also be sent by postal mail to Counsel’s Office, 25 Beaver St., 10th Fl., New York, N.Y. 10004.
ALL COMMENTS RECEIVED WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD AND OTHERWISE HELD IN STRICT CONFIDENCE. IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED, COMMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN JULY 17, 2026.
On May 29, 2026, AABANY’s Student Outreach Committee and Young Lawyers Committee partnered to host Boba Break: Recharge and Connect at King & Spalding. This event brought together law students, young attorneys and members of the AABANY community for an evening of conversation, connection and, of course, boba (bubble) tea in a welcoming and informal setting.
Throughout the evening, attendees exchanged experiences, discussed career paths, shared advice and expanded their professional networks. Law students had the opportunity to connect with practicing attorneys and young lawyers, while attorneys reconnected with colleagues and met the next generation of legal professionals. This event embodied AABANY’s commitment to fostering mentorship, community and meaningful relationships within the profession.
The photos from the evening capture the energy and enthusiasm of the attendees, highlighting the meaningful conversations and new connections formed throughout the event that may continue well beyond the evening. Event photos are now available and can be accessed here: click here.
AABANY extends its sincere gratitude to King & Spalding for hosting the event and to everyone who attended. The enthusiastic participation from law students, young lawyers and community members made the event a memorable success. We look forward to continuing to create engaging opportunities that strengthen relationships across the AABANY community and to support the growth of future legal leaders.
– Written by Helen Ding, Co-Chair, Student Outreach Committee
The New York State Council on Divorce Mediation (NYSCDM) is offering a sale with a $150 discount through June 21, 2026 on their NYSCDM 60-Hour Divorce Mediation Training.
The training program includes the following:
Live Classes for the Summer Cohort Starting on July 13, 2026
Part-146 Approved for 40 Hours
40 CLEs Provided to Attorneys
Free One-Year Membership in NYSCDM
Free One-Year Participation in a Special Peer Group for NYSCDM Program Graduates
Free Participation in the Pathway Partners Program
To learn more, click this link. The program consists of:
Part 1 (20+ hours) go-at-your-own-pace, online training on essential legal, mental health, and financial subjects featuring various experts.
Part 2 (40 Hours) Live Divorce Mediation Skills Training online with Expert Trainer and Experienced Coaches.
The trainer for the Summer Cohort is Lara Traum, Esq.:
An experienced family and divorce mediator, author, trainer and Past President of NYSCDM.
A partner at Roytberg Traum Law and Mediation, P.C. and works with NY, interstate, and international families.
Frequent mediation and ADR trainer mediation for professional organizations, bar associations, and educational institutions.
Co-author of the ABA book: Effectively Representing Clients in Family Mediation (coauthored with Forrest S. Mosten and Hon. Elizabeth Potter Scully) and her second book, coauthored with Forrest S. Mosten, is Family Lawyer as Peacemaker.
NYSCDM’s Summer 2026 Live Mediation Skills Training (Part 2), via Zoom, will be:
After completion of the program, you will receive:
Free One-Year Membership in NYSCDM — You will have full access to numerous member-only benefits including: a 24/7 online directory promoting your services, repository of templates, agreements and forms, a members-only Google Group, educational peer groups throughout New York, free and low-cost educational trainings, and more!
Free participation in a Special Peer Group for program graduates, led by expert mediators.
Free participation in the Pathway Partners Program, which connects trainees with experienced mediators/guides.
Support from the NYSCDM Mediation Family, via other peer groups, educational programming, networking and more!
