February 2014 - WE Blog @ AABANY

February 27, 2014December 4, 2018

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Thanks to everyone who came out on February 26, 2014, to celebrate AABANY’s 25th anniversary with us at Cipriani Wall Street. More than 850 guests registered to attend, setting a new record. AABANY also reached its goal of exceeding 1,000 paid members. Mike Huang, in his Outgoing President’s speech, publicly announced the Don Liu Scholarship to award $15,000 to APA law students who apply and meet the requirements. Significant pledges have already been rolling in.

Congratulations to our 2014 honorees: AALDEF, recipient of the Public Advocacy Award; Randal Milch, GC of Verizon, recipient of the Corporate Counsel Leadership Award; and Vernon Jordan, recipient of the I4 (Icon, Ideals, Impact, Inspiration) Leadership Award. Congratulations also to Julie Kwon, our Mentor-Mentee Program Coordinator, for winning the AABANY MVP Award.

AABANY was joined by about 30 past honorees from past annual dinners. Each was brought up to the stage during the dinner for special recognition.

MSNBC reporter Richard Lui once again expertly took us through the proceedings as MC.

Guests continued to celebrate upstairs in the mezzanine during the after-party, with open bar and live DJ.

Happy 25th anniversary, AABANY, and we are looking forward to 2014 and the next quarter century!

February 27, 2014

From NYIC: Annual Immigrants’ Day of Action in Albany

Save the Date

Annual Immigrants’ Day of Action in Albany

Wednesday, March 5th, 2014

There is too much at stake for us not to stand united!

Pass the New York State DREAM Act
Provide access to driver’s licenses for all New Yorkers
Increase funding for immigrant services across New York State

To RSVP for the Immigrants’ Day of Action in Albany,

email Juan Ramirez at [email protected] for more information.

To support this exciting event with a donation, please click here.

February 27, 2014

PRESS RELEASE: NAPABA SUPPORTS GOVERNOR BREWER’S VETO OF HATEFUL ANTI-LGBT BILL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 27, 2014

Contact: Emily Chatterjee (202) 775-9555

NAPABA SUPPORTS GOVERNOR BREWER’S VETO OF HATEFUL ANTI-LGBT BILL

Remains Vigilant As Similar Bills Are Proposed In Other States

WASHINGTON — Last night, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer vetoed SB 1062, legislation that would have enabled businesses to disregard municipal ordinances under the banner of religious freedom, and allowed them to discriminate against individuals who identify as LGBT.

“Governor Brewer’s decision to veto SB 1062 is a victory for everyone who opposes discrimination and supports the civil rights of all Americans, including those of our LGBT brothers and sisters, but it is disheartening that hateful legislation like this ever reached her desk,” said William J. Simonitsch, president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA). “Religious claims have been asserted in the past to justify slavery, segregation, and bans on interracial marriage. On Tuesday, we sent the Governor and other Arizona leaders a letter outlining our opposition to this latest religious justification for discrimination. We let them know that if the Governor allowed SB 1062 to become law, NAPABA would consider relocating its Annual Convention in November out of Phoenix/Scottsdale.”

Were it not for Governor Brewer’s veto Wednesday evening, Arizona would have been the first state to enact legislation enabling corporations and individuals to deny services simply by asserting that they were acting because of a “sincerely held religious belief.” Supporters of the bill did not hide the fact that this bill targeted lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people. SB 1062 would have undercut the non-discrimination ordinances that include sexual orientation passed by several Arizona municipalities. Other states that are considering or have recently considered similar legislation include Kansas, Georgia, Tennessee, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Missouri, Ohio, and Idaho.

“We won this round, but we must remain vigilant in Arizona and elsewhere because many states have contemplated or are contemplating bills similar in nature to SB 1062, and may do so again in the future,” said Arizona attorney George C. Chen, president-elect of NAPABA. “Religious freedom is important, but discrimination under the guise of religious freedom is not acceptable anywhere in our nation. At the same time, we need to support the work of many cities in Arizona (including Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff) that have passed non-discrimination ordinances regarding sexual orientation. Individuals, corporations, professional organizations, and many others in these communities strongly opposed SB 1062, and it was in large part due to their efforts that pressure was brought to bear on Governor Brewer.”

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of over 40,000 attorneys and 67 national, state, and local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members include solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal service and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government. NAPABA continues to be a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities. Through its national network of committees and affiliates, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of the federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes the professional development of people of color in the legal profession.

February 27, 2014

AALDEF Young Professionals Committee & Cardozo APALSA Present: LINSANITY Screening & Filmmaker Q&A

AALDEF Young Professionals Committee & Cardozo APALSA

LINSANITY Screening & Filmmaker Q&A

Tuesday, March 4, 2014
6:00 – 8:30 PM
Cardozo School of Law
55 Fifth Avenue (@12th St., Moot Court Room), NYC
$10 tickets
For more information: [email protected]
RSVP required by 3pm March 4th for all non-Cardozo students.

Following the panel, please join us for a post-screening party!
Happy hour specials all night.
Le Midi Bar & Restaurant
11 East 13th St. (btwn 5th Ave. & University Pl.)

AALDEF YPC and Cardozo APALSA present: “The documentary that began filming long before Linsanity became a pop culture reference. American’s favorite unlikely sports hero.” Please join us for an AALDEF 40th Anniversary presentation of the award-winning film LINSANITY followed by a special panel discussion with director Evan Jackson Leong and AALDEF Staff Attorney Thomas Mariadason. Donations to benefit AALDEF’s Educational Equity Program. Post-screening party with happy hour specials at Le Midi Bar & Restaurant, 11 East 13th Street (btw 5th Ave. and University Place). Can’t make it? You can still support AALDEF by clicking here to make a donation!

“Director Evan Jackson Leong embarked on this documentary before Jeremy Lin was a household name, following the future star as he struggled to find his place in a league where Asian American players are few and far between. More than just a film for basketball addicts, Linsanity serves as an insightful study of the way we perceive race in America and shows what is possible if someone believes in himself.” – Sundance

The Young Professionals Committee is dedicated to fostering the next generation of AALDEF supporters. Through social and networking events and other programming, the Young Professionals Committee aims to raise awareness about AALDEF’s wide range of efforts on behalf of the Asian American community.

February 25, 2014

AABANY Board: Call for Nominations – Deadline March 13, 2014

The amendment to AABANY’s By-Laws approved at our 2014 Annual Meeting increased the number of Directors by two thereby creating two new Director vacancies that the Board intends to fill at its March 18, 2014 Board Meeting. The Nominations Committee welcomes and will accept applications to fill these vacancies immediately, and will select a slate of candidates to be recommended for the Board’s consideration at its March 18, 2014 meeting.

If you wish to run for any of the above vacancies, you must be a current, paid member of AABANY. If you are unsure of your membership status, contact Irene Tan, Membership Secretary, at [email protected]. Please also submit (i) a statement of interest declaring your intent to run; and (ii) a current resume, biography or CV listing your experience and accomplishments and any honors received to date. As part of item (i) please indicate your experience with AABANY if you have been an active member, describing any activities that you have participated in or helped to organize. If you have not been an active member in AABANY, explain what capabilities, resources, talents, skills, expertise, experience or any other contributions you would be able to make as a Board member. Please also identify any activities indicating a dedication and commitment to issues of importance to the Asian Pacific American community.

For a description of the qualifications, duties and obligations of Directors please see Articles IV of AABANY’s By-laws which can be found at:

http://bit.ly/2014bylaws

Deadlines for submissions: March 13, 2014

You can e-mail your submissions in Word or PDF to [email protected]. You can also fax them to (718) 228-7206 if you prefer to use fax. If you have any questions about any of the above, please contact Mike Huang, Chair of the Nominations Committee, at [email protected].

February 25, 2014

From JPMorgan Chase: Networking Reception on April 7

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Legal Department is hosting a networking reception on April 7, 2014 @ 6:00PM for APA attorneys that are potentially interested in joining our Legal Department.

If you are interested in attending and meet the following criteria, please submit your resume along with a brief bio (no more than 3-4 sentences long) of yourself, expertise and/or interest, in confidence, by email to [email protected] with subject line “JPMC” by no later than March 7, 2014. If your resume is selected, you will be receiving an invitation to the event on or about March 17 directly from JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Internally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. will have about 50-60 lawyers and compliance professionals attend the event. Many in attendance will be senior managers, practice group leaders and a couple of recruiters. Senior leaders who have attended similar events in the past have included lawyers from all four lines of JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s businesses: Consumer & Community Bank; Corporate Investment Bank; Asset Management and Commercial Bank. In addition, we have had litigators from our Litigation Department attend as well.

There is no guarantee of any employment as a result of this event and/or future guarantees but we hope that if there is a fit and/or a need, we will look to this group as a possibility. Of course, some in attendance may have an immediate need but there are no guarantees.

Criteria/other details for prospective guests:

lawyers (private, government, in house, etc.) who have been out of law school and have been practicing in any area of law for 5-15 years; and
current dues-paying member of AABANY.

There is no school or GPA requirement. For questions, please write to [email protected]. Please do not contact JPMorgan Chase & Co. unless you are selected. Thank you.

February 24, 2014

PRESS RELEASE: AABANY To Honor Vernon Jordan and Other Honorees at 25th Annual Dinner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Yang Chen, Executive Director

February 24, 2014 (718) 228-7206

AABANY TO HONOR VERNON JORDAN WITH “I4 LEADERSHIP AWARD” AT 25^TH ANNUAL DINNER TO BE HELD AT CIPRIANI WALL STREET

NEW YORK – On Wednesday, February 26, 2014, the Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”) will hold its 25^th Anniversary Annual Dinner at Cipriani Wall Street. Attendees of the 2014 AABANY Annual Dinner will include prominent federal and state judges, elected officials and dignitaries, attorneys from large and small law firms, corporate law departments, prosecutors’ offices and government agencies. AABANY’s 2013 Annual Dinner attracted more than 750 members of the legal and business communities from New York and beyond. This year AABANY is pleased to announce that its 2014 Annual Dinner honorees will be:

Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., Senior Managing Director Lazard Frères & Co. LLC

Randal S. Milch, Executive Vice President, Public Policy, and General Counsel Verizon Communications Inc.

AALDEF (Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund)

Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. will receive the AABANY I4 Leadership Award. The I4 Leadership award is presented to a leader who is an ICON, embodying the highest IDEALS and INSPIRING others while making a real and lasting IMPACT in the community and society. Mr. Jordan, a Senior Managing Director at Lazard Frères & Co. LLC, the financial advisory and asset management firm, also remains Senior Counsel at the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, where he practices general, corporate, legislative and international law in Washington, D.C.

Randal S. Milch is Executive Vice President, Public Policy, and General Counsel of Verizon Communications Inc. He leads the company’s public policy, legal, regulatory, government affairs and security groups. From 2006 until being named to his current position in October 2008, Mr. Milch served as the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Verizon Business, responsible for all legal services and external affairs support for the company’s global enterprise carrier. Before that, Milch served as the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Verizon’s domestic telecom business. He was appointed to the latter position in 2000, upon the merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE. He sits on the Verizon Leadership Council, the corporation’s senior operating and policy making body. At Verizon, Mr. Milch has championed diversity through the creation of a supervisory diversity council within the legal department. Mr. Milch will receive AABANY’s Corporate Counsel Leadership Award.

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), which was founded in 1974 and is celebrating its 40^th anniversary, is a national organization that protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans. By combining litigation, advocacy, education, and organizing, AALDEF works with Asian American communities across the country to secure human rights for all. AALDEF focuses on critical issues affecting Asian Americans, including immigrant rights, civic participation and voting rights, economic justice for workers, educational equity, housing and environmental justice, and the elimination of anti-Asian violence, police misconduct, and human trafficking. AALDEF will receive AABANY’s Public Advocacy Award.

“We are deeply honored and humbled that such a legendary defender of legal rights as Vernon Jordan will be helping AABANY commemorate our 25^th anniversary at our Annual Dinner, along with such notable leaders in their respective corporate and community legal spheres as Randal Milch and AALDEF,” said Mike Huang, AABANY President.

For more information about AABANY, or this event, please contact Yang Chen, AABANY Executive Director, at (718) 228-7206, or direct any media inquiries to [email protected].

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The Asian American Bar Association of New York was formed in 1989 as a not-for-profit corporation to represent the interests of New York Asian-American attorneys, judges, law professors, legal professionals, paralegals and law students. The mission of AABANY is to improve the study and practice of law, and the fair administration of justice for all by ensuring the meaningful participation of Asian Americans in the legal profession.

February 24, 2014

PRESS RELEASE: NAPABA CONDEMNS ARIZONA LEGISLATION THAT BOLSTERS BUSINESSES’ ABILITY TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST LGBT PEOPLE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 24, 2014

Contact: Emily Chatterjee (202) 775-9555

NAPABA CONDEMNS ARIZONA LEGISLATION THAT BOLSTERS
BUSINESSES’ ABILITY TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST LGBT PEOPLE
Calls on Governor Jan Brewer to veto bill

WASHINGTON — The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) strongly urges Arizona Governor Jan Brewer to veto legislation passed by the Arizona state legislature last Thursday that, under the guise of religious freedom, would enable discrimination against individuals who identify as LGBT.

“NAPABA has a long-standing commitment to supporting the civil rights of all members of our community, including our LGBT brothers and sisters,” said William J. Simonitsch, president of NAPABA. “While NAPABA respects the sincerely held religious beliefs of all people, religion has unfortunately been misused by some historically as an excuse to oppress people of color and people of other religions. For many it justified slavery, segregation, and the criminalizing of interracial marriages. The employment of a religious justification to now excuse the discrimination of LGBT people is just as reprehensible.”

If Governor Brewer does not veto Arizona House Bill 2153/Senate Bill 1062 by this coming Friday, Arizona will soon allow individuals and for-profit corporations to discriminate against anyone if they claim to be acting in the name of their religious convictions. This includes refusing services to members of the LGBT community and denying equal benefits to women in the workplace. On its face, it could be used as justification for discriminating against anyone, on any grounds, so long as a free religious exercise claim is asserted.

“As a long-time citizen of Arizona and as a former President of the Arizona Asian American Bar Association, I believe that this bill does not represent our state, and we categorically denounce this and all legislation targeting disenfranchised groups, including the LGBT and immigrant communities,” said George C. Chen, president-elect of NAPABA. “Religious freedom is an important part of our society, but this bill is about legalizing discrimination, not about religious freedom. Governor Brewer needs to veto this bill.”

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February 24, 2014

Columbia APALSA Third Annual Conference: On the Shoulders of Giants

The Columbia Asian Pacific America Law Students Association invites you to attend their third annual conference: On the Shoulders of Giants: New Horizons for Asian Americans in Law and Politics. The conference will be held on Saturday, March 8 starting at 1pm. Attend one of three panels on Immigration Reform, Minority Identity, and Professional Development or attend dinner with keynote speaker former NYC Comptroller John Liu. Among the speakers at the conference will be AABANY President Mike Huang, President-Elect Clara Ohr and Board Member Karen Lim, who will be joining Helen Wan (author, The Partner Track) and Vivia Chen (blogger, The Careerist) on a panel entitled “Navigating the Career Ladder: Professional Development Strategies for Asian American Attorneys.”

CLE credit will be offered. Tickets are available on our
website at http://blogs.law.columbia.edu/apalsaconference/.

February 24, 2014

PALS Presents: Opportunities and Career Paths of U.S. Attorneys

You Are Invited to Attend a Career Panel & Networking Reception

Opportunities and Career Paths of U.S. Attorneys

Thursday, March 6, 2014

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.