Month: May 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 28, 2015

Contact: Yang Chen, Executive Director
(718) 228-7206

NEW YORK – May 28, 2015 – On May 26, as part of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”), the Asian American Law Fund of New York, Inc., and White & Case LLP presented the New York premiere of Kicking Glass from the Boardroom to the Courtroom: Two Decades and Counting, a follow-up to a 1995 video produced by AABANY and White & Case regarding the position of Asian American women in the legal profession. The New York screening of Kicking Glass at the New York offices of White & Case LLP attracted approximately 100 attendees and was simultaneously live-broadcast to the White & Case offices in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Miami and Tampa.

First presented at the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (“NAPABA”) Convention in 1995, the first Kicking Glass video explored Asian American women attorneys’ views on barriers to the highest levels of the profession, the successes they achieved, and what success meant to them.  Among the issues addressed were the “Asian woman” stereotype, and how to get recognition for one’s work, parity in the workplace, and achieving a work/life balance.  Headed by the AABANY Women’s Committee, the 2015 Kicking Glass video followed up on these important issues with several of the attorneys from the 1995 video as well as a new group of women and law students for their perspectives on the progress that has been made and the hurdles that remain. Following the screening, Sylvia Fung Chin, Partner at White & Case, moderated a candid panel discussion that included speakers featured in the video:

• Hon. Pamela Chen, United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
• Hon. Doris Ling-Cohan, Appellate Term, First Department, Supreme Court of the State of New York
• Sapna Palla, Partner, Wiggin and Dana LLP (AABANY Women’s Committee Co-Chair)
• Poojitha Rao, Principal, Rao Law LLC
• Grace Shim, Executive Director, MinKwon Center for Community Action
• Helen Wan, Author, The Partner Track

“The video and panel discussion illustrate that since 1995 Asian American women attorneys have come closer to breaking through the glass ceiling but there is still significant progress to be made to give Asian American women attorneys equal opportunities for success in the legal field,” Sapna Palla, AABANY Women’s Committee Co-Chair stated. “Nevertheless, it is clear that open discussion about these issues and the presence of important role models such as Asian American women judges, General Counsel, law firm partners and Asian American women in leadership positions in the law provide great hope and optimism for the future. AABANY is committed to continuing this discussion and supporting the efforts of Asian American women attorneys to achieve their full potential in the legal field.”

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

The Asian American Bar Association of New York is a professional membership organization of attorneys concerned with issues affecting the Asian Pacific American community.  Incorporated in 1989, AABANY seeks not only to encourage the professional growth of its members but also to advocate for the Asian Pacific American community as a whole.  AABANY is the New York regional affiliate of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA).

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