On Wednesday, July 23, AABANY’s Commercial Bankruptcy & Restructuring Committee partnered with Restructuring and Insolvency Network New York (RAINY) to host a Summer Happy Hour at Albert’s Bar in Midtown Manhattan.
Over 30 professionals from both the legal and business sides of restructuring came together over drinks to network, catch up with colleagues, and meet new faces in the field. The crowd was filled with a range of people, from journalists studying for the LSAT to business school graduates with long-standing careers in restructuring.
Alex Xiao, the organizer from RAINY, described the mixer as a simple but meaningful way to connect people across the industry. The strong turnout and energetic atmosphere proved just how valuable these informal gatherings can be.
AABANY is proud to support opportunities that bring together practitioners across sectors and practice areas. Many thanks to RAINY for co-hosting, and to everyone who joined us for a great summer evening in Midtown.
To learn more about the Commercial Bankruptcy and Restructuring Committee and how you can get involved, go here.
For nearly 25 years, Executive Order 13166 served as a cornerstone of the federal government’s commitment to civil rights. It required that every federal agency meet the needs of limited English proficient (LEP) individuals when it delivers critical services. It similarly required those that received federal funding, such as non-profit organizations as well as state and local governments, to guarantee that LEP individuals had meaningful access to their services.
On July 14, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice released guidance to implement the revocation of Executive Order 13166. It has rescinded all prior guidance to recipients of federal funding pertaining to the protections of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and suspended all existing LEP guidance. It emphasizes English-only operations without accounting for the need for LEP individuals to access critical, life-sustaining services.
The new guidance further deepens the harm caused by the revocation of Executive Order 13166. It undermines decades of progress to make government and federally funded programs more accessible. Rather than a core requirement for non-discriminatory compliance, the new guidance weakens the legal framework to combat national origin discrimination, which is prohibited by Title VI, and treats language access as merely discretionary.
We continue to call on Congress to engage in appropriate oversight over the Administration’s unwarranted actions and pursue legislative actions to strengthen and expand the protections of Title VI.
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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) represents the interests of over 80,000 Asian Pacific American (APA) legal professionals and over 90 national, state, and local APA bar associations. NAPABA is a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Through its national network, 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 all backgrounds in the legal profession.
The 2025 NAPABA Convention is just 100 days away! Don’t miss this powerful opportunity to advance your legal career through dynamic programs, inspiring speakers, and unparalleled networking with fellow AANHPI legal professionals.
We know that cost can be a barrier, which is why NAPABA offers scholarships to help make attending more accessible. Scholarships—including a general scholarship and a dedicated law student scholarship—can be used to help cover registration, travel, and lodging expenses.
Apply by August 5th. As a current NAPABA member, now is the time to take advantage of this opportunity. Please note: the Law Student Scholarship application closes September 16 at 8 pm ET.
Join us in Denver this November and apply for a Convention scholarship today!
On Thursday, July 17, 2025, the Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY) and the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) hosted their Summer Reception at FTI Consulting in mid-town Manhattan. The reception also recognized the 2025 AALFNY Public Interest Scholarship recipients. The event featured Judge Denny Chin, Co-Director of the Center on Asian Americans and the Law at Fordham Law School, as the event’s distinguished guest speaker.
Sylvia Chin, President of AALFNY and Chair of the Anti-Asian Violence Task Force delivered opening remarks and invited AALFNY’s directors onstage, where they introduced themselves.
Benjamin Hsing, AABANY President, introduced AABANY, recognized Fordham Law’s Center on Asian Americans and the Law, and urged professionals and students to join AABANY to strengthen the AAPI legal community. Ben also highlighted AALFNY’s public interest scholarships, emphasizing their role in fostering the next generation of legal professionals.
Next, AABANY’s Pro Bono and Community Service Committee Co-Chairs Beatrice Leong and Gary Yeung presented on AABANY’s Pro Bono Clinics. Gary explained that they take place in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. The Clinics provide culturally and linguistically competent attorneys and interpreters for individualized legal assistance, offering free consultations to the community. AABANY is celebrating the 10 year anniversary of its Pro Bono Clinics and is expecting to host a fundraiser soon. Beatrice thanked all the volunteers who contributed to making the Pro Bono Clinics successful. Gary encouraged people to volunteer at clinics, especially in Queens, where there is a greater need for volunteers to assist the large AAPI and immigrant population in that part of Queens.
Lori Giargias, St. John’s University School of Law, Class of 2027, interning with the Jewish Association Serving the Aging Legal Services for the Elderly in Queens, aims to assist individuals at risk of losing their homes.
Jiaqi Huang, from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, Class of 2025, is interning with the Legal Aid Society’s Immigration Law Unit to support efforts serving the Asian American community.
Issalina Sagad, CUNY School of Law, Class of 2027, interning with Catholic Charities Community Services, will learn how legal aid can be made more accessible.
Eqra Muhammad, St. John’s University School of Law, Class of 2025, is interning with the Urban Justice Center’s Domestic Violence Project’s Immigration Team, working to support survivors of domestic violence.
AALFNY annually grants Public Interest Scholarships to law students who have demonstrated a strong dedication to serving the community. Since 1997, AALFNY has awarded over 60 scholarships, supporting deserving law students financially while motivating them to apply their legal education to benefit the Asian American community in New York. The scholarship aims to encourage law students to have a lasting commitment to public service in New York.
Rocky Chin, NYC Human Rights Commissioner and AALFNY Board Member, discussed the history of the Center on Asian Americans and Law and thanked its founders: Judge Denny Chin and Professor Thomas H. Lee. Thomas H. Lee, Co-Director of the Center on Asian American and the Law, proceeded to talk about the inspiration behind AABANY’s reenactments, whose scripts can be requested from the AABANY Trial Reenactments website. The trial reenactments cover landmark cases involving Asian Americans and have been performed all over the country by other bar associations, law schools, and community groups.
Judge Denny Chin notably said, “In doing reenactments, I fell in love with Asian American history.” He presented slides depicting the Center’s events and activities, including past Fall Symposiums, screenings, teaching workshops, and reenactments. Currently, teaching materials from the Center are being used at 14 law schools: Albany, Columbia, Cornell, CUNY, Fordham, Harvard, Rutgers-Newark, SMU, Stanford, St. John’s, Touro, UC San Francisco, University of Virginia, and Yale.
Judge Chin opened the floor for questions after the presentation, during which he discussed the concept of doing trial reenactments of AAPI cases was inspired by historical trial reenactments that had previously been done at the Federal Bar Council. Judge Chin also emphasized how AABANY’s Reenactments about trials involving Asian Americans are becoming increasingly relevant to modern day issues.
Next, Sylvia recognized the dignitaries present and thanked everyone for their attendance. Rocky encouraged people to take the informative materials available detailing the Center on Asian Americans and Law and the Anti-Asian Violence Task Force. He also urged people to continue to work together and to partner with more Asian American community organizations.
Guests had the opportunity to mingle during the reception afterward, where attendees, from law students to seasoned attorneys, built new connections. Thank you to FTI Consulting for generously providing the space for this event.
On Tuesday, July 22, the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) and the Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York (KALAGNY) co-hosted the Summer Associate Mixer at TapHaus 33 in Midtown Manhattan, bringing together a lively group of summer associates, law students, and practicing attorneys for an evening of networking, conversation, and community building.
A range of beers was featured, including eclectic flavors like piña colada and apple cider. The mixer created a relaxed and welcoming environment for young lawyers and students navigating the early stages of their legal careers. Surrounded by tables laden with fries and nachos, the more than 70 attendees, from incoming law students to experienced law firm partners, filled the air with a steady buzz of laughter and conversation.
Midway through the evening, AABANY President Benjamin Hsing and KALAGNY President Lawrence Han addressed the crowd. They offered a warm welcome and encouraged attendees to take full advantage of the gathering. “As aspiring lawyers, connecting with people is extremely important,” President Han said. “This is exactly the kind of space where you should feel comfortable doing that. Everyone’s here to meet new people, so don’t be afraid to start a conversation.”
Law student attendees to the event will receive a complimentary annual membership to both AABANY and KALAGNY. A big thank you to the organizers and to everyone who joined us. We’re excited to continue building meaningful connections through events like this.
As you explore ways to stay involved with AABANY, we invite students and summer associates to visit the Student Outreach Committee (SOC) webpage to learn more about upcoming events, mentorship opportunities, and how to get connected with our vibrant community of Asian American legal professionals. Check out more photos from the mixer in our Google Photo album!
On Wednesday, July 23, 2025, AABANY’s Intellectual Property Committee hosted a Board Games Night at Fish & Richardson’s office in Times Square. The event was open to all, no matter skill level or profession, and encouraged guests to bring a friend.
Around 20 players, including IP lawyers, legal interns, law students, in-house counsel, and patent professionals, gathered for an evening of friendly competition. Guests had the opportunity to enjoy a range of activities, including table tennis, Taboo, Codenames, and many exciting new games.
A spread of dumplings, noodles, and refreshments was available throughout the night. Professionals and students were able to converse about their various fields and advice for future career paths while also learning how to play new games.
After mingling and playing at various tables, everyone came together for a spirited group session of Hues and Cues. A player took turns providing one or two-word hints, prompting others in five teams of three to four to quickly identify a specific color square and place their pieces on the board before other teams beat them to it.
The AABANY and Fish interns took some time to figure out the rules of the game. Once they did, they showed everyone at the event how to play. Almost everyone participated, and they formed teams in this friendly competition. The game continued into the night, contributing to an atmosphere inspiring friendly banter, allowing participants to unwind and connect.
Thank you to all the attendees for coming to this event. Thank you to Jeffrey Mok for organizing this event and his firm, Fish & Richardson, for hosting. To learn more about the IP Committee and how you can get involved, visit their page here. Consider joining the IP Committee for dinner at Ziggle Tofu & Grill on July 28 here.
Join us November 6–8 at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel in Denver, Colorado, for one of the largest annual gatherings of legal professionals. Start your 2025 NAPABA Convention experience with immersive programming that fuels growth, connection, and leadership.
Thursday, November 6, features focused workshops and sessions led by NAPABA’s Committees and Networks. Whether you’re growing your practice, deepening your expertise, or advancing your leadership, Thursday’s offerings are crafted to empower and inspire.
INTERNATIONAL LAW SYMPOSIUM Delve into the evolving landscape of global regulation and innovation through timely sessions that offer cutting-edge insights into the legal challenges redefining international practice today.
ILS 1 | Pulling Up the Drawbridge: Regulation of In-bound and Out-bound Investments in the United States
ILS 2 | AI Crossroads: Navigating IP Challenges in China and the U.S.
SOLO & SMALL FIRM BOOT CAMP Sharpen your financial and risk management skills with sessions on billing, trust accounting, audits, and insurance essentials to safeguard your solo or small firm practice.
SSF 2 | Legal Landmines & Insurance Lifelines: Insuring Your Practice Against the Unexpected
YOUNG LAWYERS WORKSHOP Develop essential skills and practical strategies—from personal branding and relationship building to navigating your early years in practice—to thrive as an attorney in today’s ever-evolving legal landscape.
YLN 1 | What You Didn’t Learn in Law School: Expanding Your Influence Through Branding and Relationship Building
YLN 2 | Navigating the First Decade: Career Strategies for Young Attorneys
WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP This workshop will provide practical insights and strategies to develop financial know-how and resilience in your personal and professional life.
WLN 1 | Keynote Address – Financial Wellness for Women
WLN 2 | Financial Literacy for Legal Professionals Panel Discussion
WLN 3 | Breakout Discussions
View our full agenda for more information about the sessions above and additional programming!
WASHINGTON — The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) applauds the U.S. Court of the Appeals for the Ninth Circuit’s decision pausing Executive Order 14160 nationwide. In State of Washington v. Trump, the court ruled yesterday that EO 14160, which would deny citizenship to children born of parents who are not citizens or lawful permanent residents, violates the plain language of the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. It also concluded that a nationwide injunction was warranted to award the states challenging EO 14160 complete relief.
“We are grateful that the court recognized what NAPABA has argued from the beginning—EO 14160 undermines the constitutional promise of an equal claim of citizenship to all persons born in the United States and runs against nearly 127 years of history, precedent, and practice,” said Thy Bui, President of NAPABA.
NAPABA and a coalition of its affiliates filed an amicus brief with the Ninth Circuit (along with the First Circuit and the Fourth Circuit) and explained that EO 14160 distorts the holding of United States v. Wong Kim Ark, 169 U.S. 649 (1898). Wong Kim Ark upheld the conferral of citizenship to children born in the U.S. to non-citizen parents under the Fourteenth Amendment’s Citizenship Clause. The brief underscored this precedent’s historical significance and the role of Asian Americans in shaping our nation’s foundational immigration and civil rights precedents.
“If implemented, EO 14160 would exact disproportionate harm on the Asian American community,” said Priya Purandare, Executive Director of NAPABA. “The question of a child’s citizenship in the United States ought not to be dependent on the stature or circumstances of their parents. Nor should it turn on whether a child is born in one state versus another. For the guarantees of the Fourteenth Amendment to be vindicated, birthright citizenship must apply to all children across the United States. We are grateful that the court agreed.”
The Ninth Circuit recognized Wong Kim Ark’s precedential weight. Despite the harsh legal environment for Chinese Americans living in the 19th century under the Chinese Exclusion Act and the Geary Act, Wong Kim Ark, a young Chinese American who was born in San Francisco to noncitizen parents, “acquired United States citizenship by birth.”
The U.S. Constitution demands that the same must be true for children born today. Consistent with the Citizenship Clause’s plain language, EO 14160 must ultimately be set aside.
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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) represents the interests of over 80,000 Asian Pacific American (APA) legal professionals and over 90 national, state, and local APA bar associations. NAPABA is a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Through its national network, 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 all backgrounds in the legal profession.
We extend our sincere gratitude to AABANY, the Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY), AABANY’s Pro Bono and Community Service (PBCS) Committee, Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE), and all the dedicated volunteers who contributed to the success of our Pro Bono Legal Clinic in Manhattan on July 16th, 2025.
During the clinic, our volunteers provided invaluable assistance to clients with issues ranging from housing, personal injury, finance, and immigration. The experienced volunteer attorneys, shadowers, and interpreters assisted each client in reducing their stress by offering legal insight, language assistance, and a diverse pool of legal resources through AABANY’s Legal Referral and Information Service (LRIS).
College and law students contributed significantly by gathering valuable legal knowledge and experience through shadowing and notetaking. They also provided much-needed linguistic and translational support as interpreters. Numerous clients had difficulty communicating fluently in English, and the Mandarin and Cantonese speaking students offered substantial assistance to their attorneys and clients.
The most frequently-raised issues during this clinic involved housing (such as retroactively-raised rents) and personal injuries (such as high medical expenses). Many clients struggled to understand their rights and legal documents (especially those involving transactions) due to inexperience in legal matters and limited English proficiency. We provided each client with satisfactory, step-by-step legal and personal guidance to ensure that they fully understood their case and if needed, connect them with lawyers for potential litigation.
Many volunteers stayed after to celebrate another successful Pro Bono Clinic. Both the attorneys and students enjoyed this time to network and connect with each other.
We thank again all the volunteers at the July 16th Manhattan Pro Bono Clinic for their time, professionalism, and contribution:
Volunteer Attorneys:
Marcus Cheung
Beatrice Leong
Mike Tse
Yilan Wang
Anthony Wong
Shadowers/Interpreters:
Sisu Chou
Katelyn Hai
Kenny Ip
Emily Lai
Dazhen Lu
Priyanka Mukhara
Carrie Nie
Tammy Tam
Albert Tong
Jennifer Juang-Korol
We invite you to continue supporting our community by joining us at our upcoming Pro Bono Clinics:
August 6th [Queens link here] from 6:30-8:30 pm, One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355
August 20th [Manhattan link here] from 6:30-8:30pm, AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk Street, NY, NY 10002
September 20th [Brooklyn link here], from 12:30 – 3:30pm, CPC Brooklyn Community Services, 4101 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Thanks once again to all our volunteers for their commitment to Pro Bono service and for making a meaningful difference in our community.
We look forward to your participation in our future clinics!
To learn more about the Pro Bono & Community Service Committee, visit probono.aabany.org.
On Friday, July 11, AABANY’s Corporate Law Committee hosted Golf & Game Night, a high-energy evening of virtual golf, ping pong, drinks, and community connection, generously sponsored by PNC Bank. The event, led by Vice Chairs Ashley Wong and Kyle Zhu, was held at Five Iron Golf in Midtown Manhattan and welcomed attorneys, in-house counsel, and professionals in industries ranging from capital market transactions to international tax law for a night that balanced fun with a distinctly corporate-law twist.
From the moment guests walked in, the space buzzed with friendly competition and good cheer. Screen golf bays lit up with simulated fairways as participants took their swings—some practicing carefully calculated drives, others simply enjoying the chance to unwind after a long week. Nearby, ping pong matches sparked bursts of applause, while the foosball table quickly became a hotspot for spontaneous showdowns and cross-table banter.
Guests sipped cocktails and munched on light bites between games, mingling with old colleagues and making new connections across firms and industries. The turnout, peaking at over 40 attendees, reflected a strong desire within the AABANY community for more casual, low-pressure ways to engage.
Winners of the night’s golf challenges pose with their prizes.
The event was more than just an opportunity to relax—it was a thoughtful attempt to reignite community. As Vice Chair Kyle Zhu shared, “The corporate law culture makes it hard to organize social events, but we’ve had a lot of support—corporate sponsors, vendors, folks outside the committee—who’ve helped us bring things to life. Going to [NAPABA national conference] is great, but it’s the local stuff that really matters. That’s how we build community.”
With laughter echoing from the golf bays and conversations continuing long after the last swing, the event affirmed how much community can be built when people come together—not just to network, but to simply enjoy each other’s company.
Special thanks to our sponsor PNC Bank for helping to make this event possible.
