On the evening of October 17, the AABANY Student Outreach and Intellectual Property Committees presented the Careers in Intellectual Property Panel, held at Wilson Sonini Goodrich & Rosati. The program featured Gregory Pan (Nolan Heimann; Co-Chair of the Intellectual Property Committee) specializing in consumer products and entertainment, Joseph Eng (King & Spalding; Immediate Past President of AABANY) specializing in patent litigation, Jing Wang (Wilson Sonsini) specializing in patent prosecution, and Gina Kim (Zoetis) who shared her in-house patent experience.
All panelists spoke about their career paths into intellectual property and the work they handle day to day. Joseph and Jing, who both have PhDs in Chemistry, talked about their transition into pursuing law. Gregory and Gina shared their experiences working both in-house and in firms. In addition, Gregory and Jing shared their thoughts on the impact of emerging technologies such as AI on intellectual property.
Students not only learned about the wide spectrum of intellectual property work but also gained valuable and practical advice that included important skills worth building as junior level associates and qualities that help candidates stand out in the job process. At the end of the program, all of the panelists shared what they found most rewarding from their work and networked with attendees.
AABANY’s Student Outreach and Intellectual Property Committees extend their gratitude to Wilson Sonsini for the venue, everyone who made this event possible, and to the panelists for sharing their time and experience.
To learn more about AABANY’s Student Outreach Committee, click here. To learn more about AABANY’s Intellectual Property Committee, click here. To find out about upcoming events like this, please visit the calendar on AABANY’s website.
– written by Ariel Zhang, AABANY Student Outreach Committee Vice-Chair
WASHINGTON — The American Bar Association’s Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession has announced that past NAPABA President Sandra Leung will receive the 2026 Spirit of Excellence Award. Each year, the ABA honors lawyers who have excelled in their fields and who have demonstrated an abiding commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. Earlier this year, NAPABA announced Sandra Leung as a recipient of its highest honor, the Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Award, in recognition of her achievements, commitment, and leadership in paving the way for advancement of other Asian Pacific, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander lawyers.
An accomplished attorney, prosecutor, C-suite advisor, and champion for justice, Sandra Leung has broken down barriers in a distinguished career that saw her become the first Asian American woman to serve as an Assistant District Attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, and the first Asian American and the first woman to serve as general counsel for the global biopharmaceutical giant Bristol Meyers Squibb. As one of ten children born to Chinese immigrant parents who operated a Chinese restaurant in Stamford, Connecticut, and whose neighbors had circulated a petition in an attempt to block her family from moving in, Sandra Leung has displayed a lifelong commitment to speaking up for those facing inequality and prejudice.
“Sandy Leung has blazed trails and set a remarkably high standard of achievement and excellence for our bar,” said NAPABA President Thy B. Bui. “Not only has she walked the talk in terms of her dedication to uplifting attorneys of all backgrounds in the legal profession, but her unapologetic public commitment to diversity and justice has been an inspiration for me as president of NAPABA and for so many others.”
Over more than a three-decade long career at Bristol Meyers Squibb, Sandra built and led a world class team of approximately 200 attorneys and 480 professionals across 35 countries. Among her many accomplishments, she takes greatest pride in her unwavering commitment to nurturing diverse talent at every level of the profession—beginning with the BMS internship program she helped cultivate and which has now been aptly renamed the Sandra Leung Program on Law and Leadership in recognition of her enduring impact.
In addition to her tenure at Bristol Myers Squibb, Sandra has devoted her time, energy, and expertise to advancing the mission of numerous nonprofit organizations. She served on NAPABA’s Board of Governors from 2021 to 2024 and as NAPABA President from 2022 to 2023, where she worked to strengthen and expand the organization’s reach.
“Sandy’s deep commitment to our bar and the legal profession derives from a lifetime of advocacy for diversity and underserved communities,” said Priya Purandare, Executive Director of NAPABA. “I am grateful to Sandy for her leadership in not only guiding NAPABA with steady wisdom through a tremendous period of growth but also her dedication to advancing AANHPI lawyers and the communities they serve.”
Also receiving the 2026 Spirit of Excellence Award are:
Hon. Marcella Holland, Circuit Administrative Judge, Baltimore City (ret.);
Paralegal Pathways Initiative (PPI) at Columbia Law School is a semester-long training program aimed at supporting formerly incarcerated individuals to transition into careers within the legal field. Through skills-based legal training and professional mentorship, PPI empowers participants to develop valuable career and interview skills.
PPI is now accepting applications for their upcoming Spring 2026 class, and wants to extend this opportunity to as many potential applicants as possible. Please reach out to (ppi@law.columbia.edu) if you know of anyone who may be interested or are interested yourself!
We extend our sincere gratitude to AAFE, AABANY, AALFNY, PBCS, and all the dedicated volunteers who contributed to the success of our Pro Bono Legal Clinic in Manhattan on October 15th, 2025.
During the clinic, our volunteers provided free legal services and information to 16 clients, addressing a range of matters including housing, immigration, family and matrimonial, estate and property. Our volunteer attorneys and interpreters thoughtfully addressed client concerns, offered clarity through their answers, and facilitated connections to appropriate legal resources via AABANY’s Legal Referral and Information Service (LRIS).
We are committed to offering services in both Mandarin and Cantonese to ensure continued support for individuals facing linguistic or cultural barriers when seeking guidance on substantive and procedural legal matters.
We thank all the volunteers at the October 15th Manhattan Pro Bono Clinic for their time, professionalism, and dedication:
Volunteer Attorneys:
Yen Yi Anderson
Jack (Zixu) Hsia
Justin Lee
Beatrice Leong
Arthur Lin
Jieman Tan
Anthony Wong
Gary Yeung
Interpreters/shadowers:
Kaleah Haddock
Emily Kam
Nikita Kohli
Qi (Ellie) Wang
Ruixuan Yi
Shang Zhai
Wendy Zeng
We invite you to continue supporting our community by joining us at our upcoming pro bono clinics:
November 8th [Brooklyn link here], from 12:30 – 3:30pm, CPC Brooklyn Community Services, 4101 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232
November 19th [Manhattan link here] from 6:30-8:30pm, AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk Street, NY, NY 10002. This clinic is preceded by an Immigration Basics Training at 6pm.
December 3rd [Queens link here], from 6:30 – 8:30pm, One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355. This clinic is preceded by an Immigration Basics Training at 6pm.
We look forward to your participation in our future clinics! To learn more about how you can get involved with AABANY’s Pro Bono Clinics, visit probono.aabany.org.
On September 30, 2025, AABANY hosted a special evening of wine tasting and live music at Saltwater NYC, a cozy coffee shop and wine bar co-owned by Sumeet Chugani, General Counsel at Cloaked. The packed event brought together senior in-house counsel and AABANY members for an intimate and engaging night of conversation and connection.
With curated wine selections and a relaxed ambiance, Saltwater provided the perfect backdrop for an evening of relaxed conversation, shared stories, and new connections among AAPI legal professionals and allies.
Thanks to the co-sponsoring AABANY committees; click to learn more about each one:
Thank you to Sumeet and the Saltwater staff for hosting a memorable and fun night. We look forward to more events that foster connection within our vibrant community.
To stay informed about all upcoming events hosted by these committees, as well as other exciting AABANY events, we encourage you to visit the calendar on AABANY’s website for the latest information.
– written by Jeffrey Mok, AABANY Intellectual Property Committee Co-Chair and Board Director
On October 16, 2025, tax and trusts & estate professionals convened for a highly anticipated joint committee dinner. The event welcomed a diverse group of AABANY members and non-members, including ambitious students and experienced professionals contemplating a career transition into these specialized legal fields. The evening served as a dynamic platform for invaluable knowledge exchange, with discussions spanning a broad spectrum of critical topics such as strategic career advancement, recent legislative updates, and effective practice management strategies.
The group met at Tang Pavilion, which provided a cozy and inviting atmosphere perfectly conducive to engaging conversations and reconnecting with peers. Attendees delighted in a culinary journey featuring an array of delectable dishes, thoughtfully selected by those present. The group savored perennial favorites like the crispy sesame chicken, the flavorful mapo tofu, and perfectly prepared string beans. Complementing the exquisite meal, guests enjoyed a selection of fine wines and refreshing Sapporo beer, creating a perfect ambiance to unwind and socialize after a busy workday. The camaraderie and shared enjoyment truly enhanced the collaborative spirit of the evening.
The Trusts and Estates Committee holds regular virtual meetings, dedicated to discussing topics of interest to its members, with the next meeting scheduled for November 7, 2025. For more details and to register for this upcoming meeting, please click here. To delve deeper into the activities and mission of the Trusts & Estates committee, further information is available here. Similarly, to learn more about the Tax Committee and its initiatives, please click here. To stay informed about all upcoming events hosted by these two committees, as well as other exciting AABANY events, we encourage you to visit the calendar on AABANY’s website for the latest information.
On October 10, 2025, AABANY’s Commercial Bankruptcy & Restructuring and Student Outreach Committees held a Careers in Restructuring panel, generously hosted by Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.
The program featured three restructuring attorneys: Helen Zhang (Davis Polk), Ismail Buffins (Weil), and Livy Mezei (Greenberg Traurig). The discussion was moderated by Albert Tong, Chair of the Student Outreach Committee.
The panelists shared how they became interested in restructuring and explained the differences between Chapter 11 and Chapter 15 cases, in-court versus out-of-court restructurings, and liability management exercises. They also discussed how representing debtors and creditors requires distinct strategies and priorities. Students gained practical insight into what a “day in the life” looks like for restructuring associates, the evolving skills needed to succeed, and advice for preparing to enter the field. The conversation also touched on current trends, including cross-border matters and liability-management transactions.
The event concluded with a networking reception where attendees were able to network and connect with both the panelists and other law students and attorneys in attendance. AABANY’s Commercial Bankruptcy & Restructuring and Student Outreach Committees extend their gratitude to Weil and everyone who made this event possible, and to the panelists for sharing their time and experience.
To learn more about AABANY’s Student Outreach Committee, click here. To learn more about AABANY’s Commercial Bankruptcy & Restructuring Committee, click here. To find out about upcoming events like this, please visit the calendar on AABANY’s website.
written by Albert Tong, AABANY Student Outreach Committee Chair
On the evening of October 9, 2025, AABANY’s Solo and Small Firm Practice (SSFP) Committee hosted a lively happy hour at Cha Cha Tang, bringing together solo and small firm practitioners, in-house counsel, aspiring small firm practitioners, and others for an evening of networking, community, and good food. Although titled “Solo and Small Firm Practice Committees Happy Hour,” the event drew a wide mix of participants. The energy in the room reflected the entrepreneurial spirit that defines the SSFP Committee.
Attendees enjoyed a delicious spread of shared plates, including potstickers, shumai, shrimp dumplings, scallion pancakes, and more. The cozy atmosphere of Cha Cha Tang provided the perfect setting for meaningful conversations, new connections, and the exchange of experience amongst a wide range of attendees.
We extend our gratitude to everyone who attended and helped make the evening a success. Your enthusiasm and engagement are what make these gatherings special. If you missed the event, don’t worry; more opportunities are coming! Keep an eye on AABANY’s Events Calendar for upcoming programs and networking opportunities. To learn more about the SSFP Committee, click here.
We extend special thanks to the Co-Chairs of the SSFP Committee, Yen-Yi Anderson and Bianca Lin, and Vice Chair Tiffany Miao for their coordination and organization. Also to our sponsors at Allegaert Berger & Vogel LLP, whose generosity helped make this event possible.
We thank our volunteers and partners for their invaluable contributions to the Queens Pro Bono Legal Clinic on October 1st, 2025. We extend our sincere gratitude to the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA), the Asian American for Equity (AAFE), AALFNY, AABANY, all of our dedicated volunteers and the MOIA immigration resource workshop participants.
We especially thank Commissioner Manuel Castro, Lily Liang, Community Liaison, and Shaina Torres, Director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives from the NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) for their insightful community education training and for sharing MOIA resources with us to help create a better and safer New York City for everyone.
Thanks to our volunteers’ dedication, we were able to assist 15 clients with a wide range of legal concerns, including housing, immigration, matrimonial and family law, employment, and criminal cases.
Our volunteer attorneys and interpreters demonstrated exceptional patience and commitment in addressing client questions, offering guidance, and connecting them with further legal support through AABANY’s Legal Referral and Information Service (LRIS). We are proud to offer our services in both Mandarin and Cantonese, allowing us to continue our mission of providing crucial support to individuals facing linguistic or cultural barriers in accessing quality legal care.
Too often, those who face language barriers find themselves overwhelmed and powerless in the face of a complex legal system. Without access to interpretation or culturally informed advocacy, they may not fully understand their rights or the options available to them. Seeing the fear and uncertainty in their eyes is a stark reminder of the urgent need for accessible legal aid.
For many of the AABANY volunteers, this mission is deeply personal. As children or descendants of immigrants, our attorneys and interpreters understand firsthand the struggles that accompany language barriers, cultural misunderstandings, and systemic inequities. Helping these clients is, in many ways, like helping our own parents, neighbors, and communities – a way to honor those who paved the way before us and ensure that others today do not face the same struggles alone.
AABANY remains steadfast in its commitment to give back to AAPI communities, advancing access to justice and empowerment to those who have been marginalized by the barriers of language, culture, or circumstance.
Here are some of the clients’ comments from this evening’s pro bono clinic:
“I felt truly listened to; the attorneys explained everything clearly and patiently.”
“Very wonderful legal service.”
“Made me feel less alone in my situation.”
We thank the following volunteer attorneys:
Wendy (Wen-Hsien) Cheng
Richard In
Johnny Thach
Yilan Wang
Anthony Wong
May Wong
Helen Wu
Gary Yeung
Our sincere appreciation also goes to our dedicated interpreters and shadowers:
Nandar Win Kerr
Ruixuan Yi
Wendy Zeng
Shang Zhai
Jessie Zhou
We invite you to continue supporting our community by joining us at our upcoming pro bono clinics:
November 8th [Brooklyn link here], from 12:30 – 3:30pm, CPC Brooklyn Community Services, 4101 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232
November 19th [Manhattan link here] from 6:30-8:30pm, AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk Street, NY, NY 10002
December 3rd [Queens link here], from 6:30 – 8:30pm, One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355
Future Community Education Speaker and Topic Announcement
In collaboration with the Issue Committee, Vishal Chander, one of PBCS Committee’s incredible volunteers and Issues Committee Co-Chair, will provide 30-minutes Basic Immigration training Part 1 on November 19th at Manhattan Clinic and Part 2 on December 3rd at Queens Clinic from 6 – 6:30pm.
This training series will prepare lawyers and law students the fundamentals of advising pro bono clients who are or have family in removal (deportation) proceedings. CLE credits will be given to attorneys who attend both trainings.
We look forward to your participation in our future clinics!
A photo of the street signs at Canal and Elizabeth in Manhattan Chinatown. This block of Elizabeth Street was named Private Danny Chen Way in 2014.
On October 3, 2025, community members gathered on the corner of Canal and Elizabeth Streets in Manhattan’s Chinatown to commemorate the life of U.S. Army Private (Pvt.) Danny Chen. Pvt. Chen was a Chinese American soldier who endured months of racial discrimination and severe physical abuse at the hands of his commanding officer and members of his unit while serving in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan. He later committed suicide while on duty. The commemoration was to remember his sacrifice, to bring attention to military hazing and the need for safety reforms, and to link his death to ongoing issues facing marginalized communities serving in the military.
The event was organized by the Committee to Keep Private Danny Chen’s Legacy Alive, a coalition of local and national organizations and community members, including family members of Private Danny Chen, activist Liz Ouyang, and organizations, such as OCA NY and NJ, Chinatown B.I.D., the American Legion Lt. B.R. Kimlau Chinese Memorial Post 1291, the Service Women’s Action Network, and Caribbean Equality Project, among others.
Elizabeth Ouyang speaks in front of a group of community members commemorating Private Danny Chen
Renny Fong, Principal of PS 130, where Pvt. Chen attended elementary school described Pvt. Chen as a “son of Chinatown” who “carried joy wherever he went.” Principal Fong noted that while Pvt. Chen was offered a scholarship to attend Baruch College, Pvt. Chen chose to enlist in the U.S. Army.
After being assigned to his platoon in Afghanistan, Pvt. Chen was subjected to unrelenting abuse and hazing. He was physically abused, called racial slurs, and humiliated. He was assigned excessive guard duty to the point of exhaustion, made to do extreme physical training, and kicked and kneed by other soldiers while being forced to stay in a squatting stance. In a final instance of abuse and humiliation, Pvt. Chen was made to crawl across rugged terrain while other soldiers threw stones at him. A few hours later, Pvt. Chen took his own life while on duty in the guard tower. Pvt. Chen was 19 when he passed and was enlisted for only nine months.
Rosie Derong Li of Chinatown B.I.D. described the prosecution of the soldiers who abused Pvt. Chen. Seven enlisted soldiers and one commissioned officer were charged with the crimes of hazing, racial maltreatment, assault, and dereliction of duty. All were convicted. The commissioned officer agreed to resign from the military to avoid a general court martial.
Kenneth Wong, Commander of the American Legion Lt. B.R. Kimlau Chinese Memorial Post 1291, said of Pvt. Chen, “He endured weeks of brutal racist hazing and physical abuse, targeted for being Chinese American …. His death exposed the deeply rooted ugly culture of racism and hazing within the military.”
Angela Lee, President of the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) New York, highlighted ongoing issues in the military facing marginalized communities. She noted that this year’s commemoration of Pvt. Chen comes as the U.S. military banned all affinity groups at West Point Academy. Affinity groups offer a place where service members of different backgrounds can come together for support, mentorship, and solidarity and to help educate their peers on the culture and contributions of a diverse force.
Kathy Graham, volunteer with the Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN), talked about the importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in military service and the importance of affinity groups in supporting the first generation of women serving in combat roles. Ms. Graham noted that her daughter was not able to celebrate her Harvard graduation with military peers because anti-DEI executive orders cancelled their graduation ceremony.
Tanya Asapansa-Johnson Walker, a trans veteran from the Caribbean Equality Project, spoke about her traumatic sexual abuse experience as a pre-transition trans person in the 1980s U.S. military and the important role LGBTQ+ affinity groups could have played in her military career had they existed at that time.
Community leaders pushed for concrete steps to prevent harassment and hazing in the military. They noted that restoring affinity and peer support groups, strengthening DEI initiatives, and accountable leadership are essential to safeguarding a culture of dignity and belonging so that what happened to Pvt. Chen never happens again.
Rachel Lee, Co-Chair of AABANY’s Issues Committee and President & General Counsel of Stand with Asian Americans, attended the commemoration. She reflected, “I appreciated that many speakers highlighted the importance of DEI and affinity groups, not only as measures that could have helped prevent tragic incidents like this for our service members but also as essential resources to cultivate a sense of belonging for underrepresented individuals more broadly today and to hopefully protect them from systemic hate.”
Principal Fong stated, “His story is one of heartbreaking loss, not only for his family, but for this entire beloved community. We will always remember Danny Chen, his life, his smile, and his sacrifice.”
AABANY was privileged to stand alongside many community groups and community leaders at this annual commemoration. Thanks to the Committee to Keep Private Danny Chen’s Legacy Alive for their continued dedication to this cause.
– written by Vishal Chander, AABANY Issues Committee Co-Chair and Board Director
