Day: November 3, 2025

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AABANY and AALFNY Partner with CMP to Empower Entrepreneurs Through Legal Know-How

On October 18th, 2025, the Chinatown Manpower Project (CMP) held its Annual Entrepreneurship Training.  The Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) and Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY) partnered with CMP to deliver a legal workshop on Business Entity Formation and Partnership Agreements, designed to assist small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Thanks to May Wong, former Co-Chair of the Pro Bono & Community Service (PBCS) Committee, and Nandar Win Kerr, Treasurer and Consultant to the PBCS Committee for providing invaluable insights on the crucial topics of business entity formation and partnership agreements, equipping aspiring and current entrepreneurs with the foundational legal knowledge necessary for success.

The engaging training covered essential aspects of choosing the right business structure, including understanding the implications of diverse entity classification and the critical components of strong partnership agreements. Attendees gained a clearer picture of how to protect their businesses, navigate legal complexities, cultivate productive collaborations and promote a sustainable business model.

Many immigrants arrive in the United States seeking better economic prospects and face barriers to traditional employment, such as language barriers and lack of local networks. CMP offers employment support to people from all walks of life, including immigrants and second-generation immigrants. CMP also hosts comprehensive entrepreneurial workshops and seminars, provides one-on-one consulting services to small business clients, and refers clients to partnering resource organizations for government assistance, legal consultation, financial literacy, and micro-lending. 

Wong and Kerr also highlighted the availability of free 30-minute legal consultations through the PBCS Committee’s legal clinics in Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn. These clinics, co-sponsored by AABANY and AALFNY offer accessible legal guidance to the community. The PBCS Committee encourages pro bono legal service from AABANY members, informs the community of their legal rights, and works with other not-for-profits to bring free or low-cost legal services to the AAPI, immigrant, and other New York communities. AABANY’s Legal Referral and Information Service (“LRIS”) connects members of the New York community with qualified legal counsel, overcoming linguistic and cultural barriers and increasing the accessibility of legal referral services in the Greater New York area for an underserved demographic.

We believe that empowering entrepreneurs with legal education is vital for fostering thriving businesses and communities. As a gesture of our appreciation and support, all attendees were presented with special Pro Bono Clinic items at the conclusion of the training, a small token to remind them of the resources available to them and the importance of legal guidance in their entrepreneurial journey.

AABANY collaborates with CMP to create this legal workshop to help small business owners and tomorrow’s entrepreneurs. AABANY also helps provide legal advice to small business owners and young entrepreneurs at our upcoming legal clinics. We invite you to join AABANY’s upcoming Pro Bono Clinics taking place on: 

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

A big thank you to CMP for their continued dedication to fostering entrepreneurship, and to all the attendees for their enthusiasm and engagement. We look forward to future collaborations that uplift and empower our community.

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AABANY Committees Present Pickleball Night, Co-Sponsored by Citizens Bank

On October 16, 2025, AABANY’s Corporate Law Committee, In-House Counsel Committee, Mentorship Committee, and Government Service and Public Interest Committee, in collaboration with Citizens Private Bank, held Pickleball Night at Gotham Pickle (5-25 46th Ave., Long Island City, New York 11101). The event brought together professionals and AABANY members for an evening of networking, community building, and fun competition and conversation.

The event welcomed both seasoned players and first-time pickleball enthusiasts, creating an inclusive atmosphere where attendees learned together and competed in friendly matches. The event provided a unique opportunity for members to connect outside the traditional professional setting, while enjoying one of the fastest-growing sports in the country.

Brandon Martinez from Gotham Pickle coached our group and taught us about the no-volley zone or the “kitchen,” serving in doubles, the two-bounce rule, keeping score, and best practices and strategy to win a rally.

Throughout the evening, the players rotated between courts and teams to allow for a mix of playing experience and so that people were able to meet new people, helping to foster meaningful connections among peers from diverse practice areas and career stages. Each game went to 11, and the players with the most wins reached the finals.

Huge congratulations to Alysha Naik and Don Liu for reaching the finals and winning the prizes!

Special thanks to Citizens Private Bank for their support! Citizens Private Banking offers a personal, relationship-driven approach to managing wealth. Every client is paired with a dedicated relationship manager who takes the time to understand their goals, priorities, and financial vision.

Private Banking clients benefit from:

  • Dedicated Relationship Managers who provide proactive, one-on-one guidance.
  • Custom Lending Solutions for real estate, investments, and liquidity needs.
  • Comprehensive Wealth Strategies, in partnership with our investment and planning specialists.
  • Priority Service and Access to exclusive products and premium benefits.

With Citizens, private banking isn’t just about managing assets – it’s about building a trusted partnership that grows with each client over time.

To learn more, connect with Steve Shin, Private Banker (steve.shin@citizensprivatebank.com).

Additional thanks to Rokstar Chicken for catering from their location at 42-02 Northern Blvd., Long Island City, NY 11101 (in front of Food Bazaar Supermarket).

To learn more about the Corporate Law Committee, click here. To learn more about the In-House Counsel Committee, click here. To learn more about the Mentorship Committee, click here. To learn more about the Government Service and Public Interest Committee, click here. 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.

If you aren’t an AABANY member yet – consider joining!  AABANY membership allows you access to many more events like this one, and also free or discounted admission. Please see this page to learn more about member benefits, and sign up on AABANY’s website.

Thank you to everyone for joining us at the Pickleball Night. We hope to see you again at a future event soon.

Written by Johnny Thach, Co-Chair, Government Service and Public Interest Committee.

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AABANY Joins CPC Brooklyn’s Harvest Moon Benefit to Celebrate Community Partnership

On October 23, 2025, members of AABANY’s Brooklyn Pro Bono Clinic joined the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) Brooklyn Branch for its annual Harvest Moon Benefit, held at New Phoenix Seafood Restaurant (912 65th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11219). The event brought together community leaders, partners, and supporters for an evening celebrating culture, service, and collaboration.

AABANY’s Brooklyn Pro Bono Clinic volunteers — Victoria Cheng, Judy Lee, Albert Tong, Jameson Xu, Nandar Win Kerr, May Wong, and Kwok Kei Ng — represented AABANY at the banquet. The group was warmly welcomed by CPC staff and community members in attendance.

The Harvest Moon Benefit highlighted CPC’s decades-long work serving Brooklyn’s immigrant and working-class communities through programs in education, family services, workforce development, and senior care. AABANY was proud to celebrate this partnership: CPC Brooklyn generously provides the space that makes the Brooklyn Pro Bono Legal Clinic possible. At the Pro Bono Clinic, which occurs every other month, volunteer attorneys and students assist community members navigating complex legal issues involving housing, employment, family, and consumer matters.

This lively and heartfelt evening reflected the collaboration between AABANY and CPC Brooklyn — both focused on promoting access to justice, empowering immigrant families, and building stronger neighborhoods.

AABANY extends its deepest thanks to CPC Brooklyn for the invitation and for their ongoing support of our clinic and the communities we serve.

Those interested in volunteering at AABANY’s Brooklyn Pro Bono Clinic can visit probono.aabany.org to learn more and register here for the next Brooklyn Pro Bono Clinic to be held on November 8.

— Written by Kwok Kei Ng, Co-Chair, Pro Bono & Community Service Committee

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