On August 18, 2026, the AABANY Commercial Bankruptcy & Restructuring Committee and the AABANY In-House Counsel Committee co-hosted a joint happy hour at Bar Lola in Midtown Manhattan. The event brought together attorneys from a variety of practice areas and professional backgrounds for an evening of networking, relationship-building, and conversation.
Events like this joint happy hour demonstrate the value of bringing together attorneys from different practice areas to connect, share experiences, and expand their professional networks. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the event a success. We look forward to hosting more joint programs and networking opportunities in the future.
The Commercial Bankruptcy & Restructuring Committee and the In-House Counsel Committee are committed to providing members with opportunities to engage with one another through networking and community-building events throughout the year. Those interested in learning more about either Committee are encouraged to attend future programs and visit the AABANY website for additional information.
On August 8, 2026, AABANY held its annual picnic at Central Park’s Heckscher Playground Area, one of the oldest playgrounds in Central Park. This family-friendly picnic brings together AABANY members, family and friends. On this day, about 60 attendees joined AABANY for an afternoon of outdoor activities, delicious food, and connection. Among the attendees were AABANY’s President, Varuna Bhattacharyya, and some of the AABANY Board Directors: Beatrice Leong, Vishal Chander, and Alysha Naik. This event was organized by the Young Lawyers Committee (YLC) Co-Chairs, Alexandra Lao and Justin Lee, along with the Military and Veterans Affairs (MVA) Co-Chairs, Amos Kim and Willis Huynh.
The event began with families arriving throughout the morning and settling into the picnic area. On this summer afternoon, the sun shone brightly overhead as a gentle breeze swept through the park. The atmosphere was welcoming and lively as guests found comfort under the trees’ shade. Guests enjoyed a wide spread of delicious food from the Kimbob Club, a family-owned Korean restaurant located in New Jersey, with different varieties of kimbap from their special spicy squid kimbap and grilled pork kimbap. There were also hand-made sandwiches, a charcuterie board, fresh-fruit and a huge assortment of asian snacks. Over shared meals and conversations, longtime colleagues reconnected while new friendships and professional connections began to take shape.
As the afternoon continued, guests spread out across the grass on picnic blankets soaking in the sunshine. Guests also participated in outdoor activities such as badminton, card games, and toss-and-catch on the lawn. The most memorable part of the afternoon was how naturally professional connections became personal ones and a simple introduction turned into a discussion about travel, hobbies, and shared experiences. Overall, the AABANY picnic provided a welcoming and inclusive opportunity for law students, attorneys and friends to spend time together.
Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make this year’s picnic a memorable afternoon. We look forward to continuing this summer tradition and creating more opportunities for our AABANY community to come together and make wonderful memories!
