Author: Apollo Baltazar

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NAPABA Applauds the Nomination of Judge Sanket J. Bulsara to the U.S. District Court

For Immediate Release: 
Date: February 7, 2024 		Contact: Rahat N. Babar, Deputy Executive Director for Policy 

WASHINGTON – Today, President Joe Biden nominated Judge Sanket J. Bulsara to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. 

“NAPABA congratulates Judge Sanket J. Bulsara on his nomination to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. He is an experienced jurist and has served as a U.S. Magistrate Judge on the court since 2017,” said Anna Mercado Clark, President of NAPABA. “A native New Yorker and active member of the Asian American Bar Association of New York, Judge Bulsara, who was – at the time that he was appointed a U.S. Magistrate Judge – the first South Asian American to serve as a judge within the Second Circuit, is exceptionally well qualified.  We are proud to support his nomination.”

“The South Asian population is one of the fastest growing in New York City, representing four percent of the population,” said Priya Purandare, Executive Director of NAPABA. “President Biden’s nomination and Senator Schumer and Gillibrand’s recommendation of Judge Bulsara recognize the importance of having a judiciary representative of the community.”

Judge Sanket J. Bulsara has been a United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of New York since 2017. From January 2017 to May 2017, Judge Bulsara served as the Acting General Counsel of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, where he had been the Deputy General Counsel for Appellate Litigation, Adjudication, and Enforcement since 2015. Prior to that, Judge Bulsara worked at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr L.L.P. as an associate from 2005 to 2008, a counsel from 2009 to 2011, and a partner from 2012 to 2015. For six months between 2007 and 2008, he served as a Special Assistant District Attorney at the Kings County (Brooklyn) District Attorney’s Office, and he worked as an associate at Munger, Tolles & Olson L.L.P. in Los Angeles, California from 2003 to 2004. Judge Bulsara served as a law clerk for Judge John G. Koeltl on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York from 2002 to 2003. He received his J.D. from Harvard Law School, cum laude, in 2002 and his A.B., magna cum laude, from Harvard College in 1998.

NAPABA thanks President Biden for nominating Judge Bulsara and Senators Schumer and Gillibrand for supporting his nomination.

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) represents the interests of over 60,000 Asian Pacific American (APA) legal professionals and nearly 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.

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AABANY Young Lawyers and Student Outreach Committees Present “The Self-Compassionate Lawyer: Reclaiming Power Over the Pursuit of Perfection with Dr. Matt Poon”

The legal profession is notorious for its high-stakes nature, demanding workloads, and a culture that often glorifies perfectionism. In an effort to address the mental health challenges faced by lawyers and law students, AABANY’s Young Lawyers Committee and Student Outreach Committee presented on February 1 “The Self-Compassionate Lawyer: Reclaiming Power Over the Pursuit of Perfection.”  This program was held at the New York office of Wilson Sonsini and brought together legal professionals and students for an insightful and interactive presentation by Dr. Matt Poon. It reflects the theme for this fiscal year, “Embracing Wellness and Well-being: Strengthening the Legal Profession by Investing in Ourselves.”

Dr. Poon delved into the deep-seated contributing factors that drive individuals in the legal field toward the pursuit of perfection. Attendees gained an understanding of the benefits and consequences associated with such pursuits, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and addressing these tendencies to foster a healthier professional life.

This interactive event didn’t shy away from the harsh realities of burnout and imposter syndrome within the legal profession. Participants engaged in a thought-provoking discussion and gained valuable insights into the significance of prioritizing mental well-being. Dr. Poon guided the audience through an exploration of cognitive biases and distortions linked to perfectionism. By understanding these thought patterns, attendees were empowered to challenge and reframe their perspectives, ultimately fostering a more realistic and compassionate approach to their professional and personal lives.

A highlight of the event was the exploration of Dr. Kristin Neff’s groundbreaking work on self-compassion. Dr. Poon provided practical insights into incorporating self-compassion into daily life, equipping participants with a powerful tool to counteract the detrimental effects of perfectionism.  

In line with the event’s goals, participants left with a toolbox of skills and tools to effectively manage self-imposed expectations, pressure, and criticism. Dr. Poon shared actionable strategies that could be readily applied in both personal and professional settings, such as meditation exercises, recognition of cognitive biases and thought patterns, and having a “defense team” in your own inner courtroom of self-criticism.

Beyond the enriching content, the program fostered a sense of community among attendees. We exchanged self-written sticky notes with affirmative words we would like to hear during difficult times, as a reminder to be our own best friends in times of adversity. 

Thank you to AABANY’s Student Outreach and Young Lawyers Committees for organizing this event and to Wilson Sonsini for providing the venue.  Thank you to the Student Outreach Committee Co-Chair, Vivian Lee, Young Lawyers Committee Co-Chairs Kwonsun Jung and Ada Wang, for putting this event together. To find more about Dr. Matt Poon’s work, please check https://www.drmattpoon.com/. To learn more about the Student Outreach Committee go here. To learn more about the Young Lawyers Committee go here.

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AABANY’s In-House Counsel Committee and Corporate Law Committee Present 2024 Winter Soiree at Le Chalet at Saks Fifth Avenue

The In-House Counsel Committee and the Corporate Law Committee of AABANY held the 2024 Winter Soiree on Thursday, January 25, 2024, at Le Chalet in Saks Fifth Avenue. This annual event was set against the stunning backdrop of an elegant indoor space and the breathtaking midtown skyline from the balcony, providing a perfect setting for a night to remember.

This Winter Soiree marks the first time we held it in-person, having held a virtual Winter Soiree during the pandemic in 2022. We also moved this event from summer to winter during AABANY’s 2024 fiscal year, so that we did not follow the AABANY dinner in May 2023 with another major event in June, the traditional time when we held our annual soiree for in-house counsel and law firm attorneys.

The Winter Soiree was an invite-only event, open to in-house counsel, law firm attorneys and sponsors of AABANY’s 2023 Annual Dinner and the 2024 Winter Soiree. The event enjoyed the attendance of numerous senior in-house lawyers, including many General Counsels, as well as senior attorneys and partners from law firms, making it an ideal opportunity for networking, reuniting with friends, and making new connections. The diverse group of attendees represented several companies across various industries and top global and regional law firms. We are grateful for the participation of many companies, including the following non-exhaustive list, encompassing a broad range of industries:

  • AIG
  • Bloomberg
  • Christian Dior Couture
  • Con Ed
  • JPMorgan Chase
  • Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corp.
  • Morgan Stanley
  • Neuberger Berman
  • Pfizer
  • Sanofi
  • Taco Bell
  • Televisa/Univision
  • The Walt Disney Co.
  • Tiffany & Co.
  • Zurich American Insurance Co.

The event began at 6:30 pm. Guests enjoyed an array of hors d’oeuvres, drinks, wines, and cocktails, accompanied by engaging conversations. Discussions at the soiree covered a wide range of topics, from potential referrals and collaborations to personal interests and hobbies. About an hour into the event,  AABANY’s In-House Counsel Committee Co-Chairs Anushree Bagrodia, David Sohn, and Kazuko Wachter, gave welcoming remarks and spoke about the work of the In-House Counsel Committee and AABANY to advance the legal profession and the AAPI community. Dennis Hopkins, Partner at Perkins Coie, a Platinum sponsor of the Winter Soiree, also addressed the crowd and spoke about the firm’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the long relationship Perkins Coie has had over the years with AABANY. 

AABANY thanks all the Winter Soiree sponsors for helping to make the event possible:

Platinum

  • Broadridge 
  • Perkins Coie

Gold

  • Baker & McKenzie LLP
  • Davis + Gilbert LLP
  • Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
  • Haynes and Boone LLP
  • Jenner & Block LLP
  • Littler Mendelson P.C.
  • Milbank LLP
  • Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
  • Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
  • Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

Silver

  • Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
  • Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone LLP
  • Herrick Feinstein LLP
  • Linklaters LLP
  • Rupp Pfalzgraf LLP
  • Wilson & Chan LLP

AABANY also thanks our 2023 Annual Dinner sponsors that make our year-round programming, including marquee events like the Winter Soiree, possible. For a full listing of all our 2023 Annual Dinner sponsors, go here.

We also appreciate the efforts of the Corporate Law Committee’s Co-Chairs Tracy Feng, Alice Hsu, Edward J. Lee, Vice Chair Ashley Wong, and the student volunteers for their invaluable assistance in helping us before and at the soiree.

Thanks to all who attended, and we hope to see you at next year’s Winter Soiree. To see more photos from the event, go to https://photos.app.goo.gl/UvrKhxuNYV4rE1aj8.

For more information about the In-House Counsel Committee, please visit https://www.aabany.org/page/149. For more information about the Corporate Law Committee, please see https://www.aabany.org/page/128.

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Celebrate Fred Korematsu Day on January 30

Since 2018, January 30 has been celebrated in New York City as Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution. Why do we commemorate Fred Korematsu and his fight for justice? Here is the answer from the Fred Korematsu Institute:

Fred Korematsu was an American civil rights activist who stood up to the U.S. government’s wrongful incarceration of over 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry living on the West Coast during WWII. Even though Fred was vilified and ostracized by his Japanese American community and had no support from his family, he was not afraid to speak up. He knew the government had violated the civil rights of thousands of its citizens and immigrants when it forced them to leave their homes and live in remote incarceration camps.

To learn more, go to https://korematsuinstitute.org/what-is-fred-korematsu-day/.

For a list of events celebrating Korematsu Day from around the country, go to https://korematsuinstitute.org/2024-fkd-events/.

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NAPABA Applauds the Nominations of Amir H. Ali, Judge Sunil R. Harjani, and Jasmine H. Yoon to the U.S. District Court

For Immediate Release: 
Date: January 10, 2024 		Contact: Rahat N. Babar, Deputy Executive Director for Policy 

WASHINGTON – Today, President Joe Biden announced his intention to nominate Amir H. Ali to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Judge Sunil R. Harjani to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and Jasmine Yoon to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia.

“Amir H. Ali, Judge Sunil R. Harjani, and Jasmine H. Yoon are exceptionally well qualified to serve on our federal judiciary,” said Anna Mercado Clark, President of NAPABA. “Active in the AANHPI community, if confirmed, Ms. Yoon, a former board member of APABA-VA, would be the first Asian American to serve as an Article III judge in Virginia. A prominent member of the Chicago South Asian legal community, Judge Harjani was the first South Asian American to serve as a U.S. Magistrate in the Northern District of Illinois. Mr. Ali is an experienced civil rights litigator who has worked to elevate the voices of marginalized communities at the U.S. Supreme Court. NAPABA is proud to support these nominees.”

Amir H. Ali has been President and Executive Director of the MacArthur Justice Center since 2021 and Director of the Criminal Justice Appellate Clinic at Harvard Law School since 2018. Previously, Mr. Ali worked in private practice as an associate at Jenner & Block LLP in Washington, DC, from 2013-17. He also served as a law clerk for Justice Marshall Rothstein on the Supreme Court of Canada from 2012-13 and Judge Raymond C. Fisher on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 2011-12. Mr. Ali received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 2011 and his B.S.E. from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, in 2008.

Judge Sunil R. Harjani has been a United States Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Illinois since 2019. Judge Harjani served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and Deputy Chief of the Securities and Commodities Fraud Section in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois from 2008-19. He also practiced federal civil litigation as a senior counsel at the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission from 2004-08 and as an associate at Jenner & Block LLP in Chicago from 2000-01 and 2002-04. Judge Harjani served as a law clerk for Judge Suzanne B. Conlon on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois from 2001-02. He received his J.D., cum laude, from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law in 2000 and his B.A. from Northwestern University in 1997.

Jasmine H. Yoon has been the Vice President of Corporate Integrity, Ethics, and Investigations at Capital One Financial Corporation since 2022. Previously, Ms. Yoon worked as Interim University Counsel and Associate University Counsel at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville from 2019-22. Prior to that, Ms. Yoon served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia from 2010-16. Ms. Yoon was also an associate at Crowell & Moring LLP in Washington, DC, from 2006-09 in its White Collar and Regulatory Enforcement group. She served as a law clerk for Judge James C. Cacheris on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia from 2009-10. Ms. Yoon received her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2006 and her B.A. from the University of Virginia in 2003.

NAPABA thanks Senators Durbin and Duckworth of Illinois, Senators Warner and Kaine of Virginia, and Delegate Norton of the District of Columbia for supporting their nominations.

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) represents the interests of over 60,000 Asian Pacific American (APA) legal professionals and nearly 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.

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Support Stabbing Victim Mr. Yoo

Kang Hwan Yoo, a 70-year-old Korean immigrant business owner was stabbed repeatedly inside his store last month. Last week, the alleged perpetrator was finally arrested, but some of Mr. Yoo’s most challenging times remain ahead.

AABANY, along with community leaders and organizations, demands justice for Mr. Yoo. AABANY Board and AAVTF Member, Christopher Bae, is representing Mr. Yoo pro bono to help ensure that he receives all the legal, financial, and victim services that he needs. 

Please consider donating to Mr. Yoo’s official Gofundme. Click here to learn more and to donate. 

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AABANY Hosts Annual Holiday Party at Sour Mouse

On December 14, AABANY hosted its Annual Holiday Party at Sour Mouse, a social club on the Lower East Side. The event was organized by Beatrice Leong, Co-VP of Programs and Operations. The event was filled to capacity within days of registration opening, and the actual location was not disclosed until the morning of the event. Many attendees expressed pleasant surprise that the party was held at Sour Mouse rather than a law firm.

Nearly 80 AABANY members filled a large section of the venue reserved for us. Guests enjoyed bar food (pizza, wings, mozzarella sticks) and an open bar. We had a live DJ and an artist sketching portraits of our guests in real-time on the spot. Those not drinking, eating, or mingling got to shoot pool and reveal their hidden pool shark (or not). We also had a business card raffle, and the winners got a bottle of Jameson and a bottle of Bombay Sapphire.

Thanks to everyone who came out to Sour Mouse to celebrate the holidays with us. AABANY wishes you all a happy holiday season!

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AABANY’s Litigation and Judiciary Committees Host Luncheon and Courtroom Tour with EDNY Magistrate Judge James Cho

On Friday, December 1, AABANY’s Litigation Committee and Judiciary Committee hosted an exclusive luncheon with EDNY Magistrate Judge James Cho at the EDNY courthouse in Brooklyn. The event was popular with AABANY members – it reached capacity within hours of the registration link being sent out! Eighteen attendees from AABANY’s membership and AABANY Executive Director were presented with an amazing opportunity to socialize with Judge Cho and each other. It was also a unique educational opportunity for the litigators in the group. It included a tour of Judge Cho’s courtroom and an exclusive Q&A with Judge Cho regarding practicing in his court. Thanks to Judge Cho and to all the AABANY members who attended.

To learn more about the Litigation Committee go to this page and the Judiciary Committee go to this page.

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NAPABA Applauds the Confirmation of Judge Loren L. AliKhan to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia


For Immediate Release: 
Date: December 5, 2023 		Contact: Rahat N. Babar, Deputy Executive Director for Policy 

WASHINGTON – Today, the United States Senate confirmed Judge Loren L. AliKhan to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Judge AliKhan is the first South Asian American woman to serve on this court.

“NAPABA congratulates Judge AliKhan on her confirmation,” said Anna Mercado Clark, President of NAPABA. “A former Solicitor General for the District and Judge on the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, Judge AliKhan will bring a wealth of experience in her service to the residents of Washington, DC on the U.S. District Court.”

“Judge AliKhan is the second Asian American that President Biden has nominated and confirmed to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia,” said Priya Purandare, Executive Director of NAPABA. “Today, President Biden has increased his record-breaking benchmark with 29 AANHPI Article III judges that the U.S. Senate has confirmed. We thank President Biden for nominating Judge AliKhan, and Delegate Norton for recommending her.”

Judge AliKhan was the first Asian American judge to sit on the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. Before her confirmation, she served as the Solicitor General of the District of Columbia, where she directed the District’s appellate litigation and has overseen more than 1,800 appeals before the D.C. Court of Appeals, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States. Judge AliKhan has the support of NAPABA’s affiliate, the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of the Greater Washington DC Area. She has been recognized with the Public Sector Trailblazer Award by the South Asian Bar Association of Washington D.C. and previously clerked for the Hon. Thomas L. Ambro on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and Judge Louis H. Pollak on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Judge AliKhan is a graduate of Bard College at Simon’s Rock and the Georgetown University Law Center.

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) represents the interests of over 60,000 Asian Pacific American (APA) legal professionals and nearly 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.

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NAPABA Disagrees with Eighth Circuit Decision Undermining Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965


For Immediate Release: 
Date: November 27, 2023 		Contact: Rahat N. Babar, Deputy Executive Director for Policy 

WASHINGTON – Since 1965, our Nation relied on the promise of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. It prohibits state and local governments from advancing any election or voting standard that discriminates on the basis of race or color. For decades, private parties brought numerous enforcement actions under Section 2, which became a critical tool to realize Section 2’s fundamental guarantee of equal voting rights for all Americans. Even the Supreme Court of the United States, as it invalidated a separate part of the Act in Shelby County v. Holder, 570 U.S. 529 (2013), recognized the ability of private parties to enforce Section 2 through litigation, observing not only that “individuals have sued to enforce [Section] 2,” but also that “Section 2 is permanent [and] applies nationwide.” And just this past term, in Allen v. Milligan, 599 U.S. _ (2023), the Supreme Court decided a Section 2 claim in favor of private litigants challenging Alabama’s congressional districting plan.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, however, seeks to chart a different course. On November 20, 2023, in a 2-1 decision that disregards decades of precedent, the court held in Arkansas State Conference NAACP v. Arkansas Board of Apportionment that private parties may not bring enforcement actions under Section 2. In its view, only the Attorney General of the United States may do so.

We disagree. Nothing in the plain text of Section 2 compels this result. Considering the long history of Section 2, coupled with Congress’s explicit countenance, the private enforcement mechanism is a central feature of Section 2’s protection of equal voting rights. The Eighth Circuit’s decision, which comes less than a year before the 2024 presidential election, risks upending widespread reliance on a core protection of the Act. If left intact, it leaves any vindication of Section 2 rights to the sole discretion of one government official rather than with the voters themselves.

While this litigation continues, NAPABA continues to call on Congress to strengthen the Voting Rights Act by restoring the Act’s coverage in the aftermath of Shelby County, maximizing the full protections for all eligible Americans to vote, and prohibiting voter suppression efforts that impact the Asian American community along with other communities of color.

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) represents the interests of over 60,000 Asian Pacific American (APA) legal professionals and nearly 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.

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