2025 NAPABA President’s Award Recipient: Susman Godfrey LLP
WASHINGTON — The 2025 National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) President’s Award will be presented to Susman Godfrey LLP. The award recognizes the firm’s steadfast commitment to uplift the legal profession and the rule of law in the United States.
The NAPABA President’s Award is given annually to individuals or entities who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to NAPABA and the broader legal community.
“I am proud to confer the President’s Award to Susman Godfrey LLP,” said NAPABA President Thy Bui. “As both a legal professional and civil rights organization with a core commitment to diversity and upholding the rule of law, NAPABA knows the vital importance of standing up against the wave of attacks against the legal community and upholding our values. Susman Godfrey LLP not only shares our commitment but also lives it. I am thrilled to commend the firm for its unwavering focus to defend the legal profession and the rule of law when it mattered the most.”
Susman Godfrey LLP challenged the executive order, and in June 2025, the firm succeeded when the District Court permanently enjoined the executive order. The court found that the executive order amounted to “unlawful retaliation…for activities that are protected by the First Amendment, including [the firm’s] representation of certain clients…and its expression of its beliefs regarding diversity.” An independent judiciary, as the court recognized, presumes an “informed, independent bar,” which is a “necessity for the rule of law.”
We agree. The firm, in advancing those principles, currently represents the American Bar Association in a lawsuit against the current Administration that challenges the unwarranted attacks against lawyers and law firms.
NAPABA congratulates Susman Godfrey LLP as this year’s recipient of the NAPABA President’s Award, which will be bestowed on Friday, November 7, 2025, during the President’s and Trailblazer Awards Reception at the 2025 NAPABA Convention in Denver, Colorado.
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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.
More than a conference, the Convention is where legal professionals from every stage of their career connect, collaborate, and cultivate lasting professional relationships. From committee meetings and receptions to informal meetups, you’ll find countless opportunities to exchange ideas, share best practices, and engage with peers who understand your work and your passion.
These peer-led groups—often organized around specific practice areas, career stages, or shared interests—are a direct line to knowledge-sharing networks and communities that can help you grow your practice, expand your client base, and stay ahead of emerging legal trends. Whether you’re seeking mentorship, partnership, or simply a supportive circle of colleagues, the NAPABA Convention is where those connections begin.
Early Bird Registration Ends Soon
You only have until 11:59 pm ET on Tuesday, August 26, to lock in the Early Bird rate. That’s only one week away! Registering now means you’ll save $150 and secure your spot at an event you can’t miss.
Lead and Inspire: Become a NAPABA Committee or Network Co-Chair
Deadline: September 12, 2025
NAPABA’s committees and networks are vibrant, peer-led communities that connect members through shared practice areas, professional interests, and lived experiences. Committees focus on substantive legal topics and advocacy priorities such as labor & employment law, civil rights, and emerging technologies. Networks bring together members with common career paths or life experiences—such as in-house counsel, military service, or solo practice. These groups foster knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and leadership development.
Serving as a co-chair is a meaningful opportunity to:
Lead within a respected national bar association
Develop and showcase your leadership and subject-matter expertise
Build lasting relationships with colleagues across the country
Shape impactful programs, events, and initiatives that align with NAPABA’s strategic goals
Electronic Filing (NYSCEF) Kings County Supreme Court – Criminal Term 320 Jay Street Brooklyn, NY 11201
Pursuant to Administrative Order 131/25, which authorizes a pilot program for the consensual/voluntary filing and service of documents by electronic means (“e-filing”) in superior criminal court proceedings, Chief Administrative Judge Joseph A. Zayas has designated Kings County Supreme Court – Criminal Term as the first court to implement the program.
Hon. Matthew J. D’Emic, Administrative Judge for Criminal Matters, 2nd Judicial District, is pleased to announce the pilot program will go into effect on September 18, 2025.
Training is available
Training sessions will be offered by the NYSCEF Resource Center to assist attorneys and other court users with the transition.
There’s no better way to celebrate summer than with great food, great company, and the beauty of Central Park — and the Young Lawyers Committee’s Annual Picnic delivered all three. This year, we once again partnered with Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli, a beloved Chinatown staple owned by Billy You and Eric Lee, to bring their signature banh mi sandwiches straight to the Great Lawn.
On picnic day, about 50 attendees gathered to savor these flavorful sandwiches, relax on the lush green lawns, mingle with fellow members, and enjoy lively outdoor activities. Among the many attendees were Yang Chen, AABANY Executive Director, Carrey Wong, AABANY Deputy Executive Director, Benjamin Hsing, AABANY President, Development Director Beatrice Leong, and various other Committee Chairs and members. YLC’s Co-Chairs Justin Lee and Jameson Xu organized the event and were in attendance as well. Membership Director Alysha Naik brought a few board games for people to play and enjoy.
The afternoon was filled with laughter, conversation, and a strong sense of community — a reminder of what makes the AABANY network so special. From families spreading picnic blankets to friends catching up under shady trees, the picnic offered a chance to reconnect with old friends, meet new ones, and enjoy a taste of Chinatown without leaving the park.
Thanks to everyone who came out, and for bringing friends, families, and pets! If you missed this year’s gathering, we hope to see you next summer! To learn more about the Young Lawyers Committee, please visit aabany.org/page/123
We extend our sincere gratitude to AABANY, the Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY), AABANY’s Pro Bono & Community Service (PBCS) Committee, Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE), and our dedicated volunteers for contributing to the success of our pro bono legal clinic in Queens on August 6th, 2025.
The clinic began with an orientation by Gary Yeung, Co-Chair of the PBCS committee, where volunteers were instructed on how to fill out intake forms and interact professionally with the clients.
At the clinic, our volunteers offered essential support to clients facing challenges in housing, worker’s compensation, finance, and immigration. Seasoned volunteer attorneys, along with student observers and interpreters, helped alleviate client stress by providing legal insights, language assistance, and access to a broad range of legal resources including referrals to AABANY’s Legal Referral and Information Service (LRIS).
College and law students gained legal knowledge and experience through shadowing, notetaking, and asking intake questions. Many clients had limited proficiency in English, and volunteers who spoke Mandarin and Cantonese aided both attorneys and clients by acting as interpreters.
Clients most frequently encountered housing-related issues and immigration issues. These included problems such as co‑op boards neglecting to hold their required annual shareholder meetings and landlords breaching leases. Clients also brought concerns about their loved ones’ immigration status, for example, asking if they would be let back into the country if they were to travel outside the United States. Volunteers helped clients understand their circumstances and outlined general next steps should they choose to pursue further legal action.
Many volunteers stayed afterwards to connect. Law students were able to converse with experienced lawyers about the types of problems encountered during the client consultations and asked them further questions about their various legal fields. Afterwards, some remaining volunteers went to grab dessert at Yuan Yang, located on Prince Street nearby.
We thank again all the volunteers at the August 6th Queens Pro Bono Clinic for their time, professionalism, and contribution:
Lawyers
Wendy Cheng
Richard In
Lord Chester So
Wendell Y. Tong
May Wong
Meng Zhang
Shadowers
Katelyn Hai
Cindy Huang
Nikita Kohli
Haau-Yi Li
Zhibiao Peng
Albert Tong
Shang Zhai
Haoyue Wang
We invite you to continue supporting our community by joining us at our upcoming Pro Bono Clinics:
August 20th [Manhattan link here] from 6:30-8:30pm, AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk Street, NY, NY 10002
September 17th [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 attending the Pro Bono Clinic.
We look forward to your participation in our future clinics!
To learn more about the Pro Bono & Community Service Committee, visit probono.aabany.org.
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.
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!
Just over a month ago, NAPABA held its annual Lobby Day in Washington, DC. We convened our members in the Nation’s capital to support the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community, advance a fair and humane immigration system, defend the rule of law and the legal profession, and advance democracy and civil rights. With over 60 congressional meetings and over 20 states represented, NAPABA demonstrated its commitment to change the status quo for our community.
Since then, and since NAPABA’s last update to you, we have been tracking developments that impact our organization, our mission, our legal community, and the broader AANHPI community. Please find some of these updates below
I. NAPABA-Led Coalition Continues to Defend Birthright Citizenship
After our filing in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in April 2025, NAPABA continued to lead a coalition of nearly 50 of its affiliates and national associates from across the country to defend birthright citizenship. Besides our amicus brief in the Ninth Circuit, which is available here, NAPABA filed substantially similar amicus briefs defending birthright citizenship in matters pending in the First Circuit and the Fourth Circuit. Those briefs can be viewed here and here.
Our brief explains the critical historical context behind United States v. Wong Kim Ark, 169 U.S. 649 (1898). The case was decided during an era of intense anti-Chinese sentiment, immigration restrictions, widespread violence, and mass expulsions. In Wong Kim Ark, the U.S. Supreme Court declared that birthright citizenship is automatically conferred to children born on American soil, even to those whose parents were from the most disfavored migrant group in the country at the time. NAPABA’s amicus brief underscores the importance of understanding Asian American legal history as a critical part of American history. Wong Kim Ark and other cases involving Asian American litigants in the late 19th century are foundational precedents for today’s immigration and civil rights law.
On Friday, June 27, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court narrowed the scope of the preliminary injunctions that can be available to pause the executive order limiting birthright citizenship. The Court did not address the constitutionality of the executive order. Thus, litigation will continue as does NAPABA’s advocacy. 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.
II. NAPABA Condemns Political Violence and Hate
In recent weeks, we have witnessed incidents of hate and political violence that are antithetical to the values of our community and our country. In the early morning hours of June 14, 2025, an armed perpetrator shot two Minnesota state legislators and their respective spouses in the suburbs outside of Minneapolis in an “act of targeted political violence,” according to the Governor of Minnesota. State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, died. State Senator John A. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, survived and sustained injuries from the attack.
Weeks earlier, on May 21, 2025, a deadly shooting in Washington, DC, targeted Israeli Embassy diplomats. And on June 1, 2025, eight people in Boulder, Colorado, were injured when a perpetrator threw incendiary devices into a crowd during a demonstration intended to remember hostages in the Middle East. One of those injured died from her wounds.
On top of these horrific acts, some elected leaders have sought divisiveness rather than inclusion. In a social media post, a member of Congress expressed that it was “deeply troubling” that a Sikh faith leader, Giani Surinder Singh, led a prayer on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. The member, who had misidentified Giani Surinder Singh as Muslim, declared that Singh “should never have been allowed” to lead a prayer in Congress.
In the race for New York City’s mayor, some members of Congress have lodged Islamophobic comments against Zohran Mamdani, the winner of the primary election. One member of Congress posted an offensive cartoon of Mamdani, referred to Mamdani with a slur, and called on the Attorney General to institute denaturalization proceedings and remove him from the United States. Another member of Congress posted a photo on social media of Mamdani wearing a kurta and greeting others for an Eid service with the caption, “After 9/11, we said, ‘Never Forget.’ I think we sadly have forgotten.”
Further, the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, revised the National Crime Victimization Survey and removed questions about gender identity and about hate crimes against transgender people. Previously, the questions on sexual orientation and gender identity allowed researchers, policymakers, and advocates to quantify the disproportionate victimization of the LGBTQ+ community. Comprehensive data collection surrounding hate crimes and hate incidents is critical in order to better combat such conduct and to take legislative action. NAPABA joined 90+ organizations opposing the decision. Following our advocacy, the Bureau of Justice Statistics reinstated the question pertaining to hate crimes involving gender identity.
The Justice Department’s action preceded a recent decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold a Tennessee law that banned hormone therapies for transgender minors.
Hate, regardless of the form, political violence, and the marginalization of vulnerable communities must be rejected. NAPABA will continue to oppose hate, support the diverse AANHPI community, and work to strengthen the rule of law and democracy.
III. NAPABA Calls for a Fair and Humane Immigration System
Fundamental to a fair and humane immigration system is one that is subject to constitutional limits, non-discriminatory, and ensures meaningful due process. Recent developments, however, brush against these values.
On May 28, 2025, the federal government announced that it would work to “aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students.” This policy declaration has not only caused needless anxiety throughout our community, but it is also wholly misguided. While policymakers have the prerogative to address the legitimate national security concerns confronting the United States, they may not enact discriminatory policies like blanket visa revocations based only on national origin and alien land laws. Instead of measures that are tailored to an evidence-based, national security nexus, these recent policies foster an atmosphere of distrust that targets Asian Americans generally, not just the Chinese American community.
NAPABA is also concerned about the federal government’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act. On June 2, 2025, NAPABA joined 60 other AANHPI organizations, led by the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), in filing an amicus brief that urged the court to fulfill its role in preserving the right to due process and ensuring meaningful judicial review of executive orders. The last invocation of the Alien Enemies Act justified the incarceration of over 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II. The amicus brief shared the stories of these Americans and their families. We urged the court to uphold the right of meaningful due process and judicial review of executive actions.
Lastly, starting on June 6, 2025, protests erupted in Los Angeles in response to federal immigration enforcement actions in the city. On June 7, 2025, for the first time in 33 years, the President deployed National Guard and military service members in Los Angeles to protect federal law enforcement and federal property. The protests continued until around June 15.
NAPABA recognizes the widespread anxiety throughout the AANHPI community and the broader immigrant community. Whether involving the changes in immigration enforcement policy or the announcement of new immigration policies generally, the shifting landscape of immigration law has created much uncertainty. This includes a recent policy change from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement pertaining to the removability of certain Vietnamese immigrants who arrived in the United States prior to 1995. Please visit the Asian Law Caucus’s website for more information.
In the coming days, NAPABA will promote educational programming to cover many of these changes and more. Please stay tuned.
We have a lot of work ahead of us, and the NAPABA Policy Team will do its part. But we need your partnership, too. Engage in our committees and networks and register for the NAPABA Convention in Denver, which will be held on November 6-8, 2025. We look forward to seeing you.
On June 24, 2025, AABANY’s Prosecutors Committee and Student Outreach Committee held their Summer Welcome Event in collaboration with the New York Chapter of the National Asian Pacific Islander Prosecutors Association (NAPIPA) at TapHaus 33, a bar in Midtown Manhattan. Attendees had the opportunity to connect with Assistant District Attorneys (ADAs) and judges over great drinks and small bar bites.
Prosecutors from all over the city attended this casual gathering that perfectly blended professional enrichment with summer socializing, highlighting the strong sense of camaraderie within the prosecutor community. The energetic and community-focused setting enabled conversations on everything from the unique challenges prosecutors face to the importance of mentorship in the profession.
The event also provided a great opportunity for Committee members to catch up and for law students to make meaningful new connections. Students were able to engage in thought-provoking discussions with ADAs and judges about career paths, courtroom experiences, and the motivation behind pursuing public service. Many expressed how these candid conversations offered valuable insight into the realities of a prosecutor’s role and what life is like in public service.
With over 50 attendees, the event was a great success, especially given the sweltering summer heat wave. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening so special. The Prosecutors Committee looks forward to hosting more events in the coming months. Join us next time and bring a friend!
To learn more about the Student Outreach Committee and how you can get involved, visit their page here. To learn more about the Prosecutors Committee and how you can get involved, visit their page here.