On July 20, 2026, the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) Real Estate Committee hosted a timely and informative Continuing Legal Education (CLE) program focusing on one of the most pressing issues facing today’s real estate industry: the growing threat of real estate and mortgage fraud, wire fraud, and deed theft.
The program brought together attorneys, title professionals, lenders, real estate agents, and law students to examine how increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes are impacting residential and commercial transactions across New York. As technology continues to evolve, so do the tactics used by fraudsters, making education, vigilance, and collaboration among industry professionals more important than ever.
The CLE featured presentations by Margaret Ling, New York State Agency Underwriting Counsel and Education Director at AmTrust Title Insurance Company, and Jason Ganfer, Partner at Goldberg Segalla and Co-Chair of AABANY’s Real Estate Committee. Drawing from their extensive experience, the speakers provided practical guidance on recognizing fraud schemes, understanding emerging trends, and implementing best practices to safeguard clients and transactions.
The presentation emphasized that preventing fraud requires more than simply reacting to suspicious activity—it requires proactive communication, strict verification procedures, and a culture of cybersecurity awareness throughout every stage of a transaction.
The AABANY Real Estate Committee extends its sincere appreciation to Citizens Bankand AmTrust Title Insurance Company for generously sponsoring this CLE program. Their continued support makes it possible to provide meaningful educational programming that benefits both legal professionals and the communities they serve.
Special thanks also go to Margaret Ling and Jason Ganfer for sharing their knowledge and practical insights, and to everyone who attended and contributed to an engaging discussion.
To learn more about AABANY’s Real Estate Committee, click here.
– Written by Jameson Xu, Co-Chair of AABANY’s Real Estate Committee
During Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month this May, Kwok Kei Ng, Co-Chair of AABANY’s Pro Bono and Community Service Committee, was honored with two awards for his contributions to the AANHPI community. Kwok received the Hon. Randall T. Eng Award at the Fourth Annual Hon. Randall T. Eng Award Program as well as the Power in Unity: Strengthening Communities Together Award at the Second Judicial District Equal Justice Committee’s celebration of AAPI Heritage Month: “Power in Unity: Strengthening Communities Together.”
Emblematic of these two awards, Kwok has built his career and service around strengthening the AANHPI identity and community. After growing up in Hong Kong, Kwok moved to America for schooling. He first joined AABANY almost 10 years ago in 2017 as a law student. Now, Kwok is an accomplished Associate Court Attorney at the New York County Criminal Courts. He continues to be a leader in the AABANY community, overseeing the Brooklyn branch of AABANY’s Pro Bono Clinic, an award-winning legal clinic that has served predominantly monolingual Asian communities in New York for over a decade.
Access to justice, particularly through language, has always been a pressing concern for Kwok. He initially entered the court system as a Brooklyn Family Court Interpreter for Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese speakers, and so his AANHPI identity has long-shaped his career. The experience of interpreting, Kwok says, “is the foundation of everything for me …. Standing in the courtroom, translating for parents who couldn’t understand what was being said about their children, I felt the full weight of what was at stake—especially now that I’m a parent myself.”
Kwok further noted, “My AAPI identity essentially defined my role because I was the one bridging the gap between the court users who had a language barrier and everyone else in the room.”
Meaningful representation has to occur at multiple levels, according to Kwok. “We talk about the underrepresentation of AAPI judges and the idea that the court should reflect the community it serves,” he stated, “but that should extend to court officers, court clerks, and court attorneys too.” Reflecting on his own identity, he added, “For a time, I was the only AAPI court attorney in Brooklyn. I’m glad it’s not the case now.”
Not straying far from these roots, Kwok has sought to expand access to legal services, as well as representation within legal careers, throughout his professional life. His passion for language access in the courts, stemming from his experiences as a court interpreter, led to his appointment to the Advisory Committee on Language Access for the New York State Unified Court System by Chief Administrative Judge Hon. Lawrence Marks.
Kwok considers AABANY his “home bar association,” but he is also a member of the Brooklyn Bar Association, where he serves as the Vice-Chair of the Diversity Committee. He is also a Board Member of the Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY). Additionally, Kwok serves as Deputy Vice President of the High School Division of the Sonia and Celina Sotomayor Judicial Internship Program (SCSJIP). The program, which he himself participated in as a law student, places students in judicial internships. Kwok found SCSJIP through his involvement in AABANY, while still in law school. At a time when the legal field “felt especially opaque” and a path felt difficult to find “for someone like me,” it’s another experience that has shaped him: “That internship set the path and defined my career.”
My work with the Sotomayor program is simply my way of giving back,” Kwok declared. “When I help place a high school student in a judicial internship, I know it can genuinely change a trajectory, because it changed mine.”
Through AABANY’s Pro Bono Clinics, Kwok has helped strengthen New York City’s communities, making sure that people with limited English proficiency and without financial access to a lawyer can meet with a volunteer attorney or law student. He reminisces on how AABANY—and his involvement with AABANY—has grown over the past decade: “From the beginning, I was most active with the Pro Bono and Community Service Committee, volunteering at the clinic to help with interpretation. At the time [almost 10 years ago], there was only one clinic, at AAFE on 111 Division Street,” Kwok recalled. “Over the years, we’ve moved, grown, and expanded to locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens—Confucius Plaza, CCBA, CCCNY, Homecrest, CPC, UCA Brooklyn, and AAFE Queens—collaborating with community-based organizations, hosting know-your-rights workshops, and serving thousands of New Yorkers.”
His work is never done, however: “Looking ahead, I hope we keep serving AAPI community members who face language barriers and can’t afford legal help—and that we also expand to other communities facing the same challenges.” Kwok added that he’s currently working on expanding outreach in Brooklyn to other groups, such as Latino communities.
Summing up his many contributions to the legal community and AANHPI community, Kwok offered a guiding principle he follows: “I genuinely believe that the most meaningful change happens when people get to know each other, learn from each other, and work together across cultural boundaries. We need to know each other better, but it’s just as important to make ourselves known to each other.”
As parting words, Kwok also offered some advice to law students or young lawyers: “Go out and meet people – but don’t do it just to network. Find the space where people are doing the work, and then stay in it. Don’t just try to be seen, try to be useful.”
Kwok drew from his own experience, where his primary goal was not to build up the connections themselves, but rather improve the community as a whole through working together. “The relationships that have meant the most to me didn’t come from working a room at a cocktail reception,” Kwok recalled. “They came from working alongside people on something that mattered. When you show up consistently, carry your share, and are genuinely trying to serve, people notice. More importantly, you become someone who is actually useful to your community.”
“Don’t let the parts of your identity that feel complicated become things you hide,” Kwok added. “For example, the fact that I came here as an immigrant with no roadmap, or that I started out as a court interpreter—that didn’t make me less qualified than anyone else in the room. In my case, it made me more capable of understanding the people who walk into the courtrooms every day.”
AABANY congratulates Kwok and is privileged to have a compassionate and driven community-builder like him in the AABANY community. For more information on AABANY’s Pro Bono Clinics and how to get involved, click here. The next few upcoming clinics are:
August 5th [Queens link here], from 6:30 – 8:30pm, AAFE One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355
August 19th [Manhattan link here] from 6:30-8:30pm, AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk Street, NY, NY 10002
September 12th [Brooklyn link here– from 12:30 – 2:30pm, CPC Brooklyn Community Services, 4101 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Thank you to Vincent Carvalho for the above photos from the Fourth Annual Hon. Randall T. Eng Award Program.
Kick Off Your Convention Experience with NAPABA Specialty Programs!
The Convention Thursday Specialty Programs are intentionally designed to create dedicated spaces for attendees with shared identities, career stages, or professional interests. These programs offer a more intimate, focused environment where you can build meaningful relationships, exchange experiences, and strengthen your network within NAPABA’s community. This year’s Specialty Programs are:
Women’s Leadership Workshop
International Law Symposium
Public Service Network Workshop
Solo & Small Firm Boot Camp
Young Lawyers Workshop
CLE Information: All Thursday Specialty Programs except for the Young Lawyers Workshop are eligible for continuing legal education.
Registration Information:
Thursday Specialty Programs are included in Convention Registration.
One-day registration is available for anyone interested in attending only the Thursday Programming.
The Thursday Specialty Programs is just the beginning of Thursday’s activities. The NAPABA Village, our reimagined exhibit hall opens at 11 am. After an afternoon of learning and exploring the village, join us at the NAPABA Welcome Reception and Best Under 40s Awards Celebration. Our welcome reception is followed by NAPABA Committee and Network receptions.
Your membership pays for itself. Members save up to $675 on Convention registration, receive early access to registration and the hotel block, and unlock exclusive year-round professional development, leadership, and networking opportunities. Join or renew now.
Become a NAPABA member and enjoy savings that go beyond the cost of membership!
Karis Consulting Group is now hiring for their Fall Internship Program. This program will run from September 8, 2026, to November 25, 2026.
Karis Consulting Group empowers community voices and organizational capacity by providing community organizing, strategic advising, and coalition-building support for leaders and organizations within Asian American, Pacific Islander, and other communities of color.
Interns will provide support for client work in a variety of sectors, gaining valuable community organizing skills and building relationships with top leaders in the nonprofit and government sectors. Other benefits include working with a small, collaborative team and flexible hours.
High school graduates, college students, and graduate students of all ethnicities and backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be based in the United States. This is a remote position, with a preference for candidates located in New York or Washington, D.C., where occasional in-person collaboration opportunities are available. This is a paid internship.
AABANY is proud to once again serve as a Community Partner for the 49th Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF49), presented by Asian CineVision (ACV). This year’s festival runs from July 30 through August 9, 2026, in New York City and virtually, and features a captivating array of films that explore themes of love, relationships, and grief, all through an Asian American focused lens. In addition to a stellar lineup of films, the festival will feature exclusive panels, receptions, and VIP events, providing unique opportunities to connect with industry professionals and fellow film enthusiasts.
As a Community Partner, AABANY will be promoting two film screening as part of this year’s festival:
Almost American (Shorts – Documentary)
Directed by Saritha Rothermel and Sam Soliman
Almost American follows Sam Soliman as he anxiously awaits the outcome of his DACA renewal. Just as he begins to reckon with his place in America, his world is shattered by the sudden detainment and deportation of his mother by ICE. The film reveals how today’s immigration policies not only decide who gets to stay, but shape the story America tells about who belongs. This film is shown as a part of a series of seven short films under the shorts program: On the Move: Immigrants in 2026.
Screening: Saturday, August 8, 2026 at 7:30 PM, as part of a shorts block, at Village East by Angelika.
Use AAIFF49_AABANY at checkout to receive a discount.
Seat at the Table (Features – Documentary)
Directed by Sarita Khurana and Yoav Attias
Seat at the Table chronicles the rise of South Asian Americans in U.S. politics, tracing their journey from the margins to the forefront of American power. Shot in immersive vérité style, the film follows several prominent South Asian political candidates during the 2024 election cycle, alongside a community galvanized by the groundbreaking campaign of the first South Asian presidential candidate, capturing a historic year for the South Asian diaspora as more candidates than ever ran for office.
Screening: Sunday, August 9, 2026 at 12:00 PM at Village East.
Use AAIFF49_AABANY at checkout to receive a discount.
Tickets and passes are currently on sale on the AAIFF website. Spread the word, mark your calendars, and join us in celebrating this milestone year for Asian American cinema! Visit https://aaiff.org/ for the full festival schedule.
On May 7-8, Jack Hsia, Vice Chair of AABANY’s Issues Committee, attended the New York State Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Conference, including the New York State AAPI Commission’s Community Dialogue and the NYS Legislature’s AAPI Summit in Albany. Over two days, the two events brought together advocates, community leaders, policymakers, and nonprofit organizations to discuss issues impacting New York’s AAPI communities.
On the afternoon of May 7, at the New York State AAPI Commission’s Community Dialogue, speakers and attendees explored challenges and opportunities facing AAPI communities across the state. The discussions emphasized the importance of language access, sustained investment in community organizations, youth engagement, and coalition building. These panels underscored the importance of ensuring that diverse AAPI voices are represented in policymaking and community leadership.
Drawing from their work at CPC, Jack discussed the increasing number of community members relying on AI for immigration information and document translation. While AI can improve access to information, they emphasized that inaccurate legal guidance and unreliable translations can have serious consequences. Jack highlighted the continued need for trusted legal professionals, culturally competent services, and community-based organizations to provide accurate guidance. The discussion also addressed digital privacy, language access, and practical strategies for protecting sensitive information in an increasingly data-driven environment, and how the immigration landscape has rapidly changed over the past few years.
The conference reinforced the importance of collaboration among legal advocates, community organizations, and government partners to address the evolving challenges facing AAPI communities. Jack was honored to represent both AABANY and CPC and appreciated the opportunity to contribute to these important conversations while learning from likeminded advocates committed to advancing equity, inclusion, and justice across New York.
To learn more about AABANY’s Issues Committee, click here.
Written by Jack Hsia, Vice Chair of AABANY’s Issues Committee, Senior Attorney for Community Legal Services at the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC).
PBCS volunteers, comprising volunteer attorneys and law students, met with 23 clients and provided guidance on a range of legal issues, including housing, immigration, real property, trusts and estates law, labor and employment, family law, and civil litigation.
Positive feedback from some of the clients who came included: “I received helpful information today.” and “It was respectful & calm. I learned a lot as well.”
We thank the following volunteers for attending the Brooklyn Pro Bono Clinic:
Attorneys: Vishal Chander Michael Chu Helen Ding Alice Liang Arthur Lin Willow (Yichun) Liu Kwok Kei Ng May Wong Jameson Xu Karen Kithan Yau Gary Yeung
Interpreters/Shadowers Gigi Chen Sam Chen Anna Chung Philip Han Nandar Win Kerr Hannah J. Lee Cynthia Li Luana Li Jingjing Wang Wendy Zeng Zhiyi Zhang Betty Xinyue Zhu
Thank you once again to all our volunteers for their commitment to Pro Bono service and for making a meaningful difference in our community.
We invite you to continue supporting our community by joining us at our upcoming Pro Bono Clinics:
– August 5th [Queens linkhere], from 6:30 – 8:30pm, AAFE One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355
– August 19th [Manhattan link here] from 6:30-8:30pm, AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk Street, NY, NY 10002
– September 12th [Brooklyn link here], from 12:30 – 3:30pm, CPC Brooklyn Community Services, 4101 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232
To learn more about the Pro Bono & Community Service Committee, visit probono.aabany.org.
We look forward to your participation in the future clinic sessions!
From Wednesday, July 22nd through Sunday, July 26th, experience a week of extraordinary performances, music, dance, family activities, and cultural celebrations during Chinese Arts Week, part of Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City festival. This special week of programming showcases the richness and diversity of Chinese culture through a dynamic lineup of both traditional and contemporary performances.
Highlights include:
Stunning performances by Shen Wei Dance Arts and Guangdong Modern Dance Company
Electrifying live music from Ian Chang and Guzheng Meets Jazz with Qi Yu
Traditional Lion Dancing
Kids & Family workshops and storytimes
A restorative Tai Chi workshop with Raymond Li
Local Chinese food vendors
and much more!
Chinese Arts Week is a unique opportunity to experience the creativity, heritage, and global influence of Chinese culture. Explore the full schedule here to learn more!
Admission & Registration
All events are FREE to attend.
Fast Track registration will open on Monday, July 20th, and offers guaranteed entry and expedited access to events. Spots are limited, so be sure to reserve yours as soon as possible through the individual event pages.
General admission will also be available on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to venue capacity.
Spread the Word
Bring your friends, family, and community members to enjoy an unforgettable celebration of Chinese culture. Feel free to share this blog post to help spread the excitement for Chinese Arts Week!
For group reservations or additional questions, please contact Alex Simpson at asimpson@lincolncenter.org.
On July 9, 2026, AABANY’s Corporate Law and In-House Counsel Committees hosted a vibrant Summer Karaoke Social at Rewind Karaoke Lounge in Long Island City, Queens. The event brought together corporate attorneys and in-house lawyers for an evening of conversation, connection and community. Attendees reconnected with familiar faces, cultivated new relationships and engaged with one another in a lively environment that blended professional networking with a relaxed social setting.
The event reflected the Corporate Law and In-House Counsel Committees’ shared commitment to creating welcoming spaces where legal professionals can connect across practices, industries and career stages. Attendees first enjoyed mingling in the lounge space and connected with each other over fun cocktails and delicious food. Later into the evening, some continued to carry on conversations in the lounge while others sang songs in the private karaoke room.
The Corporate Law Committee is spearheaded by Co-Chairs Keli Huang, Partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Ashley Wong, Associate Corporate Counsel at Amazon, along with Vice-Chairs Kyle Zhu, Senior Associate at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP and Judy Lin, Associate at Kirkland & Ellis LLP. The In-House Counsel Committee is spearheaded by Co-Chairs David Sohn, Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at JPMorgan Chase & Co., Peter Wei, Head of Legal at Mercuryo, Jack Chen, Deputy General Counsel at Public.com and Michelle Lee, General Counsel at MediaCo Holding Inc.. Their dedication and leadership continue to strengthen the AABANY community.
The Corporate Law and In-House Counsel Committees extend their gratitude to their generous co-sponsors, McGill and Partners and PNC Bank, for helping make the Summer Karaoke Social possible.
– Written by Judy Lin, Vice Chair of AABANY’s Corporate Law Committee
On June 16th, 2026, the Immigration Law Committee of the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) held its first meeting of the year on Zoom. Nicole Fink, Chair of the Immigration Law Committee, used this occasion as an opportunity to reconnect with fellow immigration attorneys and to gauge interest in potential events later this year.
At the start of the meeting, Yang Chen, the Executive Director of AABANY, sought applications for AABANY’s Legal Referral and Information Services (LRIS) program. Currently, the LRIS program is looking for experienced lawyers to join its panel due to high demand for qualified immigration lawyers.
Next, the meeting focused on plans for the Immigration Law Committee’s growth and potential topics of interest for the near future. Nicole Fink made a request for more participation in AABANY’s Pro Bono Clinics, especially from immigration lawyers. The Pro Bono Clinics take place in community settings, to create a more welcoming environment for those seeking legal advice. Lawyers serving in the Clinic provide limited scope representation and would only give brief advice and refer clients to legal resources, and are thus not committed to representing any client after the consultation at the Clinic ends. As an incentive, Fink offered to buy a free meal for any lawyers on the call who volunteered at the Clinic.
The meeting also covered continued legal education (CLE) programs. After AABANY’s well received training on habeas corpus on June 4th, meeting attendees expressed interest in more CLE opportunities on immigration-related issues and other topics, such as AI usage in the legal field. The discussion also focused on overlapping areas such as matrimonial law and legal issues affecting juveniles. The group talked about the need to connect lawyers with different areas of expertise, and who may be able, for example, to aid conditional residence cases or special immigrant juvenile status cases.
The meeting concluded with a reminder about the 2026 Fall Conference on Saturday, September 26th, in which the Immigration Law Committee is presenting a panel on AI and data analytics in the immigration field, “Beyond Forms & Filings: How Tomorrow’s Immigration Attorneys Build Power Through Tech, Data, and Storytelling.” The meeting attendees also brainstormed on possible wellness opportunities for immigration lawyers, to combat the tough legal environment they operate in by offering more relaxing options to connect and refresh. Committee members were encouraged to reach out in the weeks ahead with additional ideas or interest in getting involved with Pro Bono Clinics, wellness opportunities, or networking across practice areas.
