Pitch Session Program – National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
Pitch Session Program – National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
NAPABA 8th Annual Pitch Sessions
Application Deadline | Oct. 14, 2016
Law firm applications for the 2016 Pitch Sessions are now available!
The 8th Annual Pitch Sessions bring together in-house counsel and attorneys from NAPABA’s Premier, Diamond, Jade, Platinum, and Gold-level sponsor firms, and solo and small firms practitioners, including those owned by women and minorities. Each session brings a unique opportunity for in-house counsel to meet one-on-one with well qualified attorneys from an array of practice areas, all of whom have demonstrated a commitment to their profession and NAPABA. Numerous business development pitches have successfully taken place over the years. Last year, in-house counsel from various Fortune 500 companies, including Target, NBC Universal, and Microsoft, participated in the Pitch Sessions. The Pitch Sessions will take place at the 2016 NAPABA Convention from Nov. 3-6 in San Diego.
Law Firm Participant Eligibility
- Participants must be from a Premier, Diamond, Jade, Platinum or Gold-level sponsor firm OR from firms with 25 or less attorneys. Please email Priya Purandare at ppurandare@napaba.org if you are interested in sponsoring or upgrading your current level of sponsorship.
- Solo and small firm practitioners (attorneys who work at law firms with 25 or less attorneys) must be individual Platinum level members of NAPABA (annual membership contribution of $500). Log in to your member profile to check your membership status or become a Platinum member by joining today!
- Participants must be registered for the 2016 NAPABA Convention.
Although we encourage every in-house counsel participant in the Pitch Sessions program to meet with at least one eligible law firm participant based on their outside counsel needs, meetings with in-house counsel are not guaranteed. Participation in the program is based on in-house counsel selection of interested attorneys.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the pitch sessions take place and in what format?
In-house counsel and firm attorneys can determine the date, time, and length of the pitch sessions as long as it takes place on-site during the 2016 NAPABA Convention. Law firms may conduct the pitch with one person or a team from the firm dependent on your preference.
Is this a practice pitch?
No, in-house counsel will not view the pitch sessions as practice.
Will each in-house counsel have work to give out?
No. Because it is difficult for in-house counsel to predict their work needs, they are not required to have work to give out during the Pitch Sessions. But they will have full discretion to engage (or strongly recommend) outside law firms as needed.
NAPABA IHC Webinar, Sept. 29 at 3pm: Success and Career Development as an In-House Counsel
NAPABA IHC Webinar, Sept. 29 at 3pm: Success and Career Development as an In-House Counsel
The day in a life as in-house counsel carries with it rewards and challenges as any other practice of law. That said, there are aspects that are arguably unique to in-house practice. During this one hour webinar, you will get a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what in-house practice is really like through the lens of Asian Pacific American attorneys.
Whether you are currently in-house or are interested in exploring an in-house career track, we invite you to join our webinar to hear from a trio of senior in-house counsel from a cross-section of industries: Justin Ruaysamran (Vice President, Corporate Counsel, Jennison Associates LLC), Shannon King (Senior Trademark Counsel, Chevron), and Jack Chen, (Assistant General Counsel, HR Legal Group, Microsoft Corp.) will share their motivations and aspirations which led them in-house, what a typical day looks like for them, how they think about career development, and their perspective on advancing diversity and inclusion in their respective companies.
This webinar is open to all NAPABA members and prospective members.
Click on the link above for more information.
Organizational Statement | Judicial Selection Process in New York
NAPABA is aware of a highly unusual development in the judicial selection process in the State of New York. It is our understanding that, for the first time in the state’s history, a local screening committee has declined to vote a sitting judge, Justice Doris Ling-Cohan, out of committee, thereby denying her the opportunity to seek re-election, with the effect of removing her from the bench. While we are also aware of press reports of potential changes in this development, to our knowledge, the decision of the screening panel has not been reversed, and Justice Ling-Cohan is not on the ballot for the November election. Justice Ling-Cohan is the first and only Asian Pacific American woman on the appellate courts of New York. This statistic is particularly striking, as Asian Pacific Americans make up 7.3 percent of the population of New York. We encourage our local affiliates, who are closest to the process and to the relevant players, to closely investigate and monitor the situation, and for the New York legal community to take every step necessary to ensure that judges are treated fairly and on the merits, and are given the opportunity to confront and respond to any expressed concerns or objections.
For more information, the media may contact Brett Schuster, NAPABA communications manager, at 202-775-9555 or bschuster@napaba.org.
The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of approximately 50,000 attorneys and approximately 75 national, state, and local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members include solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal services and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government.
NAPABA continues to be a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities. Through its national network of committees and affiliates, 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 color in the legal profession.
Supporting Hon. Doris Ling-Cohan
AABANY is sharing the following information in response to the many inquiries we have received asking how to help her during this difficult time.
The Manhattan Democratic Committee (for the first time ever) voted in August to withhold their support for an incumbent: Justice Doris Ling-Cohan.
The MDC Screening Panel has since recognized that Justice Doris was not evaluated according to the rules that apply to incumbent judges. As reported in the press, the process was inappropriately swayed by a selected few who had direct non-disclosed conflicts and special interests.
Pursuant to the applicable rules, Justice Doris can rejoin the November ballot only by being nominated as a democratic candidate from the floor at the Manhattan Democratic Judicial Convention on Thursday, September 22.
Justice for the Justice will only be served if the judicial delegates vote in the majority to support Justice Doris for reelection at the Convention. The rumors that the Manhattan Democratic Committee has reversed its decision of non-support are false. Our fight continues.There is absolutely no question that Justice Doris is qualified, competent and works hard in her position as an Associate Justice on the Appellate Term of the First Department. Click here are a one-pager on Justice Doris’ credentials (Bio Ling-Cohan.pdf). Click here for a summary of her notable decisions (Noteworthy Decisions Ling-Cohan.pdf), which includes a groundbreaking 2005 decision in Hernandez v. Robles, which held that same-sex couples have a right to marry.
To defend her job and her honor, Justice Doris has consequently had to hire campaign staff and has been running a re-election campaign. There are two things you can do to help.
Make a Donation: Any amount is appreciated. Please fill out the contribution form (Contribution Form Ling-Cohan.pdf) and send your check to:
Re-Elect Justice Ling-Cohan c/o Lisa Kaplan52 East 1st Street #2A New York, NY 10003 (INCLUSION OF THE COMPLETED FORM IS VERY IMPORTANT)
Attend the Convention: The Manhattan Democratic Judicial Convention will take place on Thursday September 22 beginning at 5:30pm at Harlem Hospital’s Herbert G. Cave Auditorium at 506 Malcolm X Boulevard. The more of us who show up to show our support, the greater chance the delegates will be persuaded to put Judge Doris back on the ballot. Please click here to RSVP.
For additional information contact Lily Fan at lilymfan@gmail.com or Eve Guillergan at eve@knowyourvisa.com
Me, My Grandfather and Citizenship Day
Me, My Grandfather and Citizenship Day
One of the things I have missed since becoming an appellate judge is the naturalization ceremony. When I served as a Federal District Court judge, I performed the naturalization ceremony regularly. I would naturalize some 200 immigrants at a time, from dozens of countries around the world. And when I performed that ceremony, I would take my grandfather’s naturalization certificate into the courtroom, and I would show it to the new citizens and tell them the story of my grandfather.
Thanks to Judge Chin for this moving and thoughtful Op-Ed in the New York Times to commemorate Citizenship Day. Read the full article by following the link in the title.