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Thanks to everyone who came out on February 26, 2014, to celebrate AABANY’s 25th anniversary with us at Cipriani Wall Street. More than 850 guests registered to attend, setting a new record. AABANY also reached its goal of exceeding 1,000 paid members. Mike Huang, in his Outgoing President’s speech, publicly announced the Don Liu Scholarship to award $15,000 to APA law students who apply and meet the requirements. Significant pledges have already been rolling in.

Congratulations to our 2014 honorees: AALDEF, recipient of the Public Advocacy Award; Randal Milch, GC of Verizon, recipient of the Corporate Counsel Leadership Award; and Vernon Jordan, recipient of the I4 (Icon, Ideals, Impact, Inspiration) Leadership Award. Congratulations also to Julie Kwon, our Mentor-Mentee Program Coordinator, for winning the AABANY MVP Award.

AABANY was joined by about 30 past honorees from past annual dinners. Each was brought up to the stage during the dinner for special recognition.

MSNBC reporter Richard Lui once again expertly took us through the proceedings as MC.

Guests continued to celebrate upstairs in the mezzanine during the after-party, with open bar and live DJ.

Happy 25th anniversary, AABANY, and we are looking forward to 2014 and the next quarter century!

AALDEF Young Professionals Committee & Cardozo APALSA Present: LINSANITY Screening & Filmmaker Q&A

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AALDEF Young Professionals Committee & Cardozo APALSA 

LINSANITY Screening & Filmmaker Q&A

Tuesday, March 4, 2014
6:00 – 8:30 PM
Cardozo School of Law
55 Fifth Avenue (@12th St., Moot Court Room)
, NYC
$10 tickets

For more information: [email protected]
RSVP required by 3pm March 4th for all non-Cardozo students. 

Following the panel, please join us for a post-screening party!
Happy hour specials all night.
Le Midi Bar & Restaurant
11 East 13th St. (btwn 5th Ave. & University Pl.)

AALDEF YPC and Cardozo APALSA present:  “The documentary that began filming long before Linsanity became a pop culture reference. American’s favorite unlikely sports hero.” Please join us for an AALDEF 40th Anniversary presentation of the award-winning film LINSANITY followed by a special panel discussion with director Evan Jackson Leong and AALDEF Staff Attorney Thomas Mariadason.  Donations to benefit AALDEF’s Educational Equity Program.  Post-screening party with happy hour specials at Le Midi Bar & Restaurant, 11 East 13th Street (btw 5th Ave. and University Place).   Can’t make it? You can still support AALDEF by clicking here to make a donation!

“Director Evan Jackson Leong embarked on this documentary before Jeremy Lin was a household name, following the future star as he struggled to find his place in a league where Asian American players are few and far between. More than just a film for basketball addicts, Linsanity serves as an insightful study of the way we perceive race in America and shows what is possible if someone believes in himself.” – Sundance

The Young Professionals Committee is dedicated to fostering the next generation of AALDEF supporters.  Through social and networking events and other programming, the Young Professionals Committee aims to raise awareness about AALDEF’s wide range of efforts on behalf of the Asian American community.

PRESS RELEASE: AABANY To Honor Vernon Jordan and Other Honorees at 25th Annual Dinner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE         Contact: Yang Chen, Executive Director

February 24, 2014                                                                 (718) 228-7206

AABANY TO HONOR VERNON JORDAN WITH “I4 LEADERSHIP AWARD” AT 25TH ANNUAL DINNER TO BE HELD AT CIPRIANI WALL STREET

NEW YORK – On Wednesday, February 26, 2014, the Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”) will hold its 25th Anniversary Annual Dinner at Cipriani Wall Street.  Attendees of the 2014 AABANY Annual Dinner will include prominent federal and state judges, elected officials and dignitaries, attorneys from large and small law firms, corporate law departments, prosecutors’ offices and government agencies.  AABANY’s 2013 Annual Dinner attracted more than 750 members of the legal and business communities from New York and beyond.  This year AABANY is pleased to announce that its 2014 Annual Dinner honorees will be:

  • Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., Senior Managing Director Lazard Frères & Co. LLC
  • Randal S. Milch, Executive Vice President, Public Policy, and General Counsel Verizon Communications Inc.
  • AALDEF (Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund)

Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. will receive the AABANY I4 Leadership Award.  The I4 Leadership award is presented to a leader who is an ICON, embodying the highest IDEALS and INSPIRING others while making a real and lasting IMPACT in the community and society.  Mr. Jordan, a Senior Managing Director at Lazard Frères & Co. LLC, the financial advisory and asset management firm, also remains Senior Counsel at the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, where he practices general, corporate, legislative and international law in Washington, D.C.    

Randal S. Milch is Executive Vice President, Public Policy, and General Counsel of Verizon Communications Inc.  He leads the company’s public policy, legal, regulatory, government affairs and security groups.  From 2006 until being named to his current position in October 2008, Mr. Milch served as the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Verizon Business, responsible for all legal services and external affairs support for the company’s global enterprise carrier. Before that, Milch served as the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Verizon’s domestic telecom business.  He was appointed to the latter position in 2000, upon the merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE.  He sits on the Verizon Leadership Council, the corporation’s senior operating and policy making body.  At Verizon, Mr. Milch has championed diversity through the creation of a supervisory diversity council within the legal department.  Mr. Milch will receive AABANY’s Corporate Counsel Leadership Award.

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), which was founded in 1974 and is celebrating its 40th anniversary, is a national organization that protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans.  By combining litigation, advocacy, education, and organizing, AALDEF works with Asian American communities across the country to secure human rights for all.  AALDEF focuses on critical issues affecting Asian Americans, including immigrant rights, civic participation and voting rights, economic justice for workers, educational equity, housing and environmental justice, and the elimination of anti-Asian violence, police misconduct, and human trafficking.  AALDEF will receive AABANY’s Public Advocacy Award.

“We are deeply honored and humbled that such a legendary defender of legal rights as Vernon Jordan will be helping AABANY commemorate our 25th anniversary at our Annual Dinner, along with such notable leaders in their respective corporate and community legal spheres as Randal Milch and AALDEF,” said Mike Huang, AABANY President.

For more information about AABANY, or this event, please contact Yang Chen, AABANY Executive Director, at (718) 228-7206, or direct any media inquiries to [email protected].

###

The Asian American Bar Association of New York was formed in 1989 as a not-for-profit corporation to represent the interests of New York Asian-American attorneys, judges, law professors, legal professionals, paralegals and law students.  The mission of AABANY is to improve the study and practice of law, and the fair administration of justice for all by ensuring the meaningful participation of Asian Americans in the legal profession.

PRESS RELEASE: AABANY TO HONOR VERNON JORDAN WITH I4 LEADERSHIP AWARD

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE         Contact: Yang Chen, Executive Director

February 5, 2014                                                                  (718) 228-7206

AABANY TO HONOR VERNON JORDAN WITH “I4 LEADERSHIP AWARD”
AT 25TH ANNUAL DINNER TO BE HELD AT CIPRIANI WALL STREET

NEW YORK – On Wednesday, February 26, 2014, the Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”) will hold its 25th Anniversary Annual Dinner at Cipriani Wall Street.  Attendees of the 2014 AABANY Annual Dinner will include prominent federal and state judges, elected officials and dignitaries, attorneys from large and small law firms, corporate law departments, prosecutors’ offices and government agencies.  AABANY’s 2013 Annual Dinner attracted more than 750 members of the legal and business communities from New York and beyond.  This year AABANY is pleased to announce that the 2014 honorees will be:

  •  Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., Senior Managing Director, Lazard Freres & Co., LLC
  • Randal S. Milch, Executive Vice President, Public Policy, and General Counsel Verizon Communications Inc.
  • AALDEF (Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund)

Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. will receive the AABANY I4 Leadership Award.  The I4 Leadership award is presented to a leader who is an ICON, embodying the highest IDEALS and INSPIRING others while making a real and lasting IMPACT in the community and society.  Mr. Jordan, a Senior Managing Director at Lazard, the financial advisory and asset management firm, also remains Senior Counsel at the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, where he practices general, corporate, legislative and international law in Washington, D.C.  Prior to joining Akin Gump in January 1982, Mr. Jordan served as president and chief executive officer of the National Urban League, Inc.; executive director of the United Negro College Fund, Inc.; director of the Voter Education Project of the Southern Regional Council; attorney-consultant at the U.S. Office of Economic Opportunity; assistant to the executive director of the Southern Regional Council; Georgia field director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; and as an attorney in private practice in Arkansas and Georgia.  Upon graduation from Howard University School of Law in 1960, he joined the firm of a civil rights activist in Atlanta and became involved in a case against the University of Georgia to challenge racist policies.  In 1962, Mr. Jordan became a Georgia field director for the NAACP and his leadership was an instrumental part of the civil rights movement.  In particular, Mr. Jordan, as director of the Voter Education Project, coordinated voter registration drives and counseled the electorate, helping to dramatically increase the number of African-American elected officials.  

Mr. Jordan has served as a key strategist and advisor to multiple U.S. Presidents from Lyndon Johnson to Bill Clinton, as well as to many prominent civil rights leaders.  His presidential appointments include:  the President’s Advisory Committee for the Points of Light Initiative Foundation; the Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on South Africa; the Advisory Council on Social Security; the Presidential Clemency Board; the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission; the National Advisory Committee on Selective Service; and the Council of the White House Conference “To Fulfill These Rights.”  Jordan served as the chairman of the Clinton Presidential Transition Team in 1992.

”We are deeply honored and humbled that such a legendary defender of legal rights as Vernon Jordan will be helping AABANY commemorate our 25th anniversary at our Annual Dinner, along with Randal Milch, recipient of AABANY’s Corporate Counsel Leadership Award, and AALDEF, recipient of AABANY’s Public Advocacy Award,” said Mike Huang, AABANY President. 

For more information about AABANY, or this event, please contact Yang Chen, AABANY Executive Director, at (718) 228-7206, or direct any media inquiries to [email protected].

###

The Asian American Bar Association of New York was formed in 1989 as a not-for-profit corporation to represent the interests of New York Asian-American attorneys, judges, law professors, legal professionals, paralegals and law students.  The mission of AABANY is to improve the study and practice of law, and the fair administration of justice for all by ensuring the meaningful participation of Asian Americans in the legal profession.

ASIAN AMERICAN LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND 2014 SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Founded in 1974, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) is a national organization that protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans. By combining litigation, advocacy, education, and organizing, AALDEF works with Asian American communities across the country to secure human rights for all.

LEGAL INTERNSHIPS

Internships for the summer of 2014 are available in the following program areas:

  • Anti-Trafficking Initiative – legal research and writing on the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act and Fair Labor Standards Act, as well as outreach, community education, and advocacy on the rights of exploited and abused workers.
  • Community Health Care Initiative – legal research, community education and outreach in the areas of immigration, government benefits, language rights, and health care access;
  • Economic Justice for Workers – legal research, advocacy and direct representation on behalf of Asian immigrant workers experiencing wage-and-hour, retaliation, and workplace safety violations in the restaurant, nail salon, domestic worker, and other low-wage industries.   
  • Educational Equity – legal services, policy work, community education, research and litigation concerning educational equity, juvenile justice, affirmative action, student free-speech and police surveillance, and anti-Asian harassment;
  • Housing Justice Project – community outreach/education, community planning, research, and litigation on housing and land use issues affecting low-income Asian immigrant communities;
  • Immigrant Access to Justice: litigation, legal services, and organizing/outreach with communities impacted by 9-11, including special interest detainees, special registration, voluntary interviews by the government, the 9-11 absconder initiative, and local and state enforcement of immigration laws.
  • Voting Rights – legal research and fact development under the Voting Rights Act and Equal Protection Clause challenging anti-Asian voter discrimination, advocacy on bilingual ballots, and the redrawing of local, state and federal district lines; produce reports and organize public forums; assist in organizing legal trainings.

Description of Summer Internship Program:The summer program is ten weeks, from approximately June 2 through August 8Interns work full-time and are supervised by attorneys in specific program areas.  Depending on the program area, interns will work on litigation, legal and policy advocacy, community outreach and education, or client intakes; each program area differs in emphasis.  Summer interns attend weekly brown bag lectures on a range of public interest legal topics along with interns from other legal defense funds and civil rights groups.  The position is unpaid.  However, in previous years many AALDEF interns have been successful at securing independent funding.  Academic credit can be arranged.

To Apply:

  • Interested applicants should send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to be received by AALDEF on or before Friday, January 31, 2014 at the address below.  Please indicate in your cover letter the top three preferred program areas.  Only law students qualify for AALDEF’s legal internships.  Applications may be faxed or emailed.
  • Any bilingual ability should be stated in the application.  Bilingual ability is helpful but not required.  Gujarati, Hindi, Khmer, Korean, Indonesian and Urdu-speaking applicants are especially urged to apply.
  • Applications will be reviewed upon receipt until the January 31, 2014 deadline.  Interviewing will take place on a rolling basis.  Only applicants who have been granted interviews will be notified of their advancement in the application process. 

Summer Internship Search (Legal)
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
99 Hudson Street, 12th floor
New York, New York 10013-2815
Fax: 212-966-4303  Email: [email protected]

AALDEF 40th Anniversary Celebration & Justice in Action Awards Ceremony

SAVE THE DATE!

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Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
40th Anniversary Celebration & Justice in Action Awards Ceremony

Tuesday, March 25, 2014
PIER SIXTY, Chelsea Piers, NYC

2014 Justice in Action Award Recipients

John G. Chou
AmerisourceBergen Corporation
Executive Vice President and General Counsel

Mari J. Matsuda
University of Hawai’i at Mãnoa William S. Richardson School of Law

Professor of Law

Emcees: Juju Chang & Sree Sreenivasan

6:00 PM Reception & Silent Auction
7:00 PM Dinner

For more information or to purchase tickets,
email [email protected] or call 212.966.5932.
 

AALDEF: Asian American Voters Not Tied to Political Party in Key States

New Poll: Asian American Voters Not Tied to Political Party in Key States

November 14, 2013 – According to the results of an exit poll in Virginia, New Jersey, and New York, Asian American voters are open to candidates of both political parties in key states. The nonpartisan multilingual exit poll of 2,290 Asian American voters was conducted by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) after the mayoral election in New York and the gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia.

“Asian American voters in Virginia, many of whom are not enrolled in any political party, could be a decisive voting bloc in the 2014 midterm elections,” said AALDEF executive director Margaret Fung.

AALDEF released preliminary results of its exit poll conducted at 24 poll sites in New York, New Jersey, and Virginia. Of those surveyed in total, 62% were enrolled in the Democratic Party, 10% were enrolled in the Republican Party, and 26% were not enrolled in any party.

However, in the close race for governor in Virginia, 45% indicated that they were not affiliated with any party, 41% were affiliated with the Democratic Party, and 11% affiliated with the Republican Party.    

In New Jersey, a majority (54%) of Asian American voters favored Republican Chris Christie over Democrat Barbara Buono (42%).51% polled were enrolled as Democrats, 37% said they were not enrolled in any party, and 11% were enrolled as Republicans.

New York had the highest number of registered Democrat Asian American voters, with 70% were enrolled in the Democratic Party, 18% not enrolled in any party, and 9% enrolled in the Republican Party.

“There is tremendous political diversity within the Asian American community,” said Glenn D. Magpantay, Director of AALDEF’s Democracy Program. “Issues and candidates drive the Asian American vote, rather than party affiliation. For candidates concerned with the issues that matter most to our community, the Asian American vote is up for grabs.”

Contact:

Ujala Sehgal

212.966.5932 x.217

[email protected]

Read more at http://bit.ly/aaldef_extpll

Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund Fall Internships

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) is a national organization that protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans through litigation, legal advocacy and community education.  Founded in 1974, AALDEF focuses on critical issues affecting Asian Americans, including economic justice for workers, immigrant rights, anti-trafficking, educational equity and youth rights, voting rights and redistricting, post-9/11 civil liberties issues, housing and environmental justice, and other major civil rights issues affecting Asian American communities.

Communications Internship

Central to AALDEF’s initiatives is educating Asian Americans, policymakers, and the general public about the legal rights of Asian Americans, litigating cases that have a major impact, providing legal resources to community-based organizations, and facilitating grassroots community organizing efforts. 

AALDEF’s Communications Internship offers students the opportunity to develop skills in media outreach, public policy, communications, and databasing. The internship is unpaid, but receiving academic credit for the semester is possible.

Specifically, the Communications Intern will gain hands-on experience in:

  • Researching news coverage of pending policy issues or legal challenges;
  • Updating a reporter database encompassing print, TV, radio, and online media;
  • Tracking and archiving AALDEF media appearances;
  • Researching strategic possibilities for targeting new audiences;
  • Assisting with press outreach for press conferences or public events (briefings, town hall meetings, rallies, etc.); and
  • Drafting press advisories and press releases (dependent on experience) and other outreach materials.

Requirements: The time commitment is 5-10 hours a week in our New York City office. Interns must commit to a minimum of 15 weeks.

To apply: Please submit the application by Tuesday, November 26, 2013Applications will be reviewed upon receipt until the deadline. Interviewing will take place on a rolling basis.  Only applicants who have been granted interviews will be notified of their advancement in the application process. 

Please submit the application to:
Jennifer Weng

Spring Communications Internship
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
99 Hudson Street, 12th floor
New York , New York 10013
fax: 212.966.4303
email: [email protected]

For more information, contact Jennifer Weng at 212-966-5932, ext. 212 or [email protected]

*  *  *  *  *

AALDEF Seeks a Social Media Intern!

AALDEF’s Social Media Internship offers the opportunity to develop skills in social media, writing, advocacy, social justice, education, public policy, and media outreach.

Central to AALDEF’s initiatives is educating Asian Americans, policymakers, and the general public about our community’s legal rights, providing resources to community-based organizations, and facilitating grassroots organizing efforts.

AALDEF has an engaged and growing social media audience. The AALDEF social media intern will introduce broader audiences to civil rights and racial justice issues daily. For a small time commitment, the AALDEF social media intern will gain exposure to social justice advocacy, journalism, and progressive communications, and work with an inspiring group of progressive thinkers.

The ideal candidate is an avid news readers, well-versed in current events (from politics to pop culture), creative, committed to AALDEF’s mission, and experienced using social media including Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter.

The internship is unpaid, but receiving academic credit for the semester is possible for students.

Requirements: The time commitment is relatively small (5-10 hours a week). We are looking for a commitment of six months but can be flexible on duration. This is a remote position that can be done from any location.

To apply:  Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter, and anyTwitter account(s) you use; any Facebook pages you’ve had the opportunity to run for schools, publications, companies, etc.; and/or any Tumblr(s) or blogs.

Please submit the application by Tuesday, November 26, 2013Applications will be reviewed upon receipt until the deadline. Interviews will take place on a rolling basis. Only applicants who have been granted interviews will be notified of their advancement in the application process. Please submit the application to:

Jennifer Weng
Subject: AALDEF Social Media Internship
Email: [email protected]

For more information, contact Jennifer Weng at 212-966-5932, ext. 212 or [email protected]

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Special Events Internship

The position will involve in the planning, preparation and execution of our 40th anniversary dinner gala and silent auction in March 2014.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

  • Assisting with sponsorship development and outreach, writing materials, managing and following up on reservations, ticket sales, and donations.
  • Maintaining databases and files.
  • Preparing and maintaining sponsor/donor solicitations and acknowledgments, mailings, and emails.
  • Assisting with the production of the invitations and dinner programs.
  • Coordinating silent auction/raffle donations, including developing prospects, solicitations and acknowledgment, brochure and silent auction planning, and production.
  • Meeting event deadlines.

Applicants must be self-motivated, have good organizational and writing skills, be detail oriented, able to work independently, organize and coordinate multiple tasks, develop and manage projects in a timely manner, and have database and internet skills. Some fundraising experience is preferable. Knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel required. Experience using Filemaker is a plus. Flexibility with extra hours around the time of special events is necessary. Undergraduate students only.  Workstudy grants accepted.

How to Apply: Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume by Tuesday, November 26, 2013.  Please send to:

Jennifer Weng
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
99 Hudson Street, 12 fl, New York, NY 10013-2815
Or Email to: [email protected] (write “Special Events Internship” in the subject line)

AALDEF Volunteer Trainings to Defend Asian American Voting Rights

Volunteer Trainings to Defend Asian American Voting Rights
Sign up by Oct. 23.

Trainings for AALDEF election monitoring are now on-line. The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund is seeking volunteer attorneys, law and undergraduate students, and community volunteers to assist in monitoring poll sites during the elections in NYC, NJ, and Virginia on November 5 to ensure compliance with the federal Voting Rights Act.  Attorneys and law students can receive pro bono hours or free CLE (including ethics) credits.

Volunteers will inspect poll sites for required language assistance, interview voters, and document instances of anti-Asian American voter discrimination.  Bilingual ability in an Asian language is helpful but not required.

Lunch/lite dinner will be provided.  All volunteers must be non-partisan during the time that they help.  Sign up by WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, at  http://www.aaldef.net/volunteer_monitor_form.aspx

TRAINING DATES AND LOCATIONS

NEW YORK
Tues, Oct. 22 at 12N – Shearman & Sterling, 599 Lexington Avenue, at 53rd Street, NYC

Tues, Oct. 22 at 6PM – NYU Law School, Furman Hall Room 324, 245 Sullivan Street, NYC
Wed, Oct. 23 at 1PM – Brooklyn Law School, 205 Joralemon St., Room 505, Brooklyn, NYC
Mon, Oct. 28 at 12N – Columbia Law, 435 West 116th Street, Room 107, Manhattan, NYC
Tues, Oct. 29 at 12N –  Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, 51 West 52nd Street at 6th Avenue, NYC
Tues, Oct. 29 at 12:45pm –  New York Law School, Room TBD, 185 West Broadway, NYC
Wed, Oct. 30 at 6PM – Weil Gotshal & Manges,767 5th Ave at 59th Street, NYC

NEW JERSEY
Thurs, Oct. 24 at 12N – McCarter & English, 100 Mulberry St., 4 Gateway Center, Newark, NJ
Thurs, Oct. 24 time TBD – Rutgers Law School, Room TBD, Newark, NJ

WASHINGTON DC
Thurs, Oct. 24 at 6PM – Dickstein Shapiro, 1825 Eye Street, NW, Washington, DC
Fri., Oct. 25 at 12N  – Dickstein Shapiro, 1825 Eye Street, NW, Washington, DC

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: 
Glenn D. Magpantay or Jerry Vattamala at [email protected],[email protected] or call 212-966-5932.

NATIONAL CO-SPONSORS: 
Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA)
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA)
National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC)
OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates
South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT)

STATE/LOCAL CO-SPONSORS:
Alliance of South Asian American Labor (ASAAL)

Asian American Society of Central Virginia (AASOCVA)
Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center (APALRC)
Chhaya CDC
Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans of Virginia (CAPAVA)
MinKwon Center
National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF)–DC and NY Chapters

LEGAL CO-SPONSORS: 
Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY)
Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Greater DC (APABA-DC)
Asian Pacific American Lawyers Association of New Jersey (APALA/NJ)
Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York (KALAGNY)
Muslim Bar Association of New York (MuBANY)
South Asian Bar Association of New York (SABANY)
South Asian Bar Association of Greater DC

 

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At the 2013 NAPABA Northeast Regional/AABANY Fall Conference hosted by Weil Gotshal, a plenary session was held during the luncheon to explore the recent United States Supreme Court’s ruling in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin.

The luncheon was sponsored by Kobre & Kim. Welcome remarks were given by Mike Huang, President of AABANY, Fred Green, Management Committee Member, Mergers & Acquisitions Partner and Sponsor to the Asian Attorney Affinity Group at Weil, and Wendy Shiba, President of NAPABA. Board member and past AABANY President Robert Leung presented brief remarks about AABANY’s newest committee, the Career Placement Committee, and invited broad participation in it.

The Program Chair for the plenary session was Sarah Seo, Co-Chair of the Academic Committee. She introduced the Hon. Pamela K. Chen, United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, moderator of the panel.

Panelists included Khin Mai Aung, Director of the Educational Equity Program at the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), who submitted an amicus brief in the Fisher case, and Hemmie Chang, Partner at Foley Hoag, who led her firm’s efforts in supporting AALDEF’s amicus filing in Fisher. Also on the panel were Michael Park, Partner at Dechert, and William Consovoy, Partner at Wiley Rein, who submitted briefs on Fisher’s side of the case before the Supreme Court.

The room was filled to capacity and many of the attendees had to go to the overflow room next door to watch the panel discussion on video.

The panel took several thoughtful and pointed questions from the audience during the Q&A portion.

Thanks to our Key Sponsor Hudson Court Reporting and Video for taking video and transcription of the plenary session.