Register for NAPABA’s APAHM Congressional Reception

You are cordially invited to NAPABA’s APAHM Congressional Reception

May 22 6 – 8 pm ET

In conjunction with NAPABA’s 12th annual Lobby Day and in honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM), you are invited to join us on May 22 in Washington, DC for our Congressional Reception. 

The reception will bring together NAPABA members, Lobby Day participants, members of Congress and their staff, and leaders in the AAPI community from across the country. 

What: NAPABA Asian Pacific American Heritage Congressional Reception
Where: Kennedy Caucus Room (SR-325), Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC
When: Monday, May 22, 6-8pm ET

This is a widely attended event and open to the public. An RSVP is required. The last day to send your RSVP is Friday, May 12!

RSVP to this event here.

Learn more about Lobby Day and bookmark the page for the latest information.

AABANY Launches Oral History Project with “How to Conduct a Journalistic Interview” Training

AABANY is starting a project that records the stories and memories of its founders and early members. Its goals are to help connect AABANY members across generations, generate research about the history and experience of Asian American lawyers, help younger lawyers and law students develop interviewing skills, and create shareable content. The project aims to post one story per day during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month on AABANY’s social media and have recordings for the AABANY Youtube Channel, presented in “Humans of New York” style of storytelling. 

The project kicked off on February 16th with a training on how to conduct a journalistic interview. Led by former journalist and current attorney Stephen Lee, the virtual training gave pointers on how to capture stories that will resonate with people. 

The training opened with examples of digital storytelling through Stephen’s online initiative, Our APA Heritage. Stephen launched Our APA Heritage to help share the history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The website provides resources on how to gather and create visual content. Stephen also shows examples through memories collected from his own family members. 

To help AABANY document its history, Stephen shared the following tips to conducting a good journalistic interview: 

  1. Research beforehand to understand the context
  2. Prepare an outline, not a script 
  3. Ask specific questions 
  4. Make your subject comfortable; for example, the interviewer could share something about herself to establish rapport 
  5. Do not talk over pauses or break silences during the interview 
  6. Listen actively
  7. Ask follow-up questions, especially to clarify details 

To view the recorded webinar, please visit: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/xfycajTu4Y-D747nhp54m2oAxvLOG9_EgF1jJmQVZueIqRLh-RJsnO5q-RUYO5s.ht0Ph6-1MuWoQbje

Thank you to Stephen Lee, the Membership Committee and the Intellectual Property Committee for putting this event together. If you are interested in participating in this project, please fill out this Google Form: https://forms.gle/WeGB3ZRw8aoh6JdP6

Asian American Bar Association of New York Presents “Fortune 500 General Counsel Panel: Leadership during Crisis” on May 21 for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, AABANY is proud to present “Fortune 500 General Counsel Panel: Leadership during Crisis” as part of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (“NAPABA”) General Counsel Webinar Series. The event will feature a panel of prominent General Counsels covering a wide variety of industries to discuss topics that range from advice to aspiring General Counsels, crisis management with a focus on the response to the pandemic, collaboration with the board and c-suite, demonstrating legal department value from a quantitative and qualitative perspective, leveraging legal technology, enhancing the compliance function, diversity and inclusion initiatives (internally and externally with outside counsel) and maximizing the value that outside counsel brings to companies. The panel will take place via Zoom on Thursday, May 21, from 4:30 to 6:00 PM.

Moderator:

Michael Wu. Michael currently serves as the Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary of Madewell. He sits on the advisory boards of the Georgetown Law Corporate Counsel Institute and AABANY. Michael is also a member of the Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association Board of Directors. He has previously served as an executive and general counsel at companies including Carter’s, Rosetta Stone, Teleglobe, and Global One.

Panelists:

Damien Atkins. Damien currently serves as the General Counsel of the Hershey Company. He has previously served for three years as the General Counsel for Panasonic North America, for ten years as the Deputy GC (Corporate) and Chief Compliance Officer for AOL, and for seven years at a major New York City law firm. In addition, Damien has previously founded two start-ups. His expertise includes mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, securities regulation, global ethics and compliance, and government investigations.

Peter Beshar. Peter currently serves as the Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Marsh & McLennan. Previously, he was a partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and served as the Co-Chair of the firm’s Securities Litigation Group and had served as the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the New York State Attorney General’s Task Force on Illegal Firearms. Additionally, he has served as the Special Assistant to the Honorable Cyrus Vance in connection with the United Nations’ peace negotiations in the former Yugoslavia.

Elisa Garcia. Elisa currently serves as the Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel of Macy’s and serves on the Board of Directors and Nominating and Governance Committee of Dollarama, Inc. and the Board of the Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession. She has previously served as an executive for Office Depot, Domino’s Pizza, and Philip Morris International.

David Hyman. David currently serves as the General Counsel of Netflix and as the company’s Secretary. Prior to Netflix, David served as General Counsel of Webvan, Inc. and was with the law firms Morrison and Foerster in San Francisco and Arent Fox in Washington, DC.

Alan Tse. Alan currently serves as the Global Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary of JLL. Previously, Alan served as an executive for Petco, Churchill Downs, LG Electronics, Ligos Corporation, and Centerpoint Broadband Technologies.  He is a co-founder and Board member of the Asian American Legal Foundation and has served on the Board of Directors of the Association of Corporate Counsel from 2013-2019. Alan was recognized by NAPABA as one of its Best Lawyers Under 40 and received the Corporate Leadership Award at AABANY’s 2020 Annual Dinner.

David Yawman. David currently serves as the Executive Vice President of Government Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of PepsiCo. Previously, he served as the Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for PepsiCo and General Counsel for North America and Corporate, the Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance and Ethics Officer for PepsiCo, the General Counsel of business units comprised of North America Beverages, Quaker Foods North America and Latin America Beverages, the Associate General Counsel for the Pepsi Bottling Group, and had spent six years as a member of PepsiCo’s corporate law department. Prior to joining PepsiCo, Dave was an associate with the law firm Fried Frank and served as a law clerk in the United States District Court.

“AABANY is pleased to be co-sponsoring the NAPABA General Counsel webinar series,” states President Sapna Palla. “Each of the first two webcasts have already seen attendance by nearly 500 attorneys from all across the country. We are looking forward to a similar turnout for the one AABANY is presenting on May 21. We thank Michael Wu for organizing these webcasts and serving as moderator to guide the discussion on important topics of interest to attorneys across a broad range of industries and sectors. Through these programs, and as we celebrate APA Heritage Month in May, we continue to highlight the vital role played by diverse in-house attorneys in leading and advancing the legal profession.”

If interested, please register by May 20. Click on the flyer above for registration information.

AABANY Hosts its Third Annual Judges’ Reception in Celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

On Thursday, May 30, 2019, AABANY’s Judiciary Committee hosted its third annual Judges’ Reception at the Surrogate’s Courthouse, 31 Chambers Street. The reception honored newly inducted, elevated and retiring judges in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

The honorees recognized at the event were individuals who represent the significant strides that Asian Pacific Americans have achieved, as well as the ongoing fight for diversity within our leading institutions.

New York State Senator John C. Liu was slated to be the keynote speaker for the reception, but due to pressing matters in Albany he was not able to attend. The Honorable Phillip Hom, Civil Court of the City of New York, delivered remarks on his behalf. Judge Hom is a friend of Senator John C. Liu from their days at Bronx High School of Science and Binghamton University. Judge Hom also served as the Chief of Staff of then-Councilman John C. Liu from 2002-2005.

At the reception, the following judges were honored:

Hon. Shahabuddeen Ally
Hon. Karen Cortes
Hon. Shorab Ibrahim
Hon. Donald Leo
Hon. Ushir Pandit-Durant
Hon. John Zhuo Wang
Hon. Wendy Changyong Li
Hon. Archana Rao
Hon. Lillian Wan
Hon. Karen Bacdayan
Hon. Michael H. Park

All the honorees are Asian Pacific Americans Judges who were recently inducted to the bench or elevated in New York. To learn more about them and to read our press release for the event, click here. To learn more about the Judiciary Committee and to reach its co-chairs, go here: http://www.aabany.org/?page=115.

Following the awards ceremony, all attendees enjoyed catching up with each other or making new connections, over delicious food and dessert catered by Nom Wah and Chinatown Ice Cream Factory.

We thank everyone that braved the rain to make this year’s reception another successful one.

Thanks to AABANY Legal Intern Katy Kim for providing the photos for this blog post.

2019 Lobby Day | Deadline Extended!

Deadlines Extended to Thursday, April 25!

Join us for NAPABA’s annual Lobby Day hosted in our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. from May 20-21, 2019. This event brings NAPABA members from across the country to meet and discuss with members of Congress and congressional staffers on issues of importance and help promote NAPABA’s mission of advocating for justice, equity, and opportunity for APAs.

Registration | DEADLINE NOW APRIL 25, 2019
Registration includes a webinar training prior to Lobby Day as well as onsite training the day of, so that all participants are prepared for meetings with congressional members and staffers. For more information about the 2019 Lobby Day, visit our page.


Congressional Reception | May 20, 2019
In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May, NAPABA will be hosting a Congressional Reception. The reception will bring together Lobby Day participants, members of Congress and their staff, and leaders in the APA community. This event is open to the the public.

Hotel | RESERVATION DEADLINE EXTENDED to April 25, 2019 
The official 2019 Lobby Day hotel, the Hyatt Place Washington DC/National Mall, is at the heart of Washington DC and  walking distance of the Federal Center SW Metro Station, and the newly built Wharf.

You may also call Hyatt’s reservations department at 1-800-993-4031 and ask for “NAPABA Group” or Group Code “G-NAPA”  Rate: $239 king plus applicable taxes & fees.

If you have any questions about any of the events above, please email Oriene Shin at [email protected].

More 2019 Lobby Day information can be found here.

Invitation to NY/NJ Regional Network – Federal Listening Session – Tuesday, May 21, 2019

In commemoration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, celebrating the national theme, “Unite Our Mission by Engaging Each Other,” the New York/New Jersey Regional Network of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders will host a listening session for Asian American and Pacific Islander-serving agencies and organizations on Tuesday, May 21, 2019, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at 26 Federal Plaza, 6th Floor GSA Conference Center, Rooms A and B, New York, NY  10278.  Please join regional executives representing the federal agencies comprising the Regional Network as they provide you up-to-date information about their respective programs and services, and listen to your suggestions on how they may engage better with their communities, as well as any concerns or issues you may wish to raise.  If you are interested in attending, please contact Everett Lo at [email protected] by close of business Friday, May 2, 2019, providing the name(s) and email address(es) of your participant(s), to whom a building access letter will be issued by return email.

Participating federal agencies include:

  • Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
  • Environmental Protection Agency
  • General Services Administration
  • National Labor Relations Board
  • Small Business Administration
  • Social Security Administration
  • U.S. Department of Commerce
    • U.S. Census Bureau
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
    • Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
    • Health Resources and Services Administration
    • Office for Civil Rights
  • U.S. Department of Homeland Security
    • Customs and Border Protection
    • Immigration and Customs Enforcement
    • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service
  • U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
  • U.S. Department of Justice
    • Community Relations Service
  • U.S. Department of Labor
    • Employee Benefits Security Administration
    • Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs
    • Occupational Safety and Health Administration
    • Wage and Hour Division
  • U.S. Department of Treasury
    • Internal Revenue Service
  • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
    • Veterans Benefits Administration
    • Veterans Integrated Services Network

We look forward to speaking with you, and engaging in a thoughtful dialogue to ensure that our communities are aware of the programs and benefits available from our Regional Network.  Thank you.

Thank you to Everett Lo for sharing this information. Please direct all inquires to him at [email protected].

Register for NAPABA Lobby Day!

NAPABA Lobby Day 2019
Washington, D.C. | Deadline: April 19, 2019

Register Now!

This is a reminder for you to join us in Washington, DC for Lobby Day!  The NAPABA Annual Lobby Day is an opportunity for NAPABA members from across the country to educate members of Congress and Congressional staffers on issues of importance to the Asian Pacific American community.  Lobby Day also gives members an active role in promoting NAPABA’s mission of advocating for justice, equity, and opportunity for Asian Pacific Americans.

Participants will meet with legislators and voice their perspectives on a range of topics. As a participant, you will be given all the information and materials you need to meet with legislators on Capitol Hill. Registration for Lobby Day includes a webinar training prior to Lobby Day as well as onsite training the day of, so that all participants are prepared for meetings with congressional members and staffers.

Registration
Register for all Lobby Day events here. Deadline to register is April 19, 2019.   *Please note: some events have early deadlines.

Lobby Day Stipend | Last day to apply for a stipend is March 22, 2019
Stipends are available for NAPABA direct members traveling to Lobby Day from out-of-town. Deadline to submit an application is March 22, 2019. *Please register for Lobby Day to gain access to the stipend application page. **Stipends available for direct members.

NAPABA U.S. Supreme Court Bar Group Admission
Apply to be admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar and join NAPABA members for a group swearing-in ceremony. All application materials and processing fee must be mailed (postmarked) to the NAPABA office by Mar. 22, 2019.

Congressional Reception
In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May, NAPABA will be hosting a Congressional Reception. The reception will bring together Lobby Day participants, members of Congress and their staff, and leaders in the APA community. This event is open to the public, including NAPABA members who are unable to participate in Lobby Day.

Hotel | Last day to book is April 18, 2019. 
NAPABA has secured a room block through Hyatt Place Washington DC/National Mall, which is located at the heart of Washington, DC, right off the National Mall. The Hyatt Place Washington DC/National Mall is within walking distance of the Federal Center SW Metro Station and the newly built wharf.

Rate: $239 single/double plus applicable taxes & fees.

Book your room today!
You may also call Hyatt Place’s reservations department at 1-800-993-4031 and ask for “NAPABA Group” or Group Code “G-NAPA”

If you have any questions about any of the events above, please email Oriene Shin at [email protected].

More 2019 Lobby Day information can be found here.

NAPABA Voter Eligibility | Affiliate Membership Deadline to Activate is July 1

To be eligible to vote in this year’s elections, you must be a direct NAPABA member OR activate your NAPABA affiliate membership online by July 1.

You should have received information from your affiliate president about how to activate your NAPABA affiliate membership. Being an active affiliate member is not sufficient for voting purposes. You must activate your NAPABA membership. For more information about these membership changes, click here. To review our Membership FAQs Sheet, click here.

If you have already received a code from your affiliate organization, please proceed to activation with the following instructions.

  1. Visit: http://www.napaba.org/login.aspx
  2. Enter your email address and password. If you forgot your password, click on the reset your password link at the bottom of the member login page.
  3. Click manage profile to renew your membership.
  4. Follow the steps to update your profile.
  5. On the last and final page enter the code from your affiliate in the promotional code box. Click “apply code.”

Congratulations! You have successfully renewed your membership through Dec. 31, 2017

!If you receive a message that says username and password combination not found, please click here to register and proceed with the following instructions:

  1. Select the following options from the bottom of the page: Affiliate, Affiliate with Partners Directory ($250), Affiliate Associate, or Affiliate Law Student.
  2. Follow the registration prompts to create a new profile. Please note that you can waive the $100 fee on the last page of the registration form if you have an affiliate code.
  3. On the last and final page enter the code from your affiliate in the promotional code box. Click “apply code”.
  4. Congratulations, you have successfully renewed your membership through Dec. 31, 2017!