On Thursday, December 18, 2025, AABANY’s IP Committee teamed up with the New York Intellectual Property Law Association (NYIPLA) Young Lawyers Committee for a fun and festive Board Games Night. The event brought together attorneys, law students, and friends for an evening of networking, laughter, and friendly competition over classic and modern board games.
Attendees enjoyed a variety of games, including Flip 7, Taboo, and Hues and Cues, which sparked plenty of creativity, quick thinking, and colorful conversations. Whether strategizing to win or just playing for fun, participants had a great time connecting in a relaxed, social setting over dinner and drinks.
Additionally, attendees celebrated the birthday of AABANY member (and past Litigation Committee Co-Chair) Aakruti Vakharia. The cake shared by all who was there was a special treat for the fun night.
Special thanks to NYIPLA Young Lawyers Committee for co-sponsoring this event and to all who attended and made the evening a success. Thanks also to Fish & Richardson for hosting. We look forward to hosting more collaborative events in the coming year!
The 2025 NAPABA Convention was an unforgettable three days of inspiration, connection, and community, and now you can relive it all. We’re thrilled to share the official 2025 NAPABA Convention Photo Gallery, capturing the energy, excitement, and impact of our time together in Denver.
This year’s Convention was nothing short of extraordinary. Nearly 2,900 attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students helped make it the second-largest gathering in NAPABA history. We welcomed more than 800 first-timers, reached our highest sponsorship record ever, and filled every room with the unmistakable spirit of our community.
From forward-looking conversations on the Portrait Project to a dynamic Gala Keynote featuring Rich Ting and Katie Phang, the Convention showcased the trailblazers, innovators, and rising leaders shaping the future of our profession. But the moments that mattered most were the ones powered by you—your expertise, your engagement, and your commitment to lifting our bar to new heights.
Now you can revisit those moments, and if you haven’t had a chance yet, be sure to read and share our full 2025 Convention recap, a look back at the people, programs, and conversations that made this year’s gathering exceptional.
On Thursday, November 13, 2025, the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY)’s LGBTQ Committee and the South Asian Bar Association of New York (SABANY) came together to co-host the 2025 Fall LGBTQ Reception. The event was held at A&O Shearman‘s Manhattan office, bringing together attorneys, law students, and professionals to foster connections within the Asian American, South Asian, and LGBTQ communities.
The evening’s program began with a warm welcome from Dennis Quinio (he/him), Chief Inclusion Officer – Americas at A&O Shearman, who emphasized the crucial need for inclusive spaces within the legal profession.
Attendees then heard from featured speaker Priya Nair (they/them), Executive Director of the NYC Commission on Gender Equity. Priya shared valuable insights drawn from their nearly ten years working in New York City and State government, which included roles in the Governor’s Office, NYC Health + Hospitals, and the State’s first LGBTQ Fellowship. They also offered a personal reflection on their experience as a queer, non-binary individual of mixed heritage, underscoring how events like this are vital for intersectional community building.
AABANY and SABANY extend their sincere gratitude to A&O Shearman for their generous hospitality in hosting the event, and to Priya Nair for their inspiring and insightful remarks.
To learn more about AABANY’s LGBTQ Committee, click here.
The Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) was a prominent presence at the 37th National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Convention, held at the Sheraton in downtown Denver, CO, from November 6 to 8, 2025. This year’s Convention boasted the second-largest convening in NAPABA history, with nearly 2,900 AANHPI attorneys, judges, law professionals and law students in attendance, including over 800 first-time attendees.
AABANY members presented and led various Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs and were recognized during luncheons and social events throughout the three-day convention. Over 175 people connected with each other on the AABANY@NAPABA WhatsApp group before, during and after the conference.
AABANY Get-Together at Maggiano’s
AABANY’s well-attended gathering at Maggiano’s Little Italy on Thursday evening was a big hit on one of the first nights of the Convention. The location was conveniently steps away from the Sheraton, drawing over 120 attendees, including friends old and new, many from outside of New York. Guests enjoyed a buffet of heavy hors d’oeuvres, such as domestic and imported cheeses, crostini, ravioli, wagyu meatballs, fried calamari, fried zucchini, and crab cakes, along with drink tickets good for one drink. It proved to be a festive start to the Convention’s social calendar, filled with the spirit of camaraderie that defined the Convention.
Awardees and Recognition for AABANY Members
NAPABA Awards presented across various events, including the NAPABA Best Under 40 Awards Reception (Thursday), Welcome Reception (Thursday), President’s and Trailblazer Award Reception (Friday), and luncheon plenaries (Friday and Saturday).
AABANY members and AABANY past annual dinner honorees were honored this year at the Convention: (click the link to read more about each award and the 2025 awardees):
The 17th Annual Trial Reenactment: “Born American: United States v. Wong Kim Ark”
The AABANY Trial Reenactment Team presented its 17th production on Friday afternoon, November 7, to a capacity audience. The program, titled “Born American: United States v. Wong Kim Ark,” examined the landmark Supreme Court case. The case focused on Wong Kim Ark, born in San Francisco in 1873 to Chinese immigrants, who was denied reentry to the U.S. in 1895 under the Chinese Exclusion Act. Wong successfully argued that the Fourteenth Amendment’s guarantee of birthright citizenship applied to him. The program’s exploration of birthright citizenship was especially relevant, coming shortly after President Trump signed an Executive Order on January 20, 2025, seeking to restrict this established constitutional precedent.
Some of the photos taken from the Trial Reenactments by AABANY can be seen at this link here.
The cast included: Hon. Denny Chin, Kathy Hirata Chin, Jacob Chen, Francis Chin, Anna Mercado Clark, Hon. Peggy Kuo, Clara Ohr, Yasuhiro Saito, Professor Rose Cuison-Villazor, Andy Hahn, Yang Chen, Linda Lin, and Vince Chang. To learn more about AABANY’s Trial Reenactments, go to reenactments.aabany.org. AABANY encourages anyone interested in performing one of our reenactments to make a request through that website. The current script will be made available in 2026.
AABANY Members as Panel Experts
AABANY members showcased their expertise by serving as presenters and panelists across a variety of CLE programs throughout the Convention. Some of the programs featuring current and former AABANY members included, but were not limited to:
Thursday’s Programming:
Agentic AI: Legal and Policy Frontiers in the U.S. and China (Benjamin Hsing, AABANY President; Christopher Chan)
International Law Committee & Women’s Leadership Network Joint Luncheon (Jennifer Choe-Groves)
Navigating First Decade of Legal Career (Dan Brody)
Navigating Uncertainty with Confidence (Blossom Kan)
Friday’s Programming:
Shark Tank Part III: Live Pitch Coaching (Steve Chung; Hannah Kim; Austin So; Susan Shin, former AABANY President)
Navigating AI Integration in Legal Practice (Eric Lin)
Trump & Tariffs: Protectionism and Economic Impact (Rudy Figueroa)
Sexual Violence Against Women: From the Code of Ur-Nammu to WWII ‘Comfort Women’ and Beyond (Linny Ng)
Practicing with Bots: Training Lawyers in the AI Age (John Lee)
Advising Startups on Patent Strategy (Charles Chen)
United States v. Wen Ho Lee – 25 Years Later (Stephen Chahn Lee)
AI, Ethics & Minority Rights (Shruti Chopra)
High-Stakes Investigations & Trials (Joon Kim)
General Counsel Roundtable (Linda Lin, former AABANY President)
What We’ve Got Here Is a Failure to Communicate: Pitfalls and Best Practices for Handling Asian Language Witnesses and Evidence (Elizabeth L. Mo)
Representing Clients in the Highest Stakes Investigations and Trials (Jennifer Wu, AABANY Board Member)
Disagreeing Better: What ADR Principles Can Teach Us on How to Bridge Divides in Polarized Times (Chris M. Kwok, AABANY ADR Committee Co-Chair)
Ask an Associate: Navigating Starting Your Career at a Law Firm (Brittany Clark)
Workplace Discrimination and Arbitration (Rachel Lee, AABANY Issues Committee Co-Chair)
Birthright Citizenship Under Siege: The Fight for Asian American and Pacific Islander Belonging (Professor Rose Cuison-Villazor)
The Places You’ll Go! Careers in Specialized Fields (Ada Wang, AABANY Intellectual Property Co-Chair; Stacy Wu)
Birthright and Belonging: Who gets to be American in the 21st Century and Beyond? (Bethany Li)
Case Study: Creating a National Legal Organization (NAPABA) (Sandra Yamate)
Legal Career Paths: Partnership, In-House & Public Service (Christopher Arcitio)
There at the Beginning: Case Study on Creating a National Organization (Diane Yu, retired Chief of Staff and Deputy to the President of NYU, 2011 AABANY Annual Dinner Honoree)
Plenary Session Focus on the Portrait Project
During the Friday Plenary Lunch, discussion centered on the Portrait Project, NAPABA’s groundbreaking study of Asian Americans in the Law, supported by the American Bar Foundation and NAPABA. This research provides critical statistics demonstrating the persistent barriers to advancement and underrepresentation of the Asian American legal community in the profession’s top ranks, especially as diversity and inclusion programs face increasing national pressure. AABANY has been a financial donor to the Portrait Project.
AABANY 2010 Annual Dinner Honoree Sandra Leung, former General Counsel of Bristol Myers Squibb Company, was among the speakers, offering an in-house perspective on the representation of AANHPI attorneys. She spoke about the importance of AANHPI attorneys to be in leadership roles, stating “if you aren’t at the table, you’re on the menu.” That resonated with many attorneys who have felt not involved in the decision-making at one point or another in their careers.
Key findings highlighted by the Portrait Project indicated that while there has been progress in federal judicial appointments and General Counsel roles, underrepresentation at the highest levels persists. The research suggests Asian American attorneys would benefit from greater institutional support to counteract stereotypes, facilitate soft skills development and relationship-building, and increase leadership opportunities. Justice Goodwin Liu reinforced this theme, quoting a participant who stated, “Instead of another cooking class, talk to me about retention.”
AABANY Members Sworn into NAPABA Board
During the Premier Event, the 37th Anniversary Gala on Saturday evening, AABANY members Anushree Bagrodia (Vice President & Senior Managing Counsel, Mastercard), Sapna Palla (Past President; Trial Lawyer and Partner, White & Case LLP), and Vishal Chander (Board Member and Issues Committee Co-Chair; Managing Attorney, The Chander Law Firm, P.C.) were all officially sworn in as At-Large Members of the NAPABA Board.
AABANY congratulates and thanks Anushree, Sapna and Vishal for their service on the NAPABA Board, along with Glenn D. Magpantay (AABANY Board Member; Commissioner at the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights) for being appointed as a Northeast Alternate Regional Governor for NAPABA.
Gala Keynote
The Gala featured a fireside chat with keynote speakers Katie Phang and Rich Ting. Their conversation spanned Rich Ting’s career transition from attorney to acclaimed actor, and explored the evolving landscape of Asian American representation in Hollywood during polarizing times. Fun fact: Rich Ting has a law degree and was about to start his legal career at a prominent law firm until Hollywood called … and now he no longer has to worry about keeping up his CLE credits.
Social Activities
Beyond the formal events, AABANY members gathered for a variety of social activities, including morning yoga sessions, board game night (organized by our own Jeffrey Mok, Board Director, Issues Committee Co-Chair, and Principal at Fish & Richardson), and karaoke (separate events sponsored by Groombridge Wu and Littler, both long-time sponsors of AABANY), as well as exploring the areas around Denver!
Thomas Tang Moot Court Competition
The national finals for the Thomas Tang Moot Court Competition took place during the NAPABA Convention. Law students from the New York area participated, alongside volunteer judges from AABANY. We congratulate all participants and the winning team: Audrey La and Josh Shimabukuro from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, who had previously won the regional competition round in New York in October.
A Community and a Family
Despite flight cancellations and delays experienced by many AABANY members on their return home, the spirit of mutual support endured, with members reaching out, sharing resources, and ensuring everyone arrived home safely. This supportive behavior exemplified the core takeaway from the convention: AABANY is more than just a community—it is a family that comes together to uplift and assist one another.
We look forward to the next NAPABA Convention in Los Angeles, scheduled for November 12-15, 2026 at the JW Marriott L.A. Live.
More photos, shared by various AABANY members, can be found at this album here.
The City Bar is seeking attorneys (admitted 2+ years, preferably with litigation experience) to judge the Regional Rounds of the 76th National Moot Court Competition on Wednesday, November 19 and Thursday, November 20, 2025 at the New York City Bar.
Seventeen teams from the NYC area will compete for two spots in the National Rounds, held in January 2026. All Regional Round Judges are invited to a celebratory reception on January 30.
This year’s case explores key issues around Fourth Amendment protections and qualified immunity.
Please complete the Judge Volunteer Form by November 10 indicating the date(s) and time(s) you wish to participate.
If you have any difficulty accessing the form, please e-mail sglazer@nycbar.org indicating the date(s) you are available to judge. Shortly after we receive your form, we will email you the Record on Appeal, the confidential Bench Memorandum and the round(s) you are assigned to.
Feel free to circulate this invitation amongst colleagues admitted at least two years, preferably with a litigation background. If you have any questions about the competition or are interested in joining our Moot Court Competition Committee, please email sglazer@nycbar.org For general information about the competition, please visit our webpage.
We extend our sincere gratitude to AABANY, AALFNY, PBCS, AAFE, and all the dedicated volunteers who contributed to the success of our pro bono legal clinic in Manhattan on August 20, 2025.
During the clinic, our volunteers provided invaluable assistance to 13 clients, addressing a range of legal matters including housing, immigration, civil litigation, personal injury and employment. Our volunteer attorneys and interpreters thoughtfully addressed client concerns, offered clarity through their answers, and facilitated connections to appropriate legal resources via AABANY’s Legal Referral and Information Service (LRIS).
We are committed to offering services in both Mandarin and Cantonese to ensure continued support for individuals facing linguistic or cultural barriers when seeking guidance on substantive and procedural legal matters.
Thanks again to all the volunteers at the August 20th Manhattan Pro Bono Clinic for their time, professionalism, and contribution:
Volunteer attorneys:
Vishal Chander
Marcus Cheung
Francis Chin
Justin Lee
Beatrice Leong
Lily Li
Andrew Sun
Peter Wei
Cecilia Yang
Gary Yeung
Interpreters/shadowers:
Sam Hou
Emily Kam
Xiaofei (Lucy) Liu
Dazhen Lu
Albert Tong
Shang Zhai
We invite you to continue supporting our community by joining us at our upcoming Pro Bono Clinics:
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
October 1st [Queens link here], from 6:30 – 8:30pm, One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355
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.
On August 14, 2025, AABANY’s LGBTQ, Solo and Small Firm Practice, and Student Outreach Committees hosted a Popcorn Chicken and Bubble Tea Social event at Anderson & Associates in Lower Manhattan. AABANY members, attorneys, law students, interns, and all participants were able to enjoy a variety of snacks from popcorn chicken, takoyaki, and buns to tea and traditional boba. Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to meet both new and familiar faces, and all attendees made good use of the time to network and chat.
The Chairs and Co-Chairs of each co-sponsoring Committee, Gregory Hom, Yen-Yi Anderson, and Albert Tong shared their upcoming events and encouraged everyone to continue attending similar events in the future by checking AABANY’s calendar. Thanks to everyone who came out. To learn more about the LGBTQ Committee, click here. To learn more about the Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee, click here. To learn more about the Student Outreach Committee, click here.
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.
Kings County Supreme Court, Criminal Term has been selected to be the first court of criminal jurisdiction in New York State to introduce E-filing (NYSCEF). A voluntary pilot program for Criminal Term E-filing will commence on Monday, September 8th, 2025.
This pilot program allows attorneys to opt into e-filing, providing flexibility during this initial phase. While participation is not mandatory, the program aims to demonstrate the benefits of e-filing and encourage widespread adoption.
The future site where attorneys would log on and file documents is linked here: NYSCEF Home. Attorneys admitted to the New York State Bar can access the NYSCEF site by logging on with their registration credentials, agreeing to the posted terms, and establishing an account.
If there are any further questions about this program, please contact Brian McAllister, Chief Clerk for Criminal Matters, at Kings County Supreme Court, Criminal Term, at bmcallis@nycourts.gov or via phone at (347) 296-1100.
We are thrilled to share that AABANY member and former AABANY Board member, Pauline Yeung-Ha, Partner at Grimaldi Yeung Law Group LLP, is beginning her term as the President of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, New York Chapter (NY NAELA), effective July 1, 2025. Having served as President-Elect, Pauline is now leading the New York Chapter.
According to the National Academy of Elder Law Attorney (NAELA) Website, NAELA, founded in 1987, is a national association of attorneys devoted to addressing legal issues affecting older adults and individuals with special needs. To enhance the quality of legal services unique to the needs of aging individuals and those with disabilities, NAELA emphasizes the importance of continuing legal education, advocacy, and examining public policy issues. Membership in NAELA reflects a dedication to the highest professional and ethical standards, which includes adherence to the NAELA Aspirational Standards for the Practice of Elder and Special Needs Law.
In assuming her role, Pauline stated, “During my tenure, NY NAELA and its members will continue to strongly advocate for the legal and care needs of our growing elder population throughout New York State and support the elder law attorneys who do this important work.”
Grimaldi Yeung Law Group LLP, in announcing Pauline’s new role, stated that Pauline’s “integrity, dedication, and compassion” will continue to drive NAELA’s mission of serving older adults and people with disabilities through education, advocacy, and community.
Please join AABANY in congratulating Pauline on her new role as President of NY NAELA. We wish her all the best in this impactful endeavor.
