World Journal’s Report on the AABANY/NYCLA Reception for Glenn Lau-Kee
World Journal’s Report on the AABANY/NYCLA Reception for Glenn Lau-Kee
知名律師劉德光之子劉藹明律師(Glenn Lau-Kee)去年當選紐約州律師公會(New York State Bar Association)2014年度主席，自去年6月1日起作為準主席(president-elect)累積經驗，並於今年6月1日正式開始主席職務。16日，紐約州律師公會及亞裔律師協會舉辦劉藹明就任慶祝活動，劉藹明鼓勵後進加入律師公會，幫助法律與時俱進、讓社會更公正。 64歲的劉藹明畢業於耶魯學院和波士頓大學法學院，1977年加入父親於1956年設立的Kee & Lau-Kee律師樓，他精通於地產和商業法，曾於1997年至1999年出任紐約亞裔律師協會主席。從去年6月1月起，劉藹明先出任紐約州律師公會準主席，今年6月1日…
Translated article:
On June 16, 2014, New York County Lawyers Association (NYCLA) and Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) held a reception to congratulate Glenn Lau-Kee for becoming the first Asian American to lead the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA).
Glenn Lau-Kee graduated from Yale College and Boston University School of Law. In 1977, he joined Kee & Lau-Kee, PLLC, a firm founded by his father in 1956. Ever since, Lau-Kee has concentrated his practice in real estate and business law. From 1997 to 1999, Lau-Kee served as President of AABANY. On June 1, 2014, following his year as President-Elect, Lau-Kee assumed office as President of NYSBA.
In his reception remarks, Lau-Kee expressed his belief that the law should continue to change to keep up with modern times and innovative technology. In the upcoming year, he plans to make efforts to amend outdated and impractical laws. In his term as President, he also plans to better publicize the association and to attract more young attorneys to join. He personally intends to visit fifteen law schools in the state of New York to build a better connection between practicing attorneys and law students.
Lau-Kee joined NYSBA fourteen years ago. As one of the earliest Asian American members of NYSBA, Lau-Kee is proud to serve as its current president. His leadership is a signal of not only NYSBA’s but the legal profession’s increasing openness to people of different sexes and ethnicities.
(Translation courtesy of Phil Chen.)
NAPABA APPLAUDS APPOINTMENT OF JENNY R. YANG AS CHAIR OF EEOC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Septemeber 2, 2014
Contact: Tina Matsuoka
(202) 775-9555
WASHINGTON – Today, President Obama appointed Jenny R. Yang as Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Yang’s appointment will make her the first Asian Pacific American to serve as permanent Chair.
“NAPABA applauds the Administration for the appointment of Jenny Yang as Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission,” said William J. Simonitsch, president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA). “Ms. Yang is a talented and accomplished lawyer and advocate who understands the mission of the EEOC. Her elevation to EEOC Chair is much deserved and highlights the Administration’s dedication to elevating women of color to leadership positions.”
Prior to her appointment as EEOC Chair, Yang was Vice Chair of the EEOC where she led its efforts on behalf of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. She also worked with former EEOC Chair Jacqueline Berrien to improve enforcement of equal pay laws with the White House Equal Pay Task Force. After graduation from law school, Yang clerked for the Hon. Edmund Ludwig of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and worked with the 1992-93 Presidential Transition Team. She later became a senior trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Employment Litigation Section. From the Department of Justice, Yang joined the law firm of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC until her appointment to the EEOC.
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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American (APA) attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of over 40,000 attorneys and approximately 70 national, state, and local 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 engages in legislative and policy advocacy, promotes APA political leadership and political appointments, and builds coalitions within the legal profession and the community at large. NAPABA also serves as a resource for government agencies, members of Congress, and public service organizations about APAs in the legal profession, civil rights, and diversity in the courts.
At the NYCLA-AABANY Reception for Glenn Lau-Kee, NYSBA’s 117th President and the first Asian American President of NYSBA, Past AABANY President Vince Chang, Margaret Ling, Chair of NYCLA’s Asian Practice Committee and Director on AABANY’s Board, and Norman Kee, Glenn’s father, introduce Glenn to present his speech to all who gathered for the celebration. Thanks to Francis Chin, Director on AABANY’s Board, for the video.
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
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On July 16th, NYCLA and AABANY honored Glenn Lau-Kee for his historical accomplishment of becoming the 117th President of the New York State Bar Association and the first Asian-American to hold this position.
Margaret Ling, Chair of NYCLA’s Asian Practice Committee and co-chair of AABANY’s Real Estate Committee, began the program by introducing Presiding Justice of the Second Department, Hon. Randall T. Eng, to present the first remarks of the evening.
Margaret then introduced representatives from the many organizations Glenn has impacted or been part of, many of whom shared personal stories of their work with or connection to Glenn. Among the speakers were Lewis Tesser, President of NYCLA, Bridgette Ahn, Vice President of Programs and Committees for KALAGNY, Nadine Fontaine, Immediate Past President of the Metropolitan Black Bar Association, Rosevelie Marquez Morales, Co-Chair of NYSBA’s Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, Alex Lee, Vice President of Finance and Development for NAPABA, and Clara Ohr, President of AABANY.
NYCLA’s Solo and Small Firm Committee was a co-sponsor of the event, and Co-Chairs Tsui Yee and Paige Zandri offered remarks on behalf of that committee. Tsui also co-chairs AABANY’s Immigration and Nationality Law Committee. Vince Chang, a Past President of AABANY, presented remarks on behalf of NYCLA’s Federal Courts Committee, another co-sponsor of the event.
Representatives from Federal, State and City government were on hand to honor Glenn. The Governor’s Office, represented by Mecca Santana, Chief Diversity Officer, presented a greeting letter from the Governor to Glenn. Sandra Ung, Chief Legislative Assistant for Congresswoman Grace Meng, presented a commendation to Glenn from Congresswoman Meng’s office. Jimmy Yan, Chief Deputy General Counsel for New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, offered congratulations on behalf of the Comptroller.
All of the speakers extolled Glenn for his outstanding record of leadership and status as a significant role model for Asian American, minority and under-represented groups.
After all the speeches were given, Glenn’s father, Norman Kee, a trailblazer in his own right, introduced Glenn. Glenn expressed his gratitude for the honors bestowed upon him at the reception. He urged everyone, especially young lawyers, to get involved in bar associations – any bar association – as a way to develop as lawyers and serve the profession.
Congratulations to Glenn on his historic achievement, and thanks to Margaret Ling for organizing the reception and NYCLA for hosting it. Thanks to all the government officials, bar leaders, friends and family who came out to celebrate.
AABANY Joins KALCA in Congratulating Kevin Kim on his Appointment as New York State Liquor Authority Commissioner
KALCA has shared the news of Kevin Kim’s appointment as the first Asian American Commissioner of the New York State Liquor Authority. Kevin is a graduate of Columbia Law School, a former clerk for Hon. Denny Chin and was an associate at Davis Polk. AABANY joins KALCA in congratulating Commissioner Kim on his appointment. For the full press click here
Congratulations to Hon. Doris Ling-Cohan
Justice Doris Ling-Cohan, a member of AABANY’s first Board elected in 1991, has been appointed to the Appellate Term of the First Department. This court hears appeals from New York’s Civil and Criminal Courts.
Justice Ling-Cohan is the first APA woman to serve on an appellate panel in New York state. In 2002, she became the first APA woman elected to New York State Supreme Court. In 2005, she authored the groundbreaking decision in Hernandez v Robles, becoming the first New York state trial judge to rule in favor of same sex marriage.
Please join AABANY in congratulating Justice Doris Ling-Cohan on this major milestone in her judicial career.