2024 NAPABA Convention: Punchlines and Punditry: Acclaimed Comedian and Keynote Zarna Garg and Gala Host Katie Phang are AANHPI Women Lawyers who are Scripting their own Headlines

Gala Keynote Speaker | Zarna Garg

NAPABA is thrilled to announce that our keynote speaker for the 2024 NAPABA Convention will be Zarna Garg.

A comedy trailblazing Indian immigrant mom from New York City, she masterfully infuses humor, wit, and fearless social commentary into her comedy special for Amazon Prime, “One in a Billion,” and her insightful podcast, “The Zarna Garg Family Show,” dissecting modern family dynamics. She headlined her sold-out Practical People Win tour and is the opener for comedy legends Tina Fey and Amy Poehler on their Restless Leg Tour. Zarna has also crossed over to the film world, starring in “A Nice Indian Boy.” Her comedy has been praised by The New York Times and Variety, and with appearances at the prestigious Just For Laughs Comedy Tour and Netflix is a Joke Festival.

Zarna has firmly established herself as a staple in the comedy world. Boasting a devoted social media following of 2M+, she passionately advocates for change and representation in comedy.

Host | Katie Phang

We’re also excited to announce the dynamic MSNBC’s Katie Phang will be joining us as our Gala Host!

The host of “The Katie Phang Show” on MSNBC, she also serves as a Legal Contributor for NBC News/MSNBC, leveraging her significant trial experience to provide analysis and commentary on the latest legal issues across the globe. “The Katie Phang Show” sheds light on the intersection of law, politics and culture on the local and national levels.

She recently hosted MSNBC’s “The Culture Is: AAPI Women,” featuring a thought-provoking roundtable dialogue with seven Asian American and Pacific Islander women who are shaping American culture. She also writes columns for MSNBC Daily and previously co-hosted CNBC’s primetime show, “Money Court.”

She was a trial attorney and media relations/crisis management consultant who received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law after earning her B.A. in Political Science (with an International Relations concentration) from Yale University. As a Miami-based trial attorney, Phang was the Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Phang & Feldman and she practiced law focusing on commercial litigation, family law, real estate litigation, hospitality litigation, and criminal defense & special investigations. Katie has been awarded the AV-Preeminent Rating in Litigation, Bankruptcy, Criminal Law, & Family Law, and has been recognized as a Super Lawyer and Top Lawyer in Corporate and Business Law for several years.

November 6, 2023November 6, 2023

2023 NAPABA Convention | Gala Lineup

November 9-12, 2023 | Indianapolis, IN

The NAPABA Convention promises to be an unforgettable convening—one of the largest legal conferences in the nation. We are thrilled to welcome you and nearly 2,000 of your friends and colleagues to Indiana next week!

Our capstone event, the NAPABA 35th Anniversary Gala, will not only be a celebration of the accomplishments of our community, but also a recognition of the challenges that remain. We will highlight the diverse voices of our community, including the LGBTQ+ community. To that end, our Gala emcee Maulik Pancholy, a celebrated actor and author, and renowned activist will guide us through the evening. We are grateful to our featured speaker, Mia Yamamoto, a pioneering leader, attorney, and transgender activist who has devoted her life in service of others and will share her unique perspectives with us. It’s a Convention you won’t want to miss!

About Our Emcee | Maulik Pancholy

Recognizable from his roles on shows such as 30 Rock, Weeds, Whitney, Phineas and Ferb, and Sanjay and Craig, Maulik Pancholy is an award-winning actor, author and activist whose career has spanned hit television shows, animated series, the Broadway stage, and films.

Maulik’s debut middle-grade novel, The Best at It, is a Stonewall Honor Award winner, a Junior Library Guild Selection, included in Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best Books of 2019, listed as one of Evanston Public Library’s 101 Great Books for Kids, and is in development for television at HBO Max.

It has received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist. Drawn from his own experience, The Best at It, is about a twelve-year-old, gay, Indian American boy coming into his own. It has been called, at once, “exuberant and heart-wrenching.” Released in 2022, his second novel, Nikhil Out Loud, has been named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection and received a starred review from Kirkus.

Maulik was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2014 to serve on the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). As a Commissioner, he co-founded the anti-bullying campaign, acttochange.org, which he continues to chair today.

For his advocacy on behalf of the AANPHI and LGBTQIA+ communities, he has received an Asian American Arts Alliance Award, the Human Rights Campaign’s Visibility Award, and was named to Out Magazine’s Top 100 list. He delivers keynote addresses on the topics of diversity and inclusion — and the importance of telling our own stories — in corporate settings as well as at universities and schools across the country.

About Our Keynote Speaker | Mia F. Yamamoto

Born in 1943 while her parents were incarcerated at the Poston Concentration Camp in Arizona, Mia Yamamoto’s life was shaped by the experiences in the camp as well as the politics and racial divide of the country before, during and after internment. She went on to serve in the U.S. Army, 4th Infantry Division, and was awarded a number of commendations and medals recognizing her service to the country during the Vietnam War.

She attended the UCLA School of Law, where she co-founded the Asian and Pacific Islander Student Organization. She went on to serve her community as a lawyer with the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles and as a public defender. Since 1985, she’s been in private practice.

Proudly and openly out as transgender, Mia has brought her personal experiences to build and guide organizations such as the Multi-Cultural Bar Alliance, a coalition of women’s, minority, and LGBT bar associations of Los Angeles that she co-founded; the Japanese American Bar Association as past president; and the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Southern California, which she also co-founded. Mia also served on the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Commission of the American Bar Association and is a founding Board member for International Bridges to Justice, a human rights nonprofit providing due process and rule of law education, along with advocacy against investigative torture.

She is a frequent media commentator on issues relating to criminal law and a variety of related issues and brings a unique perspective that we’re honored to bring to our Gala.

Get Your Tickets for the Gala

The 35th Anniversary Gala tickets are available for purchase a la carte when you register for the 2023 NAPABA Convention. If you would like to attend, simply add the Gala to your registration for an additional fee when you register.

October 2, 2023October 17, 2023

AABANY Honored with OCA-NY Asian Pacific American Advocates of New York’s Community Award

On the evening of September 22, 2023, OCA-NY Asian Pacific American Advocates of New York presented a Community Award to AABANY. Honorees gathered in Chinatown to attend OCA-NY’s Community Service and Leadership Awards Gala, hosted at the House of Joy on Pell Street in Manhattan Chinatown.

OCA-NY is a national non-profit civil rights organization, dedicated to “promoting and protecting the political, economic, and cultural rights of Asian Pacific Americans in America.” Founded in 1973, OCA was established to advocate for Asian Americans on the national level, providing a robust platform for representation and change for Asian Americans across America. OCA’s New York Chapter hosts a variety of programs, focused on transforming public policy and engaging in active community advocacy.

This year’s Community Service and Leadership Awards Gala was the first in-person gala hosted by the New York chapter since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The gala celebrated a wide range of renowned local leaders, as well as organizations that have made significant contributions to the community. AABANY congratulates our fellow honorees:

Tzi Ma, Lifetime Achievement Award
Assemblymember Steven Raga, Leadership Award
Mohamed Q. Amin, Trailblazer Award
Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, Community Award

As recognized by OCA-NY, AABANY has made significant contributions to the AAPI community through various initiatives and programs. Established in 2015, AABANY’s Pro Bono clinic has provided crucial legal assistance and support to members of the AAPI community who may be facing legal challenges but are hindered in finding legal advice and information that is linguistically and culturally accessible. This initiative has been supported by AABANY’s Legal Referral and Information Service (LRIS), started in 2020. Since then, LRIS has served as a vital resource for individuals seeking legal representation, ensuring that community members have access to reliable legal information and can connect with qualified attorneys who can assist them with their legal needs by speaking their language and understanding their cultural background and context. Responding to rising incidents of anti-Asian hate and violence, AABANY has also established an Anti-Asian Violence Task Force. Active since 2021, the Task Force has worked tirelessly to raise awareness, advocate for policy change, and provide support to victims and their families. Collectively, these initiatives reflect AABANY’s unwavering commitment to serving and advocating for the AAPI community, making a positive impact on and advancing the well-being of the AAPI community in New York and beyond.

At the gala, former AABANY President Vince Chang presented the award to AABANY, which was accepted by Yang Chen, Executive Director. OCA-NY presented each honoree with a Chinese character, rendered in calligraphy and framed, which OCA-NY believes best represented each honoree. AABANY’s character was 廉 (lián), symbolizing “fairness and integrity.”

Many members of AABANY’s leadership attended the gala to commemorate our accomplishments alongside those of other distinguished community leaders. At AABANY’s table were:

Karen Kim, President
Yang Chen, Executive Director
Vince Chang, Former President (and Immediate Past President of the New York County Lawyers Association, its first AAPI President)
Beatrice Leong, Co-Vice President of Programing & Operations
Francis Chin, Director of Technology, Professional Development Committee Co-Chair
Nandar Win Kerr, Professional Development Committee Vice-Chair
May Wong, Pro Bono and Community Service Committee Vice-Chair
Kevin Hsi, Government Service & Public Interest Committee Co-Chair

Also in attendance were: Yen-Yi Anderson, Solo & Small Firm Practice Committee Co-Chair; Glenn Magpantay, LGBT Committee Co-Chair; Richard In, active member; Tim Wong, former Treasurer.

The Community Service and Leadership Awards Gala at the House of Joy was a remarkable gathering that celebrated not only AABANY’s accomplishments, but also the collective strength of our community. AABANY extends our sincere appreciation to our colleagues, supporters, and the AABANY leadership who took part in the celebration. Together, our work reaffirms and reinforces our shared vision of building a brighter, more equitable future for New York’s AAPI community.

August 15, 2023August 15, 2023

Thank You Letter from Kate Siahaan-Rigg and Special Message for Our AABANY Members!

This year, we had the privilege of having the wonderful Kate Siahaan-Rigg, a remarkable actress, comedian, and activist, as our Master of Ceremonies (MC). She was our MC last year during our 2022 Annual Dinner, and now, it is our honor to have her again to host this year’s event.

Following the 2023 Annual Dinner, Kate asked us to share this message with you all:

Hello AABANY members,

I had such a wonderful time hosting the gala [on May 23], meeting some of the incredible membership, and honoring your achievements collectively in uplifting our community. I forgot to tell everyone to save the date September 25 for the next DisOrientalism event I’m curating hosting in New York – there will be discounts for AABANY members! And also to, please follow me on Instagram @kateriggnyc to keep connected and show support for AAPI artists. CongratulAsians on a very successful event!!!

Kate

Thank you, Kate, for being a terrific MC. We will be on the lookout for news about DisOrientalism and try to get a group together to go. Stay tuned!

April 25, 2022April 25, 2022

An Invitation to Flushing Town Hall’s Happy Birthday Gala

Veronica Y. Tsang, Presenting Sponsor | Queens College, City University of New York, Presenting Sponsor

On Thursday, June 9, 2022 at 6pm, Flushing Town Hall’s Happy Birthday Gala will celebrate the historic building’s 160th birthday. We are thrilled to be honoring NYC Council Speaker Adrienne E. Adams, the first Black woman Speaker of the NYC Council, and a proud representative of Queens’ 28th City Council District; and Frank Wu, the first Asian American President of Queens College, City University of New York, for his contributions to the University, Flushing, and larger Queens community.

The evening will consist of cocktails in the gallery, a sit-down dinner in the theater, and live entertainment throughout—all supporting Flushing Town Hall’s mission of providing global arts for a global community.

LEARN MORE & PURCHASE NOW

For more information or to make your purchase via check, please contact Jessica Peña at [email protected].

November 11, 2019

AABANY at NAPABA Gala Dinner

Congratulations to NAPABA on a successful National Convention in Austin, Texas. Affiliates from around the country gathered to celebrate with NAPABA at its 31st Anniverary Gala Dinner held on Saturday night, Nov. 9, in the Grand Ballroom of the JW Marriott in Austin. Comedian Sheng Wang hosted the evening, and the Keynote Speaker was Chef Kristen Kish, owner of Arlo Grey, in conversation with restaurant critic Soleil Ho. Congratulations also to all the honorees who were presented with awards at the Gala:

Military and Veteran Service Award – Capt Lia Mitoko Reynolds
APA Owned Law Firm Award – Willenken LLP
Law Firm Diversity Award – Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
Pro Bono Award – Karen King
Women’s Leadership Award – Debbie Shon
Presidents Award – Dale Ho

AABANY was honored to be presented with the Affiliate of the Year Award. Read more about that here.

AABANY members could be found filling a few tables at the Gala Dinner … but where was Executive Director Yang Chen? He was unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict. That did not stop Membership Director Beatrice Leong from creating a cardboard version of our ED to attend the Gala and then join the AABANY group photo at the NAPABA Convention. Thank you, Beatrice!

November 5, 2018

NAPABA 30th Anniversary Gala: Spotlight on Women

As it celebrates our 30th anniversary, NAPABA is proud to feature an all-women speaker lineup for its Gala and plenary luncheons. It is through their unique perspectives that we shine the spotlight on women who have broken through male-dominated industries, who promote diversity, inclusion, and equity in our workplaces, and those who simply make us laugh! Advance rates are available until Nov. 4 at 11:59 p.m. CDT. Register today to take advantage of additional discounts by clicking here!

Gala headliner Aparna Nancherla started out doing comedy in her hometown of Washington D.C. and now resides in New York City. 2016’s Elle’s Women in Comedy Issue, featured her as one of the most exciting new voices to hit the comedy scene. She is a series regular in the debut season of Comedy Central’s Corporate and has reprised her role in season 2 of HBO’s CRASHING. Aparna is also featured in the second season of Netflix’s The Standups. Other television credits include Netflix’s Master of None and LOVE, HBO’s High Maintenance Comedy Central’s Inside Amy Schumer, appearing as a US correspondent for Dave’s (UK) Unspun with Matt Forde, and Hulu’s I Love You, America with Sarah Silverman. In 2018 she makes her feature debut in the Paul Feig movie A Simple Favor. Her TV stand up appearances include Seeso’s stand up series Night Train with Wyatt Cenac, season 2 of Comedy Central’s Meltdown as well as Adam Devine’s House Party. In 2013, she made her late night stand up debut on TBS’s Conan and was one of the breakout New Faces at the prestigious Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal. Her TV writing credits include Late Night with Seth Meyers as well as being a regular correspondent/writer on FX’s Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell. She is also an alumna of the NBC Stand Up for Diversity program and currently headlines throughout the world and has been seen at a number of festivals including Comedy Central’s Clusterfest, Portland’s Bridgetown Comedy Festival, Moontower, SF Sketchfest, DC’s Bentzen Ball, Outside Lands, Bonnaroo and Dublin’s Vodaphone Comedy Festival. Aparna’s been featured on and in NPR, Reader’s Digest, The Huffington Post, The Washington Post Magazine, XM Radio, and Slate V. She can regularly be seen performing at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade’s in LA and NYC. Her debut album Just Putting It Out There was released in July 2016 by Tig Notaro’s label Bentzen Ball Records and hit the #4 on Billboard Comedy Charts.

Seating for the Gala will open at 5:30 pm and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Gala tickets are included with all full registrations and guest tickets may be purchased for $275.

Plenary Luncheons are taking place on the following dates with the following speakers:
Thursday, Nov. 8: A Conversation with Tina Tchen*
Friday, Nov. 9: Two Words: Inclusion Rider with Kalpana Kotagal
Saturday, Nov. 10: Beyond #MeToo with Jane Liu, Lisa Mak, Emily Patajo, Sharyn Tejani, and Jenny Yang

*Advance registration required

June 25, 2018December 4, 2018

February 5, 2018

Register for the Southeast Regional Conference in Atlanta, GA!

Atlanta, GA | April 12-13, 2018
Hosted by Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association (GAPABA)

REGISTRATION
Registration for the Southeast Regional Conference, hosted by Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association, is now open! The conference will take place at the InterContinental Hotel in Buckhead and kick off with GAPABA’s Annual Gala on April 12 followed by continuing legal education sessions on April 13. Click here to register.

HOTEL
GAPABA is proud to partner with the InterContinental Hotel Buckhead for the Southeast Regional Conference & Gala. The InterContinental is offering a block of discounted rooms at a rate of $189 plus taxes and fees. Click here to make a reservation.

GOLF TOURNAMENT
GAPABA is also hosting a Golf Tournament on the morning of April 12 to benefit the NAPABA Law Foundation and GAPABA Law Foundation. Click here to learn more about the Golf Tournament.

SPONSOR THE CONFERENCE
Consider sponsoring the Southeast Regional Conference. View our sponsorship packages here.

Visit us at www.gapaba.org/gala to learn more about the Southeast Regional Conference.

January 22, 2018December 4, 2018