Tag: in-house counsel

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AABANY Hosts 2026 Annual Dinner: “Rising up to Meet the Future: Cultivating Tomorrow’s Leaders Today”

On May 28, 2026, the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) hosted its Annual Dinner under the theme: “Rising up to Meet the Future: Cultivating Tomorrow’s Leaders Today.” Held once again during Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month and at Cipriani Wall Street, the event welcomed more than 800 guests, including attorneys, judges, prosecutors, in-house counsel, government officials, and community leaders.

The evening began with an invitation-only General Counsel Reception in the Mezzanine. Shattering the records of prior years, around 70 General Counsels accepted AABANY’s invitation this year, along with many distinguished guests. We extend our deepest thanks to the General Counsel Reception sponsor, Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone LLP, for helping us launch the evening on a high note. We also thank Michael Wu, former General Counsel of Bath & Body Works, for helping us with reaching out to General Counsels to join the event.

Attendees who were not attending the General Counsel Reception gathered in the West Ballroom for the Cocktail Reception, where they reconnected and made new connections over hors d’oeuvres and drinks, including Cipriani’s signature bellini.

Our Master of Ceremonies Richard Lui, anchor at MS NOW and filmmaker, kicked off the program by highlighting AABANY’s myriad initiatives in the past year. Richard then invited Immediate Past President Benjamin C. Hsing, Senior Counsel at Bayes PLLC, to the stage for the Immediate Past President’s remarks. Ben welcomed everyone to the dinner and officially opened the dinner on a high note, reflecting on the prior fiscal year’s successes and achievements.

Industry Leadership Award

Following Ben’s remarks, AABANY proudly presented the 2026 Industry Leadership Award to Alvina Lo, Head of Advice, Planning, and Fiduciary Services at BNY Wealth. A tribute video introduced her as a thoughtful, pragmatic, and enthusiastic mentor and community builder. One colleague highlighted her innate “ability to connect with people” as vital to her many contributions in the trusts and estates legal field.

In her speech, Alvina began with a historical fact about Alexander Hamilton: he founded Bank of New York (BNY) in 1784, entrusting it with his family’s future assets and also making it the oldest continuously operating bank in America. As the leader of BNY Wealth’s strategic direction, Alvina continues that legacy by upholding the importance of trusts and estates law to the American Dream. She spoke of inheriting both “opportunity” and “responsibility” and the importance of building wealth in communities, because “[n]o one builds their wealth on their own.” Fittingly, she closed her remarks with another quote from the musical Hamilton: “What is a legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.”

The Law Firm Leadership Award 

Then, the AABANY Law Firm Leadership Award was presented to Morrison Foerster (MoFo), honoring their intentional and sustained efforts to mentor and sponsor attorneys, create meaningful leadership pathways, and support a culture of equal opportunity and professional development. MoFo is a global firm known for its work across litigation, transactions, and regulatory matters, with a longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. The firm’s holistic approach to talent development begins with its Keith Wetmore Fellowship for Excellence, Diversity, and Inclusion, and continues through the Wetmore Bridge Program, a two-year apprenticeship-style initiative.

Haima Marlier, a partner in MoFo’s Investigations + White Collar Defense Group, accepted the award alongside a group of MoFo attorneys. Haima described her pride in working at a “firm where everyone can belong.”

Celebration and Recognition

As guests enjoyed a delicious dinner of lamb, salmon, or vegetable peperonata, they took the opportunity to network and connect with fellow attendees. Yang Chen, Executive Director of AABANY, returned to the stage to recognize the many judges and dignitaries in attendance.

The event then took a moment to publicize the AABANY Leadership Development Program, a 6-month long interactive training course designed for AABANY members who are senior attorneys navigating the promotion process within their law firms and companies. A video presentation introduced the program and highlighted it as a candid, confidential, and community-building environment. 

Public Service Award

Next, AABANY proudly presented the 2026 Public Service Award to Hon. L. Austin D’Souza, recognizing his role as a lifelong public servant. Justice D’Souza is Supervising Judge of New York County Civil Court and an Acting Justice of the New York Supreme Court, Civil Term. A moving tribute video emphasized his devotion to his work, community, and family, and highlighted his ability to expand people’s views. 

In his speech, Justice D’Souza honored his mother as his first mentor, who told him at a young age to “Never stop helping.” Another role model told him early in his career that “You must be a judge,” a milestone he has achieved in the New York County Civil Court and as an appointee to multiple statewide judicial commissions addressing racial equity and anti-Asian hate. He emphasized the importance of mentorship, and how “interconnectedness is reflected in our personal lives,” because, importantly, “[w]e rise together.”

Corporate Leadership Award

The evening’s final honoree, Grace Fu, received the 2026 AABANY Corporate Leadership Award. Grace is currently a Chief Legal & Administrative Officer at Nanit, an AI-powered technology company based in New York City. The video tribute highlighted Grace as extremely capable, curious, kind, thoughtful, and as someone who “projects calmness and confidence” with a “genuine warmth.” 

Meaningful participation in community was a recurring theme in Grace’s speech, in which she described joining AABANY 10 years ago. Drawing upon experiencing anti-Asian hate as a child, she emphasized the importance of “meaningful participation” at every level of work and community, including AABANY’s Pro Bono Clinics and the AABANY Leadership Program. As a former member of AABANY’s Board of Directors, concluding her term at the end of fiscal year 2026, and Co-Chair of AABANY’s In-House Counsel Committee between 2016 and 2023, she closed with an impactful comment about her “renewed commitment to keep leading with integrity.”

Don H. Liu Scholars

After Grace was honored, the 2026-27 Don H. Liu Scholars—Junao Lin, Lucy Chen, and Joyce Park—were recognized for their academic excellence and leadership potential. Don Liu introduced each scholar and described their personal stories and journey into the legal field. The audience was moved by the resilience and determination woven through each of their paths, which included navigating first-generation experiences, finding belonging across two worlds, and transforming the challenges of the AANHPI immigrant life into purpose. In choosing law, each scholar spoke to something larger than a career—a commitment to advocacy, representation, and opening doors for the communities that shaped them.

President’s Remarks 

To bring the program to a close, AABANY President Varuna Bhattacharyya, Partner at Seyfarth Shaw LLP, delivered her speech, reflecting on a memorable evening, thanking the sponsors, presenters, and honorees who made the night possible, and celebrating the collective strength of the AABANY community. She explained that the theme for AABANY’s upcoming year, “Rising Up to Meet the Future: Cultivating Tomorrow’s Leaders Today,” originated from Oscar-winning animated movie K-Pop Demon Hunters. The movie’s viral song, “Golden,” has the lyrics “We’re going up, up, up,” which inspired AABANY’s theme this year. Looking to the coming year, Varuna spoke of embracing what’s to come: the “future is not abstract. It is here.” She noted that, “living in a time when the American Dream is being tested,” it becomes more important to “lift as we climb.”

Performance by Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company 

At the end of the evening, the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company took the stage, mesmerizing the audience with their blend of traditional and innovative contemporary dance. A leading AAPI professional dance company, they are known for bridging the grace of Asian elegance and American dynamism, fusing contemporary dance with martial arts, folk rhythms, Tai Chi, and Qigong.

Closing Remarks and Acknowledgements

Following the performance, AABANY President-elect John Hwang, Partner at Linklaters, took the stage to thank the many sponsors, officers, Board members, and Committee Chairs who made the night possible, expressing his excitement for the year to come.

The celebration continued with an afterparty in the Mezzanine, where guests mingled into the night.

We thank the 2026 Annual Dinner Planning Committee, chaired by AABANY President Varuna Bhattacharyya, as well as our staff and volunteers for their tireless work in making the evening a success.

We are especially grateful to our generous sponsors, whose support enables AABANY to continue its vital work on behalf of the AANHPI legal community and the broader community we serve. Special thank-yous and acknowledgement to our Diamond, GC Reception, Platinum, and Gold Sponsors:

Diamond: Broadridge 

General Counsel Reception: Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone

Platinum: 

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

Morrison Foerster

Skadden

Gold: 

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

Levine Lee LLP

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Lastly, we thank everyone who attended the 2026 Annual Dinner for making it  so special and memorable. Please find the event program here.  Photo albums from the 2026 Annual Dinner can be found here (on stage) and here (off stage). Thanks to J. McClinton Photography for the wonderful photos. Watch the videos from the Annual Dinner here. Thank you to Peter Chin for the wonderful videography.

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In the News: AABANY’s In-House Counsel Committee’s Fireside Chat with SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda

Photo Credit: Benjamin Hsing

The recent fireside chat featuring SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda, moderated by AABANY member and Bath & Body Works Chief Legal Officer Michael Wu, was reported on by Alyssa Aquino in a December 5, 2025 article in the New York Law Journal titled “SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda Reflects on Career in Fireside Chat.”

The event, which was organized by AABANY’s In-House Counsel Committee, took place on the evening of December 4th at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom’s New York City office.  Commissioner Uyeda, the first Asian-Pacific American to serve as an SEC Commissioner, shared insights into his career and offered valuable advice to the young professionals in attendance.

The article highlighted key takeaways from the conversation, including Commissioner Uyeda’s counsel on the necessity of gaining managerial experience throughout one’s career and the importance for capital markets attorneys to understand accounting. Uyeda, who began his tenure at the agency in 2006 as counsel to then-Commissioner Paul Atkins, humorously noted that even after 20 years since they first met, they are “still doing the same thing.”

To read the full article on Law.com, please click here.  (Subscription required)

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AABANY Hosts 2025 Annual Dinner at Cipriani Wall Street 

On May 29, 2025, the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) hosted its 36th Anniversary Annual Dinner at the elegant Cipriani Wall Street, under the theme: “Together We Thrive: The Power of Us!” Held once again during Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, the event welcomed approximately 750 guests, including attorneys, judges, prosecutors, in-house counsel, government officials, and community leaders.

The evening began with an invitation-only General Counsel Reception, attended by nearly 50 General Counsels and many invited guests. We extend our deepest thanks to the General Counsel Reception sponsor, Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone, for helping us launch the evening on a high note.

Simultaneously, guests gathered in the West Ballroom for the Cocktail Reception, where attendees reconnected, made new connections, and posed for photos at the step-and-repeat.

The program kicked off with a warm welcome by CeFaan Kim, returning as our Master of Ceremonies for the second year. He then invited Immediate Past President Joseph D. Eng Jr. to the stage. In his thoughtful remarks, Joseph reaffirmed AABANY’s commitment to empowering AAPI voices and encouraged the audience to uplift one another, noting, “The brightness of our futures depends not only on how we respond to challenges, but how we lift each other up in the process.”

Honoring Leadership and Service

AABANY proudly presented the 2025 Women’s Leadership Award to Professor Elaine Chiu of St. John’s University School of Law, recognizing her unwavering commitment to advancing inclusion and supporting students from marginalized communities. A moving tribute video chronicled her career and community service, including her leadership of AABANY’s Anti-Asian Violence Task Force and her role in publishing the landmark report, Endless Tide: The Continuous Struggle to Overcome Anti-Asian Hate in New York. In her speech,  Elaine acknowledged how nearly everyone in the room shared a respect for the law since “the law feeds and nourishes our families, but it also feeds and nourishes our beliefs about humanity, our country, and our identity as Americans.” She spoke about how, throughout her formative years and career, she always had wanted to help people and had faith and hope in the rule of law. She urged the audience to hold faith in the legal system and to “show up, stand up, and speak up.”

Next, Executive Director Yang Chen introduced the updated prologue to the documentary Voices Against Anti-Asian Hate, produced by AABANY’s Anti-Asian Violence Task Force. The documentary features interviews with survivors of anti-Asian hate crimes and community supporters. Yang announced that the documentary has been submitted to the Asian American International Film Festival and spoke of the film’s impact in sharing survivor stories and elevating awareness. With that, dinner was served. 

Celebration and Recognition

As guests enjoyed a delicious dinner, they took the opportunity to network and connect with fellow attendees. Yang Chen returned to the stage to recognize the many judges and dignitaries in attendance.

The Law Firm Leadership Award was then presented to Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, in recognition of the firm’s outstanding commitment to cultivating legal talent and building a pipeline of future leaders. Partner Eric Huang accepted the award on behalf of the firm.

The evening’s final honoree, Henry Hadad, received the 2025 AABANY Corporate Leadership Award. A video tribute highlighted his impactful career in intellectual property law and his dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. In his remarks, Henry honored role models like Sandra Leung and emphasized the role of IP law in the American Dream: “The ability to protect your inventions, brands, and artistic creations is part of the American Dream.” He closed with a powerful reminder: “Whatever your politics, the erosion of the law threatens us all… . We must protect the integrity of our legal system, our government, our courts, our judges, and our colleagues.”

Spotlight on the Don H. Liu Scholars

This year’s Don H. Liu Scholars—Chloe Guo, Mikka Vapor, and Teja Kim—were recognized for their achievements and potential. A short film highlighted the legacy of the program, followed by inspiring remarks from past Scholars Jin Kim and Manleen Singh, who shared the program’s lasting impact on their professional journeys.

Presidential Remarks and Closing

AABANY President Benjamin C. Hsing delivered his remarks with warmth and humor, acknowledging those who made the evening possible and recognizing the resilience of the legal profession in these challenging times. He spoke about the importance of providing “first chances”—opportunities that can launch careers and create lasting impact. He declared, “Together, through the power of us, we can do that!” 

Ben then welcomed President-Elect Varuna Bhattacharyya to close the evening. She encouraged attendees to become members, congratulated the honorees and Don Liu Scholars, and expressed her appreciation to the many sponsors, officers, Board members, and Committee Chairs who made the night possible.

Afterparty and Acknowledgments

The celebration continued at the Mezzanine afterparty, where guests mingled into the night until 11:00 PM.

We thank the 2025 Annual Dinner Planning Committee, all our volunteers, and President Benjamin C. Hsing for their tireless work in making the evening a success.

We are especially grateful to our generous sponsors, whose support enables AABANY to continue its vital work on behalf of the AANHPI legal community and the broader community we serve. Special thank-yous and acknowledgement to our Diamond, GC Reception, Platinum, and Gold Sponsors:

Diamond: Broadridge 

General Counsel Reception: Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone

Platinum: Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer (f/k/a Kramer Levin)

Gold: 

Lastly, we thank everyone who attended the 2025 Annual Dinner for making our 36th anniversary so special and memorable. You can view the photo albums from the 2025 Annual Dinner at the links below.

2025 Annual Dinner Photos by J. McClinton

2025 Annual Dinner Photos by Karen Zhou

2025 Annual Dinner Photos by Gerald Pineda

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NAPABA Connects | 2025 Application Now Open!

NAPABA Connects 2025

Applications Due: July 15, 2025

We’re excited to announce that the in-house counsel application is now open for NAPABA Connects, our premier program designed exclusively for in-house counsel NAPABA members who register for Convention and to Solo and Small Firm, Gold, or higher-level sponsors.

Through NAPABA Connects, in-house counsel will be matched with law firm attorneys for one-on-one meetings, giving you the opportunity to expand and diversify your preferred provider network. In addition to the opportunity to meet with new outside counsel, NAPABA will be offering in-house counsel the opportunity to meet with existing preferred provider firms. These curated meetings are designed to foster connection and long-term collaboration. By participating, both in-house counsel and law firm attorneys can strategically grow their networks and support each other’s professional advancement.

Don’t wait to submit your application—this is a program you don’t want to miss!

Apply Now

Please note that participants must be registered for the 2025 NAPABA Convention (November 6–8, Denver, CO). As part of this program, NAPABA will offer participating in-house counsel a partial Convention registration reimbursement depending on the number of meetings you volunteer to participate in. The maximum reimbursement amount is $750.

Questions? Contact programs@napaba.org.

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AABANY Hosts 2024 Annual Dinner at Cipriani Wall Street to Celebrate our 35th Anniversary

On Wednesday, May 22, 2024, AABANY hosted its 2024 Annual Dinner with the theme “Building a Strong Foundation for a Brighter Future” at Cipriani Wall Street. Celebrating the 35th Anniversary of AABANY, the event was hosted again during Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Month with over 700 attorneys, judges, prosecutors, in-house counsel, government officials, and dignitaries who came out to celebrate with us at the Annual Dinner.

The event began with an invite-only General Counsel Reception which was attended by 40 General Counsels and numerous sponsor guests. We thank our General Counsel Reception sponsor, Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone for helping us start off the night strong! To see the full list of General Counsels who accepted AABANY’s invitation, please click here.

The General Counsel Reception occurred simultaneously with a Cocktail Reception in the West Ballroom where numerous guests mingled, caught up with each other, made new connections, and took photos at the step-and-repeat.

After the Cocktail Reception, the dinner and program began with CeFaan Kim as the night’s excellent host and charismatic Master of Ceremonies. First course was already plated as CeFaan kicked off the program. He invited to the stage Karen Kim, Immediate Past President, to deliver her remarks as the outgoing President. She was followed by our first honoree, Iris Lan, Esq., recipient of AABANY’s Public Service Award.

Iris began her speech by praising AABANY for its work in preventing AAPI Hate, as well as its support for the AAPI legal community. To close out, Iris told a story attributed to United States Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson. The story was centered around three stone basins: “Each stone basin represents a judge or a lawyer,” Iris stated. “Some see their work as merely a way to earn a living. Others perhaps view their work as applying legal precedent molding their decision.” Iris then described the third stone basin as one that builds a “cathedral,” representing the building of a path for others to walk through. She thanked AABANY, as an embodiment of this third basin, for “building the cathedral of the future.”

After Iris received her reward, a short video was shown, celebrating 35 years of AABANY. It discussed the birth of AABANY as an organization established to support the community of AAPI legal professionals and the wider AAPI community. It then chronicled AABANY’s growth from a small group that would host social events to an organization with a wide-reaching mission and membership. It also delved into how AABANY contended with the COVID-19 pandemic and the uptick in anti-Asian hate, and the birth of the anti-Asian Violence Task Force. 

Following the 35th anniversary video, White & Case LLP was presented with the Law Firm Diversity Award for its dedication to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal field. Sylvia Chin accepted the award on behalf of the firm. Congratulations to White & Case on this well-deserved honor. To read more about the award, read the press release here.

After a brief time for guests to continue networking, AABANY was proud to honor the Honorable Denny Chin, United States Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, with AABANY’s Impact Leadership Award

Judge Chin delivered a powerful speech on the importance of resilience and highlighted some of his most memorable career moments, such as sentencing Bernie Madoff in 2009.   

In addition, we presented the 2024 class of Don H. Liu Scholars: Felicia Hou, Grace Koh and Yangji Sherpa. Read more about the program here. Before this year’s class of DHL Scholars was presented, a short film celebrated the tenth anniversary of this program and its many accomplished and worthy recipients.

The dinner ended with a short trailer for the documentary, Voices Against Anti-Asian Hate, produced by the AABANY Anti-Asian Violence Task Force. The film featured numerous victims and survivors of anti-Asian hate, including Justin Go, father of Michelle Go, who spoke eloquently about her murder in January 2022. After the trailer played, CeFaan Kim stated, “Do not be afraid, and make sure you are heard.”

Next, AABANY President Joseph Eng made closing remarks, celebrating community leaders, former presidents of AABANY, and founders in attendance, as well as discussing the “next 35 years” of AABANY, expressing the hope that the paths those leaders and founders had forged would become familiar ones for success. He envisioned a future where “exceptional is the norm,” where AAPI voices are strong and heard throughout the legal community and beyond, and where young AAPIs are encouraged and inspired to enter the profession. He finished by again congratulating the night’s award winners, thanking the sponsors, and finally thanking his wife, Alejandra. 

After the dinner, attendees who wished to extend the celebration went up to the Mezzanine for the afterparty, which continued until midnight.

We thank the AABANY 2024 Annual Dinner Planning Committee and volunteers for their hours of hard work to organize this annual dinner and making it a celebration to remember. Thank you to AABANY 2024 President Joseph Eng for his leadership of the 2024 Annual Dinner Planning Committee.

We gratefully acknowledge all our sponsors whose generous contributions allow us to continue our work of supporting the AANHPI legal community and the AANHPI community as a whole. Thank you to our top sponsors: 

Lastly, we thank everyone who attended the 2024 Annual Dinner for making our 35th anniversary so special and memorable. You can view the photo albums and videos from the 2024 Annual Dinner here. 

Please save the date for the 2025 Annual Dinner taking place on May 29, 2025. 

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NAPABA Connects: In-House Application EXTENDED DEADLINE

New Deadline to Apply: July 9 at 8 PM ET

The application to be a part of NAPABA Connects, an exclusive program available to in-house counsel convention registrants and Solo and Small Firm, Gold, or higher-level firm sponsors is still open. IHC Participants with two or more meetings with firms will be reimbursed for their Convention registration, up to $735.

In-house counsel and law firm participants will be matched for one-on-one meetings during the NAPABA Convention. All IHC participants are required to attend at least one NAPABA Connects touchpoint during the Convention November 7-10, 2024. Details will be given in further communications.

To participate as in-house counsel, you must fill out our application form. You can be matched with diverse law firm attorneys to cultivate new business relationships, or you may choose from a list of participating firms to expand your network with existing provider firms who may be in your preferred network. NAPABA will also send a list of all certified minority or women-owned firms to participating companies that may already have a preferred provider firm list.

Apply Now

The deadline to submit an application is Tuesday, July 9 at 8 pm ET. For questions, please contact Strategic Partnerships Manager Naomi Mortensen.

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The In-House Counsel Committee Hosts a Dinner at Sagaponack

On April 23, 2024, the AABANY In-House Counsel Committee held its first dinner of the fiscal year at Sagaponack in Manhattan’s Flatiron neighborhood. Committee members gathered to enjoy a family-style seafood dinner while getting to know new and old faces in their field. 

As the appetizers rolled in, Committee Co-Chair Kazuko Wachter began the dinner with introductions, which was followed by a table full of conversations about individual experiences working in-house and their lives outside the office. Aimed at senior in-house counsel attorneys, this dinner featured members with long-term experience in their respective companies, many of whom work in the Fintech industry. With ten people in attendance, the dinner encouraged close and personal discussions among the attendees. From talking about their busy work days to sharing their favorite K-Dramas, the event was a chance for the members to get to know each other and hopefully stay connected. 

The Committee hopes its members will use these dinners to create relationships and expand their network with attorneys who share similar interests and experiences working in-house. For more information about the In-House Counsel Committee, visit their page here.

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2024 NAPABA Awards

Deadline to Submit Nominations | Tuesday, June 4, 2024

Join NAPABA in honoring outstanding attorneys and organizations that have made an impact in the legal profession within Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific (AANHPI) communities by submitting a nomination for the 2024 NAPABA Awards!

Join us November 7-10 in Seattle as we celebrate them and all of our membership at the 2024 NAPABA Convention. 

Here are just a few of the awards we’re seeking nominations for. Visit our Awards page to see all of the awards, requirements, and information for application.

The NAPABA Military and Veteran Service Award recognizes individuals within the AANHPI legal community serving the U.S. Armed Forces as uniformed personnel, civilians or veterans and is meant to acknowledge AANHPI attorneys who exhibit the highest integrity, competency, and commitment to serving others, the AANHPI community, and their country and whose character and commitment reflect the highest standards of the Armed Forces. Last year’s recipient, Lieutenant Colonel Brian Song, has exhibited those qualities in his military and legal service. Learn more about Brian. 

The NAPABA Pro Bono Service Award recognizes an attorney or a team of attorneys for outstanding achievements in pro bono service that involved impact litigation to advance or protect civil rights or provided direct legal services to individuals in the furtherance of the administration of justice.

Last year’s honoree, Jennifer Wu, has shown her commitment to service in her client-centered approach and community leadership. Learn more about Jennifer.

The NAPABA Women’s Leadership Award recognizes the accomplishments of women lawyers and is presented to an individual who has achieved excellence in her field or who has demonstrated leadership and advancement of women or women’s issues.

Last year’s honoree, Jenny Ma, is an experienced litigator leading reproductive rights cases in state and federal courts. Learn more about Jenny.

The NAPABA Public Sector Leadership Award seeks to honor a NAPABA member in the public sector (government, non-profit, legal aid – federal or state) for their outstanding achievements in their legal profession.

Last year’s honoree, Jonathan Cruz, is the Deputy Attorney General for the California Department of Justice. Learn more about Jonathan.


The NAPABA In House Counsel Diversity Leadership Award honors an in-house NAPABA member who has demonstrated leadership and a commitment towards supporting NAPABA partners and diversity in the legal profession.Last year’s honorees, Ivan Fong and Simone Wu, exemplify leadership. Learn more about both of them.

The NAPABA In-House Counsel Rising Star Diversity Leadership Award honors an in-house NAPABA member with 10 or less years of in-house experience who has demonstrated leadership and commitment towards supporting NAPABA partners and diversity in the legal profession.

Please note: To be considered in the selection process nominees must be a NAPABA member. A NAPABA membership helps legal professionals raise their professional profile by providing members with exclusive opportunities and national recognition through awards. Not a member? Learn more on how to become a member today! 

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NAPABA In-House Counsel Mentoring Program – Why Join?

Applications Due October 17, 2023

The NAPABA In-House Counsel Mentoring Program has operated for nearly two decades and is responsible for hundreds of professional relationships that have resulted in the development of in-house counsel leaders who have shined in their career.

This program provides mentee attorneys the opportunity to expand their professional network and find meaningful support and connection with other diverse attorneys who understand the challenges of the practice and can foster new ideas that inspires career growth. Mentors will harness their leadership skills and expertise to pass along perspective, wisdom, and practical skills gained throughout their career.

Interested in Applying?

The deadline to apply is October 17, 2023. For questions, please contact Sumbal Abid, Operations Manager.


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AABANY Labor & Employment Law Hosts Kick-Off Meeting at Littler Mendelson, P.C.


The Labor & Employment Law (“L&E”) Committee of AABANY held its kick-off meeting on the evening of June 8, 2023 in person at Littler Mendelson, P.C.’s New York City office.  20 people attended the kick-off meeting: practicing attorneys (including the L&E Committee chairs), law students, and recent law school graduates.  At this kick-off meeting, the L&E Committee chairs and all attendees introduced themselves to the rest of the group; firm attorneys, in-house counsel, a mediator/arbitrator, and other legal professionals shared their respective experiences in the profession to provide some advice to the law students, recent graduates, and junior attorneys in the room.  Following this initial portion of the kick-off event, all attendees networked and conversed over light refreshments for the rest of the evening.

The L&E Committee will be creating more networking opportunities by hosting more meetings, informational panels or sessions, and social events throughout the rest of the year.  The next event is currently being planned.  Once the details for the next L&E Committee event are finalized, we will update the AABANY calendar and send email updates.  If you are interested in attending our future L&E Committee events (which are sometimes also co-hosted by other AABANY committees), please check AABANY’s calendar and update your email preference in your account to receive the L&E Committee’s emails. 

For more information on the L&E Committee, click here.  Additionally, if you have any ideas or suggestions for an event through the L&E Committee, please fill out AABANY’s “Contact Us” form.

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