On Wednesday, March 6th, the AABANY IP Committee gathered once again to enjoy a delightful evening of Korean cuisine at Barn Joo Nomad near Koreatown. The spacious table, accommodating 20 attendees, sparked meaningful conversation accompanied by an array of family-style Korean dishes. Dinner commenced, accompanied by yuzu and sesame-infused drinks, beers, and more. As conversation flowed, a variety of dishes filled the table, featuring spicy fried chicken, dumplings, squid ink pasta, kimbap, and salads.
The dinner sparked connections beyond intellectual property law, as law students, recent graduates, and attorneys specializing in various disciplines engaged in discussions ranging from building their law firms to pursuing careers in government-related IP roles. Beyond the topic of law, committee members took the opportunity to share personal endeavors and shared insights with the younger generation on navigating their careers.
The IP Committee continues to welcome new faces and nurture connections with existing members through casual dinners and other activities. If you are interested in IP law or wish to bond over Asian delicacies and shared professional experiences, please be on the lookout for future events from this committee!
To learn more about the IP Committee and how you can get involved, go here.
On June 20, 2023, the IP Committee hosted the next of its “Dumplings & Discussion” series at Fish & Richardson (“Fish”) with Kelly Koyama-Garcia as the guest speaker. She is the SVP, Corporate Secretary & General Counsel at Louis Vuitton America. Participants enjoyed pork and chive dumplings, Buddha’s Delight, chicken dumplings, and many other Chinese dishes. Jeffrey Mok, IP Committee Co-Chair and Principal at Fish, moderated the discussion and kicked it off by asking Kelly her favorite type of dumpling. Without a second thought, Kelly revealed that it is Xiao Long Bao from Din Tai Fung.
Over the course of the evening, Kelly openly shared her unique experiences that have led her to her current position at Louis Vuitton Americas. Outside of her work, Kelly is an active member of AABANY and the co-chair of the Retail Law Practice Group at the Association of Corporate Counsel. Kelly shared her personal experiences that have paved the way for choosing the legal profession and navigating challenging moments as an Asian female leader in her industry.
Kelly recounted the start of her interest in the legal profession after interning in D.C. for Congressman Patrick Kennedy in her junior year of college. Surrounded by law students and former lawyers, Kelly was inspired by her colleagues to apply to Boston University Law School and became the first in her family to attend law school. She began her career at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton in New York specializing in bankruptcy for five years before joining McGraw-Hill as an in-house counsel focusing on mergers and acquisitions. She pointed out the different skill sets she had to learn transitioning from working at a law firm to working in-house. As Kelly tackled challenges of her position at McGraw-Hill, she also had a clearer idea of how she wanted to progress from there. She recalled applying to a broad range of industries, including fashion and retail, when a serendipitous rejection from DKNY referred her to a position at Marc Jacobs. Kelly took a proactive approach at Marc Jacobs which allowed her to tackle a plethora of legal projects by establishing the first in-house legal department for the brand. In the ten years she spent working at Marc Jacobs, she maintained meaningful relationships, one of whom interviewed her for her current position at Louis Vuitton Americas in 2018.
Kelly talked about her day-to-day responsibilities at Louis Vuitton and how she creatively strategized for whatever issue came up. At a brand where the legal structure differs greatly from other companies, the biggest legal concerns Kelly finds herself dealing with are consumer-facing privacy laws and compliance that are ever changing.
Kelly’s journey elicited many thought-provoking questions from all the attorneys attending and she also shared some moments of prejudice she encountered as a woman and person of color. Despite how far she has come since her first day as an associate, Kelly still encounters racism and sexism in her industry. She highlights the importance of visibility and representation by drawing strength from her personal experiences and recognizes that much still needs to be done.
After the in-depth discussion and lively Q&A that followed, attendees continued to enjoy drinks and food during the networking reception that capped the event.
Thanks to Jeff Mok, Co-Chair of the IP Committee for organizing a well-attended and insightful program. To learn more about the IP Committee and how you can get involved, go here.
On May 31, 2023, AABANY’s Student Outreach and IP Committee hosted a virtual panel titled “What Do IP Lawyers Do?” The event, held on Zoom from 6:30-7:30 pm EDT, featured insightful discussions and valuable insights from industry professionals. Opening remarks were delivered by William Lee, SOC Vice Chair, setting the stage for an engaging conversation.
The panel was moderated by Chenyun Ma (Columbia Law School) and Kristen Liu (Seton Hall Law School), coordinated by Monica Shin (Fordham Law School), and featured the following distinguished panelists:
Gloria Tsui-Yip: Partner at Gottlieb, Rackman & Reisman
Vivian Cheng: Principal at Fish & Richardson
Keala Chan: IP Counsel at Population Council
Throughout the event, a variety of topics were explored, shedding light on the nature of IP law and the responsibilities faced by IP lawyers. The panelists delved into questions such as the key tasks performed by IP lawyers, the different types of IP, and the significance of a science background in the field. They also shared their experiences handling complex cases, debunked common misconceptions about IP law, and discussed the unique aspects of practicing IP law across industries.
In addition to addressing the core aspects of the profession, the panelists also delved into career-related inquiries. They provided valuable insights into the skills and qualities necessary for success as an IP lawyer, recommended relevant courses for aspiring professionals, and examined the nuances between working at a law firm and an in-house legal department.
The virtual panel concluded with a lively Q&A session, allowing attendees to further engage with the panelists and gain additional insights. The event proved to be an invaluable opportunity for students to gain a deeper understanding of the field and gather practical advice for their future endeavors.
AABANY extends its gratitude to the Student Outreach Committee, IP Committee, and SOC Vice Chair William Lee (Associate, Mayer Brown LLP) for their efforts in organizing this enlightening event.
To learn more about the IP Committee, click here. To learn more about the SOC, click here. To learn more about upcoming AABANY events, click here.
On May 30, 2023, the IP Committee gathered at Dim Sum Palace for their first Committee dinner of the new fiscal year. Members, non-members and newcomers connected and conversed over delicious Cantonese Chinese dishes ordered family style, starting with dim sum like Shrimp Har Gow and moving on to Peking Duck wraps, Spicy Fish Fillet, Beef Chow Fun and more. Our lively conversations touched upon the recent developments and potential trajectory of AI technology as it relates to the legal industry, the recent decision in the Andy Warhol case, and the pains of becoming dual-admitted in California.
The IP Committee welcomed several first-time attendee law students and intern, and was also graced with the presence of Yang Chen, AABANY’s Executive Director, and Beatrice Leong, VP of Programs and Operations. It was Beatrice’s birthday, and we enjoyed a birthday cake to help her celebrate. Long-standing IP Committee members and newcomers alike enjoyed lively discussions over an endless array of authentic Cantonese cuisine.
A special thanks to those who were able to join us for our event and we are always looking forward to seeing more faces! If you are interested, please sign up for the IP Committee mailing list and look out for our next event. To learn more about the IP Committee, please visit: https://www.aabany.org/page/145.
On April 5, 2023, the IP Committee continued its “Dumplings & Discussion” fireside chat series. This time the committee was honored to have Karen Won, Partner at Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., as the guest. Participants enjoyed pork and chive dumplings, chicken dumplings, Buddha dumplings, and many other items.
Karen was interviewed by the “Dumplings & Discussion” inaugural guest, Andy Yoo (Savvas Learning Company), and discussed her path to becoming a specialist in trademarks including in life sciences trademarks and drug naming matters. Karen shared many interesting facts about how pharmaceuticals are branded. Karen also talked about career development and work-life balance.
After the in-depth discussion and lively Q&A that followed, attendees continued to enjoy more dumplings and discussions with drinks during the networking reception.
Thanks to Fish & Richardson for being such gracious hosts.
Look out for the next IP Committee event. Click here to learn more about the IP Committee.
On November 30, 2022, the Labor & Employment Law Committee and the IP Committee partnered up to host a dinner event at Nonono. Twenty-five attendees filled the upper level of this Japanese restaurant to enjoy dinner family-style, starting with Nonono’s signature skewer pieces like short rib and chicken oyster, and moving on to a variety of scrumptious rice and noodle dishes.
Registration for this dinner event reached maximum capacity in just a few days, due to high interest. The two Committees welcomed a wide range of attendees, including members, non-members and first-time comers who gathered to make connections with and learn about the various experiences of the attendees representing practitioners in both IP and Labor & Employment Law.
To learn more about the two host Committees and to sign up for their listservs, go to:
Thanks to the Co-Chairs and Vice Chairs of both Committees for organizing this enjoyable event and to everyone who came. We look forward to future events from these Committees and hope you can join them!
On November 14th, the IP Committee presented their first concert event, a group outing to see the ARKAI Duo play their award-winning music at the historical Kosciuszko Foundation House. New connections were made among the attendees, which included law firm attorneys, in-house counsel, and students!
The performance started with ARKAI’s own musical piece, “Womp‘n Stomp,” followed by their own cover versions of “Moon River” and “Blackbird.” They ended with “Muziqawi Silt,” an original work from their electronic debut composition “Letters from COVID.” The piece is unique in that it merges together electronic and classical music, creating an unorthodox melody that aims to reflect the confusion and uncertainty of the early days of the pandemic.
The performance was followed by a reception where the IP Committee had the opportunity to meet the ARKAI Duo and have lively discussions about how the duo prepared for the concert, the challenges they faced, and also the IP Committee’s own interest in music, all while enjoying glasses of wine and hors d’oeuvres!
Please sign up for the IP Committee mailing list and look out for the Committee’s next event! To learn more about the IP Committee, please click here.
On August 5, 2022, AABANY’S Intellectual Property Committee led a group to the 45th Asian American International Film Festival. The group saw the U.S. premier of Chosen, a documentary about five Korean Americans of vastly diverse backgrounds running for U.S. Congress in 2020.
A mix of AABANY members, including those who were new to the IP Committee attended. As always, new members are welcome at the IP Committee events. We hope to see you at the next one. Also, if you have any event ideas, please do not hesitate to reach out.
On July 19, 2022, the IP Committee gathered at Barn Joo Nomad near Koreatown in a cozy, private second-floor dining area. Dishes were ordered family-style, and a seemingly endless stream of food accompanied lively conversations throughout the night. Featured delicacies included Braised Pork Belly, Seafood Krispy Paella, Nomad Bite, and many more. New connections were formed among the diverse group of attendees, which included law firm attorneys, in-house counsel, and students. Over dishes of Silky Tofu and Chili Shrimp, the lively conversations ranged from Post-Grant Reviews (PGR) and International Trade Commission (ITC) Patent Litigation to important considerations when choosing a law school and firm. Thanks to everyone who attended.
Please sign up for the IP Committee mailing list, and look out for the committee’s next event! To learn more about the IP Committee, please visit https://www.aabany.org/page/145.
On June 8, 2022, the IP Committee convened at Sabai Thai in Midtown under a beautiful canopy of flowers and fairy lights. Congee artisan, lifelong Toronto Blue Jays fan and Co-Chair of the IP Committee Jeffrey Mok graciously ordered family-style dishes for everyone to share, featuring delicacies such as Thai-Style Sea Bass, Crying Tiger Beef, and many more. New connections were formed among the diverse group of attendees, which included law firm attorneys, in-house counsel, and students. Over dishes of Pad Thai Gai Yang and Yum Mamaung, the lively conversations ranged from Broadway show recommendations (Co-Chair Benjamin Hsing – a Broadway and opera aficionado – recommends “Hamilton” and “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”) and new Return to Office (RTO) policies to stories about career paths and side hustles. For example, did you know that Co-Chair Greg Pan designs and sells toys?
Thanks to everyone who attended the first IP Committee dinner of the fiscal year. There will surely be many more to come. Please sign up for the IP Committee mailing list and look out for the committee’s next event! To learn more about the IP Committee, please visit https://www.aabany.org/page/145.
