On September 29th, 2026, AABANY’s Real Estate Committee welcomed attorneys, bankers, title professionals, brokers, and other real estate professionals and industry colleagues to M&T Bank in Midtown Manhattan for a special Fall Harvest Moon Festival Professional Networking Event.
The event brought together professionals from across the real estate, banking, and legal industries for an opportunity to meet new colleagues, build new relationships, reconnect with longtime friends, while celebrating the traditions of the Harvest Moon Festival.
And let it be known– there was absolutely no shortage of food to get the conversations going.
Upon entering, guests were greeted by tables filled with sweets, chocolates, and desserts, alongside an abundance of mooncakes to celebrate the Harvest Moon Festival. A table of beverages offered a variety of refreshments, while the main spread featured an array of sushi. The festive spread quickly turned into a gathering point as guests began mingling and getting to know one another.
Conversations sparked from every corner of the room. Bankers from M&T compared notes with attorneys on where their services could overlap, title professionals swapped perspectives with brokers and other members of the real estate industry, while business cards exchanged hands through the course of the evening.
Soon after, Margaret Ling offered remarks and thanks to all those in attendance. A longtime, active AABANY member and former Co-Chair of the Real Estate Committee, Margaret is deeply involved in the AAPI legal community and the city’s broader legal community. She spoke about the connections she has built over the years and about why events like this matter, especially when paired with a celebration like the Harvest Moon Festival.
She also shared with attendees what the holiday means. Celebrated when the moon is at its fullest, the festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, is a time for reunion, gratitude for the harvest, and abundance. Mooncakes, with their round shape symbolize togetherness, a fitting celebration for an evening focused on building and expanding community.
Margaret then invited AABANY’s current Real Estate Committee Co-Chairs, Jameson Xu and Jason Ganfer, to say a few words. Each thanked the guests for coming, spoke about the value of the relationships to come, and reflected on the meaning of the festival.
Then Margaret did something that truly brought the room together: she asked all 20+ attendees to go around the room, introduce themselves, and share what they do. It was a warm, slightly out-of-comfort zone icebreaker that melted away any shyness and gave everyone a sense of who to talk to next.
Guests returned to mingling with buzzing energy and, later, the evening came to a wonderful close.
AABANY’s Real Estate Committee thanks AmTrust Title and the Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York (KALAGNY) for co-sponsoring this event; M&T bank for hosting; and everyone for attending. To learn more about the Real Estate Committee, go here.
