Tag: Littler Mendelson P.C.

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AABANY’s Labor & Employment Law Committee and Issues Committee Host “Navigating DEI Into 2026: Practical Takeaways & Industry Observations” CLE Program

On March 25, 2026, AABANY’s Labor & Employment Law Committee, with co-sponsorship from the Issues Committee, hosted a timely and thought‑provoking CLE program, Navigating DEI Into 2026: Practical Takeaways & Industry Observations, at Littler Mendelson P.C. in New York City.

The program featured Rachel Lee, President and General Counsel of Stand With Asian Americans and Co‑Chair of AABANY’s Issues Committee, who shared insights on the evolving legal and cultural landscape surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.  Rachel drew from her work with organizations seeking to build and sustain inclusive workplaces amid shifting regulatory and societal expectations.  She also offered practical, compliant strategies for fostering inclusive work environments in the years ahead.

The discussion was moderated by Jennifer Kim of Littler Mendelson, Chair of AABANY’s Labor & Employment Law Committee, who guided the conversation and facilitated audience engagement on the real‑world challenges employers and practitioners face when navigating DEI initiatives.

Attendees earned 1.0 NY CLE credit in Diversity, Inclusion, and Elimination of Bias and benefited from an engaging exchange of ideas that balanced legal guidance with practical application. The Committees thank Rachel Lee, the Professional Development Committee, and all attendees for making this program a success.

If you are interested in attending future Labor & Employment Law Committee or Issues Committee events, please check the AABANY calendar.

– Written by Shreya Mantrala, Vice Chair of the Labor & Employment Law Committee

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Labor & Employment Law & In-House Committees Host Fireside Chat With In-House Counsel Grace Fu

On September 17, 2025, AABANY’s Labor & Employment Law and In-House Counsel Committees hosted a fireside chat with Grace Fu, Chief Legal & Administrative Officer at Nanit. Grace shared her experience with AABANY members about working with unions in her prior role as Chief Legal and Administrative Officer and Executive Vice President at Barneys New York.

The event, hosted at Littler Mendelson P.C.’s midtown Manhattan office, aimed to explore the “labor” side of the practice of labor and employment law. Grace explained that her role at Barneys was the first time she had in-depth exposure to labor and employment law, and highlighted the learning curve that came with participating in collective bargaining and addressing the needs of a unionized workforce. She shared stories from her interactions with employees and union officials at Barneys, and expressed gratitude for the unique experience she gained in her dual role in both the Legal and Human Resources departments while at Barneys.

The fireside chat was followed by a Q&A session where Grace continued to provide insight and perspective on her role at Barneys, and shared how she has carried lessons from those experiences to her current role at Nanit. 

The Labor & Employment Law Committee plans on scheduling quarterly fireside chats with leaders in the field of labor and employment law. Please be on the lookout for future events, which will be posted on the AABANY calendar!

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Labor & Employment Law Committee Co-Sponsors AAPI Heritage Month Program on Asian Entrepreneurs Sharing Their Roots to Success

On May 14, 2024, AABANY’s Labor and Employment Law, Intellectual Property, and In-House Counsel Committees co-hosted a panel discussion entitled “Roots to Success: Navigating Commercial and Legal Terrain in Asian Small Business Ventures.”  The event was an opportunity for AABANY members to gather in celebration of May’s AANHPI/APIDA Heritage Month.

The event featured panelists Rachna Shah, Founder and General Counsel of External General Counsel LLC, Ayan Sanyal, Co-Founder of Kolkata Chai, and Lingfei (Teddy) Wu, Founder and CEO of Anytime AI. The event was moderated by Anushree Bagrodia, Vice President of Legal Americas of Mastercard and Co-Chair of AABANY’s In-House Counsel Committee.

The panelists shared their unique personal journeys that led them to start their businesses. They discussed the challenges that they faced when starting and growing their businesses and how they overcame these challenges, including how they navigate the legal issues that their businesses encounter. To tie the event back to AANHPI/APIDA Heritage Month, the panelists also shared the importance of embracing and celebrating their Asian heritage and supporting other Asian entrepreneurs and Asian owned businesses. We thank our distinguished panelists and moderator for sharing their time, perspectives, and insights. We also thank Littler Mendelson. P.C. for hosting the event at their New York City office.

To learn more about the Labor & Employment Law Committee please click here. To learn more about the Intellectual Property Committee please click here. To learn more about the In-House Counsel Committee please click here.

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