Tag: members

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AABANY and AALFNY Connect with Community at AAFE’s Financial Access Resource Fair

On November 1, 2025, The Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) and the Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY) participated as exhibitors at Asian Americans for Equity’s (AAFE) inaugural Financial Access Resource Fair. This event was organized in response to the growing economic pressures affecting local families, businesses, and older adults. Held at the Glow Cultural Center in Flushing, Queens, the fair took place from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM.

The Financial Access Resource Fair aimed to provide immediate assistance to residents and small business owners facing challenges such as paying rent, affording healthcare, securing food for their families, and sustaining small enterprises. Additionally, the event served as a dynamic platform for local nonprofit organizations to engage with community members, form connections with community partners and elected officials, share valuable resources, and promote collaboration. AABANY and AALFNY’s presence was marked by meaningful engagement and a strong commitment to community empowerment.

Throughout the three-hour event, AABANY and AALFNY welcomed approximately 73 attendees to its table. Gary Yeung, a Co-Chair of AABANY’s Pro Bono & Community Service Committee (PBCS), and Nandar Win Kerr, Treasurer and Consultant to the PBCS, represented the organizations and interacted directly with guests, taking time to understand their needs in providing information and answering questions. The PBCS team ensured that every visitor left with valuable information and a sense of support.

Gary and Nandar, on behalf of AABANY and AALFNY, provided personalized information sessions. Attendees could stop by for one-on-one conversations with the PBCS team to learn about the organizations’ joint free legal clinics in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens, and Legal Referral and Information Service (“LRIS”). These clinics and LRIS offer vital legal assistance to individuals who might otherwise face cultural or language barriers to accessing justice. By detailing the clinics’ services and answering specific questions, Gary and Nandar empowered attendees to make informed decisions about their legal needs.

To further enhance the fair experience, PBCS distributed practical items to attendees. Each visitor received a drawstring bag filled with pens and notebooks—useful tools for everyday life and especially beneficial for those seeking to organize legal documents or take notes during the information session and clinic visits. These giveaways served as both a thoughtful gesture and a tangible reminder of the resources available through AABANY’s free legal clinics.

AABANY and AALFNY’s involvement in AAFE’s Financial Access Resource Fair exemplified the spirit of collaboration and service that defines the nonprofit sector. By engaging personally with 73 attendees, providing informative one-on-one sessions about free legal clinics, and offering practical gifts, AABANY and AALFNY strengthened their relationship with the community and reaffirmed its commitment to making legal support accessible to those who need it most.

We invite you to join AABANY’s upcoming Pro Bono Clinics taking place on: 

November 19th [Manhattan link here] from 6:30-8:30pm, AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk Street, NY, NY 10002

December 3rd [Queens link here], from 6:30 – 8:30pm, One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355

January 10th [Brooklyn link here], from 12:30 – 3:30pm, CPC Brooklyn Community Services, 4101 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232

Big congratulations to AAFE for successfully organizing their inaugural Financial Access Resource Fair! 

— Written by Nandar Win Kerr, AABANY Pro Bono & Community Service Committee

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AABANY Members and Friends March in the Fourth Annual AAPI Cultural and Heritage Parade

On Sunday, June 1, 2025, AABANY members and friends marched together in the Fourth Annual AAPI Cultural and Heritage Parade in Midtown Manhattan.

Around noon, our group gathered on West 44th Street and Sixth Ave near the New York City Bar Association building to line up for the parade. As everyone was arriving, the street filled with marchers anticipating the start of the procession, many practicing their dances, taking pictures with their groups, and enjoying conversation with the organizations around them.

As we did in last year’s parade, we wore matching red and new blue t-shirts, the front showcasing the AABANY logo and website link on the back pointing to the AABANY Pro Bono website. To attract more attention, AABANY Immediate Past President Joseph Eng Jr., along with his son Max and friends from Summit, NJ, brought a Chinese lion head and a drum to perform a traditional Chinese Lion Dance during the parade. While waiting for the parade to begin, other marchers took pictures with the lion and enjoyed the music and dance as Joe, Max, and friends practiced for their performance. They also taught any willing members of our group how to do a lion dance and play the drums.

In-House Counsel Committee Co-Chair Jack Chen came with his son Cameron, who led AABANY marchers with his spirited dance moves, walking in front of the AABANY group. 

Around 1:30 pm, we saw the floats in the front begin to move, and excitement rose among our group as our time to march in the parade drew near. Once we reached the entry point on Sixth Avenue, the drum was beating and the sun was shining, making it the perfect time to walk along the avenue with pride. Everyone was enjoying the 10-block march, especially as we got to see the performances of other groups and the fancy fast cars that formed the procession.

After the parade, several of the participants enjoyed a family-style lunch at Tang Pavilion on West 55th Street. The delicious meal at Tang Pavilion hit the spot, capping off a gorgeous Sunday for a parade along Sixth Avenue, making up for the long wait for the parade to start.

Thanks to everyone who marched with AABANY, and thanks especially to Joe, his son Max, and their friends, who provided the lion dance for our group. Special kudos go to Cameron for so enthusiastically leading from the front in his Captain America outfit!

To see more photos from the event, go here.

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AABANY Descends on Seattle for the NAPABA Convention

From Nov. 7 through 9, NAPABA held its National Convention in Seattle at the Hyatt Regency, for three days of programming, meetings, plenary sessions and the 36th Anniversary Gala capping things off on Saturday night.

AABANY members and friends once again came out in large numbers, with nearly 150 people signed up for AABANY’s WhatsApp group. The group’s members updated each other on programs they planned to attend, made lunch and dinner plans, and connected with each other about various receptions, parties and events around Seattle.

The AABANY Trial Reenactment Team presented its latest production, “AAPIs and Education: Tape v. Hurley and Gong Lum v. Rice” on Friday afternoon, Nov. 8, to a capacity audience. The program told the stories of Mamie Tape and Martha Lum and their efforts to fight discrimination in public education, through narration, reenactment of court proceedings and historic photographs. This was the sixteenth in a series of historic reenactments presented by the Asian American Bar Association of New York. For more information about AABANY’s trial reenactments, visit reenactments.aabany.org. 

We congratulate all the awardees and honorees recognized at the Convention, with special shout-outs to the following AABANY member honorees:

We also congratulate Sapna Palla, past AABANY President, and Anushree Bagrodia, current Co-Chair of AABANY’s In-House Counsel Committee, for joining the NAPABA Board as At-Large Members!

Thanks to all the outgoing NAPABA Board members for their service, and congratulations to AABANY member and past Board officer, Anna Mercado Clark, on her highly successful year as President.

We congratulate Muhammad Faridi, AABANY Member and President of the New York City Bar Association, on receiving the Pro Bono Service Award.

Thanks and congratulations to the many AABANY members who organized a panel or spoke at one. We know that it is not easy to get a program selected for the NAPABA Convention and that much hard work goes into putting on a quality program for the many attendees who come from across the continent to learn from you all. Please send us your photos and, if possible, a short recap about your program. You can send it to main@aabany.org.

Many bonds were made and strengthened among AABANY attendees over the course of the Convention, and many new connections were made with the approximately 3400 registered attendees from across North America. Judging by many social media posts from those who attended, a great time was had by all. We hope everyone got back to New York City safe and sound, and we are looking forward to another inspiring NAPABA Convention when it moves to Denver, Colorado, Nov. 6-9, 2025.

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Join Us in a City Near You

The NAPABA Meet & Greet Series, designed to foster connections within the NAPABA community and nurture meaningful relationships, is an excellent opportunity for our members in cities across the country to network and engage with one another and NAPABA leadership. Visit our events page and mark your calendars for these upcoming dates! 

Philadelphia, PA
July 11 | 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC

Toronto, ON, CA
July 11 | 6:30-7:30 pm
Fasken

Chicago, IL
August 2 | 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Perkins Coie LLP

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AABANY Marches in the Third Annual AAPI Cultural and Heritage Month Parade in Midtown Manhattan


Photo credit: AABANY

On Sunday, May 19th, 2024, AABANY members and friends marched together in the Third Annual AAPI Cultural and Heritage Parade in Midtown Manhattan.

Around noon, our group gathered on West 44th Street and Sixth Ave at a designated meeting spot to line up for the parade. As everyone was arriving, the street filled with people anticipating the start of the procession, many practicing their dances, taking pictures with their groups, and enjoying conversation with the organizations around them.


Photo credit: Nandar Win Kerr

As we did in last year’s parade, we wore matching red t-shirts, the front showcasing the AABANY logo and the back printed with a large QR-code that directs onlookers to the AABANY Pro Bono website. To attract more attention, AABANY President Joseph Eng, along with his son Max and friend Alfred Kurtz, brought a Chinese lion head and a drum to perform a traditional Chinese Lion Dance during the parade. While waiting for the parade to begin, other marchers took pictures with the lion and enjoyed the music and dance as Joe, Max, and Alfred practiced for their performance. They also taught any willing members of our group how to do a lion dance and play the drums.


Photo credit: AABANY

Around 1:00 pm, we saw the floats in the front begin to move, excitement rising as our time to take the street drew near. Once we reached the entry point on Sixth Avenue, the drum was beating and the sun was shining, making it the perfect time to walk along the avenue with pride. Those who were shown how to perform the lion dance took turns with Joe and Alfred to operate the lion costume. Others helped Max keep the drum beat as our group marched. Everyone was enjoying the 10-block march, especially as we got to see the performances of other groups and the costumes they dressed up in, including an eye-catching panda suit.


Photo credit: AABANY

After the parade, several of the participants enjoyed a family-style lunch at Tang Pavilion. The wait for the parade to start, followed by the march, especially for the lion dancers, took more energy out of us than expected, and the delicious meal at Tang Pavilion hit the spot.


Photo credit: AABANY

Thank you to the AABANY members and friends who celebrated AAPI Heritage Month by marching with us in this parade! For more photos and videos of our  group at the event, check out the album here.

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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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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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AABANY IP Committee Hosts Dinner at Barn Joo Nomad

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.

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AABANY’s IP Committee Hosts Dinner at Sabai Thai

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.

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AABANY Holds its First “Restaurant Series” Event

On Friday, March 18, AABANY held its first gathering in their Restaurant Series, where AABANY members and friends gather together at Asian-owned eateries to network and support the community. 

14 People came to Hop Lee, a Chinatown institution. The attendees had a traditional 8 Course Cantonese dinner. After dinner, some members went to Chinatown Ice Cream Factory for dessert. (Fun fact: Chinatown Ice Cream Factory is owned by an AABANY member, Christina Seid, who is a 1L Law student at Touro.) 

Please review our weekly announcements for upcoming restaurant dates, where AABANY will be traveling all over NYC and trying out different cuisines for businesses that were affected by COVID.

Next in the series is a visit to Nowon in the East Village on March 31. For details, see https://www.aabany.org/events/event_details.asp?legacy=1&id=1624192.

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