Tag: midtown

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AABANY’s Real Estate Committee Presents Fall Harvest Moon Festival Networking Event

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. 

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AABANY’s Commercial Bankruptcy & Restructuring and In-House Counsel Committees Host Joint Happy Hour in Midtown

On August 18, 2026, the AABANY Commercial Bankruptcy & Restructuring Committee and the AABANY In-House Counsel Committee co-hosted a joint happy hour at Bar Lola in Midtown Manhattan.  The event brought together attorneys from a variety of practice areas and professional backgrounds for an evening of networking, relationship-building, and conversation. 

Events like this joint happy hour demonstrate the value of bringing together attorneys from different practice areas to connect, share experiences, and expand their professional networks.  Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the event a success.  We look forward to hosting more joint programs and networking opportunities in the future.

The Commercial Bankruptcy & Restructuring Committee and the In-House Counsel Committee are committed to providing members with opportunities to engage with one another through networking and community-building events throughout the year.  Those interested in learning more about either Committee are encouraged to attend future programs and visit the AABANY website for additional information.

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AABANY’s IP Committee Connects at May Dinner at Blue Blossom NYC

On Friday, May 22, 2026, the AABANY Intellectual Property Committee hosted its highly anticipated May Dinner at Blue Blossom NYC in Midtown Manhattan. Generously supported by Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, the casual gathering served as a Committee bonding highlight during AAPI Heritage Month. The event brought together a dynamic group of 17 legal professionals, innovators, and students to network, share insights, and celebrate the local IP legal community.

Co-Chairs Jeffrey Mok, Gregory Pan, and Ada Wang led the evening, which featured a welcoming atmosphere at the 108 W. 39th Street venue. Attendees included representatives from the sponsoring firm, such as Wendy Cheng, as well as several late registrants who joined the group for an evening of engaging discussion. The sponsorship from Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP helped facilitate the event, resulting in a casual and enjoyable evening for all.

If you’re interested in future dinners, keep an eye on the AABANY calendar for upcoming events. To learn more about the IP Committee and their initiatives, visit their subpage on the AABANY website.

Written by Ada Wang, Co-Chair, AABANY’s Intellectual Property Committee

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Corporate Law Committee Hosts Golf & Game Night at Five Iron Golf, Sponsored by PNC Bank

On Friday, July 11, AABANY’s Corporate Law Committee hosted Golf & Game Night, a high-energy evening of virtual golf, ping pong, drinks, and community connection, generously sponsored by PNC Bank. The event, led by Vice Chairs Ashley Wong and Kyle Zhu, was held at Five Iron Golf in Midtown Manhattan and welcomed attorneys, in-house counsel, and professionals in industries ranging from capital market transactions to international tax law for a night that balanced fun with a distinctly corporate-law twist.

From the moment guests walked in, the space buzzed with friendly competition and good cheer. Screen golf bays lit up with simulated fairways as participants took their swings—some practicing carefully calculated drives, others simply enjoying the chance to unwind after a long week. Nearby, ping pong matches sparked bursts of applause, while the foosball table quickly became a hotspot for spontaneous showdowns and cross-table banter.

Guests sipped cocktails and munched on light bites between games, mingling with old colleagues and making new connections across firms and industries. The turnout, peaking at over 40 attendees, reflected a strong desire within the AABANY community for more casual, low-pressure ways to engage.

Winners of the night’s golf challenges pose with their prizes.

The event was more than just an opportunity to relax—it was a thoughtful attempt to reignite community. As Vice Chair Kyle Zhu shared, “The corporate law culture makes it hard to organize social events, but we’ve had a lot of support—corporate sponsors, vendors, folks outside the committee—who’ve helped us bring things to life. Going to [NAPABA national conference] is great, but it’s the local stuff that really matters. That’s how we build community.”

With laughter echoing from the golf bays and conversations continuing long after the last swing, the event affirmed how much community can be built when people come together—not just to network, but to simply enjoy each other’s company.

Special thanks to our sponsor PNC Bank for helping to make this event possible.

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AABANY’s Labor & Employment Law Committee Hosts Summer Sichuan Night at CHILI

On Tuesday, June 25, 2024, AABANY’s Labor & Employment Law Committee hosted their Summer Sichuan Night at the restaurant CHILI in Midtown Manhattan.

The dinner at CHILI proved to be a cozy and inviting experience and brought new and old members together to mingle over a spicy family-style Sichuan meal. Attendees networked and mingled throughout the evening, learning about each other’s backgrounds, careers, and professional experiences. The Labor & Employment Law Committee collected a group of individuals from far and wide, a reflection of AABANY’s diverse membership, with attendees hailing from as close as Brooklyn, to as far as Shenzhen, China.

Thank you to the Labor & Employment Law Committee for planning and hosting Sichuan Night as well as everyone who attended and enjoyed conversing over delicious Sichuan cuisine on a hot summer day. The Labor and Employment Law Committee continues to welcome new members and hopes to see many old and new faces at future events!

To find out more about the Labor & Employment Law Committee, please click here. 

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AABANY Tax Committee Hosts a Dinner at Blue Willow in Midtown, Manhattan

On March 12, the Tax Committee hosted a dinner at Blue Willow, a Chinese restaurant in midtown Manhattan.  The Committee had an open discussion on various tax questions from attendees and future plans for the Tax Committee. 

Attendees ranged from newcomer students to partners who were part of the original creation of the Tax Committee that provided a historic perspective on how and why the Committee was created. Future networking and outreach activities were discussed as well as the sharing of career advice, some current thorny substantive questions encountered at work and various ways to substantively enhance one’s practice. 

To learn more about the Committee, go here: https://www.aabany.org/page/453.

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AABANY’s In-House Counsel Committee Holds 2022 Summer Soiree at Castell Rooftop Lounge

On Wednesday, June 29, 2022, AABANY’s In-House Counsel Committee held its annual Summer Soiree at the Castell Rooftop Lounge located atop AC Hotel New York Times Square. The beautiful midtown skyline served as the perfect backdrop to a memorable night filled with hors d’oeuvres, a variety of drinks, wines, cocktails, and many conversations. Around 100 senior in-house lawyers and senior law firm attorneys and partners attended the networking event. This was the first Summer Soiree held in person since 2019, with the 2020 soiree being canceled due to COVID-19, and the 2021 soiree held over Zoom at the beginning of 2022 as the Winter Soiree. Everyone seemed happy to be gathering in person again for this popular event.

Photo by Karen Zhou

Attendees discussed various topics ranging from career pivots during the pandemic to favorite pastimes and hobbies. While munching on mini lobster rolls and sipping curated cocktails, attendees also heard from AABANY’s Co-VP of Programs and Operations, Beatrice Leong, In-House Counsel Committee Co-Chair, Blossom Kan, and Immediate Past President, Terry Shen. Some spectacular photographs from the night taken by Karen Zhou can be found linked here. 

The attendees formed a diverse cohort, representing 74 companies across industries, including Apple, Meta, Johnson & Johnson, McKinsey & Company, Inc., and top global and regional law firms. 

Photo by Karen Zhou

We thank and acknowledge the following sponsors for helping us make this event possible:  

Broadridge

Baker McKenzie

BDO

Covington & Burling LLP

Thank you to all our attendees, and we hope to see everyone again at next year’s Summer Soiree. To learn more about the In-House Counsel Committee go to: https://www.aabany.org/page/149 

Photo by Karen Zhou

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