Pitch Session Program – National Asian Pacific American Bar Association

Pitch Session Program – National Asian Pacific American Bar Association

NAPABA IHC Webinar, Sept. 29 at 3pm: Success and Career Development as an In-House Counsel

NAPABA IHC Webinar, Sept. 29 at 3pm: Success and Career Development as an In-House Counsel

Organizational Statement | Judicial Selection Process in New York

NAPABA is aware of a highly unusual development in the judicial selection process in the State of New York. It is our understanding that, for the first time in the state’s history, a local screening committee has declined to vote a sitting judge, Justice Doris Ling-Cohan, out of committee, thereby denying her the opportunity to seek re-election, with the effect of removing her from the bench. While we are also aware of press reports of potential changes in this development, to our knowledge, the decision of the screening panel has not been reversed, and Justice Ling-Cohan is not on the ballot for the November election. Justice Ling-Cohan is the first and only Asian Pacific American woman on the appellate courts of New York. This statistic is particularly striking, as Asian Pacific Americans make up 7.3 percent of the population of New York. We encourage our local affiliates, who are closest to the process and to the relevant players, to closely investigate and monitor the situation, and for the New York legal community to take every step necessary to ensure that judges are treated fairly and on the merits, and are given the opportunity to confront and respond to any expressed concerns or objections.

For more information, the media may contact Brett Schuster, NAPABA communications manager, at 202-775-9555 or [email protected].

The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of approximately 50,000 attorneys and approximately 75 national, state, and local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members include solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal services and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government.

NAPABA continues to be a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities. Through its national network of committees and affiliates, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of the federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes the professional development of people of color in the legal profession.

CLE Webinar, Sept. 20 | Self-Grooming for a Public Company Board Seat: An Intentional Approach

Have you ever wondered about what it might take for you to be invited to join the board of directors of a Fortune 500 company? If so, then please join us for a webinar designed to help you on that journey.

During this free one-hour session, you will get a behind-the-scenes peek at what goes on inside the corporate boardroom and learn how Fortune 500 company boards evaluate director, board and committee performance, and what they are primarily looking for in board member candidates. In addition, we will explore ideas on how to get noticed by decision makers.

Public companies are looking for highly analytical individuals like you who have what it takes to join and be strong performers on their boards of directors. With external pressures from institutional investors, proxy companies and others on public companies to increase the number of directors who are from outside the company (as well as upcoming guideline changes that reduce the number of corporate boards on which individual directors may concurrently serve), that need will continue to grow.

Led by Curtis Hom, the founding attorney of Innova Legal Group (and former SSF Committee co-chair and former board member of NAPABA and the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies, APAICS.org), this webinar is ideally suited for attorneys and other professionals who are serious about taking their careers to the next level and are committed to getting that done.

Curtis Hom works directly with boards of Fortune 500 companies on their annual director, board and committee performance evaluation processes. Drawing from a unique combination of real world experience and lessons learned from engaging in discussions and interviews with board members of public and private companies across different industries (as well as leading executive recruiters), Curtis Hom is willing to share his insights about the director selection process, evaluation criteria and what distinguishes finalists from other highly impressive candidates.

*CLE certificates offered only for current NAPABA members.

Register here

PRESS RELEASE | NAPABA Applauds Nomination of Diane Gujarati to U.S. District Court – E.D.N.Y.

For Immediate Release
Sept. 13, 2016

For More Information, Contact:
Brett Schuster, Communications Manager
[email protected], 202-775-9555

WASHINGTON — Today, President Obama nominated Diane Gujarati to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. If confirmed, Gujarati will be the first Indian American to serve as an Article III federal judge in New York. The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) applauds her nomination and encourages the Senate to swiftly confirm her to the bench.

“Diane Gujarati has a long and distinguished record of service in the U.S. attorney’s office that prepares her to be an asset to the District Court for the Eastern District of New York,” said Jin Y. Hwang, president of NAPABA. “I urge the Senate to quickly confirm Ms. Gujarati to the district court.”

Ms. Gujarati is currently the deputy chief of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York. An experienced litigator, she has been an assistant U.S. attorney for 17 years, and worked on a range of criminal prosecutions and appellate matters, including: economic, violent, narcotics, trafficking, and exploitation crimes.

Ms. Gujarati is an adjunct professor at the New York University School of Law and was previously a litigation associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell. She clerked for the Honorable John M. Walker, Jr., of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. She is a graduate of Barnard College of Columbia University and Yale Law School.

NAPABA commends President Obama for nominating Ms. Gujarati to the bench. NAPABA thanks Senators Gillibrand and Schumer for recommending Ms. Gujarati to the White House.

For more information, the media may contact Brett Schuster, NAPABA communications manager, at 202-775-9555 or [email protected].

The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of almost 50,000 attorneys and approximately 75 national, state, and local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members include solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal services and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government.

NAPABA continues to be a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities. Through its national network of committees and affiliates, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of the federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes the professional development of people of color in the legal profession.

Did you know that the NAPABA Convention offers programming for current and prospective law students?

National Asian Pacific American Pre-Law Conference | Friday, Nov. 4 | 12–5 p.m.
The National Asian Pacific American Pre-Law Conference offers prospective law students the opportunity to gain valuable insight into the law school admissions process and the legal profession. Participants will have the opportunity to interact with current law students, admissions professionals, and attorneys in various practice areas. For more information on the pre-law conference and to register, please visit our website. Registration for the conference is free and will close on Oct. 21.

NAPABA is also offering scholarships to pre-law attendees to defray the cost of travel and lodging. Scholarships are awarded based on demonstrated financial need and interest in attending the conference. Application for the scholarship is available on our website and will close on Oct. 31.

NAPALSA Conference | Nov. 3–6
Since 2002, the National Asian Pacific American Law Student Association (NAPALSA) Conference occurs in conjunction with the NAPABA Convention. Law students have the opportunity to attend workshops and events specifically catered to law students, as well as workshops and events at the general NAPABA Convention. The partnership gives law students the opportunity to develop skills as law students, future attorneys, and the chance network with and learn from current attorney from various sectors. Register for the NAPALSA Conference here.    

For questions/inquiries regarding the conference, please email Martina Chun at [email protected].

Registration for the 2016 NAPABA Convention will close on Oct. 21. NAPABA members save an additional $200 off the non-member rate. Not a member? Become a member today and save!

Registration for the NAPABA Golf Tournament has been extended!

If you missed the registration deadline for the NAPABA Golf Tournament, now is your chance to register! The NAPABA Golf Tournament to Benefit the NAPABA Law Foundation will be held on Thursday, Nov. 3, at the beautiful Maderas Golf Club, ranked by Golf Digest as one of the top 100 public golf courses in America. The tournament will be played “shot gun” style in the scramble format with all foursomes teeing off at 8 a.m. Enter to win amazing prizes! The tournament will be immediately followed by an awards reception, scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

Registration will close on Oct. 21. For more information or to sponsor the tournament, click here.

Press Release: NAPABA Applauds Nomination of Abid R. Qureshi to United States District Court for the District of Columbia

For Immediate Release
Sept. 6, 2016                                                   

For More Information, Contact:
Brett Schuster, Communications Manager
[email protected], 202-775-9555

WASHINGTON — Today, President Obama nominated Abid R. Qureshi to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. If confirmed, Qureshi will be the first Pakistani American and Muslim American to serve as an Article III federal judge. The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) applauds his nomination and encourages the Senate to swiftly confirm him to the bench.

“Abid Qureshi is an experienced litigator with extensive commercial and pro bono experience who has the temperament and qualifications to ably serve as a judge for the District Court for the District Columbia,” said Jin Y. Hwang, president of NAPABA. “I urge the Senate to quickly confirm Mr. Qureshi to the District Court.”

Qureshi is a partner at Latham & Watkins LLP, where he chairs the Global Pro Bono Committee. He is the former co-chair of the firm’s Washington, D.C., Litigation Department where he managed the largest litigation department in the firm. He is a complex commercial litigator with a focus on False Claims Act, federal securities, health care fraud, and white collar criminal matters. He also handles complex internal corporate investigations.

Qureshi has been recognized by Super Lawyers and the National Law Journal for his excellence in the profession. He is a graduate of Cornell University and Harvard Law School.

NAPABA commends President Obama for nominating Abid R. Qureshi to the bench. NAPABA thanks Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton for recommending Qureshi to the White House.

For more information, the media may contact Brett Schuster, NAPABA communications manager, at202-775-9555 or [email protected].


The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of almost 50,000 attorneys and approximately 75 national, state, and local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members include solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal services and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government.

NAPABA continues to be a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities. Through its national network of committees and affiliates, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of the federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes the professional development of people of color in the legal profession.

To learn more about NAPABA, visit www.napaba.org, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter (@NAPABA).