Gala and Plenary Speakers You Won’t Want to Miss During NAPABA Rising 2015!

Friday Luncheon Plenary — The Voting Rights Act 50 Years Later: A Call to Action

  • Karen Narasaki (moderator), Commissioner, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
  • Dale Ho (panelist), Director, Voting Rights Project, ACLU
  • Natasha Korgaonkar (panelist), Assistant Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund
  • Terry Ao Minnis (panelist), Director, Census and Voting Programs, Asian Americans Advancing Justice
  • Nina Perales (panelist), Vice President, Litigation, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund
  • Jerry Vattamala (panelist), Director, Democracy Program, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund

Saturday Breakfast Plenary — Women in Public Service

  • Ivan K. Fong (moderator), Senior Vice President, Legal Affairs and General Counsel, 3M Company
  • Michelle K. Lee (panelist), Director, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
  • Jenny Yang (panelist), Chair, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Saturday Luncheon Plenary — The Changing American Racial Landscape Post 9/11

  • Deepa Iyer (moderator), Senior Fellow, The Center for Social Inclusion
  • Nusrat Choudhury (panelist), Staff Attorney, ACLU
  • Peggy Nagae (panelist), Owner, Peggy Nagae Consulting
  • Navdeep Singh (panelist), Policy Director, NAPABA

27th Anniversary Gala

  • A Conversation with the Honorable Mazie K. Hirono, U.S. Senator, Hawaii, facilitated by the Honorable David Louie, Former Attorney General, Hawaii.

To register for these events, check your registration on the NAPABA Convention website.

Tours and Dinners Available for Registration at NAPABA Rising 2015

NAPABA has indicated that they still have tickets available for the following dinners and tours:

  • International Law Symposium Dinner
  • Young Lawyers/First Time Attendees Dinner
  • Women’s Leadership Network Dinner
  • Garden District Walking Tour
  • New Orleans City/Hurricane Katrina Rebirth City Tour

Please login to your profile, click the “Modify” button, and select “Registration” to modify your agenda. Please note that registration for these additional ticketed items will only be available until Friday, Oct. 30.

You can log into your profile via the NAPABA Convention Registration website.

NAPABA At-Large Board Members Appointed

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NAPABA congratulates two members appointed to serve as at-large board members of the NAPABA Board of Governors during the 2015-17 board years: Charles H. Jung, of Nassiri & Jung LLP, in San Francisco; and Joe Lee, of Microsoft, in Seattle.

Each year, two at-large members are selected to the Board of Governors in
recognition of the growth of Asian Pacific American attorneys in North
America and the desire to have diverse and inclusive representation on
the NAPABA Board of Governors.

Charles and Joe will be sworn into office at the 27th Anniversary Gala held on Nov. 7, 2015, during the 2015 NAPABA Convention in New Orleans.

2015 NAPABA Convention Mobile App Now Live!

The 2015 NAPABA Convention is right around the corner and that means a new mobile app to make your session planning a breeze! The app is now live in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. You may also search “NAPABA” in your Google or Apple stores.

Within the app you will find:

  • The full convention agenda, which you can filter by date and track, as well as add sessions to your own customizable schedule.
  • A full listing of NAPABA Convention sponsors and supporters.
  • “My Meeting”, which allows you to create and view your custom schedule.
  • “Around Here”, which suggests local attractions, restaurants, and shopping.
  • Social media links to follow NAPABA.
  • Floor plans for the Hilton Riverside Hotel so you will never get lost on the way to your next session.

Download the app today and have the 2015 NAPABA Convention in the palm of your hands!

PRESS RELEASE: NAPABA Recognizes its Civil Rights Committee as its 2015 President’s Award Recipient

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For Immediate Release
Oct. 26, 2015

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

WASHINGTON — The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) will honor its Civil Rights Committee with the 2015 President’s Award during the NAPABA Anniversary Gala and Installation Banquet on Nov. 7, 2015, in New Orleans. This award is given at the discretion of the NAPABA President to individuals or organizations that have made important contributions to NAPABA or the Asian Pacific American (APA) community.

The Civil Rights Committee was formed in 1989, shortly after the founding of NAPABA. The Committee has addressed numerous legislative and policy issues such as Wards Cove cannery workers’ civil rights, the certification of court interpreters, immigrant rights, and affirmative action. The Committee also considers and makes recommendations on resolutions offered by other diverse national bar associations on issues of common interest, which are then used as the basis for lobbying Congress, the White House, and other governmental bodies. The Committee is an important tool for activist lawyers to share experiences and plan civil rights-oriented panels at NAPABA Conventions.

President George Chen and NAPABA thank the Civil Rights Committee for their continued service to the organization and the greater APA community, and would like to recognize each chair – both past and present – who have had a significant impact on the Committee:

  • Brian Cheu
  • Rockwell Chin
  • Juliet K. Choi
  • Dennis Hayashi
  • Meredith Higashi
  • Paul Igasaki
  • Les Jin
  • Tsiwen M. Law
  • Andy Liu
  • Karen K. Narasaki
  • Edwin R. Oshika
  • Myron Quan
  • Patricia Shiu

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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.

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

NAPABA Rising 2015: Join Our Table for the Gala

27th Anniversary Gala Seating | Saturday, Nov. 7 at 6:30 pm

If you’ve registered for the NAPABA Convention in New Orleans, join AABANY’s table for the 27th Anniversary Gala! During the registration process, you had the opportunity to pre-select your Gala seat. Please review your selection by clicking here. NAPABA will be unable to make any seat assignment changes after Friday, Oct. 30.

  • Log-in to your registration profile.
  • Click the “Modify” button.
  • Click on “Information”.
  • Scroll down to the 27th Anniversary Gala Seating section.
  • Make sure that you have selected “Yes” if you do plan on attending the Gala.
  • Your seating options are as follows:
    • I am a member of the NAPABA Board of Governors, NAPABA Law Foundation Board of Directors, or Leadership Advisory Council.
    • My firm/company is a sponsor and I would like to sit at their reserved table.
    • I’m feeling adventurous! Seat me at a random table so I can meet new friends.
    • Other (You may put a firm/company name, the name of your best NAPABA friend, family member, guest)
  • Please note that if you are bringing a guest, you may add a guest registration to this event for $275.

Call for Attorneys: Help Out NAPALSA at the NAPABA Conference

Interview/Resume Review Program

NAPALSA is seeking attorneys to participate in their mock interview/resume review program during the NAPABA Conference in New Orleans! Interested attorneys will be matched one-on-one with students from around the country for a short 20-30 minute mock interview session. Any questions about the program may be directed to [email protected]. Please fill out the form if you are interested in participating.

Law Student Eight Minute Mentoring

NAPABA attorneys – please register to attend the mentoring program with law students taking place on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 4-5 p.m. This important program and benefit to law students is part of the Convention registration form.

NAPABA Convention Updates

Registration

Register for the NAPABA Convention by Oct. 26 for maximum savings. Members automatically save $100 off the non-member rate. Not a member? It’s not too late. Join before registering for the Convention for additional savings.

Gala and Plenary Speakers You Won’t Want to Miss!

Friday Luncheon Plenary-The Voting Rights Act 50 Years Later: A Call to Action

  • Karen Narasaki (moderator), Commissioner, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
  • Dale Ho, Director (panelist), Voting Rights Project, ACLU
  • Natasha Korgaonkar (panelist), Assistant Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund
  • Nina Perales (panelist), Vice President of Litigation, Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund

Saturday Breakfast Plenary-Women in Public Service

  • Ivan K. Fong (moderator), Senior Vice President, Legal Affairs and General Counsel, 3M Company
  • Michelle K. Lee (panelist), Director, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
  • Jenny Yang (panelist), Chair, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Saturday Luncheon Plenary-The Changing American Racial Landscape Post 9/11

  • Deepa Iyer (moderator), Senior Fellow, The Center for Social Inclusion
  • Nusrat Choudhury (panelist), Staff Attorney, ACLU
  • Peggy Nagae (panelist), Owner, Peggy Nagae Consulting
  • Navdeep Singh (panelist), Policy Director, NAPABA

Saturday Luncheon Plenary-The Changing American Racial Landscape Post 9/11

  • Keynote Speaker: The Honorable Mazie K. Hirono, United States Senator for Hawaii
  • Master of Ceremonies: Thanh Truong, News Anchor, CBS Affiliate WWL-TV

Explore these events and more!

Highlighted events include:

  • Thursday Specialty Programming – Don’t miss out on programming beginning on Nov. 5. Arrive early to take part in the Affiliate Leadership Summit, International Law Symposium, Solo Small Firm Bootcamp, and Military and Veterans’ Legal Issues CLE (free session presented by the ABA)!
  • Friday and Saturday NAPABA Committee/Network Receptions – Interested in joining or learning more about a NAPABA Committee or Network? Attend a reception and mingle with current committee/network members in an informal setting.
  • Best Under 40 Award Reception – Join the 2015 class of honorees as they continue the BU40 legacy of excellence and leadership in both the legal and APA communities.
  • Trailblazer Award Reception – Celebrate this year’s exception award winners as we recognize their outstanding achievements, commitment, and leadership.
  • NAPABA Committee Networking & Recruiting Breakfast – Open to all! Join NAPABA Committee and Network leaders and learn about taking a more active role in a NAPABA Committee or Network.
  • Real Estate Case Study – The Real Estate Committee’s 4th annual Case Study promises to be their best one yet, bringing together jazz, revival, performance space and food in signature New Orleans style! All NAPABA attendees are welcome to participate.

Already registered? Click here to log back into your registration and add exciting new programming to your agenda.

Convention Mobile App

Stay tuned for information about NAPABA’s Convention mobile app that will be available in your Apple and Android stores on Oct. 21. Download the mobile app for access to the complete Convention schedule, sponsor information, and access to the NAPABA Partners Directory!

PRESS RELEASE: Navdeep Singh Appointed as NAPABA’s Policy Director

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For Immediate Release
Oct. 14, 2015

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

Navdeep Singh Appointed as NAPABA’s Policy Director

WASHINGTON — The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) has named Navdeep Singh as its new policy director, announced NAPABA Executive Director Tina Matsuoka. As policy director, Singh will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies and programs to support NAPABA’s policy priorities.

An expert in strategic legal policy and civil rights, Navdeep Singh brings important experience as a policy advocate to NAPABA. Prior to joining NAPABA, Singh served as policy director at the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), where he co-authored “Turban Myths” – the first study on implicit bias and the Sikh American community – with researchers from Stanford University, advised the FBI on the implementation of expanded hate crimes categories, and developed the first national Sikh American television public service announcement. Singh is a graduate of the University of Virginia and the George Washington University Law School.

“Navdeep Singh is a proven leader in the Asian Pacific American community and I am excited to bring him on board as NAPABA’s new policy director,” Matsuoka said. “We look forward to working with Navdeep to enhance NAPABA’s national presence and expand our coalitions within the legal profession and the broader community to support diversity and inclusion.”

“It is a tremendous honor to join NAPABA,” said Singh. “I am excited to support NAPABA in its continued efforts to address the civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities, and to help ensure a robust, dynamic, and successful future for NAPABA and the Asian Pacific American community.”

_______________________________________________________________________

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).

NAPABA Focus Group: The Portrait Project

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The Portrait Project: A Portrait of Asian Americans in the Law

“The Portrait Project: A Portrait of Asian Americans in the Law,” is the first comprehensive study of its kind examining how Asian Americans lawyers and law students are situated within the legal profession. The Portrait Project – led by California Supreme Court Justice Goodwin Liu, Yale law professor Ian Ayres, and three Yale law students – will be conducting focus groups during the annual NAPABA Convention this year from Nov. 5-8, 2015, in New Orleans.

As of now, 100 of you have volunteered your time to participate in these focus groups sessions. We would love to hear from more of you, and we especially encourage legal academics, public defenders, prosecutors, and nonprofit attorneys to sign up for these sessions. Each focus group will last one hour and engage participants in conversations about law school experiences, career choices, and experiences as lawyers. These small-group conversations of about eight to ten participants each will yield rich insights into the opportunities for and obstacles to advancement of Asian Americans in the legal profession. Your narratives and experiences will help us create a comprehensive portrait of what it means to be an Asian American in the legal profession today.

As a token of our appreciation, we will be giving away the choice of a 4th Generation Apple TV (to be released in October) or a Keurig K45 Elite Brewing System to one randomly selected participant in each focus group.

If you are willing to participate in a focus group, please fill out this form by Monday, Oct. 12.

This is our last call for participants, and we hope to hear from more of you soon. Please free to reach out to us by email at [email protected] if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

The Portrait Project

Justice Goodwin Liu
California Supreme Court

Professor Ian Ayres
Yale Law School

Eric Chung, Xiaonan “April” Hu, Christine Kwon
Yale Law School Class of 2017