On May 19, the AABANY Corporate Law Committee kicked off the new fiscal year with a virtual Meet & Greet, bringing together members and prospective members to share ideas on programming for the year. Attendees ranged from recent law school graduates just beginning their careers to seasoned attorneys returning to corporate practice. Corporate Law Committee leadership, which includes Co-Chairs Keli Huang (Partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP) and Ashley Wong (Associate Corporate Counsel at Amazon), along with Vice Chairs Kyle Zhu (Associate at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP) and Judy Lin (Associate at Kirkland & Ellis LLP), introduced themselves and opened the floor to attendees. The conversation was centered on understanding the types of events that would be most beneficial to the members, and the leadership team came away with a clear direction: social events and CLE-eligible programming that support both professional development and genuine community-building.
The Committee leadership also shared about two upcoming AABANY marquee events. First, the AABANY Annual Dinner, taking place next Thursday May 28th, is expected to draw hundreds of attendees and offers one of the year’s premier networking opportunities across the broader AABANY community. Then September 26th, the Fall Conference, hosted at the Fordham Law School, promises another outstanding occasion to connect with colleagues, exchange ideas, and build the cross-practice relationships that make this community so valuable. Both events reflect the Committee’s commitment to creating spaces where members can forge lasting professional connections and strengthen the synergy within the AABANY network.
Beyond these signature events, the Corporate Law Committee is actively exploring programming ideas that speak directly to where the legal profession is heading. Keli shared that the Committee is already planning its popular summer social event, and this time it is in a karaoke location not yet open to the public that AABANY members will get to experience before its opening. Another exciting program under consideration is an event on artificial intelligence focusing on the responsible use of AI in legal practice, managing client expectations around emerging tools, and leveraging technology to make legal work more efficient. Given how rapidly AI is reshaping the industry, this is exactly the kind of timely, practical programming that members expressed enthusiasm for. Stay tuned and keep an eye on the AABANY Calendar for announcements. We hope to see you at upcoming events! To learn more about the Corporate Law Committee and how you can get involved, click here.
On April 29, 2026, AABANY’s In-House Counsel Committee hosted a fireside chat with Linda Lu, Chief Legal and Risk Officer of Zip Co Limited, at offices of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. Over 40 attendees gathered to hear Lu discuss her 25-year career across prominent financial services and insurance companies, offering insights into reaching the top as an Asian American woman.
Moderated by Dwight Yoo, Partner at Skadden and AABANY Board Director, the conversation covered Lu’s strategic career pivots, self-promotion, identity in corporate settings, and the role of AI in law. Lu structured her retrospective in reverse, starting with her current role at Zip, drawn by its female leadership and “low ego” culture. She recounted leaving TransUnion after a promised CLO succession plan failed for the second time in her career, reinforcing the need to remain open to outside opportunities.
Earlier, at Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, Lu transitioned from Chief Litigation Officer to General Counsel for the largest business unit after mentors stressed the need for CLOs to understand the business. This period, marked by intense corporate politics, shaped her “integrity line” philosophy—the point where a professional must decide if a workplace battle compromises personal values.
Lu introduced the PIE model for career advancement: Performance (10%), Image (30%), and Exposure (60%). She cautioned that brilliance without exposure is insufficient. Lu also addressed the specific challenges she faced as an Asian American woman, including being mistaken for a court reporter, and shared a moment of “overcorrecting” with aggressive assertiveness. She emphasized that the integrity line is a personal threshold for deciding when to leave a toxic environment.
Regarding leadership, Lu distinguished between the operational work of an individual contributor and the strategy and influence of a leader, warning that promotion means less substantive legal work. On the subject of sponsorship, which was a recurring theme in diversity conversations, Linda offered practical guidance. She suggested to the audience to take risks, raise their hand, and above all, make their boss look good. Sponsors are not recruited through eloquent requests, they are earned through visible and reliable performance that reflects well on the people above you.
Lu also shared the personal costs of her ambition, including returning to work six weeks after her first child’s birth—a mistake that she believed set an unhealthy precedent. Perhaps the most poignant moment of the evening involved Lu’s reflections on the personal trade-offs of her career trajectory. She recounted an episode when her second-grade son won a school contest for a story that was later staged as a play. Arriving early to secure a front-row seat, Lu expected a whimsical performance. The play, entitled My Day at the Zoo, began with a mother turning away from her child to answer a work call, leading to the boy getting lost. While the narrative eventually shifted toward a happy ending with talking animals, the image of the mother’s distraction remained a haunting symbol of the professional struggles and the “integrity line” Lu negotiated throughout her journey as a parent and a leader.
The discussion concluded with AI. Lu reported that Zip uses AI tools company-wide with a policy of no headcount reduction associated with use of the technology. She views AI as accelerating “Performance” but unable to replace human judgment, trust, and relationship-building. Her final message was: “People who use AI will survive more than people who don’t.”
The evening closed with further networking. AABANY’s In-House Counsel Committee thanked Linda Lu for her candor and Skadden for hosting. To learn more about AABANY’s In-House Counsel Committee, click here.
On April 15, 2026, the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY)’s LGBTQ Committee, in collaboration with the Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee, hosted a dynamic and insightful panel at Fordham Law School titled “Table Talk: Careers Beyond Big Law.” Generously co-sponsored by Fordham APALSA and Fordham OUTLaws, with support from AABANY’s Student Outreach Committee, the event brought together an accomplished group of legal professionals and an engaged audience of students and early-career professionals eager to explore alternative pathways within the legal profession.
Mina Yi, a Fordham Law student representing Fordham APALSA, served as moderator and kicked off the discussion by asking the panelists to introduce themselves, their practice areas, and their current roles. Then, she asked them to share their advice on how students can pursue non-traditional or non-Big Law career paths.
The panel featured a diverse lineup of speakers, including Gregory Hom (Nixon Peabody), Kayla Lucia (Mintz), Yen-Yi Anderson (Anderson & Associates), Thomas Wu (New York State Housing Finance Agency), Daobo Wang (New York State Unified Court System), and Glenn Magpantay (U.S. Commission on Civil Rights). Almost all the speakers were AABANY leaders: Gregory is the current Co-Chair of the LGBTQ Committee. Kayla was Co Chair during the last fiscal year, and Daobo is Co-Chair this fiscal year. Yen-Yi is Co-Chair of the Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee. Glenn is a Director on AABANY’s Board.
The speakers’ careers spanned public finance, employment litigation, immigration, small law firm practice, government service, judicial clerkships, and civil rights policy. Their varied trajectories illustrated a central theme of the evening: legal careers are rarely linear. The panelists conveyed that professional fulfillment often emerges from adaptability in one’s circumstances, persistence, and meaningful relationships.
From the outset, panelists demystified the notion of a singular “Big Law path.” Gregory Hom offered a nuanced perspective on large-firm practice, noting that not all firms operate under the same high-turnover model often associated with the industry. He mentioned that instead, firms like Nixon Peabody prioritize sustained interest in specialized practice areas, such as his own work in public finance, and rely heavily on faculty recommendations and personal connections in hiring. In his daily practice, he acts as a “watchdog” for state agencies and investment banks, meticulously reviewing documents to ensure securities law disclosures are consistent and avoid SEC investigations. Gregory shared that he secured his role after heavily leaning on a professor for guidance, and he recommended that students not shy away from doing the same.
Kayla Lucia echoed this sentiment, reflecting on her own nontraditional journey, starting in Legal Aid, then moving to “Midlaw,” and eventually to a major firm specializing in employment law. She noted that she transitioned into private practice to find a more sustainable professional life and to avoid the burnout she felt in the public interest sector. Kayla encouraged students to think critically about the kind of professional and personal life they hope to build, and to consider factors like team size and environmental competitiveness, rather than defaulting to prestige-driven choices. Her current work involves bridging the gap between poorly written statutes and the concise answers employers need, while also assessing the factual viability of litigation claims.
Yen-Yi Anderson provided a compelling account of forging an independent path to starting her own small firm practice. She recounted that her career did not follow a direct route after law school, spending years in nonprofit and media work before returning to the legal field and building her own practice through relationships she had developed with foreign entrepreneurs. In a small-firm setting, she emphasized that attorneys must “wear many hats,” balancing legal work with responsibilities such as managing hiring, payroll, office management, and client development. At the same time, she noted that her practice areas in immigration and commercial litigation require constant attention to evolving laws and policies, which makes adaptability essential. Despite the challenges, Yen-Yi relished the autonomy that comes with running her own firm. She is able to choose her clients, shape her workload, and maintain flexibility in her schedule to allow her to prioritize family alongside her career.
The discussion was further enriched by perspectives from the public sector, illustrating how legal work can directly shape public policy and address community needs. Thomas Wu detailed his role at the New York State Housing Finance Agency, where legal practice operates at the intersection of law and urban development. In this capacity, attorneys work alongside policymakers and financial institutions to structure deals that support affordable housing initiatives across the state. He described the work as both technical and mission-driven as it requires attorneys to translate legal frameworks into practical tools that enable large-scale development projects. Thomas also emphasized the importance of fellowship programs, such as the Excelsior Fellows Program, as accessible and structured entry points into government service for recent graduates seeking substantive experience and long-term pathways into public sector careers.
Similarly, Glenn Magpantay offered a broader, long-term perspective shaped by decades of experience across civil rights enforcement, nonprofit leadership, AABANY, and his current role as a Commissioner on the United States Commission on Civil Rights. Glenn encouraged students to view their careers as evolving journeys that may have uncertainty and deviation from previous expectations. Glenn advised, “Don’t worry too much about getting it right the first time—your career will evolve, and you’ll get where you want to go,” reinforcing the idea that resilience and adaptability with the legal community are often more determinative of long-term success.
The discussion also highlighted the critical role of networking and mentorship. Speakers consistently emphasized that relationships, such as those cultivated through bar associations like AABANY and broader community engagement, are often instrumental in securing opportunities. Glenn noted that in a competitive field where many candidates appear equally qualified on paper, it is frequently personal connections and trusted recommendations that set applicants apart.
During the Q&A portion, one student asked how the law is actually applied in day-to-day practice as opposed to the case-based learning emphasized in law school. Speakers responded by illustrating their actual responsibilities in vivid detail. Whether it was Gregory ensuring regulatory compliance in complex financial disclosures, Kayla interpreting ambiguous statutes to advise clients, or Daobo drafting judicial opinions grounded in meticulous legal research, each speaker illustrated how legal reasoning operates in real-world contexts. These insights helped bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional application where students were able to gather a clearer understanding of what legal work truly entails.
The evening concluded with an interactive session in which attendees also introduced themselves and shared their aspirations, followed by informal networking over pizza. Thank you to AABANY’s LGBTQ Committee and Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee for organizing and hosting this thoughtful and engaging program, as well as to Fordham APALSA and Fordham OUTLaws for their generous co-sponsorships and collaboration. Special appreciation also goes to the Student Outreach Committee for their continued support in creating meaningful opportunities for students to engage with practitioners across diverse areas of the legal profession.
On April 9th, 2026, AABANY’s Mentorship Committee held its Mentorship Program Kickoff Mixer at the offices of McDermott Will & Schulte at One Vanderbilt. Mentors and mentees mingled in person and made new connections across the Mentorship Program over a delicious spread of hors d’oeuvres and drinks, while enjoying a panoramic view of the city.
Mentorship Program Co-Chairs Emily Chen and Gary Yeung gave opening remarks and thanked the attendees and sponsor, McDermott, emphasizing the importance of being proactive in seeking out mentorship during the course of one’s career.
AABANY’s Mentorship Program provides support, advice, and networking opportunities to aid both mentors and mentees in their professional and personal development. Each mentee is matched to a mentor who will serve as a teacher, role model, and resource to the mentee. By way of the one-to-one relationships and Mentorship Program events, held throughout the year, the program provides the structure to advance professional growth and networking skills of both mentors and mentees.
We would like to again give special thanks to McDermott Will & Schulte for generously sponsoring this Mentorship Mixer, which will undoubtedly help this year’s class of mentors and mentees to build enduring bonds in the coming months and years.
– Written by Gary Yeung, Co-Chair, AABANY Mentorship Committee
On Wednesday, March 18th, AABANY’s Student Outreach Committee and Women’s Committee organized the Careers in Media Law Panel, hosted by Perkins Coie. The panel featured a diverse group of professionals in media law: Roger Chao (Senior Counsel at A+E Global Media), Jessica Cheng (Associate at Perkins Coie), Amy Gajda (Jeffrey D. Forchelli Professor at Brooklyn Law School), and Alicia Matusheski Khaled (Senior Counsel at Perkins Coie). The event was held at Perkins Coie’s midtown Manhattan office in the SoHo conference room, where around 15-20 lawyers, students, and other registrants attended.
The panelists engaged in a riveting discussion of media law, the field’s niches, and the influence of AI on their work. Topics such as the First Amendment and privacy were brought into the conversation, specifically how these areas were being put in jeopardy and questioned by AI’s emergence. The panelists also engaged in a lighthearted, realistic discussion about the challenges of working within media law, as well as the rewards. They found the work they did to be stressful sometimes. One example included the stress in getting a contract or agreement through as a deadline looms, because not closing the deal can mean delays in production and content that was waiting to be used or seen by millions of people. But what the panelists found most rewarding was seeing the shows, games, or other media they worked on in the news and loved by fans.
The audience was incredibly engaged and interested in what was shared. Attendees asked questions generally about the field of law, but also specific questions, including discussion of AI and its impact. After the panel discussion and Q&A, the attendees and panelists networked over a spread of hors d’oeuvres featuring lime-and-garlic-grilled shrimp and truffled potato croquettes as well as strawberries dipped in chocolate for dessert. Those who attended in the hopes of gaining more insight into media law left with a deeper understanding of the field’s intricacies and the stories of the experts who worked within it.
AABANY thanks Perkins Coie for the refreshments and the beautiful space. Thank you also to our panelists, who were deeply engaged in conversation and who passionately shared stories, information, and tips about media law.
To learn more about AABANY’s Student Outreach Committee, click here. To learn more about AABANY’s Women’s Committee, click here. You can find out more about upcoming events by visiting the calendar on AABANY’s website.
— Written by Emily Kam, AABANY Student Outreach Committee Vice-Chair
On Monday, March 16, 2026, the AABANY Intellectual Property (IP) Committee gathered for its final dinner of the 2025-2026 fiscal year at CHILI, a Michelin-recognized Sichuan restaurant in Midtown Manhattan.
The evening served as a festive conclusion to a productive year, bringing together a diverse mix of legal professionals—from seasoned IP attorneys, in-house and government attorneys, to law students—to network and reflect on the year’s achievements before the new fiscal year begins on April 1. The gathering offered the attendees, all AABANY members at different stage of their careers, an opportunity to share insights and forge connections that extend well beyond the courtroom or office. Conversations flowed easily between the fourteen attendees, from those who have spent decades navigating the complexities of intellectual property law to those just beginning to find their footing in the profession, creating a sense of mentorship and mutual inspiration. As the evening drew to a close, attendees departed with renewed energy and a shared sense of purpose, ready to carry the momentum of the past year into the promising opportunities that the new fiscal year is sure to bring.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for this special evening. We look forward to many more meals, meaningful conversations, and moments of connection in the new fiscal year.
If you’re interested in future dinners, keep an eye on the AABANY calendar for upcoming events. To learn more about the IP Committee, visit their subpage on the AABANY website.
– Written by Ada Wang, AABANY Intellectual Property Committee Co-Chair
On March 12, 2026, AABANY’s Tax Committee and Asia Practice Committee co-hosted a vibrant dinner event at Chi Restaurant & Bar. The gathering brought together a diverse group of attendees, including seasoned attorneys, young professionals, and NYU tax LLM students, all eager to connect and share insights. Conversations ranged from emerging trends in Asian markets to recent developments in tax law, fostering both professional growth and community building. Guests enjoyed an array of Asian-inspired dishes while networking with new acquaintances and reconnecting with familiar colleagues in a welcoming atmosphere.
Building on the success of this event, the Tax Committee intends to host additional networking events throughout the year, collaborating with other AABANY Committees to broaden participation. We warmly invite professionals from all backgrounds to join our future gatherings and stay connected with our growing community.
For more information on AABANY’s Tax Committee, click here. For more information on AABANY’s Asia Practice Committee, click here. You can also check out AABANY’s website for information on other committees, as well as a calendar of upcoming events.
– Written by Eric Min, Co-Chair of AABANY’s Tax Committee
On Wednesday, February 25, 2026, AABANY’s Trusts & Estates Committee gathered to celebrate the Year of the Horse with a festive dinner in Midtown Manhattan. Held at Tang Pavilion, the evening brought together 18 attendees for a lively night of yummy food and community-building.
As guests arrived, they were directed to a separate private room reserved for the Committee, creating an intimate setting for the celebration. Co-Chair Natasha Chang thoughtfully ordered a wide-ranging selection of dishes for everyone to share, ensuring the table was filled with a delectable and generous spread. The meal began with scallion pancakes, cucumber salad, and frosted peanuts, followed by familiar favorites including Orange Chicken, Shredded Beef with Small Hot Peppers, Assorted Noodles, Beef Noodle Soup, Sweet & Sour Pork Ribs, Boneless Chicken Feet, and Smoked Fish. The steady arrival of dishes encouraged camaraderie as attendees around the table’s central lazy susan spun the glass turntable to share each dish and sample a bit of everything.
Beyond the delicious food, the dinner served as a valuable networking opportunity. Attendees went around the table introducing themselves and sharing their practice areas and career paths. The conversation evolved into a thoughtful reflection on the attendees’ respective law journeys. Many shared what they might have done differently, including whether taking one or more gap years before law school or gaining more practical experience earlier on. Some also talked about how the practice of law is changing with new technologies like AI and how future lawyers will need to adapt to these shifts.
Adding to the festive spirit, attendee Julie Min Chayet from Fiduciary Trust International passed around traditional red envelopes to all of the attendees. Inside were $2 bills and chocolate gold coins representing prosperity and good fortune for the year ahead. The thoughtful gesture sparked smiles and appreciation around the tables.
As we move forward into the Year of the Horse, AABANY’s Trusts & Estates Committee looks ahead with enthusiasm and renewed energy for the year’s programming and initiatives. Thank you to everyone who joined us for an evening of celebration and camaraderie.
On January 21, 2026, AABANY’s Solo and Small Firm Practice, Litigation, Judiciary, and Membership Committees hosted “Solo & Small Law Firm Litigators: Strategies for Success and Why Clients Should Care” at the Welcome to Chinatown Hub, at 115 Bowery, bringing together attorneys and non-attorneys for a dynamic and engaging discussion.
Panelists Tristan Loanzon, David Mou, Tiffany Miao, and Alysha Naik shared valuable insights and perspectives on building and sustaining successful solo and small-firm litigation practices, highlighting both career paths and the real value these firms offer clients.
The conversation was expertly guided by moderator Bianca Lin, Co-Chair of the Solo and Small Firm Committee, whose thoughtful questions and discussion topics prompted a lively and meaningful exchange. Audience members were highly engaged, asking insightful questions that added depth to the conversation and demonstrated strong interest in the panelists’ practical takeaways.
The program also included dedicated networking time before and after the panel, which gave attendees a meaningful opportunity to connect, meet new faces, and continue the discussion. The evening was complemented by delicious food catered by Nom Wah, generously made possible by our corporate sponsors, DocketBird, AmeriJudge, and Legal Consultants for Everyone.
AABANY extends its deepest thanks to our panelists, moderator, sponsors, and attendees for making this event such a memorable and rewarding experience.
On Thursday, January 22, 2026, AABANY’s In-House Counsel Committee and the Corporate Law Committee hosted its annual Winter Soiree. Returning once again to Le Chalet at Saks Fifth Avenue, the event transformed the heart of midtown into a warm, alpine-inspired venue where members came together for one of AABANY’s most well-attended and successful Winter Soirees to date.
The Winter Soiree, one of AABANY’s marquee events, proved more vibrant than ever this year. With nearly 200 attendees and a record 25 sponsors, attendees roared with chatter and laughter, while strengthening professional relationships, forging new connections, and celebrating the collaborative spirit that exemplifies AABANY’s legal network.
Guests started to arrive around 6:00 p.m. and were embraced by Le Chalet’s warm interior and balcony view of the city skyline. The intimate and collegial setting provided an ideal backdrop for meaningful dialogue among distinguished senior attorneys, partners, and the senior in-house counsel that represented a wide variety of sectors including financial services, technology and software development, healthcare, investment banking, insurance, real estate, media and entertainment, sports and licensing, consumer electronics, retail luxury goods, food and beverage, aviation, oil and gas, utilities, and environmental services. The companies represented included Mastercard, Pfizer, Con Edison, Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley, Meta, Tiffany & Co., JP Morgan Chase, American Express and Johnson & Johnson.
Over 20 General Counsels were in attendance this year, representing some of the largest corporations in the country. Representing a remarkably diverse cross-section of the corporate and legal landscape, attendees engaged in thoughtful conversations on a wide range of topics while enjoying an assortment of hors d’oeuvres, wines, cocktails, and other refreshments as the evening unfolded.
Shortly after 7:00 pm, David Sohn of J.P. Morgan Chase, Co-Chair of the In-House Counsel Committee, delivered opening remarks. He highlighted his Committee’s work in advancing the legal profession and advocating for the AAPI legal community, and thanked Saks, all our sponsors, and the guests for helping to make the event a success through their presence. He then invited Ken McClure, representing Broadridge Financial Solutions and AABANY’s’ Diamond Sponsor, to address the audience.
Co-Chairs Peter Wei and Jack Jiaqi Chen joined David to introduce the AABANY Winter Soiree’s Platinum Sponsors: Haynes Boone (represented by Brian Sung); Perkins Coie (represented by Dennis Hopkins); Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP (represented by Phil Richter); Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone LLP (represented by Jennifer Wu and Jenny Wu); and Seyfarth Shaw LLP (represented by Varuna Bhattacharyya, AABANY’s President-Elect).
The speakers expressed the importance of AABANY’s role in shaping a more diverse, supportive, and forward-looking legal profession. They spoke to the value of investing in the organization’s mission and noted AABANY’s lasting influence on the professional development and advancement of Asian American attorneys.
Closing out the remarks, Corporate Law Committee Co-Chair John Hwang, Partner at Linklaters LLP, explained the Committee’s mission to provide a forum for corporate law firm attorneys where they can exchange ideas and experiences as AAPI attorneys in that practice area. John also acknowledged his Co-Chairs, Tracy Feng, Partner at Paul Hastings and Keli Huang, Partner at Kirkland & Ellis, as well as Vice-Chairs Kyle Zhu, Associate at Orrick, and Ashley Wong, in-house counsel at Amazon, for their leadership and contributions to the Committee. John concluded by expressing gratitude to the Winter Soiree’s Gold and Silver Sponsors, after which the guests returned to mingling and networking.
AABANY extends its deepest gratitude to the 2026 Winter Soiree sponsors, whose generous support made the event possible:
Silver Sponsors Allegaert Berger & Vogel LLP Anonymous Blakes Clark Smith Villazor LLP Con Edison Leason Ellis LLP McCarthy Tetrault Miao Law LLC Steno
AABANY also extends its sincere appreciation to the Co-Chairs of the co-sponsoring Committees—David Sohn, Peter Wei, Jack Chen, of the In-House Counsel Committee, and Tracy Feng, John Hwang, and Keli Huang, of the Corporate Law Committee—for their dedication and leadership. Special thanks are due to the organization’s staff, Yang Chen, Executive Director; Carrey Wong, Deputy Executive Director; and Apollo Baltazar, Administrative Assistant, as well as interns Eva Lee and Aleasha Wattoo, and former intern Kirin Moy, whose hard work and support contributed to the evening’s success.
The Winter Soiree started to wind down around 8:30 pm., as guests left the warm embrace of Le Chalet to brave the winter evening, bringing an energetic and memorable night to a close. AABANY thanks all who attended and looks forward to continuing this festive tradition and welcoming the community back for future events.
