In-House Counsel Committee Hosts Winter Soiree to Network over Wine and Trivia

On Wednesday, January 26th, AABANY held a virtual Winter Soiree featuring a lively sommelier-led wine tasting and trivia games. Organized by the In-House Counsel Committee, the event brought together more than 50 senior in-house lawyers and corporate law firm attorneys. Companies represented included Mastercard, MetLife, Google, and Goldman Sachs. Attendees streamed in from a variety of locations across the United States, from California to New York.

The evening was full of fun, excitement, and laughter as Brooklyn Winery guided attendees through a Chardonnay and Cuvée Noir tasting. Attendees received tasting kits ahead of the event, which included bottles of wine, a bottle opener, tasting glasses, “make your own wine label cards” and virtual wine games instructions. There were two rounds of trivia, the first focusing on wine and winemaking, the second on wine and pop trivia. Attendees also mingled in breakout sessions after each round to get to know each better or to catch up.

Susie Dare from Marsh & McLennan won the trivia games and was gifted a tasting kit from Brooklyn Winery – congratulations, Susie!

Social media post by attendee featuring wines tasted and activity sheet.

The event was made possible by our headline sponsors:

We would also like to thank our sponsors 

Thank you to all our attendees, and we hope to see everyone again at next year’s soiree (which we hope will be in person). To learn more about the In-House Counsel Committee go to: https://www.aabany.org/page/149

Register for the 2021 NAPABA Convention: One Spectacular Convention, Two Ways to Participate


Click here to register.

The 2021 NAPABA Convention is offering more than 50 programs, including networking receptions, CLE sessions, Thursday specialty programming, and plenaries featuring high-profile experts on today’s top issues. 

Have it your way and attend either in-person at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, DC, December 9-12 or with our virtual pass where you can tune in live for our plenary sessions, the Trailblazer Award Reception, and 33rd Anniversary Gala, and watch CLEs on-demand all from the comfort of your home or office. With the flexibility of attending in-person or virtually, NAPABA can provide a personal experience based on your professional needs. Whether you’re looking to earn CLE credit, grow your business, or connect with others, you can customize your Convention experience to match your goals.

Register by the early bird deadline of Friday, October 8, and be entered into a raffle to win free registration for the 2022 NAPABA Convention.


Thursday Specialty Programming

Developed by NAPABA committees and networks, we are proud to present specialty programming on Thursday of Convention week. This series of workshops is designed to provide experiential learning opportunities in an immersive and interactive environment. Specialty programming allows participants to delve more deeply into issues with experts in the field beyond what may be possible during a general CLE session.

International Law Symposium | 1:00 – 3:45 pm
 
This year’s International Law Symposium will focus on how to succeed in an international legal career and the cultural issues in international dispute resolution.

Solo & Small Firm Boot Camp | 1:00 – 3:45 pm
The Solo & Small Firm Boot Camp provides programming that is specifically tailored to the needs of solo and small firm practitioners, as well as those interested in starting a solo or small firm practice. This year’s programming will focus on social media marketing tips for small firms and how automating law practices will reduce stress and deliver exceptional customer service.

Women’s Leadership Workshop | 1:00 – 5:00 pm 
The 2021 Women’s Leadership Workshop will explore the potential pitfalls of the new hybrid workplace, how to mitigate the fall out, and how to make the benefits of a hybrid office work for you. We will focus on skills and perspectives necessary for women who have just started out their careers, women changing jobs and navigating a new organization remotely, and those responsible for leading teams remotely. Get what you need to shine on-line and in person in this new hybrid work world!

To learn more about what these specialty programs have in store for you at the Convention, click here!


Special Note
NAPABA is strongly committed to the safety and well-being of our members and guests at the Convention. Please review our full COVID-19 Safety Protocol including requirements for entry into the Convention. Additionally, please review our full cancellation and registration transfer policy. Registration for the Convention will close on Monday, December 6, 2021, at 11:59 pm ET. Registrations after this date, including walk-in or onsite registration, will not be permitted under any circumstance.   

AABANY Women’s Committee Hosts Outdoor Ice Cream Networking Event on July 15

On July 15, the Asian American Bar Association of New York’s (AABANY’s) Women’s Committee hosted an outdoor networking event on the Madison Square Park lawn, offering a variety of Chinatown Ice Cream Factory ice cream flavors to attendees that ranged from classic vanilla to ginger and black sesame. The AABANY Women’s Committee planned this networking event with two main objectives in mind: to ease everyone back into in-person events in a casual, outdoor setting and to get everyone comfortable with each other so that the Committee can engage in more serious conversations and initiatives in the future. The Women’s Committee was able to secure exciting ice cream flavors thanks to Co-Chair Jennifer Wu’s friendship with Christina Seid, owner of the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory and recently admitted law student. Wen Zhang remarked that one highlight of co-chairing for the Women’s Committee was supporting other remarkable women in law, and Christina is a case in point. As a business owner and mother, Christina already has her hands full, yet she is eager to embark on a possible second career through a flex program which entails devoting her entire Sunday to law school, in person, for the next year.

Attendees welcomed meeting new faces over refreshing ice cream in the remarkably warm weather, joining together to applaud and congratulate Vice Chair Grace Jamgochian’s recent election as a partner at Shearman & Sterling. Ashley Shan, an associate at Shearman, noted that she appreciated AABANY’s efforts and events, particularly because she is the Co-Chair of her firm’s Asian affinity group. She expressed a hope to work with and be inspired by AABANY initiatives for implementation at work in the future.

AABANY thanks the Women’s Committee for hosting such a fun, summer-appropriate event and the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory for providing delicious ice cream. To learn more about AABANY’s Women’s Committee, click here. To learn more about the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory Committee, click here.

AABANY Presents “How to Network” Panel at Cardozo School of Law

On Wednesday, March 3rd, AABANY’s Student Outreach committee collaborated with Cardozo Law School’s Asian-Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA) to host a panel on “How to Network.” The panelists included Margaret Ling, Senior Counsel at Big Apple Abstract Corp., Tiffany Ma, Partner at Young & Ma LLP, and Jeff Ikejiri, Vice President of Legal and Business Services at UnitedLex. The moderator was Aakruti Vakharia, Associate at Garwin Gerstein & Fisher LLP and Co-Chair of the Student Outreach Committee. 

Tiffany Ma spoke about her journey from a mid-tier law school to her lateral move to Morrison & Foerster, advising Cardozo law students to take advantage of their location in New York to build their networks and make themselves more competitive. She believes that “the best marketing is sincerity” and she shared her personal technique of establishing three points of commonality with new connections to help others remember her when she follows up with them afterwards.

Margaret Ling also shared a tip to have different business cards—company, personal, school, etc.—so that students can present the best side of themselves in different contexts. Margaret emphasized the importance of doing one’s homework and being aware of social cultural etiquette, always staying as humble as possible throughout the process.

Jeff Ikejiri advised students to think of networking as making friends. He told the story of how he got his current job through someone he met in line for refreshments during a break at a convention years ago. He encouraged students to be similarly outgoing and open to making new connections as well as being proactive in following up with potential connections.

Cardozo law students of all years came to hear insights and tips from the experienced practitioners. Those in attendance found the discussion thoughtful and engaging.

Thanks to Cardozo’s APALSA for co-hosting the event and providing food for the attendees. We hope to host many similar events in the future as AABANY continues to extend its outreach to students in law schools across New York.

To learn more about the Student Outreach Committee, go to https://www.aabany.org/page/121

AABANY Presents: Lunar New Year Celebration and Networking Event at Chase Bank

On January 28, 2020, Margaret Ling, AABANY Real Estate Committee Co-Chair, hosted and organized the Lunar New Year Celebration and Networking Event at Chase Bank located at 41-22 Bell Bvd, Bayside, New York.

Over 50 attorneys attended the reception. A lovely buffet was served, and entertainment was provided by master paper cutting artist Mr. Hou-Tien Cheng. AABANY’s Real Estate Committee collaborated with the following organizations to present this event: Queens County Bar Association Diversity and Inclusion Committee; KALAGNY; Big Apple Abstract Corporation; Chase Bank; and Forchelli, Deegan and Terrana, LLP. Margaret Ling, who is both the Co-Chair of the AABANY Real Estate Committee and the Co-Chair of the Queens County Bar Association Diversity and Inclusion Committee, will continue to organize these joint collaborative bar events in the near future.

We thank everyone that attended and wish everyone a prosperous Lunar New Year!

AABANY Presents: Understanding Diversity and Inclusion in Our Everyday World

On January 30, 2020, AABANY’s Real Estate Committee hosted a CLE entitled “Understanding Diversity and Inclusion in Our Everyday World.” The CLE and networking event took place at Hanover Bank in Flushing Commons in Queens, and over 25 attorneys attended.

The panel discussion covered all the basics of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and its relevance to the legal profession. The speakers included AABANY’s very own William Ng, Shareholder at Littler,  and Shirley W. Bi, Associate at Littler. Margaret Ling, AABANY Real Estate Committee Co-Chair, moderated the event. Attendees received 1 credit in Diversity, Inclusion and Elimination of Bias.

Many thanks to our sponsors, John Pollock and Jimmy Lee, both of Hanover Bank, Littler, Big Apple Abstract Corporation, KALAGNY, and the Queens County Bar Association. To learn more about the Real Estate Committee, go to https://www.aabany.org/page/120 .

AABANY Goes to the Hello Panda Lantern Festival at Citifield

On Friday, January 17, 2020, thirty AABANY members and friends braved the cold weather to enjoy a mixer at Citifield for the Hello Panda Lantern Festival.

Members were able to walk around the beautifully crafted structures, lit in colorful lights against the black night sky. Members also took a break from the cold and warmed up with hot cocoa and food while networking.

We thank AABANY’s Government Service & Public Interest, Pro Bono and Community Service, Young Lawyers, and Membership Committees for co-sponsoring this event.

To find out more about the Government Service & Public Interest Committee go to https://www.aabany.org/page/113. To find out more about the Pro Bono & Community Service Committee go to https://www.aabany.org/page/117. To find out more about the Young Lawyers Committee go to https://www.aabany.org/page/123.
To find out more about the Membership Committee go to https://www.aabany.org/page/130.

AABANY Co-Sponsors KALAGNY’s Third Annual Veterans and Military Networking Event

On November 14th, 2019, AABANY co-sponsored KALAGNY’s Third Annual Veterans and Military Networking Event at Debevoise & Plimpton. Commander David Lee, Staff Judge Advocate for the Naval Special Warfare Command, presented Jasmine Ball, an AABANY board member and corporate partner at Debevoise Plimpton, with a Naval Special Warfare Group Ten challenge coin for her continued support of the US Navy JAG Corp. Commander Lee then gave a presentation titled, “Perspectives on Service,” which outlined the type of work that the Naval Special Warfare Command does and described how his identity as an Asian American impacted his eighteen year career in the military.

Great job by KALAGNY as well as our Military and Veteran Affairs Committee co-chairs, Jimmy Kang and Dong Lee, for putting together a great event. And thank you to Commander Lee, AABANY President Brian Song, and every other serviceman and woman who serve our country.

AABANY Members Learn about Going In-House at AmEx

From Henry Chen, In-House Counsel at Amex:

As a member of Amex’s legal team, I was happy to welcome AABANY members for an information session held on October 22, 2019. The event started with a panel that included General Counsel Laureen Seeger and other Amex managing counsel discussing their experiences working as in-house counsel. Afterwards, AABANY attendees networked with members of various practice groups on Amex’s legal team. The event was very well-attended and offered a unique opportunity to learn what it’s like to work as in-house counsel at Amex. I certainly appreciate the impact of the information session because I attended the same event last year as an AABANY member. It gave me first-hand insight into working on Amex’s legal team and I had a great experience meeting everyone at Amex. So when an opportunity opened up afterwards to join the legal team, I already knew that I wanted to apply. And a few months later, I joined the Amex legal team! We hope everyone enjoyed the event this year, and we look forward to hosting this event again in the future.

IP Committee Dinner at Mama Fina’s House of Filipino Sisig

On August 28, 2019, IP Committee members gathered for a Filipino dinner at Mama Fina’s House of Filipino Sisig. 

A mix of old and new members attended.  Some were just learning about IP, while others had years of experience in the industry.  We dined on delicious dishes such as pork sisig, crispy pata, and kare-kare as we networked.  

We also previewed the IP Committee’s upcoming NAPABA Northeast Regional/AABANY Fall Conference panel: Far From Home: Cultural and Legal Considerations When Bringing Your Brand To New Territories.   

To learn more about the IP Committee and to get involved, please go to https://www.aabany.org/page/145