press release Archives - Page 13 of 21

May 28, 2015

Press Release: Kicking Glass, Video About Asian American Women Lawyers, Has New York Premiere at White & Case

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 28, 2015

Contact: Yang Chen, Executive Director
(718) 228-7206

NEW YORK – May 28, 2015 – On May 26, as part of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”), the Asian American Law Fund of New York, Inc., and White & Case LLP presented the New York premiere of Kicking Glass from the Boardroom to the Courtroom: Two Decades and Counting, a follow-up to a 1995 video produced by AABANY and White & Case regarding the position of Asian American women in the legal profession. The New York screening of Kicking Glass at the New York offices of White & Case LLP attracted approximately 100 attendees and was simultaneously live-broadcast to the White & Case offices in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Miami and Tampa.

First presented at the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (“NAPABA”) Convention in 1995, the first Kicking Glass video explored Asian American women attorneys’ views on barriers to the highest levels of the profession, the successes they achieved, and what success meant to them. Among the issues addressed were the “Asian woman” stereotype, and how to get recognition for one’s work, parity in the workplace, and achieving a work/life balance. Headed by the AABANY Women’s Committee, the 2015 Kicking Glass video followed up on these important issues with several of the attorneys from the 1995 video as well as a new group of women and law students for their perspectives on the progress that has been made and the hurdles that remain. Following the screening, Sylvia Fung Chin, Partner at White & Case, moderated a candid panel discussion that included speakers featured in the video:

Hon. Pamela Chen, United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
Hon. Doris Ling-Cohan, Appellate Term, First Department, Supreme Court of the State of New York
Sapna Palla, Partner, Wiggin and Dana LLP (AABANY Women’s Committee Co-Chair)
Poojitha Rao, Principal, Rao Law LLC
Grace Shim, Executive Director, MinKwon Center for Community Action
Helen Wan, Author, The Partner Track

“The video and panel discussion illustrate that since 1995 Asian American women attorneys have come closer to breaking through the glass ceiling but there is still significant progress to be made to give Asian American women attorneys equal opportunities for success in the legal field,” Sapna Palla, AABANY Women’s Committee Co-Chair stated. “Nevertheless, it is clear that open discussion about these issues and the presence of important role models such as Asian American women judges, General Counsel, law firm partners and Asian American women in leadership positions in the law provide great hope and optimism for the future. AABANY is committed to continuing this discussion and supporting the efforts of Asian American women attorneys to achieve their full potential in the legal field.”

For more information, please contact Yang Chen, AABANY Executive Director, at (718) 228-7206, or direct any inquiries to[email protected].

The Asian American Bar Association of New York is a professional membership organization of attorneys concerned with issues affecting the Asian Pacific American community. Incorporated in 1989, AABANY seeks not only to encourage the professional growth of its members but also to advocate for the Asian Pacific American community as a whole. AABANY is the New York regional affiliate of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA).

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March 30, 2015

Press Release: NAPABA Opposes Indiana Governor’s Passage of Anti-LGBT Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30, 2015

Contact: AuriaJoy Asaria
(202) 775-9555, ext. 3

WASHINGTON — On Thursday, Indiana Governor Mike Pence signed into law SB 101, legislation that would enable businesses to discriminate under the banner of religious freedom against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. Religious claims have in the past been used to justify slavery, segregation, and bans on interracial marriage and are now being used in the same manner to support discrimination against LGBT individuals.

“Governor Pence’s decision to support a law that permits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is disheartening and a step backwards for all Americans,” said George C. Chen, president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA). “Religious freedom is important, but discrimination masked as religious freedom is not acceptable anywhere in our nation.”

With this new law, Indiana has become the first state in the U.S. this year to enact legislation by allowing corporations and individuals to refuse to provide services to individuals simply by asserting that a discriminatory act is based on a sincerely held religious belief. Supporters of the bill deny that the bill is about discrimination and argue that religious liberties are under attack and must be protected. But this kind of legislation opens the door for widespread discrimination and goes against American values of diversity and inclusion. NAPABA supports efforts to oppose SB 101 and similar bills pending in others states to ensure equality for all Americans regardless of sexual orientation.

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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 over 40,000 attorneys and 70 national, state, and local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members include solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal service 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.

March 16, 2015

NAPABA Press Release: Michelle K. Lee First Woman to Lead U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2015

Contact: Tina Matsuoka
(202) 775-9555

WASHINGTON — Last night, the U.S. Senate confirmed Michelle K. Lee as the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Lee is the first woman and person of color to lead the USPTO.

“We congratulate Michelle Lee on her historic confirmation,” said George C. Chen, president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA). “Ms. Lee is breaking barriers not only for the Asian Pacific American community, but for all women and communities of color in the tech and legal industries.”

President Obama nominated Lee for the position in October 2014. Lee has over twenty years of experience in intellectual property and patent law. Prior to her confirmation, Lee served as the Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and the acting Director and Deputy Director of the USPTO, and she also headed the USPTO Silicon Valley office. Prior to her public service, she was Google’s first Deputy General Counsel and Head of Patents and Patents Strategy.

Lee holds a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering and Masters of Science in computer science from MIT. She received her JD from Stanford Law School.

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American (APA) attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of over 40,000 attorneys and approximately 70 national, state, and local 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 engages in legislative and policy advocacy, promotes APA political leadership and political appointments, and builds coalitions within the legal profession and the community at large. NAPABA also serves as a resource for government agencies, members of Congress, and public service organizations about APAs in the legal profession, civil rights, and diversity in the courts.

February 12, 2015

AABANY Congratulates Rosemary Yu as Recipient of the NYPD Asian Jade Society’s Lifetime Community Service Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2015

Contact: Yang Chen, Executive Director
(718) 228-7206

NEW YORK – February 12, 2015 – The Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”) congratulates Rosemary Yu, Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, as the 2015 recipient of the New York Police Department (“NYPD”) Asian Jade Society’s Lifetime Community Service Award. Ms. Yu will be honored on February 13, 2015 during the Annual Asian Jade Society Scholarship Dinner Dance at Jing Fong restaurant.

A native New Yorker, Ms. Yu joined the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in 2005. She has extensive experience handling cases and investigations in the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor and Special Investigations Bureau. She was one of the five inaugural ADAs in the Crime Strategies Unit, created by the District Attorney in 2010. Appointed Co-Director of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Immigrant Affairs Program in 2011, Ms. Yu has worked within the department and with community leaders to investigate and prosecute crimes affecting the immigrant community as well as educate the public about immigration fraud. In 2013, Ms. Yu handled the high profile ‘Chinese blessing’ scandal in the Chinatown community, which preyed on the fears of religious elderly Chinese immigrants historically averse to reporting crimes to the police. In elaborate multi-person schemes, the perpetrators switched victims’ bags of money and jewelry with water bottles and newspaper clippings in fraudulent ceremonies meant to bless and spiritually cleanse the victim’s families. The NYPD Asian Jade Society is recognizing Ms. Yu’s service and impact in making the Chinatown community a safer place.

Ms. Yu has been active with AABANY as Co-Chair of its Prosecutors’ Committee, which seeks to promote the interests of Asian Pacific American (APA) prosecutors in New York at the county, state and federal levels. In this capacity, Ms. Yu has organized events and programs that benefit the professional development and advancement of APA prosecutors, including AABANY’s annual Prosecutors’ Reception at the New York County Lawyers’ Association, which has become one of AABANY’s signature events attended by the District Attorneys of each of New York City’s boroughs and the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, among others. In addition, Ms. Yu has collaborated with AABANY’s Immigration and Nationality Law Committee to educate the APA community about immigration fraud and how not to fall victim to it. Through her leadership role in the Prosecutors’ Committee, Ms. Yu helps AABANY connect with the District Attorneys’ offices across New York City, so that AABANY can play a role as an advocate and resource to the APA community.

“AABANY is proud of Rosemary’s recognition by the Asian Jade Society as a Lifetime Community Service Award recipient,” says Executive Director Yang Chen. “Our association has long known about and benefited from Rosemary’s ties to the community and her considerable talents and energy as a prosecutor and public servant. We commend the Asian Jade Society on its choice of Rosemary as an honoree. She is not only highly worthy and deserving of the honor, but we are confident that she will continue to earn praise and accolades in the years and decades to come.”

For more information, please contact Yang Chen, AABANY Executive Director, at (718) 228-7206, or direct any inquiries to[email protected].

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February 12, 2015

AABANY Congratulates Kin W. Ng on His Promotion to Chief of the Immigration Fraud Unit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2015

Contact: Yang Chen, Executive Director
(718) 228-7206

NEW YORK – February 12, 2015 – The Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”) is proud to announce that Kin W. Ng has been promoted to Chief of the Immigration Fraud Unit in the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, formed in 2014 by District Attorney Ken Thompson. Chosen for his expertise and unique understanding of the immigrant experience, Kin’s leadership of the Immigration Fraud Unit aims to strengthen the mission of dedicating resources to under-reported and difficult-to-prosecute crimes in the immigrant community.

Since joining the Kings County District Attorney’s Office in 1991, Kin has tried a full range of serious cases including rapes, robberies, felony drug sales, and homicides. His roles have included Deputy Bureau Chief in the Early Case Assessment Bureau, Bureau Chief in the Domestic Violence Bureau, Director of Training for more than 500 Assistant District Attorneys (2007-2013), and most recently, Deputy Bureau Chief for Felony Trials in the Orange Trial Zone.

After emigrating from Hong Kong as a child, Kin has maintained strong ties with the Asian American community in Brooklyn and New York City, understanding firsthand the experience of many immigrants. Not only has Kin lectured before various government agencies and community-based organizations on a wide range of topics related to the criminal justice system, he also works regularly with local and foreign media to educate and raise awareness in the immigrant community. Kin is an active member of AABANY, as well as founder and former Chair of AABANY’s Prosecutors’ Committee, representing the interests of New York-area Asian American prosecutors. He co-founded the National Asian Pacific Islander Prosecutors’ Association (“NAPIPA”) in 2011, and currently serves on NAPIPA’s National Executive Board and as President of its New York Regional Chapter.

“Kings County is home to a diverse population of immigrants, including many from Asia. Immigration fraud plagues our immigrant communities all across New York City, and AABANY commends District Attorney Thompson for appointing Kin Ng to the important position of Chief of the Immigration Fraud Unit,” says AABANY Executive Director Yang Chen. “With Kin leading the Kings County District Attorney’s Office in combatting immigration fraud, we anticipate that victims of notarios, unscrupulous lawyers and pseudo-lawyers, will have someone in the District Attorney’s office looking out for them. Kin’s dedication to the community is well-known and well-established. We congratulate Kin on this well-deserved appointment, and AABANY looks forward to working with him and the District Attorney’s office to protect members of the community against immigration fraud.”

For more information, please contact Yang Chen, AABANY Executive Director, at (718) 228-7206, or direct any inquiries to[email protected].

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December 19, 2014

December 17, 2014: NAPABA Celebrates Confirmation of Amit P. Mehta

WASHINGTON – Late last night the U.S. Senate confirmed Amit Priyavadan Mehta by a voice vote to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He is the first Asian Pacific American to serve as a federal district court judge in the District of Columbia. Click on the link above to read the full press release.

December 18, 2014

AABANY Applauds Nomination of Kathy Hirata Chin for New York Court of Appeals Vacancy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 18, 2014

Contact: Yang Chen, Executive Director
(718) 228-7206

NEW YORK – December 18, 2014 – The Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”) is proud to announce that the Commission on Judicial Nominations has named Kathy Hirata Chin (Partner at Cadwalader, Wickersham, & Taft LLP) as one of seven well-qualified nominees for the judgeship vacancy on the New York State Court of Appeals created by the retirement of Judge Robert Smith. The Commission on Judicial Nomination, charged with evaluating and recommending to the Governor candidates to fill vacancies on the New York Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court, received 53 applications and interviewed 22 candidates for the Smith opening.

“AABANY applauds the Commission on Judicial Nomination for its recommendation of Kathy Hirata Chin to join the highest court of New York and strongly encourages Governor Cuomo to make history by appointing the first-ever Asian Pacific American (APA) judge to this esteemed institution,” said AABANY President Clara Ohr. “Kathy’s qualifications would make her a valuable addition to this court and her appointment would be an important step toward making the judiciary in New York a more accurate reflection of the population it serves.” APAs remain significantly underrepresented in the New York Judiciary. With approximately 1300 judges in the New York State court system, only 22 of them are APAs in spite of the fact that APAs make up approximately 8% of the population of New York State.

“We congratulate Kathy on her selection as a nominee to the State’s highest court,” said Linda Lin, Co-Chair of AABANY’s Judiciary Committee. “Her outstanding credentials, balanced temperament, and sterling achievements undoubtedly make her an excellent candidate for the bench and we strongly urge Governor Cuomo to appoint Kathy Chin to the New York Court of Appeals bench.”

Kathy Hirata Chin is an accomplished litigator who has handled dozens of appellate cases, concentrating her practice in healthcare and real estate. After graduating magna cum laude from Princeton University and graduating Columbia University School of Law, where she was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and Editor-in-Chief of The Columbia Journal of Transnational Law, Ms. Chin joined Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, becoming one of the first minority and women Partners in 1990. Nominated by Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Ms. Chin served on the New York City Planning Commission from 1995-2001. Nominated by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Ms. Chin has served on the New York City Commission to Combat Police Corruption since August 2003. She has also served on Governor Mario M. Cuomo’s Judicial Screening Committee for the First Judicial Department from1992-1994; the Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel for the Eastern District of New York from 1992-1999; the Gender Bias Committee of the Second Circuit Task Force on Gender, Race, and Ethnic Fairness; the New York County Lawyers’ Association’s Task Force to Increase Diversity in the Legal Profession; and Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye’s Commission to Promote Public Confidence in Judicial Elections from 2003-2006; and the New York County Lawyers’ Association Board of Directors. She currently serves as a member of The Attorney Emeritus Advisory Council and The Commercial Division Advisory Council, and as member of the Board of Directors of the Medicare Rights Center. Ms. Chin has been a longstanding and active member of AABANY.

For more information, please contact Yang Chen, AABANY Executive Director, at (718) 228-7206, or direct any inquiries to [email protected].

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November 25, 2014

NAPABA APPLAUDS ADMINISTRATIVE RELIEF ON IMMIGRATION AND CALLS FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21, 2014

Contact: Emily Chatterjee
(202) 775-9555

WASHINGTON – The National Asian Pacific American Bar (NAPABA) welcomes President Barack Obama’s decision to take executive action and provide immigration relief—an important step towards fixing our broken immigration system. A key part of the President’s executive action is providing temporary relief from deportation to an estimated 4.9 million undocumented immigrants, of which an estimated 1.3 million are Asian Pacific American immigrants.

“NAPABA has long supported the need for commonsense immigration reform and applauds the President’s efforts to take action and provide relief,” said George C. Chen, president of NAPABA. “We recognize that President Obama’s actions are only temporary and continue to stress the need for legislative action and call on Congress to pass legislation to fully address the problems within the immigration system.”

Of the 1.3 million undocumented Asian Pacific Americans, an estimated 400,000 will benefit from this temporary relief. However, Asian Pacific American immigrants who have been waiting for decades to reunite with family members due to the visa backlogs in the family immigration system will not obtain any relief. It is estimated that 1.8 million people from Asian countries are waiting for a family-sponsored visa to join loved ones in the United States.

Supporting the need for comprehensive immigration reform has long been a priority for NAPABA. For many years, the NAPABA Board of Governors has passed policy resolutions on immigration, and immigration reform has been a focus of advocacy efforts for NAPABA members on the Hill and across the country within NAPABA’s state and local affiliates. A few weeks ago, NAPABA was proud to present Jose Antonio Vargas, an Asian Pacific American undocumented immigrant and Pulitzer-prize winning activist, as the keynote speaker of the 2014 NAPABA Convention in Arizona. In light of the administrative relief announced last night, Mr. Vargas may, after more than 20 years, finally be able to return home to the Philippines to see his mother.

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November 5, 2014

Press Release: AABANY Congratulates NAAAP-NY’s 2014 Most Influential APIA New Yorkers Glenn Lau-Kee and Sandra Leung

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 5, 2014

Contact: Yang Chen, Executive Director
(718) 228-7206

NEW YORK – November 5, 2014 – The Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”) is proud to announce that AABANY Past President and current New York State Bar Association President Glenn Lau-Kee and AABANY Advisory Committee Member Sandra Leung have been announced as the National Association of Asian American Professionals – New York Chapter (NAAAP-NY) 2014 Most Influential Asian Pacific Islander American New Yorkers. Mr. Lau-Kee and Ms. Leung will be honored at NAAAP-NY’s Moon Festival Honoree Gala at the Harvard Club of New York City on November 7, 2014.

NAAAP-NY has selected Glenn Lau-Kee (Partner, Kee & Lau-Kee PLLC) as its Public Service Honoree. Mr. Lau-Kee assumed office in June 2014 as the 117^th President and first Asian American to lead the New York State Bar Association, an organization with over 75,000 members. NAAAP-NY has named Sandra Leung (General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Bristol-Meyers Squibb) as its the Corporate Legal Honoree. As legal advisor to the Board of Directors and company executives, Ms. Leung is responsible for shaping Bristol-Meyers Squibb’s legal strategy, as well as the company’s Environment, Health & Safety, Corporate Security, and Philanthropy groups.

“AABANY is delighted that NAAAP-NY has chosen to recognize Glenn Lau-Kee and Sandra Leung among New York’s most influential Asian Pacific Islander American New Yorkers,” says Executive Director Yang Chen. “Both Glenn and Sandra have made major impacts in the legal profession through their work and leadership, and have paved the way for generations of APIA lawyers and professionals. We congratulate Glenn and Sandra and all the honorees at this year’s Moon Festival Gala.” AABANY President Clara Ohr adds, “We strongly support NAAAP-NY’s decision to honor such Asian American trailblazers in the legal profession as Glenn Lau-Kee and Sandra Leung, and we appreciate its past recognition of our own Executive Director, Yang Chen, whom NAAAP-NY named its 2013 Community Excellence Awardee.”

For more information, please contact Yang Chen, AABANY Executive Director, at (718) 228-7206, or direct any inquiries to [email protected].

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October 30, 2014

NAPABA NAMES HAMRE, SCHUMANN, MUELLER & LARSON AND PERKINS COIE AS ITS 2014 LAW FIRM DIVERSITY AWARD RECIPIENTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 28, 2014

Contact: Azizah Ahmad
(202) 775-9555

WASHINGTON – The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) has named Hamre, Schumann, Mueller & Larson, P.C. and Perkins Coie LLP as the 2014 Law Firm Diversity Award recipients. NAPABA created the Law Firm Diversity Award to recognize law firms that actively, affirmatively, consistently, and enthusiastically recruit, retain, and promote Asian Pacific American lawyers to equity partnership and firm leadership. The awards will be presented at the NAPABA Anniversary Gala and Installation Banquet on November 8, 2014, at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Hamre, Schumann, Mueller & Larson, P.C. (HSML) is a full service intellectual property law firm based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. HSML prides itself on its diverse staff, with 80 percent of its associates and one of its five principals being of Asian descent. HSML attorneys Alex Kim and Bryan Wong are both past-presidents of the Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association.

Perkins Coie LLP has more than 950 lawyers in offices in the U.S. and Asia. Perkins Coie has been honored by several organizations for its commitment to diversity and inclusion, including the American Bar Association, Asian American Bar Association of New York, and Women in Law Empowerment Forum. Perkins Coie senior counsel Paul O. Hiorse is a NAPABA past-president and partner Audra Mori currently serves as the NAPABA Central California Regional Governor.

NAPABA is proud to name Hamre, Schumann, Mueller & Larson, P.C. and Perkins Coie LLP as the 2014 Law Firm Diversity Award recipients and applauds their continued commitment to diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.

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