AABANY Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee Hosts Bubble Tea Social

On September 4, 2024, the AABANY Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee hosted a Bubble Tea Social, held in the Financial District of downtown Manhattan. 

The event was casual, yet lively and attendees enjoyed bubble tea drinks from Kung Fu Tea, custom-made with different tea and topping options. Favorite drinks included Winter Melon tea and Strawberry Lemonade tea with lychee. Individuals discussed their backgrounds, careers, and professional experiences, reconnecting with previous acquaintances while also introducing themselves to unfamiliar faces. 

This was AABANY’s first ever Bubble Tea Social, so we extend a special thanks to the Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee for organizing and hosting this event as well as everyone who was in attendance.

To learn more about the Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee, please click here.

Smashing Good Time: AABANY’s Ping Pong Social at PingPod, presented by Solo and Small Firm Practice, Young Lawyers, and Immigration Law Committees

When it comes to bringing people together for a weekend afternoon of fun, networking, and friendly competition, the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) knows how to serve up an ace. On Saturday, October 7, AABANY’s Solo and Small Firm Practice, Young Lawyers, and Immigration Law Committees organized an exciting Ping Pong social event at PingPod on the Lower East Side, and it was an afternoon filled with excitement, camaraderie, and impressive rallies.

Ping Pong enthusiasts from various legal backgrounds gathered at PingPod, each armed with a paddle and ready to showcase their skills. From beginners to seasoned pros, the event welcomed players of all levels. It was a fantastic opportunity for lawyers from both private and public sectors and recent law school graduates to let off some steam and engage in some friendly competition.

Participants also found themselves forging new connections, discussing legal topics, and even making potential career moves between rallies. Ping Pong truly served as the icebreaker, and the event demonstrated how professional connections can be made in the most unexpected settings.

Thank you to everyone for spending their Saturday afternoon with AABANY. Here’s to more exciting events and unforgettable moments brought by AABANY! Special thanks to Yen-Yi Anderson, Co-Chair of the Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee, Ada Wang, Co-Chair of the Young Lawyers Committee, and Susan Song, Co-Chair of the Immigration Law Committee, for their hard work planning and organizing this event.

AABANY Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee Co-Hosts: How to Utilize NYC Small Business Services Benefits as a Solo or Small Law Firm

NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) joined the AABANY Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee on June 28 for an information session on how to utilize SBS services. The event took place at the SBS offices at One Liberty Plaza in the Financial District. The Department of SBS’s current commissioner is Kevin Kim, a former Board Officer of AABANY. The twenty AABANY participants in attendance were impressed by SBS programs targeted towards small business owners, which include law firm owners, and could help lawyers assist their small business clients.

“We spent over $20 billion in contracts with minority and women-owned businesses last year,” shared Kitty Chan, Deputy Commissioner of the Division of Small Business Services.  Ms. Chan encouraged all AABANY participants to sign up for M/WBE certification to receive opportunities for contracts directly with the city.  “The team at SBS is here to help you set up your profile and identify opportunities that work for you or your clients,” added Anna Yakubova, Assistant Commissioner of M/WBE Recruitment and Eligibility.

Other programs discussed by Ms. Chan, Ms. Yakubova, and Michael Fong, Executive Director of Government Navigation, were NYC Business Express Service Team (BEST), NYC Small Business Month, Commercial Lease Assistance, Workforce1 Career Centers, and other programs to help businesses with training, financing, and legal assistance.

“SBS is an amazing resource for solo and small law firms and we look forward to our AABANY members actively engaging with SBS going forward,” said Yen-Yi Anderson, Co-Chair of the AABANY Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee, after the event.

“We are all very grateful that SBS spent their valuable time educating us about the many benefits of their programs,” added committee Co-Chair Vishal Chander.

After the event, the speakers and participants networked and enjoyed a spread of samosas and chai provided by East Village’s Desi Galli restaurant.

Thank you to the speakers, participants, and the Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee for a fruitful discussion and an engaging event. Click here to learn more about the Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee and how to get involved. 

Fall Harvest Moon Festival Networking Event

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On September 26, 2018, AABANY’s Real Estate and Solo & Small Firm Practice Committees, with KALAGNY, Citrin Cooperman and HSBC, hosted a Fall Harvest Moon Festival Networking Event. Over 60 people attended the event at Citrin Cooperman’s Fifth Avenue headquarters. AABANY leadership in attendance included Margaret Ling, AABANY Development Director and Co-Chair of AABANY’s Real Estate Committee; Cary Chan, AABANY Co-Chair of Real Estate and Solo & Small Firm Practice Committee; Poonam Gupta, AABANY Immigration Committee Co-Chair; Beatrice Leong, AABANY Government Service and Public Interest Committee Co-Chair; and Vincent Chang, Former AABANY President. VIP Guests included Bridgette Ahn, President of the Network of Bar Leaders; George Xu, President of New Century Development; and Wellington Chan, Executive Director of Chinatown Partnership. Many thanks to our sponsors Ben Liu, CPA, Director at Citrin Cooperman, and David Lau, Retail Business Banking Relationship Manager at HSBC Bank. Everyone enjoyed the networking and the buffet, which included moon cakes to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Above: Citrin Cooperman Team and Margaret Ling

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Left to Right: Bridgette Ahn, George Xu, David Lau,Margaret Ling, Ben Liu

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Left to Right: Ben Liu, George Xu, Patrick Yu, Wellington Chan, Margaret Ling, David Fesser

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Left to Right: Jane Chen, Jang Lee, Margaret Ling, Cary Chan