On December 17, the Jewish Lawyers Guild held their annual Chanukah Party in the Rotunda of the New York State Supreme Court on 60 Centre Street. The festivities began at 6 pm, well after the courthouse closed for regular business and judicial proceedings. The atmosphere was lively as a large crowd gathered not just to celebrate Chanukah but also to honor Justice Jeffrey K. Oing of the Appellate Division, First Department on his retirement at the end of the year. Justice Oing has served on the Board of Governors of the Jewish Lawyers Guild and was a past recipient of the Guild’s Golda Meir Award.
AABANY was a proud co-sponsor of this event and among the AABANY leaders and members in attendance were President Joseph Eng, Jr., Membership Director Alysha Naik, and Executive Director Yang Chen. Former Presidents Vince Chang and P.C. Cheng also came out for the celebration. Among the AAPI judges at the event were Hon. Lillian Wan, Hon. Margaret Chan, Hon. Shahabuddeen Ally, Hon. Christopher Chin, Hon. Austin D’Souza and Hon. Judy Kim.
Many past and current leaders of the Jewish Lawyers Guild took turns at the podium to praise and congratulate Justice Oing for his time on the bench and his service to the bar and the community. One of the speakers was Hon. Michael Katz, who served alongside Justice Oing when they were both court attorneys earlier in their careers. “When I prepared my remarks for this evening, I was going to roast Justice Oing,” he began. “But I soon realized that it would be a futile effort. Justice Oing isn’t ‘roastable.’ There is just no unkind thing that can be said of him … even in jest.” Justice Katz’s sentiments reflected what all the judges and attorneys before and after him thought about Justice Oing: He is a beloved jurist, attorney, and human being, who has earned the respect and admiration of those who have had the privilege to know him and serve with him.
AABANY thanks the Jewish Lawyers Guild for throwing a great holiday party. We are especially grateful that they honored Justice Oing on the occasion of his retirement, and they certainly did it in style, with a large crowd, copious amounts of delicious food, and a grand setting.
Please join AABANY in congratulating Justice Oing on his retirement and thanking him for his trailblazing legal and judicial career. Knowing Justice Oing, we do not expect that he will be sitting on his laurels for long and look forward to hearing about what is in store for the next chapter in his journey.
On Saturday, October 12, 2024, AABANY hosted its 15th Annual Fall Conference, “Building a Strong Foundation for a Brighter Future,” at Fordham University of Law. The Conference was co-sponsored by Fordham Law School’s Center on Asian Americans and the Law, and AABANY greatly appreciates Fordham’s support of this event.
The conference began with a buffet-style breakfast. Attendees chatted over pastries, coffee, bagels, and other assorted breakfast items, reconnecting with colleagues, while also introducing themselves to unfamiliar faces.
The first part of the morning programs began at 9:00am and ran until 10:30am, presenting upon a diversity of topics, including:
This year’s conference theme was “Building a Strong Foundation for a Brighter Future,” and the morning programs explored this topic in great detail. “Problem-Solving Courts and Person-Centered Justice,” for example, discussed the emergence and proliferation of problem-solving courts within the New York judiciary, their impacts on recidivism, and the judiciary’s vision to further expand the breadth of problem-solving courts within New York. Another program, “Artificial Intelligence in the Legal Profession: Transforming Practices and Future Trends,” considered the impact of AI and Generative AI on the legal profession. By promoting innovation, adaptability, and responsible use of AI, the program sought to foster a forward-thinking legal community.
After a 15 minute break, the second part of the morning programs, scheduled between 10:45am and 12:15pm, commenced, exploring the following topics:
The third and final installation of AABANY’s “Pathways to the Bench” series, coordinated by the Young Lawyers Committee, Judiciary Committee, and Government Service and Public Interest Committee, was also held during the latter half of the morning session. While the first two segments of the series had focused on showing how someone can become a federal clerk or state court attorney and explaining the nuances of landing on the bench, this capstone program, titled “Pathways to the Bench: Steps to the Federal Judiciary,” centered around four AAPI judges, who each shared their particular pathways to the bench, hoping to inspire others to follow in their footsteps and to give them the tools to do so.
To see photos from the morning session please click here.
Opening at 10:30am, the Fall Conference offered its annual Diversity Career Fair, organized by the Career Advancement Committee, featuring public sector, corporate, and law firm employers, each hosting informational sessions, meet-and-greets, and more. Participating employers included the Law Firm of Hugh H. Mo, P.C., the Office of the New York State Attorney General, Rupp Pfalzgraf LLC, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and several District Attorneys’ offices. Employers and prospective employees conversed extensively, exchanging questions and learning more about one another. Some employers also collected resumes and conducted on-site first round interviews, allowing candidates to express their interest in working for participating employers. To see photos from the Diversity Career Fair, please click here.
Throughout the day, AABANY also hosted Link-Up Sessions, organized by the In-House Counsel Committee and Corporate Law Committee, which provided an opportunity for participants to engage in live meetings with in-house counsel who had indicated a current or future need for outside legal services. Applicants were pre-screened by in-house counsel based on their needs, and selected participants were then invited to join one or more Link-Up Sessions at the Fall Conference. These sessions facilitated connections between corporate law firm attorneys and in-house counsel.
After the morning programs concluded, attendees grabbed lunch boxes and headed to the Costantino Room, where the Plenary Lunch Session began at 12:30pm. The program, titled “Organizing to be Heard: The Importance of Redistricting and Coalition Building in the NYC Asian American Community,” featured five speakers:
Hon. Marilyn D. Go (Ret.), Commissioner, New York City Districting Commission
Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Assemblymember, New York State Assembly
Elizabeth R. OuYang, Coordinator, APA VOICE Redistricting Task Force
Grace Pyun, Acting Executive Director and General Counsel, New York City Districting Commission
John Park, Executive Director, MinKwon Center
Vishal Chander, Managing Attorney, the Chander Law Firm PC, moderated this timely and important discussion.
Attendees listened attentively as the panelists discussed the impacts of congressional, state, and local district lines on communities, ranging from their influence on election results to the distribution of government funds. They then discussed the 2020 Redistricting Cycle and how it brought into attention the importance of redistricting due to the significant growth of Asians in New York, laying out the legal framework of districting and the impacts of voting rights laws on redistricting. Being that many of the panelists played influential roles within the 2020 Redistricting Cycle, they also shared personal anecdotes and experiences from that time. With preparations for the 2030 Redistricting Cycle beginning soon, the speakers emphasized the importance of continuing to educate the community on this topic and how the AAPI community can be heard in that process. To see photos from the Plenary Lunch Session, please click here.
The afternoon session began at 2:30pm, running in two segments. The first segment went from 2:30pm to 4pm and included the following programs:
Topics covered included diversity, equity, and inclusion within the legal profession, how to interview clients, and how to understand implicit biases in the workplace. These programs exemplified the diversity of discourse that the Fall Conference sought to facilitate, providing crucial insights and exposing attendees to a broad range of ideas and perspectives. To see photos from the afternoon session, please click here.
After a packed day of learning, the Fall Conference concluded with a Cocktail Reception, sponsored by Falconeri, held in the Soden Lounge and Bateman Room. Attendees networked with one another, connecting over drinks and hors d’oeuvres.
During the Cocktail Reception, AABANY honored Hugh H. Mo with the 2024 Norman Lau Kee Trailblazer Award, bestowed annually to “an individual who has carved a path for others to follow, served the community as a mentor and role model, and made a lasting impact on the AAPI community through his or her dedication and commitment.” Hugh H. Mo, Founder and Principal of Mo Law and a co-founder of AABANY, perfectly exemplifies the award’s mission, having been a leader in the AAPI community and legal profession for nearly five decades. To read the full press release about Mr. Mo receiving this honor, please click here.
To see photos from the Cocktail Reception, go here and here.
AABANY thanks several groups for making the Fall Conference possible. First, we would like to thank the approximately 40 student volunteers who ensured that the CLE programs ran smoothly and without delay. They hailed from schools all across New York City and the northeast region, including:
Brooklyn Law School
Cardozo School of Law
Columbia Law School
CUNY School of Law
Fordham College at Lincoln Center
Fordham School of Law
Hunter College
New York Law School
Northern Highlands Regional High School
Rutgers Law School
Seton Hall Law School
St. John’s University School of Law
Syracuse University College of Law
Tufts University
The volunteers assisted with registration, handled inquiries, and checked-in and checked-out attendees for CLE credits. Their support was instrumental in making the Fall Conference a success, and AABANY extends our heartfelt appreciation. We also thank Catherine Tran and Joon Choe, co-chairs of the Student Outreach Committee, for their efforts in recruiting and coordinating these volunteers.
AABANY also thanks our generous sponsors, without whom the Fall Conference would not have been possible:
We would also like to acknowledge our 2024 Annual Dinner Sponsors for their generous year-round support of AABANY. In particular, we would like to recognize Broadridge Financial Solutions, our Diamond Sponsor, and Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone LLP, our General Counsel Reception Sponsor. For a full list of the 2024 Annual Dinner Sponsors, please click here. Thanks again for your continued support and commitment to AABANY; it empowers us to fulfill our mission and produce events like the Fall Conference.
Furthermore, AABANY thanks all of our esteemed moderators and panelists for their time and participation in this year’s Fall Conference. We also extend our gratitude to the Program Chairs for organizing such an excellent lineup of programs. And, finally, we sincerely appreciate all the attendees for making this such a special and enlightening experience for the entire AABANY community. We hope to see you at upcoming AABANY events.
On Wednesday July 24th, 2024 AABANYs Pro Bono & Community Service (PBCS) Committee hosted their inaugural rooftop fundraiser, holding a silent auction and collecting donations to contribute towards the committee’s Pro Bono Clinics. AABANY’s Pro Bono Clinic provides free legal services and information for low- to middle-income members of the community, including New York’s Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Skilled legal practitioners as well as non-legal volunteers all contribute their time and effort in support of the clinics.
The event was hosted at the Lookup, a rooftop bar atop the Kixby Hotel with a spectacular view of the Empire State Building. Complimentary food and beverages were served featuring exotic cocktails and mocktails, as well as elevated American Classics like grilled cheese and lobster rolls.
The guests in attendance ranged from AABANY Co-Founder Rocky Chin, law school students, practicing attorneys, AABANY Executive Director Yang Chen, current and former Co-Chairs of the PBCS Committee, numerous AABANY members, as well as high school and college students. Everyone mixed and mingled, exchanging colorful anecdotes and reuniting with old friends, while bidding on the silent auction items.
The following bidding items, were all donated by prominent members of the legal and AABANY community for the silent auction to raise funds for the Pro Bono Clinic:
Pre-nuptial or postnuptial agreement, from consultation, negotiations, to execution was generously donated by Beatrice Leong
Two admission tickets to Summit Vanderbilt were generously donated by Dianna Lam
One day golf experience for 2 people, including admission to golf course, cart and equipment rentals, and dinner, was donated by Hardy Zhou
One hour virtual private chess training was donated by Hassan Minhas
Two hour private kung fu/defense class was donated by Joseph Eng, President of AABANY
Thirty minute resume review by professional headhunter/legal recruiter was donated by Katherine Loanzon
$100 Skyfoods Supermarket Giftcard was donated by Kevin Yam
One handcrafted and customized artwork was donated by May Wong
A private yoga class was donated by Tsui Yee
A bottle of Ron Barcelo Blanco Rum was donated by Yan Sin
In total the event, through ticket sales, donations, and bids, raised $8,800 in contributions to the clinic. The winning bidders will be contacted separately by the PBCS Committee on how to claim their auction prizes.
Throughout the night members of the PBCS Committee leadership gave speeches. Co-Chair Lina Lee began by applauding every volunteer, thanking them for their time and effort but especially their drive to go above and beyond for each client. Every lawyer that volunteered their time and expertise expressed a desire to do good for the community. Lina continued discussing the life-changing services the clinic provided, sharing anecdotes of young mothers, asylum seekers, new Americans, and recent immigrants who had desperately needed the legal services provided.
Next to speak was Co-Chair May Wong, who regaled the crowd with anecdotes on the portrait of Yang at the event and encouraged everyone present to bid on the auction item she had donated, which was a handcrafted and customizable piece of artwork created by her.
After May, Executive Director Yang Chen spoke on how the Pro Bono Clinic had grown from humble beginnings into an award- and grant-winning community project that helped hundreds upon hundreds of people yearly, growing from one clinic in Manhattan to three, covering Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn. He mentioned that while free legal services were provided, it cost money to provide these services, and the generous donations of the many in-person and online attendees would help cover the costs of providing free legal services that the community sorely needs.
Co-Chair Gary Yeung spoke next, discussing his personal experience with the clinic, how he grew as a legal professional as the legal clinic grew in prominence. Co-Chair Kwok Kei Ng closed for his fellow Co-Chairs by reiterating the praise for the volunteers and thanking all the guests for their support and attendance.
The event continued into the onset of evening as the sun dipped below the rooftop’s view of the Manhattan skyline, bathing the sky in neon purples and oranges. Drinks, stories, and laughs continued to flow as the night slowly came to an end.
AABANY gives a big thanks to AALFNY and Schulte. Roth & Zabel for co-sponsoring this event, everyone who donated items for the silent auction, those who attended the event and everyone who donated in person or online.
Please join the PBCS Committee at the following upcoming events:
Queens Pro Bono Clinic on August 7th, 2024 at AAFE One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355. Sign up here – https://forms.gle/5PjG8A73EE1XENyV9
Manhattan Pro Bono Clinic on August 21st, 2024 at AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk St, New York, NY 10002. Sign up here – https://forms.gle/SD2VMY8X6yE4vsxW9 To learn more about AABANY Pro Bono & Community Service Committee contact [email protected] or click here.
The In-House Counsel Committee and the Corporate Law Committee of AABANY held the 2024 Winter Soiree on Thursday, January 25, 2024, at Le Chalet in Saks Fifth Avenue. This annual event was set against the stunning backdrop of an elegant indoor space and the breathtaking midtown skyline from the balcony, providing a perfect setting for a night to remember.
This Winter Soiree marks the first time we held it in-person, having held a virtual Winter Soiree during the pandemic in 2022. We also moved this event from summer to winter during AABANY’s 2024 fiscal year, so that we did not follow the AABANY dinner in May 2023 with another major event in June, the traditional time when we held our annual soiree for in-house counsel and law firm attorneys.
The Winter Soiree was an invite-only event, open to in-house counsel, law firm attorneys and sponsors of AABANY’s 2023 Annual Dinner and the 2024 Winter Soiree. The event enjoyed the attendance of numerous senior in-house lawyers, including many General Counsels, as well as senior attorneys and partners from law firms, making it an ideal opportunity for networking, reuniting with friends, and making new connections. The diverse group of attendees represented several companies across various industries and top global and regional law firms. We are grateful for the participation of many companies, including the following non-exhaustive list, encompassing a broad range of industries:
AIG
Bloomberg
Christian Dior Couture
Con Ed
JPMorgan Chase
Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corp.
Morgan Stanley
Neuberger Berman
Pfizer
Sanofi
Taco Bell
Televisa/Univision
The Walt Disney Co.
Tiffany & Co.
Zurich American Insurance Co.
The event began at 6:30 pm. Guests enjoyed an array of hors d’oeuvres, drinks, wines, and cocktails, accompanied by engaging conversations. Discussions at the soiree covered a wide range of topics, from potential referrals and collaborations to personal interests and hobbies. About an hour into the event, AABANY’s In-House Counsel Committee Co-Chairs Anushree Bagrodia, David Sohn, and Kazuko Wachter, gave welcoming remarks and spoke about the work of the In-House Counsel Committee and AABANY to advance the legal profession and the AAPI community. Dennis Hopkins, Partner at Perkins Coie, a Platinum sponsor of the Winter Soiree, also addressed the crowd and spoke about the firm’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the long relationship Perkins Coie has had over the years with AABANY.
AABANY thanks all the Winter Soiree sponsors for helping to make the event possible:
Platinum
Broadridge
Perkins Coie
Gold
Baker & McKenzie LLP
Davis + Gilbert LLP
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
Haynes and Boone LLP
Jenner & Block LLP
Littler Mendelson P.C.
Milbank LLP
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Silver
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone LLP
Herrick Feinstein LLP
Linklaters LLP
Rupp Pfalzgraf LLP
Wilson & Chan LLP
AABANY also thanks our 2023 Annual Dinner sponsors that make our year-round programming, including marquee events like the Winter Soiree, possible. For a full listing of all our 2023 Annual Dinner sponsors, go here.
We also appreciate the efforts of the Corporate Law Committee’s Co-Chairs Tracy Feng, Alice Hsu, Edward J. Lee, Vice Chair Ashley Wong, and the student volunteers for their invaluable assistance in helping us before and at the soiree.
On Wednesday, February 26, 2020, AABANY hosted its 2020 Annual Dinner with the theme “Stronger Together: Unity in Diversity” at Cipriani Wall Street. The dinner attracted over 800 attorneys, judges, prosecutors, in-house counsel, government officials, and dignitaries and sponsorships from more than 60 law firms and corporations.
This year AABANY was proud to honor:
Hon. Sri Srinivasan, United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, with the Public Interest Leadership Award.
Alan Tse, Global Chief Legal Officer, Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc., with the Corporate Leadership Award
Yen Chu, Chief Legal Officer, Equinox Holdings, Inc., with the Women’s Leadership Award
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP with the Law Firm Diversity Award
To read more about our extraordinary honorees, read the press release here.
This year, Spectrum NY1 News Anchor Vivian Lee served as MC and was joined on stage by Immediate Past President James Cho.
James presented each of the honorees with special gifts from AABANY. Noting that Alan Tse was considered by his peers to be “The Closer,” James presented him with a bottle of McCallan, a nod to Attorney Harvey Specter from “Suits,” another well-known “Closer.” However, because Alan had to fly back to Chicago, the full-size bottle was replaced with a miniature size, with a ziploc bag that will ensure the bottle gets through security. (We have a feeling that the bottle was consumed well before Alan made it to the airport.)
For Yen Chu, James presented her with a monogrammed workout head towel for her next session at one of Equinox’s many gyms. That is one way to make sure that AABANY is “top of mind” for Yen in the days to come. Finally, for Chief Judge Srinivasan, we figured that as a jurist, he can never have too many robes, so James presented him a wizard’s robe, bearing his name above the Gryffindor crest. Although we doubt we will see Chief Judge Srinivasan wearing that robe on the bench any time soon, we can imagine him donning the robe in chambers, especially on those occasions where he may need to work some judicial wizardry to decide the most difficult cases.
In addition, we were also pleased to present the 2019 class of Don H. Liu Scholars: Grace Cho, Raymond Magsaysay, and Andrew Tran. To read more about the Don H. Liu Scholars, see our press release here.
Congratulations also to the Pro Bono and Community Service Committee. The Pro Bono Clinic was recognized with the New York State Bar Association Bar Leaders Innovation Award. NYSBA President Hank Greenberg attended the Annual Dinner to present the award. To read more about the award, see our press release here.
We thank all of the AABANY Annual Dinner Planning Committee members
and volunteers for their hard work in making this year’s celebration a
huge success.
We extend sincere thanks to all of our sponsors. Their generous sponsorships make it possible for us to pursue our mission to advance the interests of the Asian Pacific American (APA) legal community and the communities we serve and support our many activities and signature events throughout the year.
Lastly, we thank everyone that attended the 2020 Annual Dinner and celebrated with us.
Thanks to Corky Lee for the photos in this blog post. More photos to come. Stay tuned!
On Friday, December 13, AABANY held its Annual Holiday Party once again at rent24, the site of last year’s holiday party. The venue, near Bryant Park, serves as a co-working space during the day. Over 100 AABANY members and their guests took over rent24 on Friday night to celebrate the holiday season. We enjoyed a variety of Korean dishes plus sushi and sashimi. A well-stocked bar staffed by two bartenders kept the drinks flowing. Many AABANY Board Officers and Directors were in attendance, along with several Committee Co-Chairs.
Pro Bono Committee Co-Chair Karen Yau addressed the attendees to ask for donations to the Pro Bono Clinic. Karen thanked her fellow Co-Chairs and Pro Bono Clinic supporters for all they have done to make a positive difference in the lives of many low-income Asian American New Yorkers who were in need of quality legal services but were barred by cultural, linguistic or financial barriers. Karen encouraged attendees to text-to-donate via a Give Lively account set up by AALFNY, the 501(c)(3) affiliate of AABANY. We projected on a wall the Give Lively site showing progress of donations. By the end of the party, we were able to raise another $900 to exceed $2500 in donations, reaching the 10% mark of our $25,000 goal.
We thank all the donors for their generous donations, and we encourage everyone to continue giving between now and the end of February. We are aiming to reach our goal by the time of the 2020 Annual Dinner. You can give now by sending a text to 44321 with the word “APAPROBONO.” Please help us reach our goal during this season of giving.
Thanks to Vice President of Programs and Operations David Sohn for leading the organization of the holiday party. Thanks also to our volunteers, Bryan Cheah and Grace Kang, our intern, Jessie Rong, and our Administrative Assistant, Margaret Langston, for all their assistance to make the party a success. And, of course, thanks to all our members for your support of AABANY, its mission and our community in 2019.
