trailblazer award Archives - WE Blog @ AABANY

October 2, 2023October 17, 2023

AABANY Honored with OCA-NY Asian Pacific American Advocates of New York’s Community Award

On the evening of September 22, 2023, OCA-NY Asian Pacific American Advocates of New York presented a Community Award to AABANY. Honorees gathered in Chinatown to attend OCA-NY’s Community Service and Leadership Awards Gala, hosted at the House of Joy on Pell Street in Manhattan Chinatown.

OCA-NY is a national non-profit civil rights organization, dedicated to “promoting and protecting the political, economic, and cultural rights of Asian Pacific Americans in America.” Founded in 1973, OCA was established to advocate for Asian Americans on the national level, providing a robust platform for representation and change for Asian Americans across America. OCA’s New York Chapter hosts a variety of programs, focused on transforming public policy and engaging in active community advocacy.

This year’s Community Service and Leadership Awards Gala was the first in-person gala hosted by the New York chapter since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The gala celebrated a wide range of renowned local leaders, as well as organizations that have made significant contributions to the community. AABANY congratulates our fellow honorees:

Tzi Ma, Lifetime Achievement Award
Assemblymember Steven Raga, Leadership Award
Mohamed Q. Amin, Trailblazer Award
Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, Community Award

As recognized by OCA-NY, AABANY has made significant contributions to the AAPI community through various initiatives and programs. Established in 2015, AABANY’s Pro Bono clinic has provided crucial legal assistance and support to members of the AAPI community who may be facing legal challenges but are hindered in finding legal advice and information that is linguistically and culturally accessible. This initiative has been supported by AABANY’s Legal Referral and Information Service (LRIS), started in 2020. Since then, LRIS has served as a vital resource for individuals seeking legal representation, ensuring that community members have access to reliable legal information and can connect with qualified attorneys who can assist them with their legal needs by speaking their language and understanding their cultural background and context. Responding to rising incidents of anti-Asian hate and violence, AABANY has also established an Anti-Asian Violence Task Force. Active since 2021, the Task Force has worked tirelessly to raise awareness, advocate for policy change, and provide support to victims and their families. Collectively, these initiatives reflect AABANY’s unwavering commitment to serving and advocating for the AAPI community, making a positive impact on and advancing the well-being of the AAPI community in New York and beyond.

At the gala, former AABANY President Vince Chang presented the award to AABANY, which was accepted by Yang Chen, Executive Director. OCA-NY presented each honoree with a Chinese character, rendered in calligraphy and framed, which OCA-NY believes best represented each honoree. AABANY’s character was 廉 (lián), symbolizing “fairness and integrity.”

Many members of AABANY’s leadership attended the gala to commemorate our accomplishments alongside those of other distinguished community leaders. At AABANY’s table were:

Karen Kim, President
Yang Chen, Executive Director
Vince Chang, Former President (and Immediate Past President of the New York County Lawyers Association, its first AAPI President)
Beatrice Leong, Co-Vice President of Programing & Operations
Francis Chin, Director of Technology, Professional Development Committee Co-Chair
Nandar Win Kerr, Professional Development Committee Vice-Chair
May Wong, Pro Bono and Community Service Committee Vice-Chair
Kevin Hsi, Government Service & Public Interest Committee Co-Chair

Also in attendance were: Yen-Yi Anderson, Solo & Small Firm Practice Committee Co-Chair; Glenn Magpantay, LGBT Committee Co-Chair; Richard In, active member; Tim Wong, former Treasurer.

The Community Service and Leadership Awards Gala at the House of Joy was a remarkable gathering that celebrated not only AABANY’s accomplishments, but also the collective strength of our community. AABANY extends our sincere appreciation to our colleagues, supporters, and the AABANY leadership who took part in the celebration. Together, our work reaffirms and reinforces our shared vision of building a brighter, more equitable future for New York’s AAPI community.

October 5, 2021October 5, 2021

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

June 7, 2021June 7, 2021

AABANY Co-Sponsors New York County Lawyers Association’s AAPI Heritage Month Celebration on June 2

On June 2, 2021, AABANY co-sponsored New York County Lawyers Association’s (NYCLA’s) AAPI Heritage Month Celebration. The event was hosted by NYCLA’s Asian Practice Committee which AABANY Board Member Margaret Ling co-chairs. Congresswoman Grace Meng was awarded the 2021 NYCLA AAPI Trailblazer Award for all of her civic duty to the AAPI Community. In her keynote speech, she stressed how important it was for all of us to continue to work together and educate others about anti-Asian hate and racism. Attendees applauded the Congresswoman for her dedication and hard work in co-authoring the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act and securing its passage. Those in attendance also applauded the installation of Vincent Chang, the first AAPI President of NYCLA. He vowed to continue to uphold NYCLA’s focus on sustaining the rule of law including the importance of practicing diversity, equity and inclusion in furtherance of fairness and justice for all.

Congratulations to Congresswoman Meng on her award, and we wish Vince much success during his tenure as NYCLA President.

September 25, 2018December 4, 2018

November 13, 2017December 4, 2018

November 7, 2016December 4, 2018

October 12, 2016

PRESS RELEASE | NAPABA Announces 2016 Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Award Recipients – National Asian Pacific American Bar Association

NAPABA Announces 2016 Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Award Recipients

For Immediate Release
Oct. 12, 2016

For More Information, Contact:
Brett Schuster, Communications Manager
[email protected], 202-775-9555

WASHINGTON — The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) has selected six exceptional attorneys to receive NAPABA’s highest honor — the Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Award. This award recognizes the outstanding achievements, commitment, and leadership of lawyers who have paved the way for the advancement of other Asian Pacific American attorneys. These Trailblazers have demonstrated vision, courage, and tenacity, and made substantial and lasting contributions to the Asian Pacific American legal profession, as well as to the broader Asian Pacific American community.

The 2016 Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Awards will be presented on Nov. 4, 2016, at a special ceremony during the 2016 NAPABA Convention in San Diego, to the following recipients:

Honorable Gail Chang Bohr
Honorable Randall T. Eng
Janice Fukai
Honorable Laura C. Liu (awarded posthumously)
Honorable Sri Srinivasan
Honorable Mary I. Yu

The 2016 Trailblazers class is represented by a diverse and impressive group. In 2008, Jamaican-born Gail Chang Bohr was elected Ramsey County’s (Minnesota) first Asian American judge. She is now a senior judge and also consults with the National Center for State Courts Trinidad and Tobago Juvenile Court Project. With degrees from Wellesley College and Simmons School of Social Work, Bohr had a 19+ year career as clinical social worker serving children and families in the U.S. and Hong Kong. With a J.D. from William Mitchell, Bohr clerked for the Chief Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court, and was an associate at Faegre & Benson (now Faegre Baker Daniels). As founding executive director of Children’s Law Center of Minnesota, she has trained 270+ volunteer lawyers and initiated award-winning programs for foster children.

Justice Eng is the presiding justice of the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department, State of New York — the first Asian American to hold that position. In 1973, Justice Eng was appointed an assistant district attorney in Queens County, becoming the first Asian American to become an assistant prosecutor in New York State history. Justice Eng became the first Asian American to become a judge in New York State, when he was appointed to the Criminal Court of the City of New York in September 1983 by Mayor Edward I. Koch. In 1990 and 2004, he was elected and re-elected to full 14-year terms as a justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York.

Ms. Fukai is the first Asian American woman to serve as department head in Los Angeles County’s history, where she employs over 300 lawyers and support staff. Under her leadership, 20 alternate public defenders have been appointed to the bench; a testament to the high caliber of her legal staff. After earning her bachelor degree and J.D. from University of Southern California, Ms. Fukai served as judicial law clerk for the late District Judge Robert Takasugi, whom she describes as her mentor and advisor. Her work as a public defender is featured in the book, “Public Defender, Lawyer for the People,” by Joan Hewitt.

Justice Liu became the first Asian American justice to serve on the Illinois Appellate Court. She was the first Chinese American elected to public office in Chicago and Cook County (Illinois) and the first Chinese American woman judge in Illinois history. Fluent in Mandarin Chinese, Justice Liu chaired the Illinois Supreme Court’s Language Access Committee to ensure the court system was navigable to those whose first language was not English. Sadly, Justice Liu passed away from breast cancer on April 15, 2016. The Illinois Asian American Bar Association established an annual scholarship in Justice Liu’s honor to be awarded to a deserving law student dedicated to community service.

Judge Srinivasan was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in 2013. Prior to his confirmation, he served as the Principal Deputy Solicitor General of the U.S. and chaired O’Melveny & Myers’ Supreme Court and Appellate practice. During his career as a litigator, he argued 25 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. He has also co-taught a course on appellate advocacy at Harvard Law School, as well as a seminar on civil rights statutes and the Supreme Court at Georgetown University Law Center. Judge Srinivasan was born in Chandigarh, India, and raised in Lawrence, Kansas.

Justice Yu was appointed to the Washington Supreme Court in 2014, and subsequently elected for the remainder of a two-year term and is currently up for election for a full six-year term. Justice Yu joined the Court after more than 14 years as an accomplished trial court judge in King County (Washington) Superior Court where she presided over a wide variety of criminal, civil, juvenile, and family law matters. As a justice, she is known for writing clear, easy-to-read decisions and she has been rated “Exceptionally Well Qualified” by eight bar associations. The daughter of immigrant parents, she is the first in her family to receive a college education, as well as the first Latina, the first Asian, and first member of the LGBTQ community to serve on the Washington Supreme Court.

NAPABA congratulates the 2016 Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Award recipients and thanks them for paving the way for Asian Pacific American attorneys.

For more information, the media may contact Brett Schuster, NAPABA communications manager, at202-775-9555 or [email protected].

September 30, 2016

Asian American Bar Commends Trailblazer

A lovely photo of 2016 Norman Lau Kee Trailblazer Award Recipient Sylvia Fung Chin, alongside Executive Director Yang Chen and AABANY President Susan Shin, was featured in New York Law Journal. Thank you to Rick Kopstein for taking this photo at the 2016 AABANY Fall Conference held at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, where the award was presented during the Cocktail Reception.

Named for Norman Lau Kee, a revered legal and community pillar of New York City’s Chinatown for decades, this Trailblazer Award honors an accomplished leader in the legal profession who is of Asian Pacific American descent or has demonstrated dedication to APA issues in the community. This award honors an individual who has carved a path for others to follow, served the community as a mentor and role model, and has made a lasting impact on the APA community through his or her dedication and commitment.

AABANY could think of no individual more deserving than Sylvia Fung Chin. Sylvia has continuously given back to the APA legal community in countless ways. Among the founding board members of AABANY in 1991 and President of AABANY from 1994-1996, she led and built AABANY from the ground up and has served as a role model and friend to several leaders in the profession.

Thank you to Sylvia for all that she has done for our community, and thank you to New York Law Journal for capturing this beautiful moment.

September 15, 2016

Press Release: Asian American Bar Association of New York Honors Sylvia Fung Chin as 2016 Norman Lau Kee Trailblazer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 13, 2016

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

NEW YORK – The Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) is proud to announce that Sylvia Fung Chin is the recipient of the Norman Lau Kee Trailblazer Award this year at AABANY’s Seventh Annual Fall Conference on September 24, 2016, held at the offices of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.

Named for Norman Lau Kee, a revered legal and community pillar of New York City’s Chinatown for decades, this Trailblazer Award honors an accomplished leader in the legal profession who is of Asian Pacific American (APA) descent or has demonstrated dedication to APA issues in the community. This award honors an individual who has carved a path for others to follow, served the community as a mentor and role model, and has made a lasting impact on the APA community through his or her dedication and commitment.

Sylvia Fung Chin, Partner Of Counsel at White & Case LLP, has risen to the summit of the profession and all the while has lifted up others as she rose. Elected to White & Case’s partnership in 1986, Sylvia has created a pipeline of leadership for women and minority attorneys. An accomplished corporate attorney who has practiced for nearly four decades, she has excelled in navigating complicated transactions and proposing creative solutions for unique situations. In addition to her current legal practice at White & Case, Sylvia also teaches as an adjunct associate professor at Fordham University School of Law and frequently lectures on the UCC, legal opinions, ethics and various other corporate finance topics. Sylvia’s continued excellence, perseverance, positivity, and creativity are unparalleled.

Sylvia has continuously given back to the APA legal community in countless ways. Among the founding board members of AABANY in 1991 and President of AABANY from 1994-1996, she led and built AABANY from the ground up and has served as a role model and friend to several leaders in the professional. For decades, Sylvia has opened the dialogue about minority advancement in the legal profession and created training programs for associates and young partners to build business and develop leadership skills. Sylvia has brought to fruition several initiatives to serve the APA community, including the Asian Crime Victims Project, which offered help to crime victims at a time when resources were limited, and the AABANY Foundation, now known as the Asian American Law Fund of New York, which provides scholarships and internship opportunities for APA and South Asian law students in New York. Sylvia founded and co-chairs the White & Case Asian Affinity Group and has been instrumental in producing two videos entitled Kicking Glass from the Courtroom to the Boardroom and Kicking Glass: Two Decades and Counting, which explored the experiences and perspectives of Asian American women attorneys.

Sylvia serves as Co-Chair of the First Judicial District of the New York Bar Foundation, President of the Asian American Law Fund of New York, President-Elect of the American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers, a director of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Law Foundation, a trustee of the Fordham Law Alumni Association and on the governing Council of the ABA Business Law Section and the governing board of the ABA Center for Racial and Ethnic Diversity. She is a member of the American Law Institute, the ABA Legal Opinions Committee, the Tribar Opinions Committee, and the Association Advisory Board of the Working Group on Legal Opinions. She also served as Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the ABA Business Law Section, President of the American College of Investment Counsel, President of AABANY, President of the NAPABA Law Foundation, Board Secretary of Women’s World Banking, Treasurer of NAPABA, and a Director of the New York County Lawyers Association.

“Sylvia Fung Chin, a trailblazer, founding Board member and Past President of AABANY, represents the very best of our profession,” says Susan Shin, President of AABANY. “She has achieved tremendous professional and personal success, yet she has never faltered in her loyalty and service to our community. She is a shining example for generations of lawyers to follow and emulate. AABANY, its members and numerous attorneys have benefited greatly from her leadership, guidance and mentorship. We proudly recognize Sylvia Chin as our 2016 Norman Lau Kee Trailblazer Award honoree.”

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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September 30, 2014December 4, 2018

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Thank you to all those who attended our Fifth Annual Fall Conference: Empowering Unity and Progress, hosted at Morgan Lewis on September 20, 2014.

With over 300 people registered, the full day of CLE programs and Trial Advocacy Program (hosted at Alston & Bird LLP) were highly informative, productive, and engaging with truly something for everyone. We had panels addressing topics from Asian Americans in the Civil Rights Movement to How to Make it Rain and Keep It Raining. The invite-only In-House Counsel and Judicial Forums provided productive environments for candid discussion.

Gurinder Singh, Vice President of Programs and Operations, kicked off the lunch session by introducing Brad Edmister, Partner at Morgan Lewis, who offered welcoming remarks on behalf of the firm. At the lunch, we were excited to present our inaugural awards. We were honored to present the inaugural Norman Lau Kee Trailblazer Award to Hon. Marilyn Go and the inaugural Law Firm Diversity Award to Perkins Coie LLP.

Executive Director Yang Chen presented the Norman Lau Kee Trailblazer award, recognizing Norman Lau Kee who was present at the event, and then introducing Judge Go. When accepting her award, Judge Go spoke on the importance of being at right place at the right time, most notably on how expectations of Asian Americans have shaped her personal journey and the most opportune times to break barriers. As a trailblazer in the Asian American legal community, she is the first Asian American female to serve as a federal judge and is a founding member of AABANY.

President Clara Ohr presented the Law Firm Diversity Award and introduced Dennis Hopkins, Partner at Perkins Coie, who accepted the Law Firm Diversity Award on behalf of the firm. Dennis remarked on how Perkins is perceived as a leader, but noted humbly that they are “just doing what they should do” and are glad to be receiving acknowledgment.

Gurinder then introduced Helen Wan who spoke about her book The Partner Track and she too spoke of Asian Americans in law, specifically navigating the corporate world. Copies of her just-released paperback edition of her book were available for purchase at the event, and many attendees took the opportunity to pick up a copy and have it inscribed by Helen.

President-elect Will Wang offered closing remarks at the lunch. He reminded everyone to save the date for the 2015 Annual Dinner, to be held on February 25 at Cipriani Wall Street.

We hope all those who attended the Cocktail Reception and Committee Dinners enjoyed some well-deserved refreshment in some good company. We were happy to welcome 185 attendees at the Cocktail Reception hosted one block away at Park Avenue Tavern.

This year, there were five Committee Dinners hosted: Government Service & Public Interest/Litigation/Labor and Employment/Young Lawyers Committees Dinner at Aperitivo; In-House Counsel at Izakaya NoMad; Real Estate and Small & Solo Firm Practice Committees at Cibo; Intellectual Property Comittee at Radiance Tea House and Fine Asian Cuisine; and Tax and Bankruptcy & Restructuring Committees at Capital Grille.

We thank all those who made the day possible: Brad Edmister, Morgan Lewis staff, moderators and panelists, our sponsors for their continuing support, honorees, Helen Wan for speaking, volunteers, and especially you for attending.