We closed out an outstanding year at Asian American Bar Association of New York with our Annual Meeting of Members on February 11, 2026, at King & Spalding. After a year of growth, impact, and community-building, it was especially meaningful to come together to celebrate our achievements and look ahead.
Congratulations to our 2025 Award Honorees: • Committee of the Year: Issues Committee, co-chaired by Vishal Chander and Rachel Lee • Program of the Year: Dumplings & Discussion Series headed by Jeffrey Mok • Member of the Year: Jeffrey Mok
Your dedication and leadership helped make 2025 such a strong and successful year for AABANY.
We also proudly elected a new slate of Officers and Directors who will guide AABANY forward:
Officers President-Elect: John Hwang Vice President, Programs and Operations: Pei Pei Cheng de Castro Vice President, Programs and Operations: Taiyee Chien Treasurer: H. Anthony Park Secretary: S. Yan Sin Membership Director: Francis Chin Development Director: Gilyana Jones
Directors Henry C. Chan Vishal Chander Joseph Eng Kelly Koyama-Garcia Rachel Lee Beatrice Leong Alysha Naik Diana Wang Jennifer Wu Kevin Yam Dwight S. Yoo
We also recognize the following Directors who will be continuing into the second year of their current terms: Katherine Loanzon, Esq., Glenn D. Magpantay, and Jeffrey Mok.
Thank you to everyone who attended and to all who contribute to AABANY’s continued momentum. We look forward to building on our strong foundation with our incoming President, Varuna Bhattacharyya, and continuing to serve our members and community in the year ahead.
The current fiscal year ends March 31, 2026, and the new fiscal year begins on April 1. The new Board will take office at that time.
AABANY has published its 2025 year-end report, reflecting on a successful year centered around the theme "Together We Thrive: The Power of Us!" The report highlights key achievements and recognizes outstanding members and committees.
Check out the full report by clicking on the cover below to see how the organization continued its mission of fostering meaningful participation of Asian American Pacific Islanders in the legal field throughout 2025!
You can also read the previous years' reports here.
The Asian American
Bar Association of New York's Annual Dinner 2026 will be on May 28th at Cipriani Wall Street. This year's theme, "Rising Up to Meet the Future: Cultivating Tomorrow's Leaders Today," celebrates our commitment to empowering the next
generation of Asian American legal professionals. Connect with colleagues, honor outstanding achievements, and be part of shaping the future of our legal community.
We are pleased to announce our honorees this year:
Alvina Lo, Head of Advice, Planning and Fiduciary Services, BNY Wealth, for the Industry Leadership Award; and
Hon. L. Austin D'Souza, Supervising Judge, New York City Civil Court (New York County), for the Public Service Award.
Join us in congratulating these honorees for their distinguished accomplishments!
The Sponsorship Package for AABANY's 2026 Annual Dinner has been released! Click here to access the sponsorship package and check out the different
levels of support. If your firm is interested, sign up early as certain levels of sponsorship have limited spots. Please also feel free to share the sponsorship package to your networks!
Save the date, and make plans to join us for one of the premier events in the New York legal community.
AABANY is considering organizing a group trip to a New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden in April 2026 for networking and socializing.
We are asking members to complete a short survey (LINK HERE) to gauge interest and a sense of preferred dates and ticket pricing. The feedback will be used to
plan the event, secure tickets, and obtain group discounts! Thanks in advance for filling out the survey.
Co-Sponsored by the AABANY Issues Committee and Young Lawyers Committee:
Team AABANY will be at the 2026 AAPI 5K, a charity race/walk celebrating AAPI Heritage Month on Saturday, May 23, 2026 at Pier 45, Hudson River Greenway.
You'll have the opportunity to run or walk with us to support the Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY), which funds AABANY’s Pro Bono Clinics, Anti-Asian Violence Task Force, and Public Interest Scholarships.
Before
the big day, we will be organizing pre-AAPI 5k runs. Please fill out this survey to help us plan these training sessions.
When: Thursday, February 19, 2026, 1:00pm - 2:00pm Where: Zoom
The Issues Committee of the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) invites you to our monthly meetings—an open space
to discuss emerging issues, brainstorm advocacy initiatives, and build community power.
To register for this event by February 17, clickhere.
When: Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 6:00pm - 8:30pm Where: Philippine Consulate General, 556 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10036
The Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans (CAPA), in partnership with the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY), the Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY) and the Filipino American Lawyers Association of New York (FALA NY), invites you to a screening of "Voices Against Anti-Asian Hate," hosted by Philippine Consulate General.
Panelists:
Rose Cuison-Villazor, Professor of Law and Chancellor’s Social Justice Scholar; Director, Rutgers Center for Immigrant Justice
Glenn D. Magpantay, Commissioner at the United States Commission on Civil Rights
Noel Quintana, Featured Speaker in "Voices Against Anti-Asian Hate"
Moderator:
Yang Chen, Executive Director at AABANY
Capacity has been reached for this event. Please contact main@aabany.org with any questions.
When: Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 6:30pm - 9:30pm Where: One Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, New York 10017
AABANY's Mentorship Committee will be hosting its first mixer of the year on February 25, 2026. We encourage mentors and mentees to meaningfully engage over hors d’oeuvres and libations, and
to make new connections across the Mentorship Program. Come join us to kick off the most memorable year of the Program yet!
In collaboration with AABANY’s In-House Committee, we will also host a Fireside Chat at the beginning
of the mixer featuring Linda Lu, Chief Legal & Risk Officer of Zip. During this conversation, Linda will discuss a variety of topics, including her career journey and career advice for lawyers in the audience.
This
registration is only for mentors and mentees who are participating in AABANY's 2025-2026 Mentorship Program.
Registration link was sent via email. If you didn't receive it, please email us at main@aabany.org.
When: Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 6:30pm - 8:30pm Where: Tang Pavillion, 65 W. 55 St, New York, New York 10019
Join us for a festive dinner celebrating the Lunar Year of the Horse! Connect with fellow members over authentic cuisine at Tang Pavilion in Midtown Manhattan. This is a perfect opportunity to network and celebrate with the Trusts & Estates community.
$15 to register; fully refunded after attendance.
To register for this event by February 23, click here.
When: Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 6:00pm - 8:00pm Where: JPMorgan Chase Bank, 41-22 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, New York 11361
Please join us for our annual Lunar New Year Celebration for Networking
and Light Buffet. The event is co-sponsored by AABANY's Real Estate Committee, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., AmTrust Title Insurance Company, and the Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York.
To register for this
event by February 23, click here.
When: Thursday, February 26, 2026, 12:00pm Where: Webinar (Online)
Thinking about becoming a mediator or arbitrator? Join a frank discussion on how major alternative dispute resolution (ADR) providers actually build and manage their rosters. You’ll gain practical guidance on what credentials matter, how panels are structured, and what it really takes to transition from advocate to neutral. If you’re serious about building a neutral practice, this session gives you the roadmap. Representatives from the major ADR providers in the U.S. will share their insights and answer questions you may have on this fast-growing practice area.
For more details and to register by February 26, click here.
When: Monday, March 2, 2026, 6:00pm Where: Groombridge Wu Baughman & Stone LLP, 565 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2900, New York, New York 10017
Come listen to the book read of Strangers in the Land, one of the most powerful, critically acclaimed books of 2025, by New Yorker's Executive Editor Michael Luo. Moderated by the first Asian American woman Federal Judge Honorable Marilyn Go (ret.) and co-sponsored by AABANY's Solo & Small Firm Practice and Prosecutors Committees, we invite you to come and travel through time, covering Chinese migration in America, from the gold rush to the aftermath of COVID-19.
For more details and to register by February 27, click here.
When: Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 6:30pm Where: NYU School of Law, 40 Washington Square S, Vanderbilt Hall, Room 214, New York, New York 10012
The NYU School of Law Asian-Pacific Allied Law Students Association (APALSA), along with the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY), the South Asian Bar Association of New York (SABANY), the South Asian and Indo-Caribbean Bar Association of Queens (SAICBA-Q), the Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York (KALAGNY) and the Filipino American Lawyers Association of New York (FALA New York), present a Fireside Chat with Hasan Shafiqullah, Immigration Supervising Attorney in the Law Reform Unit at The Legal Aid Society.
For more details and to register by March 1, click here.
When: Thursday, March 5, 2026, 6:00pm - 8:30pm Where: Daniel P. Moynihan United States Courthouse – Room 850, 500 Pearl St, New York, New York 10007
Join the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY)'s Prosecutors Committee for its 17th Anniversary Reception, co-sponsored by the Judiciary Committee. This special evening will honor Hon. Pamela K. Chen, U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of New York.
For more details and to register by March 2, click here.
When: Thursday, March 12, 2026, 11:00pam - 12:00pm Where: Zoom
Join the AABANY IP Committee and the US-China Intellectual Property Exchange & Development Foundation (UCIPF) for a timely and practical webinar, “Navigating the 2025 Draft Amendment to the Trademark Law of China,” designed to help understand the latest legislative developments shaping China’s trademark regime.
For more details and to register by March 10, click here.
When: Thursday, March 19, 2026, 6:00pm Where: Anderson & Associates, 347 W 36th St. Suite 1003, New York, New York 10018
AABANY invites you to our inaugural Book Club meeting! This event is open to all attorneys who want to share about books that they cannot stop thinking about.
For more details and to register by March 17, click here.
When: Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 6:00pm - 8:00pm Where: New York Law School Auditorium, 185 West Broadway, New York City, New York 10013
The Wilf Impact Center and presenting sponsor Dorf Nelson & Zauderer LLP are hosting a screening of CURED, a timely and powerful documentary. The award-winning film tells the story of the activists who brought about a pivotal but little-known victory in the movement for LGBTQ+ equality: the American Psychiatric Association's 1973 decision to remove the diagnosis of homosexuality from its manual of mental disorders. Following the screening, New York Law School Professor Emeritus Arthur S. Leonard will speak with CURED co-director Patrick Sammon and Lambda Legal Senior Counsel Omar Gonzalez-Pagan about today's struggle for LGBTQ+ equality and the lessons that can be learned from the heroic activists featured in CURED.
AABANY, in partnership with the Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY), is pleased to announce the Turning the Tide (T3) Project. Following the February 10, 2021 publication of AABANY and Paul, Weiss’ report, A Rising Tide of Hate and Violence against Asian Americans in New York During COVID-19: Impact, Causes, Solutions, AABANY established an Anti-Asian Violence Task Force to advance the proposals outlined in the report and consider other solutions to address the surge of anti-Asian hate and violence in the community. The Task Force advances the T3
project, which aims to incorporate a three-pronged approach encompassing education and communication, advocacy, and research, to address anti-Asian hate and violence.
Please stand together with AABANY and AALFNY in turning
the tide against anti-Asian hate and violence. We are now accepting donations to support the T3 Project. Donations can be made to AALFNY and will be tax deductible to the extent permitted by applicable law.
For more details
about the T3 Project, please click here.
In Fall 2020, AABANY launched a legal referral and information service (“LRIS”) as a public service primarily to help the general public, and especially the Asian American community. The goals of the LRIS are to provide information and referrals,
to recommend lawyers or other resources to provide competent, ethical legal advice and representation, to educate the public about legal representation and to increase respect for the legal profession.
We are seeking qualified
and experienced lawyers to serve on the panels of lawyers eligible to receive referrals from AABANY’s LRIS.
This is a vital program for AABANY that we anticipate will greatly benefit our panelists and fellow members as well
as the public, and especially the Asian American community. If you would like to apply to be considered for the LRIS panel, please contact joinlris@aabany.org, and we will send you an application
form. If you have any questions, please send them to the same address.
Did you clerk for a judge? Have you served as a court attorney? If so, please fill out our AABANY law clerk/court attorney survey!
The Judiciary Committee has created a clerkship directory to gather information about our members
who may be willing to act as future resources and/or ultimately want to become a judge. If you've ever clerked for a judge, please take a minute to fill out this survey and forward to others here. We appreciate your help!
Interested in future speaking opportunities? Join the confidential AABANY Speakers Bureau if you're open to raising your profile and sharing your expertise. Click here to access the form.
AABANY regularly receives requests from
AABANY Committee Chairs and other bar associations for speakers to speak on various legal topics. This form is designed to collect information from our membership and engage those who are most interested in sharing their knowledge and
expertise with various legal audiences.
We respect your privacy. All information disclosed will be treated with the utmost confidentiality. Email main@aabany.org if you have any questions.
Applications are now being accepted for AABANY’s 2026 Legal Internship Program. Open to college students, law students and law grads, AABANY is looking for a few talented, energetic and motivated interns to help plan and organize AABANY
programs and events, provide research and administrative assistance and perform other tasks and assignments to advance and promote AABANY’s mission. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis. For full details and information
on how to apply please click here.
Please direct any questions to Executive Director Yang Chen at yang.chen@aabany.org.
AABANY is thrilled to announce a member benefit: discounts with Working Advantage! Enjoy up to 60% off movie tickets, Broadway and local shows, theme parks, sporting events, hotels, car rentals, electronics, and more.
To access your discounts: Sign in to your AABANY account to view our Member ID code on this page, or email main@aabany.org to receive it directly.
Then visit www.WorkingAdvantage.com, enter your email and create your free account using the AABANY code to start saving immediately. (The reference on the page to "Employee Discounts"
applies to AABANY's members.)
Members of AABANY are eligible to receive a 50% discount on their NAPABA membership! NOTE that this discount is a change from prior years, and the Affiliate Membership is no longer free, as it had been in the past.
As NAPABA grows
and broadens its offerings, it has adopted an updated membership model that aligns with national best practices and strengthens the long-term sustainability of the programs and services our community relies on.
Even with this
update, members of AABANY continue to enjoy significant savings and full access to NAPABA’s robust suite of benefits—including complimentary and discounted CLEs; more than 30 practice committees and affinity networks; national visibility
and leadership pathways; structured mentorship and leadership development programs; access to NAPABA’s national advocacy infrastructure; preferred pricing and stipends for key events; nationwide community and networking opportunities;
career advancement tools and resources; and continued investment in strengthening the AANHPI legal community.
If you wish to redeem this benefit, contact main@aabany.org to get
the discount code. You will be prompted to enter this code when you join or renew your membership with NAPABA.
PLEASE NOTE: NAPABA's membership works on the calendar year, meaning that it runs from Jan. 1, 2026 and ends on December
31, 2026. To maximize your benefit, consider joining or renewing your NAPABA Affiliate Membership now.
For assistance or questions regarding your NAPABA membership, please contact membership@napaba.org.
February 19: AABANY Issues Committee Monthly Meeting. For more details and to register by February 17, click here.
February 25: AABANY Real Estate Committee Presents: Lunar New Year Celebration. For more details and to register by February 23, click here.
February 25: AABANY Trusts & Estates Committee Lunar Year of the Horse Dinner. For more details and to register by February 23, click here.
February 25: Philippine Consulate Hosts "Voices Against Anti-Asian Hate" Documentary Screening. Event is now at capacity. Please contact main@aabany.org with any questions.
February 25: AABANY Mentorship Program 2026 Kickoff Mixer. Registration link was sent to mentors/mentees in the program. If you didn't receive it, please contact main@aabany.org.
February 26: NAPABA Presents: Making the Pivot: Transitioning from Advocate to ADR Professional. For more details and to register by February 26, click here.
March 2: AABANY Presents: Strangers in the Land Book Reading. For more details and to register by February 27, click here.
March 3: AABANY Co-Sponsors: Hasan Shafiqullah on Current Immigration Enforcement Trends and Ethics. For more details and to register by March 1, click here.
March 5: AABANY Prosecutors Committee Presents: 17th Anniversary Reception. For more details and to register by March 2, click here.
March 12: AABANY IP Committee Presents: Navigating the 2025 Draft Amendment to the Trademark Law of China. For more details and to register by March 10, click here.
March 14: AABANY Bi-Monthly Brooklyn Pro Bono Legal Clinic. For more details and to register by March 12, click here.
March 17: AABANY Annual Meeting of the Board. For more details and to register by March 15, click here.
March 18: AABANY Monthly Manhattan Pro Bono Legal Clinic. For more details and to register by March 16, click here.
March 19: Join AABANY for its First Book Club Meeting. For more details and to register by March 17, click here.
March 25: AABANY Co-Sponsors a Documentary Screening and Panel Discussion on CURED. For more details, click here.
February 18: NJ Judiciary Presents: The Clerkship Connection: Building Relationships That Drive Success. For more information, please click here.
February 26: F. H. Williams Judicial Commission Presents: Frederick Douglass and the Woman Who Led Him to Freedom. For more information, please click here.
February 26: Asian American Attorney Section at NCBA Presents: Third Annual Lunar New Year Celebration. For more information, please click here.
March 7: Asian American Attorneys Association Presents: Annual Conference 2026. For more information, please click here.
March 10: JALBCA/AICF Present: Breast Cancer Screening Event. For more information, please click here.
March 10: The New York Women’s Bar Association Presents: Judicial Reception Honoring New York County Judges. For more information, please click here.
Deputy Attorney General 1 (Investigations Bureau – Trenton, NJ) -- New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control
For more information on these listings and other open positions go to the AABANY Career Center. Members must be signed in to have access to the Career Center. Either search by keyword or just hit "Search" at the bottom of the form to see a
complete listing of jobs.
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