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AABANY Announcements: March 16, 2026

In This Edition

  1. AABANY Annual Dinner 2026: Save the Date
  2. Welcome to the General Counsels Expected to Attend the GC Reception at the 2026 Annual Dinner
  3. Call for Nominations: Law Firm Leadership Award
  4. Seeking Co-Chairs for AABANY Committees (FY27)
  5. Join AABANY's New Wellness Committee
  6. Call for Pro Bono Clinic Lawyers
  7. AABANY Monthly Manhattan Pro Bono Legal Clinic
  8. AABANY Issues Committee Monthly Meeting
  9. Join AABANY for its First Book Club Meeting
  10. AABANY Real Estate Committee Presents: Cybersecurity, AI, Real Estate & Ethics
  11. AABANY Co-Sponsors: Korean Hat Day at Yankee Stadium
  12. AABANY Co-Sponsors a Documentary Screening and Panel Discussion on CURED
  13. AABANY Presents: Navigating DEI Into 2026: Practical Takeaways & Industry Observations
  14. AABANY Presents: Dumplings & Discussion Series Featuring Grace Fu
  15. AABANY Presents: Navigating the new One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) Landscape
  16. AABANY's Trusts and Estates Committee Presents: Inheritance of New Wealth in China
  17. Pro Bono Volunteers Appreciation Dinner
  18. AABANY Member Siyan (Joane) Wong Debuts “Mother Warriors” Solo Exhibition at Equity Gallery
  19. Highlights of Recent Events
  20. T3 Project: Stand Together with AABANY and AALFNY in Turning the Tide Against Anti-Asian Hate and Violence
  21. Join AABANY’s Legal Referral and Information Service Panel
  22. AABANY Clerkship Directory
  23. AABANY Speakers Bureau
  24. AABANY Seeks Legal Interns
  25. AABANY Members: Save Up to 60% with Working Advantage!
  26. Get Your NAPABA Affiliate Member Discount Code
  27. NAPABA News
  28. This Week on WE Blog @AABANY
  29. Upcoming Events on the AABANY Calendar
  30. Other Events on AABANY Calendar
  31. Recent Job Postings on the AABANY Career Center
AABANY Annual Dinner 2026: Save the Date

 

The Asian American Bar Association of New York's Annual Dinner 2026 will take place 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:

  • Grace Fu, Chief Legal & Administrative Officer, Nanit, for the Corporate Leadership Award;
  • 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.  Visit the Annual Dinner website here.

Welcome to the General Counsels Expected to Attend the GC Reception at the 2026 Annual Dinner

General Counsels who have accepted our invitation to attend the AABANY GC Reception have been added to the 2026 Annual Dinner website. Go here to see the list, in formation. These GCs represent a broad spectrum of industries, encompassing finance, pharmaceutical, retail, technology, among others. Last year we were joined by approximately 40 GCs, and this year we hope to exceed that number.  Thank you to our General Counsel Reception Sponsor: Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone LLP.

The GC Reception takes place at the 2026 Annual Dinner on May 28 at Cipriani Wall Street. It is by invite only, and open to GCs and sponsors. If you are a GC and wish to attend or learn more, please contact  ad26@aabany.org.  To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, go here.


Call for Nominations: Law Firm Leadership Award

AABANY is proud to announce that nominations are now open for the 2026 AABANY Law Firm Leadership Award, which honors a law firm that demonstrates exceptional leadership in cultivating talent for all attorneys, regardless of their backgrounds, while providing equal opportunity for all to advance and succeed.

This year’s award continues AABANY’s tradition of recognizing excellence by focusing on law firms that have made meaningful strides in developing future leaders, fostering mentorship, and creating pathways for growth and leadership opportunities across all levels of the firm and the legal profession.

The 2026 AABANY Law Firm Leadership Award will be presented at AABANY’s Annual Dinner on May 28, 2026, during AANHPI Heritage Month.

The nomination form is available here.

DEADLINE: April 8, 2026.

We encourage you to share how your firm is demonstrating leadership in cultivating legal talent, providing equal opportunity, and empowering attorneys to excel.

If you have any questions, please contact AABANY Executive Director Yang Chen at yang.chen@aabany.org.

Seeking Co-Chairs for AABANY Committees (FY27)
 

A number of AABANY Committees are currently looking for Co-Chairs to spearhead their programming for the upcoming fiscal year (FY27), which begins on April 1, 2026. Committees that seek Co-Chairs include but are not limited to Academic, Immigration, Student Outreach and Wellness Committees.

Interested in learning more about the role? A recording of the information session held on March 11 is available to watch through this link.

To express your interest, please submit your resume and a statement of interest to main@aabany.org by the deadline of March 27, 2026. Please also direct any questions you may have to that email address.

Join AABANY's New Wellness Committee
AABANY is excited to announce the creation of the new Wellness Committee, led by past AABANY President Karen Kim. 

The Wellness Committee’s mission is to help AABANY members prioritize their mental health and well-being, as well as those of their colleagues, friends and family. The Wellness Committee also strives to minimize the stigma and create a supportive, inclusive and safe space to encourage discussions and share resources to advocate for self-care. Through various events, the Committee works to help AABANY members focus on their mental, physical, and emotional well-being throughout the year.  For more information, click here

 

Please consider joining the Wellness Committee, by emailing wellness@aabany.org.

Call for Pro Bono Clinic Lawyers

Our Pro Bono Clinics need you! Please consider volunteering. Click on the flyer for more information.


AABANY Monthly Manhattan Pro Bono Legal Clinic

When: Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Where: AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk Street, New York, New York 10002

For more details and to register by March 16, click here.

AABANY Issues Committee Monthly Meeting

When: Thursday, March 19, 2026, 1:00-2:00 pm
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.

For more details and to register by March 17, click here.

Join AABANY for its First Book Club Meeting

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 AABANY members who want to share about books that they cannot stop thinking about.  For our first meeting, bring a copy of your favorite book or books you are currently reading to talk about with the group.

For more details and to register by March 17, click here .


AABANY Real Estate Committee Presents: Cybersecurity, AI, Real Estate & Ethics

When: Monday, March 23, 2026, 5:00pm - 7:00 pm
Where: Flushing Bank, 99 Park Avenue, 1st Floor, New York, New York 10016

The CLE program will include discussion of the basics of cybersecurity breaches and cybersecurity hygiene with additional information regarding artificial intelligence and deepfakes. Also, the program will cover the effect of cybersecurity and AI on real estate fraud. Further, the program will discuss applications of best practices in cybersecurity hygiene and artificial intelligence as it relates to the NYS Rules of Professional Conduct and Ethics Compliance.

NY CLE Pending Approval

For more information and to register by March 20, click here.

AABANY Co-Sponsors: Korean Hat Day at Yankee Stadium

Co-Sponsoring with KALAGNY, we invite you to join us at Yankee Stadium for Korean Hat Day on May 2nd (Orioles vs. New York Yankees). Anyone who purchases a ticket through this link (https://www.gofevo.com/event/Koreanhat646) will receive an exclusive Korean Heritage Hat and a donation will be made to KALAGNY's legal scholarship foundation, the Korean American Legal Education Fund of Greater New York. 

Deadline: Ticket orders must be in by March 23 to be eligible to receive the Korean Heritage Hat.

AABANY Co-Sponsors a Documentary Screening and Panel Discussion on CURED

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.

For more details, click here .

AABANY Presents: Navigating DEI Into 2026: Practical Takeaways & Industry Observations

When: Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 6:00pm
Where: Littler Mendelson P.C, 900 Third Ave, Floor 8, New York, New York 10022

The L&E Law Committee will be hosting a CLE on March 25, 2026, during which Rachel Lee, President & General Counsel for Stand With Asian Americans (and Co-Chair of AABANY's Issues Committee) will be discussing the trends and observations of different organizations building an inclusive workplace amid a rapidly shifting legal and cultural landscape. Rachel will also discuss practical and compliant ways to foster such work environments.

The presentation will be moderated by Jennifer Kim, AABANY's Labor & Employment Law Committee Chair. The Issues Committee is co-sponsoring this event.

NY CLE Pending: 1.0 CLE credit towards Diversity, Inclusion, Elimination of Bias.

For more information and to register by March 23, click here.



AABANY Presents: Dumplings & Discussion Series Featuring Grace Fu

When: Thursday, March 25, 2026, 6:30pm - 9:00pm 
Where: Midtown - to be shared with attendees

Join the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) for the next installment of its Dumplings & Discussion fireside chat series. Enjoy food and drinks and take part in a casual conversation with Grace Fu, Chief Legal & Administrative Officer of Nanit. 

Free for members (sign in to have costs waived); $20 for nonmembers.


For more details and to register by March 23, click here .


AABANY Presents: Navigating the new One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) Landscape

When: Thursday, March 26, 2026, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Where: Online (Zoom) - will be emailed to registrants

AABANY Sponsoring Committees: Solo & Small Firm Practice, Tax

The "sunset" is over, and the new tax rules are here to stay. Learn how solo and small law firm practices, and their clients, can benefit and optimize benefits from the new tax law. Topics to be covered include the QBI deduction, higher SALT caps, and new depreciation deductions.

For more details and to register by March 24, click here.

AABANY's Trusts and Estates Committee Presents: Inheritance of New Wealth in China

When: Thursday, March 26, 2026, 6:00pm - 8:30pm (Zoom: 6:30 - 7:30pm)
Where: HYBRID - Fiduciary Trust International or Zoom for virtual participants, One Madison Avenue (@23rd St) New York, New York 10010

Please join the Trusts and Estates Committee for an in-person networking event at Fiduciary Trust International at 6 p.m., followed by an online presentation by Jane Ren, Esq., Partner of Fangda Partners, on succession rules and process in China. Alternatively, you may attend the online presentation by Zoom from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (ET).

For more details, click here .

Pro Bono Volunteers Appreciation Dinner

When: Thursday, March 26, 2026, 6:00pm
Where: Golden Unicorn, 18 E Broadway, New York, New York 10002

Every year, the Pro Bono and Community Service (PBCS) Committee and Government Service and Public Interest (GSPI) Committee sponsor a volunteers appreciation dinner for those who volunteered at the legal clinics. This year, the 10-course banquet style dinner will take place at Golden Unicorn on March 27, 2026, at 6pm.

To register for this dinner by March 24, click here. There is a fee of $100. Space is limited. Volunteers who have volunteered 3 or more times will have a separate private link sent to them for registration for discounted registration.

 
 AABANY Member Siyan (Joane) Wong Debuts “Mother Warriors” Solo Exhibition at Equity Gallery

The Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) congratulates member and past Labor & Employment Law Committee Co-Chair Siyan (Joane) Wong on her first solo exhibition, "Mother Warriors," on view at Equity Gallery in New York City from March 12 through April 11, 2026. An opening reception was held on March 12 from 6-8 p.m., with an artist talk scheduled for March 21. The exhibition features a series of paintings portraying the lives and labor of immigrant Chinese women.

To read more, click here.

Highlights of Recent Events


T3 Project: Stand Together with AABANY and AALFNY in Turning the Tide Against Anti-Asian Hate and Violence

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.

Join AABANY’s Legal Referral and Information Service Panel
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.

AABANY Clerkship Directory
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!

AABANY Speakers Bureau
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.

AABANY Seeks Legal Interns 

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 Members: Save Up to 60% with Working Advantage!
 

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.)

Get Your NAPABA Affiliate Member Discount Code 

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.

NAPABA News
This Week on WE Blog @AABANY

Upcoming Events on the AABANY Calendar

  • March 17: AABANY Annual Meeting of the Board. Registration deadline has passed.  For more details, click here.
  • March 18: AABANY Monthly Manhattan Pro Bono Legal Clinic. For more details and to register by March 16, click  here.
  • March 18: AABANY Presents: Careers in Media Law, Hosted by Perkins Coie LLP.  Registration deadline has passed.  For more details, click here.
  • March 18: Corporate Law Committee & Datasite & PNC Bank Present: Spring Social. Deadline to express interest to attend has passed.  For more details, click here.
  • March 19: AABANY Issues Committee Monthly Meeting. For more details and to register by March 17, click  here.
  • March 19: Join AABANY for its First Book Club Meeting. For more details and to register by March 17, click  here.
  • March 23: AABANY Real Estate Committee Presents: Cybersecurity, AI, Real Estate & Ethics. For more details and to register by March 20, click here
  • March 25: AABANY Co-Sponsors a Documentary Screening and Panel Discussion on CURED. For more details, click  here.
  • March 25: AABANY Presents: Navigating DEI Into 2026: Practical Takeaways & Industry Observations. For more details and to register by March 23, click here.
  • March 25: AABANY Presents: Dumplings & Discussion Series Featuring Grace Fu. For more details and to register by March 23, click  here.
  • March 26: AABANY Presents: Navigating the new One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) Landscape.  For more details and to register by March 24, click here.
  • March 26: NAPABA Presents: SCOTUS Oral Argument Preview: Who is Allowed to be a U.S. Citizen?  Defending Birthright Citizenship and the Role of Asian American History.  For more details, click here.
  • March 26: AABANY's Trusts and Estates Committee Presents: Inheritance of New Wealth in China. For more details and to register by March 24, click  here.
  • March 26: Pro Bono Volunteers Appreciation Dinner.  For more details and to register by March 24, click here.
Other Events on AABANY Calendar
  • March 24: SABANY & SAICBA-Q Present: Pathways to Public Interest Careers. For more information, please click here.
  • March 25: Latino Lawyers Association of Queens County Presents: All About Mayoral Appointments. For more information, please click here.
  • March 25: Metropolitan Black Bar Association Presents: Know Your Rights Webinar.  For more information, please click here.
  • March 27: The Metropolitan Black Bar Assoc. Presents: 2026 Hon. Theodore T. Jones Jr. Trial Advocacy Academy.  For more information, please click here.
Recent Job Postings on the AABANY Career Center
  • 2026 Summer Associate - Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP
  • Associate, Public Contracts - Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP
  • Attorney - NRDC
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.