WE blog @AABANY

This is the blog for the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY). The views expressed by the authors of any particular blog entry are those of the authors only and may not reflect the views of AABANY. The inclusion of any link or re-blog of any post does not imply any endorsement of any views expressed in such post. Nothing on this blog should be construed to be legal advice.

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Zombie Asian Moms at La MaMa

We are pleased to tell you about the World Premiere of Zombie Asian Moms at La MaMa, in New York City, November 29-Dec 9.  Use the discount code HELLOKITTY for a $5 discount on regular tickets.

This is a comedy/electric violin/spoken word/video piece based on oral history interviews with Asian American moms of all different backgrounds.

Find out more about Zombie Asian Moms here.

If you are interested in funding their work, go to indiegogo campaign here.

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Meaningful Diversity: The Next Chapter of the ADR Story | New York Law Journal

Neutrals with diverse backgrounds can help administer justice in today’s increasingly diverse society as they are a reflection of the people they serve. Of course mere diversity is not enough; the meaningful inclusion of those diverse candidates in the industry is the next chapter of the ADR story.

Congratulations to Chris Kwok, Director on AABANY's Board and Chair of the Issues Committee and Co-Chair of the Asia Practice Committee, on being published in the New York Law Journal. Below is a quote from his article, which can be accessed by clicking the link above. Please note that to read the entire article, you must have a New York Law Journal subscription.

Given the historical exclusion of minorities from the legal profession, the lack of diversity in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is not surprising. The diversity and inclusion issue is magnified by the unique features of the ADR field. Neutrals with diverse backgrounds can help administer justice in today’s increasingly diverse society, as they are a reflection of the people they serve. Of course, mere diversity is not enough; the meaningful inclusion of those diverse candidates in the industry is the next chapter of the ADR story.

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On Monday, November 19, AABANY’s Vice Presidents of Programs and Operations, Jeff Ikejiri and Charles Chen, hosted a Committee Chairs Meeting at JAMS, in the New York Times Building on Eighth Avenue. Jeff and Charles caught up all the Committee Chairs in attendance on the level of activity of AABANY’s many committees for the first seven months of the fiscal year. They reported that the Committees, individually and in partnership with each other, have already put on more than 70 programs so far. With another five months to go before the fiscal year ends on March 31, we expect a great deal more events to come from AABANY’s committees.

Immediately following the Committee Chairs meeting, AABANY hosted an Information Session for anyone interested in learning more about what it means to be a Committee Chair and what it entails. We introduced the attendees to all the Committee Chairs in attendance and encouraged everyone to meet and mingle with the Committee Chairs one-on-one.

If you are interested in learning more about AABANY’s Committees and how you can get involved, check out the Committees page here and feel free to reach out directly to the Committee Chairs to find out what you can do for AABANY’s Committees.

AABANY’s Committees are the lifeblood and engine of our association. Without them we cannot even begin to offer the numerous programs, events and activities for our members and community. If you have any questions about getting involved with AABANY at the Committee level, please email us at [email protected] for more details.

Thanks to our VPPOs, Jeff and Charles, for their leadership and to all our Committee Chairs for their hard work and dedication! Thanks also to Chris Kwok and JAMS for hosting the meetings!

(Photo credit: Francis Chin.)

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Thank you to our November Pro Bono Clinic Volunteers!

November’s Monthly Pro Bono Clinic, held on Wednesday, November 14 at 3 Bowery Street in Confucius Plaza, brought out 13 lawyers and 9 interpreters who volunteered their time to help 29 clients:

Lawyers:

Christopher Chin

Sylvia Chin

Gaye L. Chun

Kelly Diep

Jonathan Hernandez

Mihea Kim

Beatrice Leong

Zhixian Liu

David Lu

Kwok Kei Ng

Annie Tsao

John Wu

Jessie Xian

Interpreters:

Satoshi Kurita

Derek Ting-Che Tai

Weiling Huang

Emily Xianxiao Li

Haoyi Deng

Vicky Qiuyan Zhao

Jessica Wang

Teresa Wai Yee Yeung

Eric W. Dang

Special thanks to Johnny Thach and Roger Chen for coordinating the clinic, Social Worker Ann Hsu, and the Pro Bono and Community Service Committee Co-Chairs Karen Kithan Yau, Ming Chu Lee, and Asako Aiba for their leadership.

If you are interested in volunteering at next month’s Pro Bono Clinic on December 12, please contact Asako Aiba at [email protected]. AABANY’s Monthly Pro Bono Clinic occurs every second Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:30 PM.

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On Wednesday, November 14, 2018, AABANY’s Academic Committee and Asia Practice Committee presented a roundtable discussion entitled “A Discussion About Leading Issues in Asia Practice.” Over 60 professionals attended the program at JAMS, located at 620 8th Avenue, 34th Floor, New York, New York.

Panelists included Alex Hao, Partner at JunHe LLP, New York; Ji Li, Professor of Law at Rutgers Law School and Author of The Clash of Capitalisms? Chinese Companies in the United States; Ruth Jin, Founder of The Jin Law Group; Jian Wu, International Lawyer at Kobre & Kim LLP; and Ann Lee, CEO of Coterie. The panel engaged in a lively discussion on China-US cross-border transactions, disputes, and trends supported by academic research and practical experiences.

Thank you to all speakers and attendees for their insights and participation. Program Chairs Conlyn Chan and Suzanne Kim did a wonderful job organizing the panel. We give special thanks to JAMS and Mediator Chris M. Kwok for hosting the roundtable discussion that was well-attended, engaging and insightful.

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On the evening of November 13, 2018, the AABANY officers, directors, leaders and staff attended the Kings of Queens Awards and Networking Event at Russo's on the Bay in Howard Beach, New York. We celebrated our Executive Director, Yang Chen, as he walked the red carpet to receive his bronze statue award as one of the "Kings of Queens."

Present from AABANY to help celebrate and honor Yang Chen as the recipient of this well deserved award were: James Cho, AABANY President; Margaret Ling, AABANY Development Director; Marianne Chow-Newman, AABANY Board Director; Beatrice Leong, Co-Chair of AABANY’s Government Service and Public Interest Committee; Dave Singh, AABANY Program Associate; and Jason Cheung, former AABANY Legal Intern.

We were very proud to be present to share in Yang Chen's award and congratulate him for all the wonderful things that he does for both AABANY and our community.

Russo’s on the Bay played host to the award ceremony and networking night which honored a group of Queens men for their contributions to their industries and work within their respective communities.

Click on the link to read more about this exciting event:

https://qns.com/story/2018/11/15/11th-annual-kings-queens-event-celebrated-accomplishments-boroughs-influential-men/

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On Wednesday, November 14, AABANY’s Real Estate Committee presented a CLE and Networking event entitled “Green Light Go: Title Insurance Clearing Before Closing.” The CLE was hosted by Flushing Bank at their Bayside, Queens branch. The speakers, Margaret Ling and Cary Chan, Co-Chairs of the Real Estate Committee, discussed an array of issues that can arise with obtaining title insurance clearance prior to closing and how to resolve them. The speakers also discussed the importance of conducting due diligence and provided attendees with insightful advice, based on their years of experience, on how to minimize liability.

We thank Flushing Bank and its staff for hosting the CLE panel for the evening. Thanks also to the speakers and all the attendees.

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NAPABA Applauds Nomination of Neomi Rao to D.C. Circuit

On November 14, 2018 the White House nominated Neomi Rao to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The nomination follows President Trump’s announcement of Rao during the White House Diwali celebration yesterday. If confirmed, Rao would be the first Asian Pacific American woman and the second South Asian American to sit on the D.C. Circuit. The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) applauds the announcement and encourages the Senate to swiftly confirm her. 

“Neomi Rao is an experienced public servant and legal thinker,” said Daniel Sakaguchi, president of NAPABA. “Respected amongst her peers, she has the temperament to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Her nomination represents a historic step forward for representation of Asian Pacific Americans and women on the bench.” 

Rao is currently the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. A national expert in the area of administrative law, she is a tenured professor at the Antonin Scalia Law School and founder of the Center for the Study of the Administrative State. She previously served in the Office of the White House Counsel and as a staffer for the Senate Judiciary Committee.

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AABANY turned out in force again at the 2018 NAPABA National Convention in Chicago, from Nov. 8-11. Here are some photos from the event, thanks to Francis Chin and James Cho. AABANY was well-represented in various panels, including our renowned Trial Re-enactment. This year we performed “Alice in Chinatown: Chol Soo Lee and His Fight for Freedom,” about a Korean American man wrongly accused of a gangland murder in 1970s San Francisco.

Congratulations also to Best Under 40 honoree Marianne Chow Newman and Trailblazer Award recipient Joon Kim. Congratulations to Arnold & Porter for receiving the Law Firm Diversity Award. Past AABANY President Susan L. Shin accepted the award on behalf of the firm.

AABANY looks forward to hosting the NAPABA Northeast Regional Conference in 2019. Stay tuned for those details.

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Super Lawyers - New York Metro 2018 Supplement

Super Lawyers magazine features the list and profiles of selected attorneys and is distributed to attorneys in the state or region and the ABA-approved law school libraries. Super Lawyers is also published as a special section in leading city and regional magazines across the country. Consumers can rely on Super Lawyers to find an attorney or to validate their choice of an attorney.

AABANY congratulates the AABANY members who have been named Top Super Lawyers and Rising Stars in the New York Metro 2018 edition.

Both recognitions of Super Lawyer and Rising Star involve a very selective and intense process in which the selected attorney is nominated and approved by his or her peers in the same area of practice.

Selections are made on an annual basis. Only 5% of attorneys are recognized as Super Lawyers, and only 2.5% of attorneys under 40 years of age are selected as Rising Stars.  The attorney must prove to be ethical, have excellent client records and proven results. The 2018 digital edition of Super Lawyer and Rising Star can be found by following the link in the title.

Congratulations to you all on your efforts and achievements!

New York Metro Super Lawyers

Eugene L. Chang, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

Kenneth Chin, Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP

Sylvia Chin, White & Case LLP

Jane Chuang, Lee Anav Chung White Kim Ruger & Richter LLP

Huhnsik Chung, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP

Eve C. Guillergan, Eve Guillergan PLLC

Andrew T. Hahn, Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP

Lan Hoang, Baker & Hostetler LLP

Benjamin C. Hsing, Baker & Hostetler LLP

Annie Huang, Robins Kaplan LLP

Richard Kim, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

David K. Lam, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

Glenn Lau-Kee, Lau-Kee Law Group, PLLC

Kenneth E. Lee, Levine Lee LLP

Lawrence G. Lee, Lynch Daskal Emery LLP

Lisa S. Lim, Akerman LLP

Raymond Y. Lin, Latham & Watkins LLP

Marie Ng, Sullivan Papain Block McGrath & Cannavo P.C.

Tai H. Park, Park Jensen Bennett LLP

Eric Su, FordHarrison LLP

Vinoo Varghese, Varghese & Associates, P.C.

Ona Wang, Baker & Hostetler LLP

Allen Wong, Raimond & Wong LLC

Arjay G. Yao, Morris, Duffy, Alonso & Faley

Tsui H. Yee, Law Offices of Tsui H. Yee, P.C.

Pauline Yeung-Ha, Grimaldi & Yeung LLP

Andrew J. Yoon, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

New York Metro Rising Stars

Keala Fumiko, Chan Hubbard

Joanna K. Chan, Cohen & Gresser LLP

Emily S. Chow, Ginsburg & Misk

Anthony K.C. Fong, Anthony K.C. Fong, Esq.

Zheng Gao, Kevin Kerveng Tung, P.C.

Ligee Gu, Halperin Battaglia Benzija, LLP

Yin Huang, Zuber Lawler & Del Duca LLP

Hanh Huynh, Rubin LLC

Jing Jin, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP

Joyce E. Kung, Sive, Paget & Riesel P.C.

Tiffany Ma, Young & Ma LLP

Claudia Pak, Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP

Anna J. Wang, Robinson & Cole LLP

Jennifer H. Wu, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP 

Shengyang Wu, Caesar and Napoli, P.C.

Ruofei Xiang, Mazzola Lindstrom LLP

Stephenie Yeh, Grimaldi & Yeung LLP

Vanessa Y. Yen, King & Spalding LLP

William Yeung, Law Office of Yeung & Wang PLLC

Michael D. Yim, Putney, Twombly, Hall & Hirson LLP

Ji-Young (Rachel) Yoo, Law offices of Rachel J. Yoo, LLC

Sojin Yoon, Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

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NAPABA, APABA-SF, and GOAABA Celebrate the Repeal of the Alien Land Law from Florida’s Constitution

The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of South Florida (APABA-SF), and the Greater Orlando Asian American Bar Association (GOAABA) celebrate the repeal of the anti-immigrant “Alien Land Law” from Florida’s Constitution. On Election Day, Tuesday, November 6, 2018, Florida voters passed an amendment to repeal the Alien Land Law from their state Constitution. Florida added the provision to its Constitution in the 1920s, as part of an anti-Asian and anti-immigrant sentiment that legally prohibited aliens from holding real estate and real property in Florida.

“Thanks to the efforts of APABA-South Florida, GOAABA, and NAPABA, the discriminatory language of the Alien Land Law will be removed from Florida’s Constitution,” said NAPABA President Daniel Sakaguchi. “This amendment was long overdue. The Alien Land Law enshrined the second-class treatment of immigrants and Asian Pacific Americans under the law. We applaud Florida voters for repealing this vestige of discrimination and anti-immigrant sentiment from their state Constitution.”

“APABA of South Florida is proud that Florida’s voters took to the polls to repeal the Alien Land Law from the state Constitution,” said APABA-SF President Benjamin W. Dowers. “APABA of South Florida thanks NAPABA and GOAABA for working arm-in-arm in collaborating with the Florida Constitutional Revision Commission, educating voters through events and information, and reminding people that voting matters. We look forward to working with NAPABA and GOAABA to further social equality in Florida and all other states.”

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NAPABA Announces 2018-19 Vice President for Finance and Development, Newly-Appointed At-Large Board Members, and Regional Governors

NAPABA congratulates Bruce L. Ishimatsu on his election as Vice President for Finance and Development for the 2018-19 bar year. NAPABA also congratulates the newly-appointed at-large members and regional governors of the NAPABA Board of Governors for the 2018-19 bar year.

The following individuals were appointed by the NAPABA Board of Governors to serve for two-year terms as at-large board members:

Kristy Gonowon

Kristin Haugen

The following individuals were selected by their respective regions to serve two-year terms as regional governors:

Hogene Choi | Northern California Region

Thy Bui | Southern California Region

Craig I. Nakanishi | Northwest Region

Brendan Wong | Northeast Region

Gregory Schwartz | Central Region

All incoming board members and newly-elected regional governors will serve with continuing elected officers, regional governors and at-large board members for the 2018-19 bar year. They will be sworn into office during the 2018 NAPABA Convention in Chicago, IL.

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NAPABA Announces 2018 President's Awards Recipients

The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is proud to present the 2018 NAPABA President’s Award to Karen Korematsu (Founder & Executive Director, The Fred T. Korematsu Institute) and Dale Minami and Don Tamaki (Partners, Minami Tamaki LLP; members of the Korematsu Coram Nobis legal team) for their work on StopRepeatingHistory.Org, a campaign to educate the public about Japanese American incarceration during WWII and the present-day dangers of similar policies targeting individuals based on race, national origin, or religion. The NAPABA President’s Award is given to NAPABA members who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to NAPABA, the legal community, and the broader Asian Pacific American community.

Karen Korematsu, founder of the Fred T. Korematsu Institute and daughter of the late Fred T. Korematsu, is a leading voice in advocating for civil liberties for all communities, and in 2015, she became NAPABA’s first non-lawyer member. Dale Minami and Dom Tamaki have been involved in significant litigation involving the civil rights of Asian Pacific Americans and other underrepresented groups and served on the pro bono team that reopened the landmark Korematsu v. United States Supreme Court Case, overturning Fred Korematsu’s conviction.

"This year, it is my honor to present the NAPABA President’s Award to Karen Korematsu, Dale Minami, and Don Tamaki for their tireless commitment to the StopRepeatingHistory.Org campaign,” said NAPABA President Pankit J. Doshi. “I applaud their efforts to relate the experiences of Japanese American internment during World War II to the infringement on civil rights and civil liberties that many religious and ethnic minorities face today. Their voices have been critical to ensuring that we as a nation never repeat that dark chapter of our history, including as a result of the travel ban impacting Muslim and immigrant communities,  which NAPABA vehemently opposed. While their work in civil rights for decades has already blazed a trail, their continued efforts to advocate for our community without rest is particularly inspirational in today's world."

The 2018 NAPABA President’s Award will be presented at the 2018 NAPABA Convention in Chicago, IL, on Nov. 10, 2018. NAPABA congratulates Karen Korematsu, Dale Minami, and Don Tamaki as the 2018 NAPABA President’s Award recipients.

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Judges Needed for Thomas Tang Moot Court Competition

If you are an attorney attending the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Convention in Chicago this year, we request that you volunteer to serve as a judge in the preliminary and/or quarterfinal rounds of the 2018 Thomas Tang Moot Court Competition (Competition).  The Competition is an appellate advocacy competition sponsored annually by the NAPABA Law Foundation, an IRC § 501( c )(3) non-profit, charitable and educational affiliate of NAPABA.  This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Competition!  The Competition honors the late Judge Thomas Tang, a champion of individual rights, an advocate for the advancement of minority attorneys, and an ardent supporter of NAPABA.  Judge Tang served on the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals from 1977 until his passing in 1995. To learn more about the competition, click here.

This year’s problem addresses the following issues:

Whether a state university may impose disciplinary sanctions on a student for non-curricular expressive conduct otherwise protected by the First Amendment in order to protect the expressive rights of other.

Whether a state university may expel a law student based on university officials’ determination that her off-campus expressive activity, otherwise protected by the First Amendment, violates the professionalism standards governing attorneys.

The information for the preliminary and quarterfinal rounds is as follows: Date:  Friday, November 9, 2018 Time:  Preliminary Round One (9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.), Preliminary Round Two (11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.), and Quarterfinal Round (2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.) Place:  Sheraton Grand Chicago (301 E. North Water St., Chicago, IL 60611)

Please register online at https://www.wejoinin.com/sheets/dicpm to judge one or both of the preliminary rounds and/or the quarterfinal round.  Although the sign-up sheet is getting full, please consider signing up to be an alternate in the event someone needs to make a last minute cancellation. Once you register, you will be emailed the problem, the bench brief, the rules and the oral argument scoring sheets.  Please report to the Tennessee meeting room located on the second level at least 20 minutes before your scheduled round to obtain your room assignment.  We ask that alternates also report to the Tennessee meeting room 20 minutes before your scheduled room to determine if your services are needed for the Competition.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Linda Tran ([email protected]) or Leah Gould ([email protected]).

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NAPABA 30th Anniversary Gala: Spotlight on Women

As it celebrates our 30th anniversary, NAPABA is proud to feature an all-women speaker lineup for its Gala and plenary luncheons. It is through their unique perspectives that we shine the spotlight on women who have broken through male-dominated industries, who promote diversity, inclusion, and equity in our workplaces, and those who simply make us laugh! Advance rates are available until Nov. 4 at 11:59 p.m. CDT. Register today to take advantage of additional discounts by clicking here!

Gala headliner Aparna Nancherla started out doing comedy in her hometown of Washington D.C. and now resides in New York City. 2016’s Elle’s Women in Comedy Issue, featured her as one of the most exciting new voices to hit the comedy scene. She is a series regular in the debut season of Comedy Central’s Corporate and has reprised her role in season 2 of HBO’s CRASHING. Aparna is also featured in the second season of Netflix’s The Standups. Other television credits include Netflix’s Master of None and LOVE, HBO’s High Maintenance Comedy Central’s Inside Amy Schumer, appearing as a US correspondent for Dave’s (UK) Unspun with Matt Forde, and Hulu’s I Love You, America with Sarah Silverman. In 2018 she makes her feature debut in the Paul Feig movie A Simple Favor.  Her TV stand up appearances include Seeso’s stand up series Night Train with Wyatt Cenac, season 2 of Comedy Central’s Meltdown as well as Adam Devine’s House Party. In 2013, she made her late night stand up debut on TBS’s Conan and was one of the breakout New Faces at the prestigious Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal. Her TV writing credits include Late Night with Seth Meyers as well as being a regular correspondent/writer on FX’s Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell.  She is also an alumna of the NBC Stand Up for Diversity program and currently headlines throughout the world and has been seen at a number of festivals including Comedy Central’s Clusterfest, Portland’s Bridgetown Comedy Festival, Moontower, SF Sketchfest, DC’s Bentzen Ball, Outside Lands, Bonnaroo and Dublin’s Vodaphone Comedy Festival. Aparna’s been featured on and in NPR, Reader’s Digest, The Huffington Post, The Washington Post Magazine, XM Radio, and Slate V. She can regularly be seen performing at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade’s in LA and NYC. Her debut album Just Putting It Out There was released in July 2016 by Tig Notaro’s label Bentzen Ball Records and hit the #4 on Billboard Comedy Charts.

Seating for the Gala will open at 5:30 pm and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Gala tickets are included with all full registrations and guest tickets may be purchased for $275.

Plenary Luncheons are taking place on the following dates with the following speakers: Thursday, Nov. 8: A Conversation with Tina Tchen* Friday, Nov. 9: Two Words: Inclusion Rider with Kalpana Kotagal Saturday, Nov. 10: Beyond #MeToo with Jane Liu, Lisa Mak, Emily Patajo, Sharyn Tejani, and Jenny Yang

*Advance registration required

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If you would like to attend this event, click here to RSVP. Space is limited!

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This series will be taking place at the Queens Library at Forest Hills (108-19 71 Avenue). The series continues on November 8 and November 15 from 6:00-7:30 PM. Thank you to the Forest Hills Asian Association for sharing this event with AABANY.