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News: AALAM Announcements / Community Announcements / Newsletters / Legal Line TV Show AALAM Announcements
Tickets to BCNC Chinese New Year Banquet Available for AALAM Members AALAM may have a couple of tickets available to the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC) annual Chinese New Year Banquet. The Banquet will be held at Empire Garden Restaurant on Friday, March 6, 2015 and will honor AALAM member Renee Inomata and her husband, Paul Lee. If you are interest in attending, please email Eugene Ho at [email protected]. Tickets will be given on a first come, first served basis. Join the Planning Committee for the 2015 NAPABA Regional Conference AALAM needs volunteers to help us with our continuing education programming. In particular, we are developing a "Pitch Session" exercise and would like help developing the specific panel discussions. Please reach out to Sarah Kim at [email protected] if you are interested. Correction: In a previous announcement, AALAM mistakenly stated that Judge Myong Joun is the first Korean-American judge appointed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This distinction actually belongs to Judge Eleanor Coe Sinnott of the Boston Municipal Court, who was appointed in 2006. AALAM apologizes for the error, but is proud to be able to count two Korean-American judges in Massachusetts!
2014 Harry H. Dow Memorial Fund Dinner Credit: Alonso Nichols
On January 16, 2015, AALAM marked its first AALAM "Meet the Board" Dinner. Four members of AALAM joined two Board members for dinner at Bisto du Midi for an evening of terrific food and even better company. Attending were (from left to right in photo) Dwight Kim, Ed Cheng (Board member), Sarah Kim (Board member), Josephine Chin, Amy Luo, and Chinh Pham. Current, paid members of AALAM are encouraged to sign up for future dinners. It's a very pleasant way to spend an evening with friends and get to know the Board members. AALAM Monthly Dinner Series Happy New Year AALAM Members! This year we are launching a new monthly dinner series around the Greater Boston area hosted by the AALAM Board. Space is limited, so sign up now at the link below for the first three dinners of the year. Please note that spots are only for active members so remember to pay your dues! RSVP link: http://goo.gl/forms/vaVM3qSTSl
 AALAM Holiday Party Follow Up AALAM's annual holiday party was a great success -- many thanks to our friends at Proskauer for hosting once again! Please do not forget to support the Asian Outreach Unit of the GBLS and Ricesticks and Tea.
AALAM Holiday Party Opportunities in the New Baker Administration With the appointment of Governor-Elect Baker's new chief counsel, Lon Povich, the process for building the legal team in the Governor's office has begun. The Boston Bar Association has offered to reach out to lawyers who may be interested in learning about opportunities to serve. While we do not know at this point what those opportunities might be, if you are interested or know others who would be interested in learning more, please email Peggy Ho at [email protected] ASAP. Limited Invitations to U.S. District Court of Massachusetts Third Bench and Bar Conference The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts is hosting its third Bench and Bar Conference. This conference is a unique opportunity to gather with the Judges and other attorneys who practice in this district. We anticipate a full day of speakers, breakouts on varied topics and other sessions where you will be able to talk and mingle with the other participants. This conference is by invitation only. AALAM has been offered a limited number of invitations -- please email Peggy Ho at [email protected] by December 31 if you are interested.
On November 19, 2014, Myong Joun was unanimously approved by the Governor's Council for a judgeship on the Boston Municipal Court, Central Division. Judge-Designate Joun will be the twelfth active Asian Pacific American and the first ever Korean-American to be appointed to the Massachusetts state judiciary. "We congratulate Myong Joun on his appointment to the Boston Municipal Court, Central Division and commend Governor Deval Patrick for this historic nomination," said Peggy L. Ho, president of the Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts (AALAM). "A past AALAM president, director, and long-time member, Joun is a highly experienced trial attorney who - throughout his career - has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to public service and access to justice. His great experience and superb credentials will make him an excellent addition to the Massachusetts judiciary. Myong Joun has maintained a solo litigation practice in Arlington since 2007, focusing on plaintiff civil rights, employment cases and criminal defense. He began practicing law in 1999 as a civil litigator at the Law Offices of Howard Friedman in Boston. While attending college, Joun served in the U.S. Army National Guard for six years. He is a graduate of University of Massachusetts, Boston (B.A. magna cum laude, 1994) and Suffolk University Law School (J.D., 1999).
Congratulations to Rachel Lee who was named one of the "Best Lawyers Under 40" at the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association's (NAPABA) 26th Annual Convention in Scottsdale, Arizona. The award recognizes talented individuals within the Asian Pacific American legal community under the age of 40 who have achieved prominence and distinction in their fields of endeavor and have demonstrated a strong commitment to community affairs. Only 21 attorneys were named to the list for 2014. Rachel's nomination was bolstered by letters of support from AALAM, colleagues at EMC Corporation, peers at leading Fortune 100 companies, the Diversity & Inclusion Section of the Boston Bar Association, and her church. Seeking Volunteers for AALAM Committees The AALAM Board is looking for your input! Please take a look at our Committees below and email us to indicate your interest in helping out! In-House Counsel Committee - supports the professional development of our in house counsel members. The group meets several times a year to network and discuss issues of common interest to in house counsel. Please reach out to Rachel Lee ([email protected]) to join this committee and/or offer suggestions. Solo/Small Firm Committee - provides informal networking opportunities for attorneys in solo or small firm practices. The committee provides a forum on how to start and maintain a solo/small firm practice, and for members to exchange ideas on streamlining practices and resolving issues affecting this cohort. Please contact Steven Kim ([email protected]) to join this committee and/or offer suggestions. Government and Public Service Committee - encourages and supports APA attorneys at all levels of the federal and local governments, cultivate an understanding of the issues facing APA government attorneys, promote the value of public service, increase the representation of APA attorneys in the government, and further their advancement, by providing programming and networking opportunities. Please contact Sarah Kim ([email protected]) to join this committee and/or offer suggestions. Law Firm Associates Committee - provides opportunities for law firm associates to network, expand their professional contacts, and discuss issues specific to the law firm environment. Please contact Tony Lu ([email protected]) to join this committee and/or offer suggestions. Participate in Small Group Mentoring! Last year, AALAM sponsored a great opportunity to bring members together in small groups to chat informally and network. If you are interested in joining this enterprise, please email Len Ho ([email protected]). He will gather all names and assign people to small groups. After a group has met, individuals will go back into the pool and get matched up again with a new group. Expand your horizons and broaden your reach! Call for Resumes for Diversity In Transition Committee AALAM member Leverett Wing has been asked by the Governor to be part of a non-partisan group, Diversity in Transition Committee [link to http://diversityintransition.com], dedicated to ensuring the new Gubernatorial administration and future Boards & Commissions are reflective of the diversity within our Commonwealth. This group is looking for potential candidates to serve on Boards & Commissions as well as fill positions in (but not limited to):
If you or someone you know is interested, please upload resumes or LinkedIn profiles for review by November 3, 2014 http://diversityintransition.com/upload.html. Please then forward those resumes to Leverett Wing at [email protected]. In the questionnaire, please indicate whether you are interested in a position or serving on a Board or Commission within the new Administration and your affiliation with the AAPI Community. The Committee will organize resumes received and present them to the new Administration in November 2014. Please note that submission of a resume does not guarantee a job, nor is it a substitute for an application to a position. Instead, it will act as an easier reference for the incoming Administration's HR team, and it will help a resume stand out during the transition process, supporting a formal application in November.
2014 Annual Open House and Wine & Beer Tasting
2014 Summer BBQ 2013 NAPABA Year-In-Review is Now Available Online! Look back on the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association's (NAPABA) accomplishments in 2013 and what is in store for the rest of 2014. Visit the NAPABA website to read the 2013 Year-In-Review. AALAM Applauds the Nomination of Myong J. Joun to Boston Municipal Court Governor Patrick has announced the nomination of AALAM member and former AALAM President Myong J. Joun to the Boston Municipal Court. Myong has maintained a solo litigation practice in Arlington since 2007, focusing on plaintiff civil rights, employment cases and criminal defense. He began practicing law in 1999 as a civil litigator at the Law Offices of Howard Friedman in Boston. While attending college, Myong served in the U.S. Army National Guard for six years. Myong served as AALAM President from 2003 to 2005. For more information, see the Governor's Press Release. Emily Yu Named Among National Law Journal's "Boston's Rising Stars" AALAM Board Member and former Vice-President Emily Yu has been selected The National Law Journal and The Connecticut Law Tribune has selected Emily Yu as one of "Boston's Rising Star," a list of 40 outstanding lawyers in the Boston area, age 40 or younger. Emily was noted for her work as a real estate attorney at Edwards Wildman, involvement as Board member and former vice-president of AALAM, and volunteer work with Rice Sticks and Tea. Congratulations Emily! NAPABA Convention Update: Early Bird Registration Early Bird Registration deadline for the 2014 National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Convention is approaching. Register by September 5, 2014 for maximum savings. For more information, see the NAPABA Convention website. 2014-15 AALAM Board Announced AALAM is pleased to announce the newly-elected Executive Officers and Members of the AALAM Board of Directors for 2014-15: Executive Officers: President: Peggy L. Ho, LPL Financial Members: Romeo Camba, Massachusetts Superior Court For more information, see the Biographies of the 2014-15 Board of Directors. AALAM Members Invited to Vote in NAPABA Elections The National Asian Pacific Bar Association (NAPABA) is currently holding elections for its 2014-15 officers. All non-student members of AALAM are also members of NAPABA. AALAM encourages all such members to participate in this election. You may find the candidates' personal statements and endorsement, as well as information about the voting process, at the NAPABA Elections Page. AALAM does not endorse any specific candidate, but we urge full participation by all of our members in this process. Voting is open until midnight, Pacific Time, on Friday, September 12, 2014.
2014 Summer Lunch Indira Talwani Confirmed for Federal District Court of Massachusetts AALAM joins the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) in applauding the confirmation of Indira Talwani to United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts with a 94-0 vote. Talwani will be the first person of Asian descent to serve as a federal judge in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the first person of Asian descent to serve as an Article III judge in the courts covered by the First Circuit, and only the second female Article III judge of South Asian descent nationwide. Prior to her confirmation, Judge Talwani was partner at the Massachusetts law firm of Segal Roitman and the San Francisco law firm of Altshuler Berzon LLP. After graduating for law school, she clerked for the Honorable Stanley A. Weigel on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Judge Talwani received her J.D. from the University of California Berkeley School of Law and B.A. from Harvard/Radcliffe College. For more information, see the NAPABA Press Release. 30th Annual Banquet Photos Photos from AALAM's 30th Annual Banquet have been posted! To view them, please visit photographer Rebecca Liu's photostream. AALAM Honors the Hon. Denny Chin with Annual Founders Award
Judge Chin graduated from Princeton University magna cum laude in 1975 and received his law degree from Fordham Law School in 1978. After clerking for the Honorable Henry F. Werker, United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York, he was associated with the law firm of Davis Polk & Wardwell from 1980 to 1982. He served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York from 1982 until 1986, when he and two of his colleagues from the U.S. Attorney's Office started a law firm, Campbell, Patrick & Chin. In 1990, he joined Vladeck, Waldman, Elias & Engelhard, P.C., where he specialized in labor and employment law. From September 13, 1994, through April 23, 2010, Judge Chin served as a United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York. He presided over both civil and criminal cases, including cases involving Megan's Law, the Million Youth March, Al Franken's use of the phrase "Fair and Balanced" in the title of a book, the Naked Cowboy, Google Books settlement, and the United Nations Oil for Food Program. He also presided over the trial of an Afghan warlord charged with conspiring to import heroin and the guilty plea and sentencing of financier Bernard L. Madoff. Judge Chin was born in Hong Kong. He was the first Asian American appointed a United States District Judge outside the Ninth Circuit. Thank you, Judge Chin! AALAM Awards 2014 Scholarship to Ying Wang
Outside of law school, Ying is a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. She volunteers regularly for the Boston Cares organization as well as Rice Sticks and Tea. As a future Asian American attorney, she looks forward to continuing to represent the interests of the Asian American community through government and public policy work. Congratulations, Ying! Former AALAM President Theodore Chuang Confirmed to Federal Bench AALAM joins the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) in celebrating the confirmation of Theodore Chuang to the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. Judge Chuang is the first Asian Pacific American judge to serve in the federal judiciary in Maryland or in any of the states of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Since 2008, the Obama administration has tripled the number of Asian Pacific American judges on the federal bench, from 8 to 24. Before his service on the bench, Judge Chuang served as Deputy General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where he worked since 2009. He was previously the Chief Investigative Counsel for the House Committee on Energy and Commerce in 2009 and Deputy Chief Investigative Counsel for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform from 2007 to 2009. Prior to that, Chuang served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Massachusetts and as a trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. Mr. Chuang has held leadership positions with the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center, the District of Columbia Bar, and the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of the Greater Washington D.C. Area. During his time in Massachusetts, Chuang served on the AALAM Board of Directors and as AALAM President in 2002-03. Congratulations, Judge Chuang! For more information, see the NAPABA Press Release. AALAM Invites Applications for $2500 Scholarship Award AALAM is pleased to announce its sixteenth annual AALAM Scholarship in the total amount of $2500 which will be awarded to one law student for the 2014-15 academic year. The AALAM Scholarship is intended to be awarded each academic year to an Asian-American law student who demonstrates leadership potential, maturity and responsibility, a commitment to making a contribution to the Asian-American community and other indicia of excellence, whether personal, professional or academic. In order to apply for and be eligible for the AALAM Scholarship, potential candidates must be enrolled at a law school in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the 2014-15 academic year. The Scholarship award will be presented at the 30th Annual AALAM Banquet taking place on Wednesday, April 16, 2014, in Boston. For more information, including application instructions, see the AALAM Scholarship Announcement and the AALAM Scholarship Application. All application materials must be received by Friday, March 21, 2014 for consideration. AALAM Members Volunteer at Ricesticks and Tea On Saturday, March 8, 2014, a group of AALAM members volunteered with the Ricesticks and Tea Food Pantry, the only food pantry in Massachusetts dedicated to serving the local Asian low-income community. Thanks to all the volunteers for their help in sorting, bagging and distributing culturally-appropriate canned and dry goods to over 100 households! Check out our Group Photo! 2014 McGuireWoods/NLF Internship Program Deadline Extended The NAPABA Law Foundation (NLF) is accepting applications for the McGuireWoods/NLF Internship Program. The Program will support students interested in the legal profession and will help students develop a commitment to advocacy on behalf of the APA community. The Program seeks to achieve these goals by providing undergraduate and law school students with meaningful internship experiences at the Washington DC offices of NAPABA and NLF. Visit the NAPABA website to view the complete announcement. NAPABA Convention Call for Program Submissions The 26th Annual NAPABA Convention will be in Scottsdale, AZ from November 6-9, 2014. The theme this year is "Convergence: Collaborating for a Grand Tomorrow." NAPABA welcomes program submissions on topics that celebrate the diversity and unity of NAPABA and will provide practical solutions and advice for our attendees' future development. For more information, see the Call for Program Submissions. The deadline for program submissions is 8 pm ET on Friday, April 18, 2014. AALAM Members in the News AALAM members are making news! In the February 4, 2014 edition of the Boston Herald, AALAM members Paul Lee and Geoffrey Why were featured in an article, "State's Asian Community on 'Cusp of Great Things'." And in the January 15, 2014 edition of the Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, AALAM member Cynthia Mark was featured and quoted in an article, "Bankruptcy Court Can Determine Debtor's Wage Act Liability" (subscription required), involving a case in which she serves as co-counsel for the plaintiffs. 2014 NAPABA-Prudential Fellowship Program The National Asian Pacific American Bar Associate (NAPABA) is pleased to announce a partnership with Prudential Financial, Inc. (Prudential) and Gibbons, P.C. (Gibbons) to provide a fellowship opportunity to a highly-motivated, third-year law school student. Through this partnership, NAPABA will select a third-year law school student to be the 2014 NAPABA-Prudential Law Fellow. To view the complete announcement, visit the NAPABA website. 2013 AALAM Holiday Party
The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors and law students, has named the Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts (AALAM) as this year’s winner of NAPABA's Affiliate of the Year Award. AALAM was honored at NAPABA's annual gala on Saturday, November 9, 2013 during NAPABA's 25th Annual Convention held in Kansas, Missouri. "AALAM is honored to be recognized by NAPABA," said Peggy L. Ho, President of AALAM. "It is certainly a tribute to the efforts of all of our members, who are not only legal practitioners of the highest order, but also dedicated and engaged members of our Asian Pacific American community. We are grateful for this award and will continue dedicate ourselves to blazing new trails for our community." For more information, see the AALAM Press Release. AALAM Joins NAPABA in Supporting the Victims of Typhoon Haiyan AALAM calls its members to help support the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the central Philippines through donations to organizations responding to the disaster. For more information, including a list of aid agencies, see this NAPABA Support Letter. Michelle Wu Elected to Boston City Council
Indira Talwani Nominated as U.S. District Court of Massachusetts Judge AALAM joins NAPABA in applauding the nomination of Indira Talwani to a seat on the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. If confirmed, Talwani will be the first person of Asian descent to serve as a federal judge in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the first person of Asian descent to serve as an Article III judge in the First Circuit, and only the second female Article III judge of South Asian descent nationwide. Since 2003, Talwani has served as a partner with the Massachusetts law firm of Segal Roitman. Previously, Talwani was a partner with the San Francisco law firm of Altshuler Berzon LLP. After graduating from Harvard/Radcliffe College and University of California Berkeley School of Law, she began her legal career by serving as a law clerk for the Honorable Stanley A. Weigel on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Talwani has received numerous awards for her professional accomplishments, including: Best Lawyers in America (2013); Massachusetts Super Lawyers (2012); Top 10 Lawyers of the Year, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly (2010); and Chinese Progressive Association's Workers Justice Award (2012). For more information, see the NAPABA Press Release. Former AALAM President Theodore Chuang Nominated to Federal Bench AALAM also joins NAPABA in applauding the nomination of Theodore Chuang to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. If confirmed, Chuang will be the first of Asian descent to serve as a federal judge in the state of Maryland, and the first person of Asian descent to serve as an Article III judge in any of the courts covered by the Fourth Circuit. Chuang currently serves as Deputy General Counsel of the the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where he has worked since 2009. Previously, Chuang was the Chief Investigative Counsel for the House Committee on Energy and Commerce in 2009 and Deputy Chief Investigative Counsel for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform from 2007 to 2009. From 1998 to 2004, Chuang served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Massachusetts. Prior to becoming a federal prosecutor, Chuang was a trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. During his time in Massachusetts, Chuang served on the AALAM Board of Directors and as AALAM President in 2002-03. For more information, see the NAPABA Press Release. Paul W. Lee to Be Honored with BBA Beacon Award for Diversity + Inclusion Paul W. Lee, founding President of the Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts (AALAM), a Corporate and Securities Partner at Goodwin Proctor, and a lawyer credited with making Boston a city in which Asian American lawyers and other lawyers of color feel welcome, will be presented with the Boston Bar Associate (BBA) Beacon Award for Diversity + Inclusion on the evening of November 14, 2013 at the Park Plaza Hotel. For more information on Paul W. Lee, see this BBA article. To RSVP (free for AALAM members) and for more information on the event, see the Event Posting. Please join AALAM and the BBA in honoring Paul W. Lee for his commitment to diversity in the legal community! AALAM Summer Lunch Followup - Volunteer Opportunities Thank you to the 60+ attorneys and students who attended the AALAM Summer Lunch at Goodwin Procter! We hope you had a great time and enjoyed learning about opportunities to get involved in AALAM and the greater community. The following is a summary of some of the events and opportunities discussed by the event speakers from Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC) and the Wang YMCA, with contact information: Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center Volunteer Opportunities Adult English Tutors - Tutor adult immigrant English learners, two hours per week for six months. Flexible house to be arranged with students. Training will be provided. Please contact Mofei Xu at [email protected] or call 617-635-5129 x1031. Citizen Clinic Volunteers - Help process online citizenship applications at clinics held Saturdays, once a month. Required training will take place on July 25, 2013, 6:30 - 9:30 pm. Please contact Krista Senden at [email protected] or call 617-635-5129 x1088. Wang YMCA Volunteer Opportunities
For more information, contact Richard Chin at 617-426-2237 x224. Lilly O. Huang Named to Lawyers of Color's Inaugural "Hot List"
AALAM Spotlight, June/July 2013: Julina Guo, Harvard Law School
AALAM Board Statement Following Events at the Boston Marathon Like so many others in Massachusetts, the nation, and the world, we in AALAM were shocked and saddened by the events at the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013. Our hearts go out to all those who lost their lives or were injured as a result of the blasts and the ensuing pursuit of the alleged perpetrators. We also cannot forget the victims' families and loved ones, who face long-term consequences of their own. We commend the first responders, runners, and spectators who bravely rushed to help the victims of the blasts, and the law enforcement officials who worked so quickly and relentlessly to identify and apprehend the suspected bombers. We in AALAM live, work, go to school, and raise our families in and around Boston, and are proud to be part of a community that has responded to such incomprehensible violence with calm, strength, and resolve. AALAM urges its members to take advantage of the many ways to help those affected, such as those listed in this Boston Globe article and this Boston Bar Association initiative. Harvard Student Wins 15th Annual AALAM Scholarship Award AALAM is proud to announce Julina Guo, currently a 1L at Harvard Law School, as the winner of its 15th Annual AALAM Scholarship Award. Before attending law school, Julina served as an Immigration Caseworker/Constituent Liaison for the Office of U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) in New York City. There, as the only Mandarin-speaking employee, she worked directly with constituents and federal immigration agencies to resolve cases, involving such matters as detention/deportation, naturalization, permanent residency, visas, asylum/refugee status, and international adoptions. Julina helped bring to the Senator Gillibrand's attention the death of Private Danny Chen and served as the main liaison to the community as the Senator introduced legislation to combat hazing and reform discipline within the army. Julina graduated summa cum laude from Columbia University, where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and East Asian Languages and Cultures. Julina received the AALAM Scholarship Award at the Annual AALAM Banquet in April 2013. Congratulations Julina! AALAM Spotlight, April/May 2013: Rebecca A. Lee, Edwards Wildman LLC
What's one thing most people don't know about you? AALAM Spotlight, March 2013: Rachel Lee, EMC Corp.
How has the practice of law changed since your early career? Gloria Tan Nominated to Juvenile Court Governor Deval Patrick has announced the nomination of Gloria Y. Tan as an Associate Justice of the Juvenile Court, Middlesex County Division. Gloria Tan has served as the Deputy Director of the Criminal Justice Institute at Harvard Law School since 2011. She began her career at the Committee for Public Council Services where she worked in the trial unit from 1998 to 1999 and in the Youth Advocacy Project from 1999 to 2003. She has been a clinical instructor at Harvard Law School since 2003, teaching and supervising law students who represent indigent adult and juvenile clients in criminal and delinquency cases and administrative hearings. For more information, see the Governor's Press Release. Congratulations Gloria! Four AALAM Members to be Honored as Leaders in the Law Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and New England In-House has selected four AALAM members to be honored for their outstanding professional accomplishments at the Leaders in the Law event, on March 7, 2013 at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel. William F. Lee, a partner at WilmerHale, has been selected among the 2012 Lawyers of the Year. Christine P. Bellon of Blueprint Medicines, June D. Duchesne of EMC Corporation, and Peggy L. Ho of LPL Financial has been selected among the 2013 In-House Leaders. Honorees are nominated by their colleagues, clients and other legal professionals and selected by a committee that includes members of Lawyers Weekly's editorial department. Leaders in the Law demonstrate innovative and practical business and legal skills, either as general counsel or staff attorneys. They are corporate in-house lawyers who are leaders in the community, forward thinkers and best exemplify the noble tradition of the legal profession. Congratulations Bill, Christine, June and Peggy! Michael Yoon Receives Top Agency Honor Assistant U.S. Attorney and AALAM member Michael Yoon has received top honors from the U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), for his outstanding professional achievements as a leading member of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts. Michael was recognized for his contribution in federal child exploitation prosecutions. His work with HIS, focused on child exploitation investigations, has resulted in the arrests of child predators worldwide. For more information, see the HSI Press Release. Congratulations Michael! Professional Announcements: January 2013 Congratulations to the following AALAM members:
AALAM seeks to recognize the accomplishments of its members. If you recently have been promoted or moved to a new position; received an award; joined the board or were elected as an officer of a professional or community organization; or received some other form of professional recognition, please let us know by sending an e-mail to [email protected]. AALAM would be pleased to share your accomplishments via our newsletter and website. AALAM Spotlight, January 2013: Cyndi Mark, GBLS Asian Outreach Unit
What do you enjoy most about your job? AALAM Announces Fifteenth Annual Scholarship Award AALAM is pleased to announce its fifteenth annual AALAM Scholarship. The $2,500 Scholarship will be awarded to an Asian-American law student who demonstrates leadership potential, maturity and responsibility; a commitment to making a contribution to the Asian-American community; and other indicia of excellence, whether personal, professional, or academic. The recipient of the Scholarship will be selected by the AALAM Scholarship Committee with the approval of the AALAM Board. The Scholarship award will be presented at the AALAM Annual Banquet taking place on Thursday, April 11 2013, in Boston. For more information, including application instructions, see the Scholarship Posting and the Scholarship Application. All application materials must be received by Friday, March 22, 2013, to receive consideration. AALAM Spotlight, November 2012: Peggy L. Ho, LPL Financial Corp.
Best advice for attorneys starting out? Introducing the AALAM Spotlight Feature AALAM is pleased to introduce the AALAM Spotlight, in which we will periodically feature an individual AALAM member in the AALAM website and e-newsletter. Through the AALAM Spotlight, we hope to strengthen the AALAM community by helping our members get to know one another from both professional and personal perspectives. Appropriately, our first featured member is our very own Co-President, Peggy Ho. AALAM Members Receive NAPABA Awards AALAM wishes to congratulate its members who were recognized for their achievements at the recent National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Conference. Congratulations to Peggy Ho, LPL Financial, and Jeannie Suk, Harvard Law School, for winning NAPABA's Best Under 40 Award, and to William Lee, WilmerHale, for winning NAPABA's Trailblazer Award. Northeastern Law Hosts NAPABA Tang Moot Court Competition The Northeast regionals of the 2012 Thomas Tang Moot Court Competition took place at Northeastern University School of Law on Saturday, October 13, 2012. A number of AALAM members and friends served as volunteer judges for the oral arguments. In particular, Superior Court judge, the Hon. Richard Chin, and Probate and Family Court judge, the Hon. George Phelan, presided over the final oral arguments. Congratulations to this year's regional winners, Sabena Auyeung and Diana Chen from Loyola-Chicago, who now advance to the national competition at the upcoming NAPABA Conference in Washington DC in November 2012. Congratulations as well to all the teams from the participating law schools, Boston University, Brooklyn Law, Drexel, Fordham, Loyola-Chicago, and Northeastern. Photos from the event are available at the AALAM Photo Gallery. We Are All Sikhs: A Statement on Oak Creek Tragedy and Its Impact The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), as part of a community of 178 civic, faith-based, immigrant rights, and civil rights organizations, has joined in a statement regarding the tragic shooting at Gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, in which six individuals lost their lives. The full statement may viewed at the NAPABA website. Photos from Reception for Judge Maynard Kirpalani Photos from the Reception Honoring Superior Court Judge Maynard Kirpalani, which took place last March 2012, are now available at the Boston Bar Association Photo Gallery. This event was co-sponsored the South Asian Bar Association of Greater Boston (SABA GB) and AALAM. June Duchesne Receives 40 Under 40 Award AALAM Urges Support for Adequate Court Funding Our courts are in crisis. Since the start of the current economic recession, budget cuts have resulted in the loss of over 1,300 Trial Court positions. The Governor and the Massachusetts Legislature are now in the process of formulating the State Budget for Fiscal Year 2013. AALAM urges its members to follow the budget process and add their voices to those urging the Governor and Legislature to provide adequate funding for the Trial Courts. For more information, including how to contact your local legislators, see the Board's Letter to AALAM Members. AALAM Announces 2012-13 Executive Officers and Members of the Board of Directors Thank you to everyone who voted in the elections for 2012-13 Executive Officers and Members of the Board of Directors. Congratulations to Peggy Ho, who will be serving as Co-President with Sarah Kim. Special thanks to departing Vice President, Emily Yu, and departing Board members, Marisa Ma, Ingrid Chiemi Schroffner, and Geoffrey Why for your service to AALAM. Finally, congratulations to new Board members, Jason Chan, Jennifer Fang, Alejandra Hung, Rachel Lee, and Tony Lu. For more information on the officers and members of the new Board, see their biographies. Boston Business Journal Features Sarah Kim as Emerging Leader AALAM is pleased to announce that AALAM President, Sarah Kim, has been featured as an Emerging Leader in the March 2, 2012 issue of the Boston Business Journal. See the article, "Bingham Securities Attorney Makes Case for Civic Responsibilities," Boston Business Journal, March 2, 2012, p. 20 (subscription required). AALAM Supports MBA and BBA Court Funding Efforts AALAM commends and supports the efforts of the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Boston Bar Association to raise awareness of the underfunding of the state courts, its consequences on the ability of the courts to serve the public, and the need to reach out to legislators to reiterate the importance of an adequately-funded court system. Visit the MBA website to learn more about its initiatives, including a series of videos now posted on YouTube. Likewise, visit the BBA website for recent press releases urging sufficient funding for the courts:
Sarah Kim Named Among 2011 Lawyers of the Year Congratulations to AALAM President Sarah Kim, who was recently named by the Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly as one of its 2011 Lawyers of the Year! In this January 3, 2012 article (subscription required), the MLW featured Sarah's work on behalf of the Woodward School for Girls to expose mismanagement of the trust created to support the school. After a 13-day trial, the court ruled in favor of the school, removed the trustee, and ordered it to pay about $3 million back to the trust. By the way, we also learned from the article that Sarah's car is "a 1994 Toyota Corolla with over 200,000 miles on it" and that she likes "[a]ny movie by the Coen brothers." The Dude abides. AALAM Honors the Memory of Gordon Hirabayashi AALAM joins the civil rights and legal community in honoring the memory of Gordon Hirabayashi, who died on Monday, January 2, 2012, at the age of 93. During World War II, Gordon Hirabayashi, an American citizen of Japanese descent, defied a federal curfew directed at persons of Japanese ancestry and refused to register to be sent to an internment camp, resulting in his arrest and imprisonment. Hirabayashi challenged the constitutionality of the curfew and internment orders in a case that eventually came before the United States Supreme Court. Thus, as noted in this New York Times article, Hirabayashi and his fellow Japanese-Americans Fred Korematsu and Minoru Yasui, who brought similar lawsuits before the Supreme Court, "emerged as symbols of protest against unchecked governmental powers in a time of war." The Supreme Court upheld the curfew and internment orders, but approximately four decades later, the federal courts revisited and ultimately vacated Hirabayashi's conviction, as well as those of Korematsu and Yasui. William F. Lee Named to Boston Business Journal's Power 50 Please join us in congratulating William F. Lee, who was named by the Boston Business Journal (BBJ) to its first Power 50, a list of the region's most influential business people in 2011. Bill Lee, a longtime supporter and member of AALAM, is a co-managing partner of WilmerHale and a member of the firm's management committee. The members of the 2011 Power 50 will be recognized in a special supplement in the BBJ on October 28, 2011. Sarah Kim Named Among MLW 2011 Top Women of Law Congratulations to our own Sarah Kim, who has been named by the Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly as one of its 2011 Top Women of Law! The award recognizes legal educators, trailblazers and role models who have demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in social justice, advocacy and business. In addition to serving as AALAM President, Sarah is an attorney at Bingham McCutchen, where she focuses on securities enforcement, securities litigation and broker-dealer defense, and serves as a Director of the Massachusetts Asian AIDS Prevention Project Inc. Sarah will be honored at the MLW Top Women of Law Event on September 23, 2011. Colin Owyang Elected to BBA Council Congratulations to AALAM member Colin Owyang on his election to a three-year term as a member of the Council of the Boston Bar Association. Colin is a Senior Vice President and US General Counsel at National Grid. Colin joins Renee Inomata and Ingrid Chiemi Schroffner as AALAM members on the BBA Council. For more information, see the BBA Election Results. Follow up to the AALAM Summer Luncheon Thank you to everyone who attended the AALAM Summer Luncheon on July 12, 2011! Thank you as well to our hosts, Paul Lee, Marian Tse and Jennifer Fang at Goodwin Procter. Below is a list of each organization highlighted at the Summer Luncheon, together with website/contact information for anyone who would like more information:
2011 AALAM Annual Banquet AALAM celebrated its 27th Anniversary with its Annual Banquet on April 19, 2011, at China Pearl Restaurant in Boston. The evening's keynote speaker was Lisa A. Wong, the first minority mayor of Fitchburg and the first Asian-American woman to be elected mayor in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. AALAM also presented its Founders Award to William F. Lee, Co-Managing Partner of WilmerHale LLP, in recognition of his outstanding achievements in his legal practice. Among them, Attorney Lee is internationally recognized as a leader in intellectual property, is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and is the first Asian-American managing partner of an AmLaw 100 law firm. Finally, AALAM announced the winner of its $2,500 Scholarship Award, H. Will Mak, a second-year student at Boston College Law School (see below). This year's scholarship award was generously sponsored by Mercedes-Benz USA. Thanks to everyone who attended and for your continuing support of AALAM! For more details, see the Banquet Program. And check out the event photos in the AALAM Photo Gallery. BC Law Student Wins AALAM Scholarship At the AALAM Annual Banquet on April 19, 2011, AALAM announced H. Will Mak as the winner of its $2,500 2011 Scholarship. Will is a second-year law student at Boston College Law School and holds a B.A. from Harvard. While at Harvard, Will served as Executive Director of the Harvard Small Claims Advisory Service (SCAS), which provides legal assistance to over 1,200 Massachusetts citizens every year in small claims law and procedure. Seeing a need among non-English speaking clients, Will founded a satellite office in Boston Chinatown at the Chinese Progressive Association to help Chinese immigrants represent themselves in court. After college, Will served as a Fulbright Scholar to China. In that capacity, he conducted a research project on Chinese mediation as an alternative to U.S. litigation. After working at a real estate investment firm for two years, Will went to Boston College Law School, where he served as a 1L representative for the BC Asian Pacific American Law Students Association. He serves on the board of directors for the Harvard Asian-American Alumni Alliance, and helped organize a four-day inaugural Summit for Asian-American leaders in Cambridge in October 2010. He will be a summer associate at McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton, a regional New England law firm with offices in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. In his spare time, Will enjoys playing tennis. Special thanks to Mercedes-Benz USA for sponsoring this year's scholarship. Thanks to the Scholarship Selection Committee, comprised of Joel Buenaventura, Stephen Chow, Sarah Kim, Vincent Lau, Michelle Rhee and Austin Wang. AALAM Congratulates Justice Fernande R.V. Duffly AALAM is pleased to announce that Justice Fernande R.V. Duffly was confirmed to the Supreme Judicial Court by the Massachusetts Governor's Council on January 26, 2011. Justice Duffly is the first Asian American appointed to the SJC. Please join AALAM in congratulating Justice Duffly on this historic appointment. Friends of The Asian Outreach Unit Campaign For nearly 40 years, the Asian Outreach Unit (AOU) at Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) has provided bilingual, culturally sensitive legal representation to assist low-income Asian immigrants secure the basic necessities of life - food, shelter, employment and safety. Last year, AOU advocates assisted over 900 low-income Asian clients. AOU advocates also work with the Asian immigrant community to empower and develop the community's ability to successfully address issues that affect their neighborhoods. The most recent example of this is the passage of a bilingual ballots bill requiring Chinese/English or Vietnamese/English ballots for those that need them. AOU attorneys also mentor APA undergraduate and law students interested in public interest law, who will become the next generation of legal advocates to serve this community. Sadly, most of AOU's work is now threatened due to an unanticipated loss of $3.7 million in GBLS's public funding. This has forced GBLS to cut its staff by 20 advocate positions and it will need to make additional cuts if more money is not raised. AOU has already lost one attorney, and is at risk of losing two other advocates. You can help stop this from happening. In response, an ad hoc group of Asian Americans recently formed the Friends of AOU to raise $100,000 in each of the next two years to preserve the AOU advocate positions. On Saturday, December 11, 2010, AALAM hosted a Holiday Open House to benefit the AOU. Cyndi Mark, Managing Attorney of the AOU, and her team presented some truly inspiring stories of their work. About 50 friends and members of AALAM enjoyed the evening of delicious Asian food and lively company. Thank you to our gracious hostess Marian Tse for opening her home to the AALAM community! Although we made a good start, AOU still needs your help. Every two dollars you contribute will leverage an additional dollar from a challenge grant from the Harry Dow Memorial Legal Assistance Fund. The Dow Fund has already contributed $25,000 towards the $100,000 first year goal and will provide an additional $25,000 if the Friend of the AOU raise $50,000. Click here if you would like to contribute or for additional information, please contact Cyndi Mark, Managing Attorney of AOU, at [email protected]. Monthly Happy Hour AALAM has started holding monthly happy hour events. Come meet your fellow members in a casual and fun atmosphere. Past Monthly Happy Hours have been held on Thursday nights, 6-8 pm, at Stoddard's Fine Food and Wine in Boston. Watch our Calendar of Events page for details on future Monthly Happy Hours. |
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On April 16, 2014, at its 30th Annual Banquet, AALAM was proud to honor Judge Denny Chin with its Founders Award. Judge Chin is a United States Circuit Judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He was sworn in on April 26, 2014.
On April 16, 2014, at its 30th Annual Banquet, AALAM was pleased to award its annual $2500 Scholarship Award to Ying Wang, a law student at New England School of Law | Boston. Ying Wang is a first generation Chinese American and the first in her family to attend law school. From her humble beginnings in Texas and Massachusetts, Ying has always had a keen interest in community issues and has been actively involved in diversity minded organizations throughout her life. Currently, she is serving as the Legislative Intern to State Representative Elizabeth Malia through the Asian-American Women's Political Initiative (AAW-PI), where she works directly with constituents on community issues and assists with bills in the Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse.
AALAM member Michelle Wu has been elected as a Councilor At Large for the City of Boston, making her the first Asian-American woman elected to city-wide office in Boston history. The first-time candidate garnered 59,668 votes, placing her second among the eight candidates for four at-large City Council seats. The other successful at-large City Council candidates were current City Councilor and top vote-getter Ayanna S. Pressley (60,733 votes), former City Councilor Michael F. Flaherty (55,040), and current City Council President Stephen J. Murphy (44,937). Michelle graduated from Harvard College in 2007 and Harvard Law School in 2012. As a law student at Harvard, Michelle was the recipient of the AALAM Scholarship in 2010. After graduating from law school, Michelle served in Boston City Hall for the Menino administration. More recently, she worked on the campaign of Senator Elizabeth Warren, directing the campaign's statewide outreach efforts to communities of color. For more information, visit 
AALAM member Lilly O. Huang, a Goulston & Storrs corporate attorney, was recently selected by the Eastern Region of the Lawyers of Color for its inaugural "Hot List." Lilly is one of 100 early-to-mid career minority attorneys to be selected for this honor. The 2013 honorees were chosen through a two-pronged process, whereby a selection committee spent months reviewing nominations and researching bar publications and legal blogs in order to identify promising candidates. Nominations from mentors, peers, and colleagues were also accepted. For more information, see the 
Julina Guo, the recipient of the 
Rebecca A. Lee, a partner at Edwards Wildman with a wide-ranging real estate practice, was recognized with the 2013 AALAM Founders' Award at this year's Annual AALAM Banquet. She is a former president of AALAM and serves on the Ricesticks and Tea Asian Food Pantry Steering Committee and the WGBH Board of Overseers. But no, she is not related to Rachel Lee, the subject of the previous AALAM Spotlight! Here's an excerpt:
AALAM Board Member Rachel Lee is Senior Corporate Counsel at EMC Corporation in Hopkinton, MA. Rachel has been key in AALAM's efforts to provide professional development and networking opportunities to Asian-American lawyers who serve as in-house counsel or are interested in transitioning to such a role. In this month's spotlight, Rachel speaks of the challenges facing corporate counsel today, her love of traveling with her family, and fish. Lots and lots of fish. . . .
AALAM members know Cyndi Mark from the AALAM Holiday Parties and other events in which she has spoken in support of the Asian Outreach Unit (AOU) of Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS). In this month's AALAM Spotlight, Cyndi talks of the rewards of serving as the Managing Attorney of AOU, what she likes to do when she's not changing lives, and the trials of dating (and later marrying) a New York Mets fan in 1986 . . . 
For our very first AALAM Spotlight, we feature Peggy L. Ho, Senior Vice President and Associate Counsel at LPL Financial Corporation and current AALAM Co-President. Peggy dishes about her colleagues at LPL, how her dreams of joining the foreign service led to a legal career, spending time with family, and what costume she wore for three straight Halloweens . . .