Events

AALDEF was pleased to host its first summer cocktail in two years since the pandemic first put a pause on in-person events.

The 2022 AALDEF Summer Cocktail Party was held on June 27, 2022 at the 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar in New York City. We were delighted to host hundreds of Asian American lawyers, professionals, students, and community advocates at our latest fundraiser, proceeds to support AALDEF’s legal and educational programs. AALDEF staff from Boston, New York, and Washington, DC were in attendance with gracious support from our 2022 summer interns.

Newly appointed Legal Director Bethany Li welcomed and thanked guests for their attendance and continued support of AALDEF.

“You are part of this change — protecting democracy, defending our judicial system — and what that means for the defense of our community’s civil rights,” she said.

Bethany took a moment to reflect on the continuing wave of violence against Asian Americans, but reminded us that unfortunately, anti-Asian hate is not new, but rather something we have seen throughout history.

“What I want you to also see is the structural violence and racism that has led to that attack on our Asian grandparents,” she added.

Bethany reiterated that until we see progress on voting rights, language access, immigrant rights, education equity, housing and environmental justice, the fight against police brutality, and other critical issues that AALDEF is working on, our community will not be safe.

“So I invite you and thank you for your support of this important work cause the only way we will see peace, equity, and justice in our world is if we are committed to working together towards that vision.”

Special thanks to our Summer Event Committee members:

Sameer Advani
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

Jasmine Ball
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

Jennifer Broyles
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

Cadwalader Asian Pacific American Attorney Resource Group

Michelle Chang
Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP

Ann Creed
Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP

Tracy Feng
Allen & Overy LLP

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP

Suhana Han
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

Mark Hsen
Linklaters LLP

Alice Hsu
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

Richard K. Kim
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

Raymond T. Mak
Epstein Becker Green

Tawfiq S. Rangwala
Milbank LLP

Shearman & Sterling LLP

Sidley Austin LLP

Brian Sung
Haynes & Boone, LLP

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

Christopher Y. L. Yeung
Covington & Burling LLP

Andrew J. Yoon
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP