In 2019, the AsianAttorneys@Weil Affinity Group gathered in Brooklyn, New York for a day and a half of networking, community building, and professional development. Conference highlights included an alumni networking reception at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge with programs such as a Career Paths Panel featuring Weil alumni from Credit Suisse, Synchrony, Hudson’s Bay Company, Culturupt and the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office. It also included a Fireside chat with Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Sheryl WuDunn, workshops with Cara Hale Alter focused on executive presence and communication as well as business development workshops with Management Committee Sponsor Gary Holtzer.

In our continued efforts to support the AAPI community in light of the challenges of hate and bias, Weil partner Susan Shin moderated a fireside chat with author and activist Min Jin Lee and ABC correspondent and WABC-TV New York news reporter CeFaan Kim. They shared their unique perspectives on how they have used their voice and platforms to make a difference.

For Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2021, the AsianAttorneys@Weil Affinity Group hosted a variety of programs:

• Fireside chat with John C. Yang, President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice
• Virtual tour of the Japanese American National Museum exploring the Japanese-American experience from the 1860s to the post-war era, including a first-person account by survivor Mas Yamashita.
• Discussion with Liz Kleinrock, an antiracist educator, who shared how individuals can act in solidarity with members of other communities against racism.

As part of Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Month 2020, Weil hosted Jerry Vattamala, Director of the Democracy Program at the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund. Jerry touched on topics such as the rise in anti-Asian sentiment as a result of COVID-19 and how redistricting can affect communities of color.

AAW members availed popular pan-affinity events such as the Crazy Rich Asians movie screening. In the past, Weil held a dinner in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month featuring a conversation with Weil Alumni Vanessa Chandis and Erick Flores of NBCUniversal and AAW members attended a WeilLatinx hosted intimate dinner for associates of color with Weil alumni Andrea Saavedra, Vice President at Goldman Sachs and Ray Mercedes, Senior Vice President, Associate General Counsel - Chief of Staff at Univision Communications, Inc. In fall 2019, AAW hosted an intimate dinner for female clients in Silicon Valley.

Starting in May 2020, Weil has hosted a webinar series on the recent spike in instances of anti-Asian hate with leaders such as Jerry Vattamala, Democracy Program Director at AALDEF. Weil also joined the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association to denounce anti-Asian hate, violence and racism. Weil, along with other law departments and firms, joined in the creation of The Alliance for Asian American Justice, a national pro bono initiative.

Since 2011,Weil requires all attorneys and administrative staff across the U.S. to complete a two hour Annual Mandatory Diversity Training modeled on the ethics CLE requirement. In 2022, the US training featured Vallotkarp Consulting, delivering programing on how to promote inclusivity as an everyday habit.

The 2021 theme was “Antiracism and Allyship: The Collective Power of Individual Actions” and featured virtual programs globally such as Blair Imani’s practical insights on how to be an effective ally and Liz Klinerock on ways to facilitate anti-bias and anti-racist practices in the workplace.

Weil hosted or participated in 55+ targeted diversity recruiting events in 2022. The U.S. 2022 summer class was 30 percent law students of color, with 19 summer associates in the class identifying as Asian-American/Pacific Islander (14%).

Weil’s Diversity Fellowship Program awards progressive scholarships with the first installment awarded as a summer associate and second upon acceptance of a full-time offer. Since 2011, the Firm has awarded 70 fellowships.

The Folks party is a Weil tradition dating back to 1987 and is still held annually bringing together alumni, summer associates, and Weil attorneys of color at a partner’s home.

Weil started the formal Racial Justice series in 2020 to highlight the racial inequities present in the United States and to increase dialogue. As part of the series, Weil invited speakers from non-profit organizations to take part in fireside chats and discuss their missions.

The Racial Justice Series:

Since May 2020, Weil has held 25+ virtual programs for the Racial Justice Speaker Series, including but not limited to:

• In honor of Black History Month and Heart Health Month 2023, we recently held a fireside chat between Candace Arthur, a partner in our Restructuring Department, and Tracy K. Paul MD, acclaimed cardiologist and Director of Weill Cornell Medicine’s Women’s Heart Program.
• Heather McGhee, political commentator, strategist and author for Juneteenth 2021
• Professor Ibram X. Kendi for a fireside chat on How to Be an Antiracist.
• Dr. Jennifer Eberhardt to help understand and uncover Bias: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We Say, Think and Do

Weil also offered programming with an intersectional lens, including:

• Intersectionality with Kimberlé Crenshaw, a UCLA and Columbia law school professor who is the leading authority on race, racism and the law
• Veteran’s Day program with Lieutenant General Nadja West

Prior in June 2020, Weil collaborated with LatinoJustice, a non-profit organized working to create a more equitable society through education and advocacy. \Weil hosted two partners from McKinsey, Shelley Stewart & Jason Wright, to discuss the disparate impact of COVID-19 on the Black community. Shelley and Jason will also discuss the historical racial inequities present in the United States healthcare system.

Weil invited Samuel Spital, Director of Litigation at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund to discuss the current policing crisis and how to achieve racial justice through legal and policy solutions.

Historically, Weil has placed great emphasis on racial justice. In response to the increase in shootings of unarmed men of color in 2016, the Firm joined the National Urban League’s Urban Solutions Council as one of its first law firm members. Weil continues to partner with the NUL’s Policy Bureau and other member companies in the Council to help create socioeconomic opportunities for men of color in the United States through policy and advocacy efforts.

Additionally, The Institute for American Policing Reform (IAPR), a pro bono client of the Firm, has published a Weil Racial Justice Fellow and associate’s comprehensive White Paper, which sets out a principle-based approach to reforming state policing laws and police department policies regarding the use of force. 

Two advisory boards were formed to work with Executive Partners Barry Wolf. One is composed of Black partners, and the other of Black counsel and associates in the US and London. These advisory boards will advise on a range of issues of importance to the Firm, including but not limited to diversity-related topics.

The Racial Justice Fellowship Program was developed to provide associates with the opportunity to participate in six-month, full-time pro bono fellowships with nonprofit organizations focused on racial justice. During the first phase of the program, two associates worked with the Institute for American Police Reform (IAPR), a pro bono client of the Firm. The IAPR aims to take a research-driven approach to transforming police practices, particularly those that disproportionately affect people of color.

In addition to our longstanding relationships with the Asian American Legal Defense & Education Fund and the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance, Weil is working with the Asian American Justice Center, the Asian American Business Development Center and the Sikh Coalition on initiatives to protect, support, and empower the AAPI community nationally.

Weil also sponsors a number of other non-profits and bar associations, including Asian Pacific American Bar Association Educational Fund (AEF); Muslim American Bar Association (MUBANY); National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA); and South Asian Bar Association (SABA).

Weil has been a longtime supporter of PALS (Practicing Attorneys for Law Students), a nonprofit organization committed to minority attorneys and law students, including sponsoring and hosting mock interview and 1L exam writing workshops.

The Firm sponsors and actively participates in internship opportunities such as the Dallas Judicial Intern Opportunity Program, the Sponsors for Educational Opportunity Program (SEO) and Summer Search. Weil's New York Office has provided nearly 100 summer internships to high school and college students from community based organizations since 2013.

The AsianAttorneys@Weil group regularly celebrate key holidays such as Diwali, Eid, Lunar New Year, and Vaiskhi.

• Weil Partner Charan Sandhu hosted a Virtual Spring Holidays Gathering in May 2021 to celebrate Ramadan, Holi, Hola Mohalla and Vaisakhi. Weil also hosts annual Lunar New Year and Diwali celebrations. In 2021, members gathered virtually to share family traditions, celebrations, and support.
• Weil is an active member of MUBANY, the Muslim Bar Association of New York, sponsoring a table each year at the MUBANY Annual Gala and has sponsored the organization’s Annual General Meeting and Iftar Dinner.
• Weil annually hosts a Lunar New Year networking celebration. 2022 featured a virtual Dumpling class with celebrity chef Katie. Past events included cooking demonstration at Morimoto, a client reception with spoken word poet, Kelly Tsai, a private exhibit viewing at the Museum of Chinese in America, and a group dinner at Philippe