AABANY’s Trailblazer Award is named after Norman Lau Kee, who was a revered legal and community pillar of New York City’s Chinatown for decades. The Trailblazer Award honors an accomplished leader in the legal profession who is of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) descent or who has demonstrated dedication to AAPI issues in the community. This award honors an individual who has carved a path for others to follow, served the community as a mentor and role model, and made a lasting impact on the AAPI community through his or her dedication and commitment. The award will be presented at the cocktail reception at the end of the day, after the conclusion of the Fall Conference.
This year’s recipient: Vince Chang
Vince Chang’s extraordinary career exemplifies the vision and values embodied by this award. Born in Kansas and raised in Iowa, Vince graduated from Harvard College magna cum laude and Harvard Law School cum laude. He clerked for the Hon. Robert B. Krupansky of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and currently serves as a Commercial Division law clerk to the Honorable James d’Auguste in the New York State Supreme Court.
Over a distinguished legal career spanning more than three decades, Vince built a reputation as one of New York’s premier litigators. While practicing at Davis Polk and Wollmuth Maher & Deutsch, he handled high-stakes disputes involving complex corporate litigation and commercial law cases. Vince was also among the first Asian American litigation attorneys to advance beyond the associate ranks at both firms, helping pave the way for future generations of AANHPI lawyers.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Vince has been a longtime leader in the AANHPI and legal community. He has devoted countless hours to advancing the legal profession and expanding opportunities for underrepresented communities. His leadership has left an indelible mark on AABANY and numerous local, state, and national bar associations. Among his many contributions, Vince has:
- Served as the President of AABANY (2007-08);
- Served as Vice-President and board member of the Asian American Law Fund of New York;
- Made history as the first Asian American President of the New York County Lawyers Association (NYCLA);
- Served as NYCLA’s first Asian American Co-Chair of the Federal Courts Committee, as well as Treasurer, Vice President, and President-Elect;
- Held numerous leadership roles within the American Bar Association, including service on its Board of Governors and Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, and as Co-Chair of the New York Chapter of the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation.
Vince continues to shape the legal profession through his leadership and public service. He currently serves on the Executive Committee of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) and previously served for many years on its House of Delegates and Committee on Nominations. He co-chaired the NYSBA Task Force on Combating Anti-Semitism and Anti-Asian Hate, served on its task force on Advancing Diversity, and remains an active member of the New York Commercial Division Advisory Council.
Vince has received many prestigious awards recognizing his commitment to leadership, mentorship, diversity, and public service, including the President’s Award from the Network of Bar Leaders, the New York City Bar Association’s Diversity Champion Award, and the New York State Bar Association’s John Higgins Diversity Trailblazer Award.
Read the full press release here.
Past Recipients
2025 – Hon. Judy H. Kim
Justice of the Supreme Court, New York County
2021 – Glenn Lau-Kee
Partner, Lau-Kee Law Group
2017 – Hon. Randall T. Eng
Presiding Justice, New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department (Ret.)
2024 – Hugh H. Mo
Founder and Principal, Hugh H. Mo, P. C.
2020 – Hon. Doris Ling-Cohan
Justice, New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department (Ret.)
2016 – Sylvia Fung Chin
Partner Of Counsel, White & Case LLP
2023 – James S. Lin
Deputy Bureau Chief, Kings County District Attorney’s Office
2019 – Parkin Lee
Chief Legal Officer, Rockefeller Group (Ret.)
2015 – Rockwell “Rocky” Chin
Attorney & Community Activist; EEO Investigator, New York State Insurance Fund (Ret.)
2022 – Kevin D. Kim
Commissioner, New York City Department of Small Business Services
2018 – Kin Ng
Bureau Chief of the Red Zone Trial Bureau, Kings County District Attorney’s Office
2014 – Hon. Marilyn D. Go
United States Magistrate Judge, Eastern District of New York (Ret.)