Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association upcoming events

MNAPABA's Afternoon Tea ☕ (Sat, May 02, 2026)

Sat, 02 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT

The MNAPABA Women’s Committee invites you to an elegant Afternoon Tea & Networking at The Saint Paul Hotel on Saturday, May 2, at 1 PM. Join us for a delightful afternoon of tea, treats, and conversation with fellow attorneys and professionals, all while celebrating Kentucky Derby Day in style! ☕

Event Details

Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026
Time: 1 PM
Location: The Saint Paul Hotel, 350 Market St, St Paul, MN 55102
Dress to Impress! A prize will be awarded for “Best Dressed”

Why Attend?

Enjoy a classic afternoon tea experience at an iconic venue
Connect with fellow MNAPABA members and legal professionals
Celebrate Derby Day with a fun, stylish gathering

Registration Details

Limited to 20 attendees
A waitlist will be available. If you register but can no longer attend, please let us know in advance so we can offer your spot to someone else.

For questions, please contact Sheila Niaz at sheila.niaz@nortonrosefulbright.com.

We look forward to sipping tea and networking with you! ☕

Best,

MNAPABA Women’s Committee

Behind the Curtain: Candid Conversations for In-House Counsel (Thu, May 14, 2026)

Thu, 14 May 2026 21:30:00 GMT

Behind the Curtain: Candid Conversations for In-House Counsel

MNAPABA In-House Counsel Panel & Networking Event

Event Details

Date: Thursday, May 14, 2026

Time: Doors open at 4:30 PM | Panel begins at 5:00 PM

Location: Hewing Hotel, 300 Washington Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55401*

*You MUST be registered to attend

About the Event

Are you a mid-level or senior in-house counsel who feels "stuck" in your current role—or are you gearing up for your next leadership opportunity, whether that's a Deputy General Counsel, General Counsel, or other advanced position? If so, this event is for you.

The Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association (MNAPABA) In-House Counsel Committee is pleased to invite you to an exclusive panel discussion and networking reception designed especially for in-house attorneys seeking to take the next step in their careers.

Join us for an engaging panel featuring seasoned in-house counsel who have navigated diverse career paths. Our panelists will share candid insights, practical advice, and lessons learned from their experiences across a variety of industries and roles.

Following the panel, stay for a cocktail reception where you can continue the candid conversation, connect with fellow in-house attorneys, and build meaningful relationships within the MNAPABA community.

Panelists

Gulzar Babaeva – Associate General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary, Energizer
Kirby W. Lee – Associate General Counsel, Ecolab
Richard J. Ramones – Corporate Compliance and Senior Legal Counsel, CHS Inc.
Joanne Sum-Ping – VP, Assistant General Counsel, H.B. Fuller

Moderator: Greg Schwartz, Greenberg Traurig

This event is generously sponsored by Greenberg Traurig, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), and the MNAPABA In-House Counsel Committee.

Registration Information

RSVP is required and space is LIMITED! In-house counsel members of MNAPABA will receive priority registration; however, all MNAPABA members are welcome and encouraged to sign up.

We hope you will join us for this meaningful opportunity to learn, share, and connect. We look forward to seeing you there!

Meet & Eat May 21 (Dinner) at Jade Dynasty Restaurant & Bar - Minneapolis (Thu, May 21, 2026)

Thu, 21 May 2026 23:00:00 GMT

We are excited to try another dinner time Meet and Eat! The plan is to meet at 6 PM inside of Jade Dynasty Restaurant & Bar (https://jadedynasty.kwickmenu.com/). The reservation is under "Elvis."

Feel free to call Elvis Kim at 858-449-4692 if you cannot find the group.

Each attendee pays their own way

RSVP on MNAPABA.org

Questions? Please contact mnapaba@gmail.com

**If you are interested in hosting Meet & Eat (in-person or virtual; lunch or dinner time) in the future, please contact mnapaba@gmail.com. Downtown, suburb, and greater Minnesota locations are encouraged.

2026 MNAPABA Annual Gala | Loyalty to the Law, Integrity in Practice (Tue, September 08, 2026)

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 22:30:00 GMT

We will gather for MNAPABA’s 2026 Annual Gala on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at the University of Minnesota’s McNamara Alumni Center. We look forward to spending a meaningful evening with our members, guests, sponsors, and supporters as we celebrate the past year and mark the beginning of a new board year.

We are honored to welcome Ivan K. Fong as this year’s keynote speaker. Mr. Fong recently retired as Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary of Medtronic, where he led one of the most respected legal departments in the country. A nationally recognized leader and long-time pillar of the NAPABA community, he powerfully reflects this year’s theme, “Loyalty to the Law. Integrity in Practice.”

During the evening, we will also recognize the recipients of MNAPABA’s Trailblazer Award, Leadership Award, Member of the Year Award, and the Terry M. Louie Founder’s Scholarship.

We would be grateful to have you join us at this year’s Gala—and to consider supporting MNAPABA’s mission through sponsorship. The continued generosity of our sponsors makes our programming, scholarships, and community-building efforts possible, and we are proud to recognize our sponsors throughout the evening.

Gala attendees receive MNAPABA membership, and qualifying sponsors may extend MNAPABA and NAPABA memberships to individuals within their organizations or to external designees. MNAPABA members also receive discounted registration for the 2026 NAPABA Convention.

As in past years, we will also host a Pre-Gala In-House Counsel Networking Reception, an exclusive event where attendees can connect with MNAPABA’s in-house counsel community.

We are excited to welcome you on September 8—as an attendee, as a sponsor, and as a friend of MNAPABA. We look forward to celebrating with you.

2026-2027 MNAPABA Annual Gala Sponsorship Levels

Sponsorship Levels and Descriptions – Supporting MNAPABA in 2026-2027	Amount
Underwriter Ten (10) tickets to the Annual Gala and a prominently placed table Four (4) tickets to the exclusive Pre-Gala In-House Counsel Networking Reception Up to ten (10) complimentary 2026-27 MNAPABA & NAPABA memberships for individuals within your organization or your external designees. Recognition at the gala and on MNAPABA’s website and newsletter for 2026-2027	$6,000
Platinum Eight (8) tickets to the Annual Gala and a prominently placed table Two (2) tickets to the exclusive Pre-Gala In-House Counsel Networking Reception Up to eight (8) complimentary 2026-27 MNAPABA & NAPABA memberships for individuals within your organization or your external designees. Recognition at the gala and on MNAPABA’s website and newsletter for 2026-2027	$3,500
Gold Six (6) tickets and a sponsored table at the Annual Gala _{Up to six (6) complimentary 2026-27 MNAPABA & NAPABA memberships for individuals within your organization or your external designees.} Recognition at the gala and on MNAPABA’s website and newsletter for 2026-2027	$2,000
Silver Four (4) tickets and a sponsored table at the Annual Gala _{Up to four (4) complimentary 2026-27 MNAPABA & NAPABA memberships for individuals within your organization or your external designees.} Recognition at the gala and on MNAPABA’s website and newsletter for 2026-2027	$1,000
Friend of MNAPABA Two (2) tickets to the Annual Gala _{Up to two (2) complimentary 2026-27 MNAPABA & NAPABA memberships for individuals within your organization or your external designees.} Recognition at the gala and on MNAPABA’s website and newsletter for 2026-2027	$500

For more information on parking for the Gala, see the map below: