BOSTON – Mintz is pleased to announce that it has been honored with the first-ever ALLY of the Year Award from the Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts (AALAM). This prestigious accolade acknowledges the outstanding support provided by an organization to the Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community.

Mintz has been a dedicated partner of AALAM and a strong advocate for the AANHPI community for years. The firm has consistently sponsored significant events such as the AALAM Banquet and the Dow Fund annual fundraising dinner, actively supporting various causes that benefit the AANHPI community. Recently, Mintz joined forces with AALAM to further advance and promote their commitment to the Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) Asian Outreach Center (AOC), including AALAM's generous grant of $25,000. Additionally, the firm collaborated with AALAM to host a screening of the impactful documentary film, "Keep Saray Home," which sheds light on the challenges faced by three refugee families on the outskirts of Boston and their fight against deportation. The film also highlights the crucial work performed by GBLS's Asian Outreach Center in advocating for the rights of the immigrant and AANHPI communities.

Mintz takes great pride in its unwavering commitment, extending beyond financial support, to actively engage in volunteer work and pro bono projects, as well as assuming significant roles in various initiatives within the AANHPI community. For instance, Rebecca Lee, Chair of Mintz's Real Estate Development Practice, has made invaluable contributions as both a former Secretary and Past President of AALAM. Additionally, Poonam Patidar, a Member of the firm, currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of ATASK, while Special Counsel Angel Feng holds a director position on AALAM's Board of Directors and chairs AALAM’s Public Policy Committee.

In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an alarming increase in discrimination and hate crimes directed at AANHPI communities across the nation. In response to this distressing trend, Mintz attorneys have been actively collaborating with GBLS's Asian Outreach Center for the past three years. Their efforts involve providing crucial legal assistance to low-income Asian and AANHPI clients who are grappling with various challenges, including housing and employment issues. The firm is deeply devoted to representing AANHPI domestic violence survivors and refugees who face the threat of deportation.

Mintz has forged partnerships with numerous non-profit organizations, schools, and foundations within the AAPI community, underscoring their unwavering dedication to collaboration and support. Furthermore, on a national level, the firm actively engages in appellate advocacy by submitting amicus briefs that focus on court rulings directly impacting the AANHPI community. Notably, Mintz filed an amicus brief on behalf of the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA), urging the U.S. Supreme Court to protect LGBTQ Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander beneficiaries of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Additionally, Mintz has been a vocal advocate for equitable practices in college admissions.

In all, Mintz has applied over 3,000 hours to AAPI pro bono projects, with the participation of more than 160 attorneys and staff members. The firm remains committed to carrying out this crucial work for the foreseeable future.

Since its inception in 1984, AALAM has pledged its energy and resources to serving the Asian American legal community and improving and facilitating the administration of law and justice. Its membership includes over 250 lawyers, judges, law professors, and law students in Massachusetts.

For more information about Mintz, please visit www.mintz.com.