Keynote Speaker:

Please join us for an inspiring evening with Karen King, who will share her journey as lead pro bono counsel in the case of Golan v. Saada, including a 9-0 win from the US Supreme Court this summer. The case marked the first time that all of the advocates arguing before the US Supreme Court were of Asian Pacific American descent.

Karen R. King is a partner at Morvillo Abramowitz Grand Iason & Anello, PC. She has more than 20 years of experience in complex commercial litigation, regulatory investigations and enforcement matters, securities litigation, and strategic advice. She practices regularly in state and federal courts around the country and has represented multiple global institutions in matters before U.S. regulators and law enforcement. Karen was recently named a “Distinguished Leader” by New York Law Journal and a “Notable Woman in Law” by Crain’s New York Business.
In March 2022, Karen argued before the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of the petitioner in Golan v. Saada, an important case involving international treaty interpretation and the risk to children in households with domestic violence. On June 15, 2022, the Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in favor of Karen’s client and provided guidance that will assist other domestic violence survivors and their children in the future. Karen has been lead counsel on the case since its inception in 2018, and continues to represent her client in ongoing proceedings.
In addition to her regular practice, Karen has demonstrated a commitment to pro bono service throughout her career. She currently serves as a Co-Chair of the Pro Bono Committee for the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY), a member of AABANY’s Anti-Asian Task Force, a long-time member of the Second Circuit Pro Bono Panel, and a co-editor of two papers on the rise of hate and violence against Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was also lead counsel in a decade-long Title VII case on behalf of Asian-American police officers at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and achieved two important trial victories in that matter. Karen is a recipient of the Federal Bar Council’s Thurgood Marshall Award for Exceptional Pro Bono Service, and the Pro Bono award from the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. Her pro bono clients include students with learning disabilities, victims of gun violence, and prisoners on civil rights issues.
Karen received her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2000 and her B.A. from Yale University in 1997, where she majored in Philosophy and Political Science.

Our Annual Banquet supports APABA-PA’s William M. Marutani Fellowship, established in 2003 to honor Judge Marutani’s legacy as a civil rights advocate, jurist, and pioneer in the law. Each year a first-year law student who exhibits the same commitment to social justice as Judge Marutani is selected to receive this financial award in support of summer employment with a public interest organization or government agency. A significant portion of the proceeds from the Annual Banquet will go towards funding the Marutani Fellowship. The 2022 Marutani Fellows will be presented at the Banquet.

2022 Marutani Fellowship scholars

Maya Bradley and Namita Dwarakanath

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