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Law and Social Justice

Debo Adegbile
Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC hosts a conversation with esteemed attorney Debo Adegbile, a partner at WilmerHale and a commissioner for the United States Civil Rights Commission.

Join Advancing Justice | AAJC on Wednesday, July 29, 2020 at 6 to 8 p.m. ET for an in-depth discussion about how private law firms and nonprofits can work together toward social justice and be an unstoppable force for advancing justice for our communities.

Moderated by Advancing Justice | AAJC President and Executive Director John C. Yang and featuring Director of Litigation Niyati Shah at Advancing Justice | AAJC, the virtual event will provide valuable information to anyone interested in learning more about how litigation can make a positive impact on the lives of Asian Americans and other underrepresented communities.

Rooted in the dreams of immigrants and inspired by the promise of opportunity, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC advocates for an America in which all Americans can benefit equally from, and contribute to, the American dream. Its mission is to advance the civil and human rights for Asian Americans and to build and promote a fair and equitable society for all.


About the Speakers

Niyati Shah
Debo Adegbile is an accomplished lawyer with an impressive background in civil rights. He is a partner in WilmerHale’s Government and Regulatory Litigation group and co-chair of the firm's anti-discrimination practice. Mr. Adegbile has argued cases before the Supreme Court of the United States and was personally nominated by President Obama to serve as Assistant Attorney General. He also worked at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund in a variety of capacities, including as director of litigation.

Niyati Shah is the director of litigation at Advancing Justice | AAJC. Ms. Shah served as one of the lead attorneys in LUPE v. Ross, a successful challenge to the addition of a citizenship question on the 2020 census. Prior to joining Advancing Justice | AAJC, Ms. Shah investigated, litigated, and advocated against violations of federal constitutional and election laws nationwide, including the Voting Rights Act. She is an expert on the implementation of Sections 5 and 7 of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), working both cooperatively with, as well as litigating against, states to enforce the NVRA in federal courts across the country.

John C. Yang
John C. Yang is the president and executive director of Advancing Justice | AAJC. Mr. Yang has an extensive history in both private and public practices, but his dedication to civil rights and the AAPI community has been a constant. Mr. Yang served as president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, minority caucus chair of the American Bar Association, and co-founded the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center. In addition, Mr. Yang has served as the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Senior Advisor for Trade and Strategic Initiatives under Secretary Pritzker in the Obama administration.

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