TORONTO, ONTARIO — The South Asian Bar Association of Toronto (“SABA”) proudly hosted this year’s North America Conference (“Conference”) from July 10-14th at the Hilton-Toronto. SABA Toronto is the largest of SABA North America’s 31 chapters and hosted the Conference for the first time, bringing together over 800 South Asian attorneys from around the globe, fittingly living up to the Conference slogan: “Welcome to the North, Your Passport to the Future”. 

For two decades, the SABA Annual Conference has been the premier professional development and networking event for South Asian lawyers in North America. This year’s conference brought together attorneys from all corners of the South Asian bar, including corporate counsel, law firm partners and associates, federal and state judges, law professors, government and public interest attorneys, entrepreneurs, and law students.  

Conference delegates were inspired by a myriad of events held over four days ranging from professional and networking development, cultural engagement and celebration, to substantive legal programming, all set over a celebratory backdrop of food, entertainment, and social events with a uniquely South Asian flavor. 

Some particular highlights of the conference included: 

  • A kick-off boat cruise hosted on Wednesday night setting the stage for a vibrant meet and greet among attendees with lots of revelry, dancing, and live music, with picturesque views of the Toronto skyline and Lake Ontario. 
  • On Thursday, a meeting of the SABA Board, followed by a Corporate Counsel Summit and South Asian Women’s Attorney Network event.  The official conference Welcome Reception was held at the iconic Four Seasons Arts Centre and evening activities included a “SABA’s Got Talent” showcase & karaoke party. 
  • On Friday, programming panels kicked off which offered insights into critical issues and legal topics facing the legal profession. Notable sessions included: 
  • “The Fight for DEI” – Exploring the ongoing efforts and strategies to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within the legal sector. 
  • “The Transformative and Ethical Implications of Artificial Intelligence” – Delving into the advancements and ethical considerations surrounding AI in the legal field. 
  • “Canadian and American Judges on Effective Advocacy” – Featuring a panel of distinguished judges from Canada and the US discussing best practices in advocacy. 
  • Highlights of the Friday afternoon programming included a luncheon with the presentation of SABANA awards, a Welcome to Canada Reception (hosted by the Canadian Chapters), and a Corporate Counsel Reception at Kraft Canada headquarters. 
  • Saturday’s plenary session left the entire room speechless with a panel discussion from Nisha Pahuja on her Academy Award Nominated film “To Kill a Tiger”. The panel also featured incredible advocates Ena Chadha, Beesham Seecharan, and Justice Davin Garg, who inspired all conference goers to fight against injustice and enact change.
  • The conference culminated in SABA’s annual gala (which this year was combined with the SABANA gala) and featured a keynote speech from 2024 SABA Pioneer Award Winner, Justice Mahmud Jamal of the Supreme Court of Canada. Justice Jamal underscored the importance of diversity, identity, and acceptance in the legal profession.  The night was capped off with a performance by acclaimed Bollywood/Canadian singer, Raghav, who electrified the crowd. 

SABA Toronto’s President and Partner at Miller Thomson LLP, Devin Persaud, said the following about the Conference:  

“Delegates from around the continent were blown away by our amazing chapter and city.  The Conference provided Canadians with the unprecedented opportunity to engage in thought-provoking discussions, attend insightful panels, and foster meaningful connections with fellow South Asian attorneys from around the globe.  Hosting the Conference enabled us to celebrate the achievements of our peers, acknowledge the challenges we have all collectively encountered, and envision a shared future that we can build together.” 

Devin Persaud, President – SABA Toronto, Partner – Miller Thomson LLP 

SABA NA’s Vice President of the Conference and Partner at Aird & Berlis LLP, also said the following: 

“SABA Toronto, set itself apart as a leading chapter of the broader SABA North America family.  Our chapter hosted the conference for the first time and we were able to raise over USD$1,000,000 for SABA North America programming, bringing together over 800 attorneys through amazing programming, networking and celebrations.  It was an honour to chair the conference this year and to showcase our incredible chapter and city.” 

Aaron Bains, VP & Chair of Conference, Partner – Aird & Berlis LLP 

SABA Toronto thanks all conference guests, speakers, volunteers, and performers for making the Toronto Conference one to remember.  Special thanks is due to the Conference Steering Committee: Charan Brahma, Keerthi Sugumaran, Mona Shah, Asker Saeed, Aaron Bains, Devin Persaud, and Annie Tayyab, as well as event planners Acuity International.   

SABA Toronto was thrilled to have hosted members of our community from across North America. We look forward to the next opportunity to do so!  

 

About SABA Toronto 

The South Asian Bar Association of Toronto is Canada’s largest equity-seeking bar organization, dedicated to promoting the objectives of South Asian members of the legal profession. SABA represents South Asian legal professionals and ensures that their interests are recognized, respected and voiced with the Law Society of Ontario and various levels of provincial and federal government. SABA aims to unite its over 1,300 members, deliver programming for professional growth and advancement, promote access to justice and give back to South Asian communities. 

Its membership is dynamic, ever-expanding and includes legal professionals from large and small law firms, sole practitioners, government agencies and departments, nonprofit organizations, and corporations. Members of the judiciary, academics and law students also form an integral part of SABA Toronto. 

Recommended Posts