Big thank you to our first Sponsors!

NASABA has confirmed Hina Jilani, a high-profile Advocate for Human Rights and lawyer, as a keynote speaker for the convention. Ms. Jilani is the UN's Special Representative of the Secretary General's Human Rights Defenders, co-founded Pakistan's first all-woman legal practice, founded the Human Rights Commission's Pakistan chapter, and was appointed to the UN International Fact-Finding Commission on Darfur.

 

NASABA

From June 26-29, 2008, the North American South Asian Bar Association (NASABA) will hold the Fifth Annual NASABA Convention aptly themed "Reaching New Heights," and hosted by the Indian-American Bar Association of Chicago (IABA-Chicago) and the Pakistani American Bar Association of North America (PABANA). IABA-Chicago is one of the founding chapters of NASABA and boasts over 450 members in the Chicago area, including four judges, several law professors, and attorneys from a wide-range of legal backgrounds. PABANA, the first Pakistani American Bar Association in the United States, is also rapidly expanding its membership to include law professors, attorneys and law students from diverse legal backgrounds. NASABA anticipates that about 800 attorneys and legal professionals will attend the National Convention. The Saturday night keynote banquet will be held at the Navy Pier Grand Ballroom, with the City of Chicago's famous skyline as the backdrop.

NASABA is the national association of South Asian attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students, providing a national network for its members and affiliates. NASABA advocates for the legal needs and interests of the South Asian community and represents the interests of over 24 local South Asian bar associations, including local South Asian bar chapters in Ottawa, Vancouver and Toronto, with a variety of attorneys practicing in solo practices to large firms, corporations, legal services organizations, non-profit organizations, law schools, and governmental agencies.

Since its inception in 2003, NASABA has been advocating on behalf of the South Asian community in national and local activities in the areas of domestic surveillance, immigration, hate crimes and racial profiling. NASABA also monitors legislative developments and judicial appointments, promotes South Asian political leadership and builds coalitions within the legal profession and the community at large.

In the past four years, NASABA has held a national conference every year which has drawn hundreds of South Asian attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students in major cities across the United States. The national conference features a variety of seminars, workshops, panel discussions and networking opportunities, including an Awards Banquet honoring many of the South Asian community's most accomplished lawyers.

Keynote Speakers

Dr. Shashi Tharoor
Former Under-Secretary General to the U.N.

Keynote Awards Banquet: Reaching New Heights: Past, Present, Future
June 28th Saturday, 8:00 P.M. - 12:00 A.M.

Award-winning author and diplomat Shashi Tharoor speaks eloquently about international issues from the perspective of nearly 30 years at the United Nations. With a PhD from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University... more

Patrick J. Fitzgerald
United States Attorney, Northern District of Illinois

Keynote Luncheon: Reaching New Heights: Achieving Change Through Public Service
June 27th Friday, 12:00 P.M. - 1:30 P.M.

Patrick J. Fitzgerald began serving as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois on September 1, 2001. The United States Senate confirmed his nomination by unanimous consent and President Bush signed his commission on October 29, 2001... more

Hina Jilani
Advocate for Human Rights

Keynote Luncheon: Reaching New Heights: Achieving Change Through International Advocacy and the Rule of Law
June 28th Saturday, 12:15 P.M. - 1:30 P.M.

Experienced in Constitutional and human rights litigation in Pakistan. Many of the cases conducted are landmarks in setting the standard for human rights in Pakistan, especially on the rights of women. Other areas of experience include international human rights law, in which area have undertaken or collaborated on several international initiatives... more

Panel Speakers and Moderators

For more information on Panel Speakers and Moderators Click Here