On November 12, four Ontario lawyers were the recipients of a new set of awards recognizing the achievements of members of the South Asian bar. The winners were honoured at the third annual dinner of the South Asian Bar Association of Toronto.
This year’s guest speaker was former Supreme Court Justice Peter Cory, who discussed the important role played by lawyers in Canadian society. The sold-out event, held at Convocation Hall in Toronto, was attended by 160 guests.
(From left to right) SABA Toronto award winners Soma Ray-Ellis, Vern Krishna, and Andrew Pinto.
“It’s a way of recognizing that we are an important part of a diverse legal community,” explains award winner Andrew Pinto, who notes that there are relatively few senior members of the South Asian bar in Canada.
“I feel some responsibility as an inaugural award winner to make something of that,” the employment and administrative law lawyer says. “What they are saying is ‘go out and do something that makes us all proud.’ ”
Pinto, of Wray James LLP, was one of two recipients of the Lawyer of the Year Award. The second award went to Soma Ray-Ellis, a partner at Paterson, MacDougall LLP. Lang Michener LLP lawyer Pradeep Chand was recognized as Young Practitioner of the Year and University of Ottawa professor and former Law Society Treasurer Vern Krishna was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
More photos and info at sabatoronto.com