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ARMENIAN BAR ASSOCIATION HOSTS 'RISING STARS' AWARDS CEREMONY
asbarez
Tuesday, September 6th, 2011
ABA chairman Edvin Minassian with 2011 "20 Rising Stars Under 40"
honorees
PASADENA-The Armenian Bar Association held its inaugural "20 Rising
Stars under 40" awards ceremony on July 28 at the Pandora on Green
restaurant in Old Town Pasadena.
The Rising Stars award recognizes 20 Armenian legal professionals
under the age of 40 who have distinguished themselves in their
professions and who have made a meaningful impact on their respective
communities. This year's honorees span the globe, coming from Toronto,
Boston, Hong Kong and Los Angeles, among other locations.
Master of Ceremonies Garo Hovannisian introduced each honoree to
enthusiastic applause. He noted that "each of the award recipients
has a remarkable story. Their accomplishments in their professions and
their commitment to community and Armenian interests set them apart."
Hovannisian added that "we're excited not only for their
accomplishments thus far, but for the prospect of what lies ahead for
each of them, both professionally and in terms of their contributions
to the advancement of the Armenian communities worldwide."
Armenian Bar Chairman, Edvin Minassian, followed Hovannisian's
introductory remarks. He noted that "Today's Rising Stars award
recipients represent the best in the Armenian legal community. When we
honor them we likewise honor the profession we have chosen, one that
ultimately stands as a bulwark against arbitrary government and assures
that the rights of the individual shall remain at the forefront. By
the same token, today's honorees are not only individuals to whom we
in the Armenian community may point with pride.
They are also, and ultimately more importantly, individuals who have
already made their professional mark in the larger society as well."
The Bar Association's Vice Chairman, Garo Ghazarian, also encouraged
the recipients to stay the course and continue to excel, both
professionally and with regard to their commitment to the Armenian
community.
The 2011 Rising Stars award recipients are Ani E. Ajemian (Sherin &
Lodgen, Boston, MA), Armen Akaragian (Mardirossian & Associates, Inc.,
Los Angeles, CA), Michael R. Amerian (Office of the Los Angeles City
Attorney, Los Angeles, CA), Henri Arslanian (UBS Investment Bank,
Hong Kong), Ara A. Babaian (Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP, Beverly Hills,
CA), Nareg Gourjian (Gourjian Law Group, Glendale, CA), Annie P.
Marandjian-Hovanessian (Vulcan Materials Company, Los Angeles, CA),
Ara Jabagchourian (Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy LLP, Burlingame, CA),
Raffi Kassabian (Reed Smith, LLP, Los Angeles, CA), Lara Kayayan
(Home Savings of America, Los Angeles, CA), Karnig Kerkonian (The
Kerkonian Law Firm, LLP, Evanston, IL), Alex Khachaturian (White &
Case LLP, Washington, DC), Hovanes Margarian (The Law Office of Hovanes
Margarian, Sherman Oaks, CA), Armen S. Martin (Liner Grode et al.,
Los Angeles, CA), Mampre Pomakian (LAUSD, Office of General Counsel,
Los Angeles, CA), Suzanne J. Prysak (Jenner & Block, LLP, Chicago,
IL), Chris K. Safarian (Safarian & Choi, Los Angeles, CA), Nicole J.
Simonian (Bryan Cave LLP, Santa Monica, CA), and Fernand Vartanian
(ACE INA Insurance, Toronto, ONT, Canada).
More than 200 guests attended the gala awards ceremony. Among the
many prominent attendees were Zaven V. Sinanian (Judge, Los Angeles
Superior Court), Chahe-Philippe Arslanian (Judge, Superior Court,
Toronto, ONT, Canada), Antranig Kasbarian (Chairman, ARF Central
Committee, Eastern U.S., and Executive Director, Tufenkian Foundation),
Garo Mardirossian (immediate past president of the Consumer Attorneys
Association of Los Angeles), and Steven Dadaian, Esq., (Senior policy
advisor, Armenian National Committee). On a more personal note,
the ArmenBar is particularly gratified that so many family members
chose to accompany honorees, many traveling considerable distances
to participate in the ceremony. Their presence and obvious exuberance
added a measure of sparkle to what was an altogether enjoyable evening.
asbarez
Tuesday, September 6th, 2011
ABA chairman Edvin Minassian with 2011 "20 Rising Stars Under 40"
honorees
PASADENA-The Armenian Bar Association held its inaugural "20 Rising
Stars under 40" awards ceremony on July 28 at the Pandora on Green
restaurant in Old Town Pasadena.
The Rising Stars award recognizes 20 Armenian legal professionals
under the age of 40 who have distinguished themselves in their
professions and who have made a meaningful impact on their respective
communities. This year's honorees span the globe, coming from Toronto,
Boston, Hong Kong and Los Angeles, among other locations.
Master of Ceremonies Garo Hovannisian introduced each honoree to
enthusiastic applause. He noted that "each of the award recipients
has a remarkable story. Their accomplishments in their professions and
their commitment to community and Armenian interests set them apart."
Hovannisian added that "we're excited not only for their
accomplishments thus far, but for the prospect of what lies ahead for
each of them, both professionally and in terms of their contributions
to the advancement of the Armenian communities worldwide."
Armenian Bar Chairman, Edvin Minassian, followed Hovannisian's
introductory remarks. He noted that "Today's Rising Stars award
recipients represent the best in the Armenian legal community. When we
honor them we likewise honor the profession we have chosen, one that
ultimately stands as a bulwark against arbitrary government and assures
that the rights of the individual shall remain at the forefront. By
the same token, today's honorees are not only individuals to whom we
in the Armenian community may point with pride.
They are also, and ultimately more importantly, individuals who have
already made their professional mark in the larger society as well."
The Bar Association's Vice Chairman, Garo Ghazarian, also encouraged
the recipients to stay the course and continue to excel, both
professionally and with regard to their commitment to the Armenian
community.
The 2011 Rising Stars award recipients are Ani E. Ajemian (Sherin &
Lodgen, Boston, MA), Armen Akaragian (Mardirossian & Associates, Inc.,
Los Angeles, CA), Michael R. Amerian (Office of the Los Angeles City
Attorney, Los Angeles, CA), Henri Arslanian (UBS Investment Bank,
Hong Kong), Ara A. Babaian (Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP, Beverly Hills,
CA), Nareg Gourjian (Gourjian Law Group, Glendale, CA), Annie P.
Marandjian-Hovanessian (Vulcan Materials Company, Los Angeles, CA),
Ara Jabagchourian (Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy LLP, Burlingame, CA),
Raffi Kassabian (Reed Smith, LLP, Los Angeles, CA), Lara Kayayan
(Home Savings of America, Los Angeles, CA), Karnig Kerkonian (The
Kerkonian Law Firm, LLP, Evanston, IL), Alex Khachaturian (White &
Case LLP, Washington, DC), Hovanes Margarian (The Law Office of Hovanes
Margarian, Sherman Oaks, CA), Armen S. Martin (Liner Grode et al.,
Los Angeles, CA), Mampre Pomakian (LAUSD, Office of General Counsel,
Los Angeles, CA), Suzanne J. Prysak (Jenner & Block, LLP, Chicago,
IL), Chris K. Safarian (Safarian & Choi, Los Angeles, CA), Nicole J.
Simonian (Bryan Cave LLP, Santa Monica, CA), and Fernand Vartanian
(ACE INA Insurance, Toronto, ONT, Canada).
More than 200 guests attended the gala awards ceremony. Among the
many prominent attendees were Zaven V. Sinanian (Judge, Los Angeles
Superior Court), Chahe-Philippe Arslanian (Judge, Superior Court,
Toronto, ONT, Canada), Antranig Kasbarian (Chairman, ARF Central
Committee, Eastern U.S., and Executive Director, Tufenkian Foundation),
Garo Mardirossian (immediate past president of the Consumer Attorneys
Association of Los Angeles), and Steven Dadaian, Esq., (Senior policy
advisor, Armenian National Committee). On a more personal note,
the ArmenBar is particularly gratified that so many family members
chose to accompany honorees, many traveling considerable distances
to participate in the ceremony. Their presence and obvious exuberance
added a measure of sparkle to what was an altogether enjoyable evening.