News Releases

Schiff Hardin LLP Receives Law Firm Achievement Award from the North American South Asian Bar Association (NASABA)

June 30, 2008

Schiff Hardin LLP has received the 2008 Law Firm Achievement Award from the North American South Asian Bar Association (NASABA). The award was presented at the Fifth Annual NASABA Convention, which took place June 26-29 in Chicago.

The award reads in part, "Schiff Hardin has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to diversity in the legal field by supporting minority organizations, such as NASABA and the Indian-American Bar Association of Chicago, in their activities and has continued to actively hire minority attorneys. Indeed, it was recognized as one of Top 100 Law Firms for Diversity in both 2006 and 2007 by Multicultural Law. It also has provided extensive pro bono services to a variety of legal service organizations. Overall, Schiff Hardin has proven itself to be dedicated to the community, including that of South Asians."

Sailesh K. Patel, a partner in Schiff Hardin's Intellectual Property Group, is a member of NASABA’s Board of Directors and is Chairman of NASABA's Intellectual Property Section.

About the NASABA Convention

From June 26-29, 2008, the North American South Asian Bar Association (NASABA) held the Fifth Annual NASABA Convention aptly themed "Reaching New Heights," and was 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. Approximately 800 attorneys and legal professionals attended the Convention.

About NASABA

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.